Yard Work

We've enjoyed the beautiful Indian summer weather this weekend working outside. It's been so warm. Perfect for yard work. Well, this is the reason for my back pains and dirt in my nails. I didn't keep the "before" picture, but our backyard was nothing but a wild prairie full of three-foot tall weeds. I wanted it to be better looking, but you know how much work it needed...I already had a million things on my plate. But, after Dash joined the family, I just wanted it to be a fun place for him to play in. So we started to weed, but discovered the yard was pretty sandy. After all, rooting the weeds wasn't such a good idea. Dash started to dig like crazy wherever he smells gophers. And sand bathing and all...you know how dogs love to be dirty. But, I don't. So I had to do something. Quick. Before the rain starts in winter. First, putting lawn wasn't optional due to a lack of the budget. But, I heard that one sod would cost only a few bucks at Home Depot. So we worked hard in preparation. Leveling out the yard was the hardest as the house stands on a hill. Well, it is still not leveled perfectly, but I don't care. We bought 20 sods first and worked up as we went. Little by little. Everyday before going to work. It still has a lot to do, but at least we have a sand free zone in the middle.

the house came with landlord's vintage gardening tools...

i had no idea how heavy one sod was...it is HEAVY!

the vegetable bed...you see how unleveled the yard is? it used be much worse...

sunshine color tools...i shouldn't tell you that i use tongs to pick up Dash's stinky business...

what do I do with excavated rocks?

put them on the wall...

made a ring...

and a heart...

a lunch break...homemade pesto spread open sandwiches...tomatoes and ham with slices of onion...

for this pesto i mixed basil and a bit of cilantro and cashew nuts instead of pine nuts...yum!

rearranged bricks for the small patio area...

neighbor's succulents outgrowing into our yard...

broken bricks make a little accent around a plant...

the first 20 sods (19 in the photo) placed...

those yellowed sods were sitting aside for five days after purchased...hopefully they come back healthy...

more bricks needed for an expansion of the patio area...

for now stepping stones add a charm...

california poppies in mixed colors and white clover seeds waiting to be spread...

dash: what are these? they smell good...

(obviously the fertilizer is attracting this dog with everlasting hunger. he's been eating the seeding soil and having upset stomach. he woke up every couple hours to go to potty at night. mama needs sleep :-( much worse than when my son was five-months old...

it is very nice to feel green under my feet...