Been busy!

I have so much I need to post... I've been pinned to Pinterest. But I'm thinking about working on the side yard some this fall. BUT I don't want to spend any money yet. So not sure how much I can do. I figure I can afford some truckloads of rock and a pagoda that's on sale if it's not gone yet. And I bought 2 Japanese maples and a tiger eyes Sumac with one of the maples left to plant this weekend. It's getting late in the year for planting and our backyard is a swamp from leveling the pool area and not having time to plant grass. I may just cover that with a bale of straw if it'll reduce the mud traffic?

So I'm going to post images of what I'd like to sorta do and a sketch.



 

 

From Modern Parents and Messy Kids Blog

Don't be suckered like me. This is a cruel dream but still everyone needs goals. The ADHD in me would get 2/3's done (maybe) and be too bored with the rest. But anyway here's what she wrote....


I've been trying to figure out how to write this without sounding ridiculous. What I want to say is this: I finally did it you guys, I completely and totally organized my life! It took a lot of hard work and a lot of late nights but I now have a plan, routine, or system for everything.

• I've compiled and categorized enough healthy, inexpensive and easy recipes that I have a 90 day dinner menu (complete with theme nights like pasta Monday and slow-coooker Thursday) and I have the grocery lists to match.
• There is nothing in my house that we don't use. I've ferociously weeded out the clutter and sent it packing via Craig's List or Goodwill.
• Everything I didn't get rid of is now beautifully organized into colorfully labeled containers. If you're ever visiting and you need something, just ask me - I totally know where it all is.
• I now have a weekly schedule with time carved out for blogging, housework, play dates, park time, library time, and other activities we've been wanting to try but never got around to.
• For those days we stay home, we've got a dependable routine that the kids can rely on. It includes stuff like art time, outside time, story time and bath time.
• Remember when I told you C isn't really down with napping anymore and I was worried about ever getting anything done again? I completely solved that problem by putting together some genius quiet time kits (one for each day of the week so he doesn't get bored). They're crammed with busy bags, DIY audio books, and learning activities he can do independently.
• I finally got our budget down to a science using a combination of the cash envelope system and mint.com. We're saving tons! (and while I was at it I updated our wills, life insurance, and retirement planning).
• Thanks to evernote and some other handy apps, I will never again miss an appointment or birthday. (If something does somehow sneak by me, I have a birthday closet with pre-bought gifts and cards - thanks to the new budget and organization I now have the space and money for it.)
• I also joined a gym and started exercising regularly (part of the new weekly schedule). The kids love playing at the drop off center while I'm burning calories.
• I went through all 2,000 of my digital photos, edited them, imported them to yearly photobooks and backed them all up online. I've also caught up on my personal blog and am regularly contributing to it.
• Last but not least, the hubs and I have a set-in-stone date night that we never miss and we've recently instituted family game night.

Seriously, it's been a long time coming but today I stood in the middle of my living room, looked around the house and admired what I've accomplished with a huge goofy grin on my face.

And then I woke up. DAMN. IT.

Sounds good though, doesn't it? I should probably get on that.


Isn't that cruel!!!! BUT she is really trying to achieve this so hey maybe we can live the dream!

Holy Cow! The Room is Still Clean!!!!

Before....

After!!!!

And she's kept it this way since 7/9/2012, that's 15 days so far! So exciting!

Another deck collage

Just happened upon a picture of a deck that I thought would be easy to add to the back of our house. Man we need to do this soon it looks so much better with a deck!

Pool Reality

Well if you remember here's the dream ....

Another beautiful example of backyard pool and deck.

Another collage with similar ideas

And the reality of it all!

But hopefully being delivered next week a little step up...

Sometimes things just don't happen fast enough. Next year I think I'll dig it half way into the yard like my best friend's dad did when I was in grade school. Then a deck around it and whallah... not too permanent not too temporary.

Sacred Spiral Herb Garden

Cheryl Koenig posted this beautiful sacred spiral herb garden and I just had to quick throw it in a collage to see if it should be in front yard.

Here's her picture and here's the collages...

Well it does just kind of sit there doesn't it. I guess it might go but have to see how the rest looks after retaining wall put in . Might be better off somewhere else entirely or forget it. I do need to put in new herb garden since we plan to put potting shed where current one is so thought this might be cute. 

Japanese Red Maple

Told Pat that couldn't do much more to front yard until we put in retaining walls, new front walk, add a portico..... But I would like to put in a Japanese Red Maple. Question is to put so it's in front of big front window or to the side. I like it to be smack in the middle because then later I will put Dwarf Alberta Spruce at front corner and the view from that to maple to humongous spruce behind it will be a great view.

I think I like the type at the top that is weeping the best. That one is crimson queen.

But that got me thinking about other types of Japanese Maples.....

If you recall I pictured it being about 12 to 15 feet max and many of these are either shorter than that or taller. I'm like the goldilocks of Japanese Maples. See here's an example of it in front yard that is off some to the Right of the house. So doesn't block our view after all.