Friday, June 25, 2010

PSF- Done!

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily
Do you remember this picture?
This is what our house looked like when we first bought it one year ago. Of course we knew the entire house would have to be redone. You've seen all of those pictures here, here, here, and here.

These are the pictures of the outside of the house. A whole other project in itself. You know we had to fill in the in ground pool that was in the backyard. You know we had to cut down all of the rotten trees, level the whole yard, put in a new driveway, add a patio in the back, put up a new fence in place of the rotten fence, and then replant all the new trees, bushes, flowers, and grass.
But we had to wait until spring to do most of that. So for the rest of the year the yard looked a lot like this.
I had a hard time keeping the boys out of the dirt. It was not fun. And not pretty. It got pretty depressing looking at it all year. Thankfully, we were finally able to get to the landscaping this spring and our grass was planted a month ago.
Ladies and gentleman! We have grass!
And trees, and bird baths, and bushes, and flowers!
And more flowers! I planted 32 pots of flowers (and 6 pots of tomatoes, peas, and peppers) and yet somehow it doesn't even look as though I have that many in the yard. Humpf.
And this is the new fence (that just needs to be enclosed on the side now that the heavy machinery does not need to get into the backyard anymore).
The boys are no longer restricted to playing in the driveway (although they still love to ride their bikes up and down it).
I love watching all of the birdies picking around in my little rock gardens.
I've always loved spending time outside and now I really love it. What a difference grass and flowers can make.
Now if I could just find a way to get the bunnies and deer to quit eating my pansies and impatients I'll be doing great!

32 comments:

Jaysi said...

Wow!! What an amazing transformation! I hear ya on the bunnies!

Unknown said...

Wow, you guys really have made that house SO wonderful. You should be proud of all of your hard work and it's just beautiful Kat! Such a wonderful home for your children to grow up in and you all to enjoy!

Mary Beth said...

It looks beautiful! I heard human hair is a natural deterrent for deer - maybe the next time the boys have their hair cut, you could sprinkle some around the beds? Course, then you become known as the crazy lady who plants human hair. Trade offs:)

Covnitkepr1 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Oh my goodness! It's awesome that you were able to see all of the potential and make it happen.

The house looks great!

Kat said...

Mary Beth- I actually tried the human hair. I gave the boys haircuts a few weeks ago and sprinkled their hair into my pots. Nothing. The flower tops were still gone. Grrrr. Stinkin bunnies. They are lucky they're cute. ;)

MamaB said...

The house is beautiful!!! What a diamond in the rough. I'm sure you just elated to be able to tell the boys to go in the backyard and play.

Thank you so much for the kind words. Although not unexpected it still hurt. We really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

cfoxes33 said...

How beautiful. Can you come do mine?

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

It's gorgeous! I want to hang out in your backyard.

Jeni said...

Kat - you are so right about the difference a nice big green lawns, flowers, planters, birdbaths and such make! Looks really beautiful.
On the tomato and peppers plants in a planter -I have some peppers and tomato plants in my garden -all blossoming right now too. Yay, me! But I have two big pots on my deck, each has a tomato plant (or two) and each has a pepper plant in it too -and yay, yay me cause right now I even have three -yep, three -tomatoes on one plant and a nice jalapeno pepper growing on each plant as well as a couple peppers on the plants in the garden AND I saw some yellow summer squash forming on my squash plants yesterday too! Plus fresh lettuce available now for us from my garden -after I had my grandson help me get rid of the damned slugs that were attacking my lettuce though! Looking fine now -in Michigan and Pensylvania with the growing things aren't we though?

Tammy said...

What an amazing job! It looks great. Someone once told me that if you pee near the bushes and plants the deer may stay away. Have no idea if it will work.

Anonymous said...

wow! what a transformation! You guys did an amazing job!

Wanted to drop in and tell you that I have an award for you:)

http://alittlekloep.com/2010/06/woohoo-you-like-me-you-really-like-me/

Tonya said...

It looks AWESOME. Our new house has major outside work needing done to it too.

Jessa said...

The house looks fabulous! You guys have done so much to bring it back to life.

Riahli said...

Oh wow, absolutely amazing! Love it!! I like how you took out the one tree in the front and left the other one, looks really nice. Great flower beds!!

Kat said...

Riahli- We only took out the trees that were rotten or falling over. I wanted to keep as many trees as possible. And after we took out all the ones that had to go we planted new ones in their place. :)

Burgh Baby said...

It looks fantastic! You guys did a great job.

Karen Deborah said...

You didn't let your boys play in all that dirt? How could you? It looks fabulous but sorry the bunnies, deer, slugs, bugs and other things are here to stay. just keep planting more. You may have to take out some of that grass for your veggie garden next year. What a huge yard! The whole thing looks great and you guys do not mess around, you did all this so FAST!

Emily said...

Wow! That is a dream home for sure. LOVE IT!

Molly's Mom said...

Holy cow! I guess this is what happens when I don't check blogs regularly...

Happy to see that all is well on that side of the lake : )

tweetey30 said...

Love the transformation it has become for your family.. Now all four little ones can run around and/or crawl..LOL.. and not be restricted to just playing where its hard and can get hurt easily.. You go girl...

Fire Hunt said...

Wow it all looks so good.

Cassie said...

Wow, everything looks so great! You must be so proud!

Mom24 said...

Absolutely beautiful! Congrats. :)

dawn klinge said...

You did such a fantastic job! That looks amazing. The neighbors must all really love you to, for the big improvement you brought to the neighborhood.

Kristen said...

Oh Kat it is so so beautiful!! You did such an amazing job, and seriously how did you keep those boys out of the dirt?

I just love the changes you made and boy did it make a huge difference!! :)

Beautiful friend!

Anonymous said...

Hooray for you! It looks stunning! What work you've accomplished--I bet your neighbors adore you, too.

Chrissy said...

Your house is gorgeous and all of your hard work and muddy waiting has paid off. I hope you're throwing a huge party to celebrate. Or doing something else fun that requires much less work. Congratulations!!!

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

It doesn't even look like the same place! Beautiful!!

Lisa said...

The house looks wonderful! You have so much to be proud of!!! And the post about your dad? made me teary. so heartfelt. hope you & your mom are hanging in there!

Jill said...

Oh wow that is GORGEOUS!!!

Lindsay said...

OMW! That is just beautiful...and I bet your neighbors LOVE the transformation, too! :-)

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson