Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Winter Project

In one of my most recent posts, I alluded to a landscaping project ...

I had wanted to start this project toward the end of summer. But it seemed like something was always happening to postpone it. I couldn't have imagined that I'd be working on it in DECEMBER! But there I was.

After months on and off of collecting bricks, I was putting them into the ground in an attempt to rein in the quarries of white marble chip that surround three sides of the house and regularly end up all over the yard. I thought it might also add a little shot of color around the house.

I FINALLY started Thanksgiving weekend. And while it's straightforward work, certainly not rocket science, it was a very time-consuming task. And Mother Nature kept challenging me to get it done. Right after I started, we got hit with a string of days with highs in the 40s and winds almost that high. Then, we had a couple days with highs in or near the 60s, so I got my silly self moving at top speed.

It wasn't too hard, considering I was still working with a messed-up left hand. But, it did require some elbow grease, a few adjustments to allow for my injury and LOTS of patience. The biggest challenge was dealing with all the decades of rock I was hitting as I attempted to dig up weed-filled dirt, create a small trench, line it with plastic and then put down each brick.

Finally, last weekend, I got it finished. Well, all but the back yard. I got the sides and front done. Now we just need to add some rock, straighten out the brick bases in the rock and get the trees out.

Even though it's not completely done, I think it looks pretty good. Here's a look.


3 comments:

Karen Anne said...

Looks great! Such a feeling of accomplishment to cross one more project off the list.

NV said...

Thanks, Karen Anne! I can cross off the first phase. Hopefully, by the time the sun sets on Saturday, I can call it complete!

Kate H. said...

Appreciate this post! I, too, have a border project like that to do, but I've been putting it off because I've thought I needed to put sand under the brick. Loose brick I have, a big dump of sand I don't. But from what you write, maybe the sand isn't necessary at all, and I can do it with just the plastic. That looks promising for Spring, yes it does.