~Our "new" backyard~

Backyard re-landscaping.

We spent the last few weeks working outside in the yard. Our home had a very small, often described as "pathetic" backyard when we moved in. You can see it in the picture above. Our grass was not even big enough to adequately be used as a putting green, and most of the yard was hill sloping up to the woods behind our house.

We've had plans for a while, but of course had to wait and save up to make the changes we wanted to make. So finally in the end of September we were able to undertake our project.


The kids were great helpers, we borrowed lots of different tools from friends to make it possible, and even enlisted a few friends in our slave labor. And three weeks later (with some days off for torrential rain and work) - we finally made it!

Final tally was around 25 yards of very rocky topsoil dug up and moved out (what we here in town lovingly refer to as Covington Bedrock - including several rocks that took 2 people to dig out and move), 4 yards of gravel put down under and behind the retaining wall, 5 yards of fresh topsoil under the sod and behind the wall, 320 square feet of new sod (and yard!), and 250 concrete blocks to make the retaining wall. Here are a few pictures of the progress and final outcome.

Thanks to everyone who either helped out or loaned us wisdom and/or supplies to make our new yard possible! The kids (and we) are loving it! We were done just in time for Jadyn's party, too - you can see those pictures in a previous posting below.