Yard updates part3

Here are some pictures of the new walkway and the front beds. I don't have 'before' pictures of that because it was such a last minute decision.

New Walkway After:

Paula and Jack, I swear we aren't copying you. Our landscape plans really did call for a walkway like this!

Front view After:

We're really happy with all of it. And except for adding a few plants, getting the beds in shape for spring and summer, and giving the grass a little TLC, we are DONE with the yard improvements finally. That's the good news, the bad news is that we need to start on the interior next.

Yard updates part2

Here are the before/afters. It a much more dramatic difference up close, but these are the only pics I have right now.

Back of house Before:

Back of house After:

Green edging is gone, and the flowerbed on the right was extended to wrap around the corner of the house.

Back beds Before:

Back Beds After:

There is also flagstone in the center of the beds, replacing the brick. When it rains, the area in between the beds is a river.

Side Flowerbed Before:

Side flowerbed After:

(this is the view from the kitchen window) Green edging and crumbling brick are gone. We still need to get some seasonal color going out here.

Yard updates part1

I have so much to update, yardwise, it's going to take multiple posts. A couple weeks ago, our friends had some stone work done at their house, and were very happy with the contractor. We had planned to have some flowerbeds redone this season, so we had him come for an estimate. One thing led to another, and before we knew it, we were covered up with stone masons. Originally we were just going to replace the crumbling brick around the flower beds. But while they were already here (a phrase we repeated often before we were through) we decided to have flagstone put on the patio too. And a front walkway added. And stone around the front flowerbeds too (to match the back). I was a huge mess for a few days, but they did a great job, and it looks way better than we thought it could. Even the area where our trashcans live got a makeover, and is no longer an embarrassment. Here are some pictures in progress:

These guys showed up early and left late. This was the first morning, before I was fully awake, the patio was nearly complete.

We got huge thick flagstone pieces to connect the front walk to the driveway. It might seem like a strange place for it, but it's so handy. Plus it was on our landscape plans, and who are we to second-guess the professionals?

I'll do before/after pics in another post.

Attack of the killer moths

I got this picture tonight of a Hummingbird Moth . It looks like a tiny hummingbird, but with antenna. And very very creepy!

Ceramic Egg follow-up

Here are the ceramic eggs that we made during the little Easter lunch. They turned out great! I hope we can do this every year.

No comment on the gigantic bow Parker is wearing, I have buyers remorse.