Backyard Mess/Tree Removal/ New Fence

So I am the queen of starting huge projects and almost finishing them, but leaving the little details to get unfinished. I hate it about myself. So before the basement is 100% complete I decided to tackle a different LARGE project outside. I don't even know where to start on this blog post... so here it goes.

Since I moved in Millie has been able to jump my fence in the back yard. It has made leaving her in the backyard during the day very difficult. So I decided this spring to replace the fence. It was much needed anyway, since the whole south side was pretty much completely falling down. So after several overpriced bids, I figured with some help it could be managed on my own. MISTAKE #1... but needless to say I moved forward with project.

Part of the reason my fence was a disaster on the south side was due to this huge tree in the backyard.

The fence was hardly together on the one side due to the root growing!

So the first part of the project was to cut the tree down! Had to barrow my brothers truck and bobcat to haul it all off. I called Provo city for some help, since my power line went right through the tree, but they were unwilling since it wasn't a main power line! They were extremely unhelpful. They did inform me that since they were not willing to help, that if I damanged the power line at all I would have to pay for it.

I did enjoy driving the bobcat and dumping the huge parts on the tree in the trailer.

As you can see in the pictures the tree was unique to say the least. Not to mention that it was hallow in the center on a lot of the branches. Kind of cool! I love the below picture. The sun was setting one night and it looked awesome.

Once all the main branches and stuff was hauled away we still have this massive stump to deal with. So a friend of a friend that works at Provo city (he cuts trees down for his job), came and helped cut the bottom with his huge chain saw!

This picutre kind of gives you an idea of actually how big this root of this tree was!

Once we started taking the tree down the rest of the fence just fell over. Now I have to go outside with Millie everytime she has to go the bathroom. Not my favorite things, especially at 5 in the morning when she gets up.

Since I had the bobcat I decided to rip out a small cement riser that was on the side of the house. With the fence going in, it had to go. This is the truck all loaded up with the cement. It wasn't an easy.

With all the cement gone and the area leveled some posts finally got put in. So I am making progress.

Now I just need a few more hours in each day to work on this project.

Kitchen Remodel, Yard Remodel, and the Garden

KITCHEN COUNTER
My kitchen counter never got refinished when we redid the kitchen so I finally broke down and remodeled it. I found tile on sale at Home Depot. $.77 a square foot was a steal of a deal... making each box only $8.58 and I actually liked it.

The Before Counter
(you can't see it very well but it was crappy linoleum, and notice that the kitchen faucet is on the back of the wall)

After I removed all the Linoleum and faucets

The After Counter
The counter all tiled and grouted

Put in a new sink and kitchen faucet... I know even have a soap dispenser

the finished product

upgrades include a sink disposal and two sink drains rather than just one.

YARD REMODEL
So my yard has never been anything to look at. Due to my massive tree in my front yard and all it's roots, the grass didn't grow very well. The back yard had numerous patches where there was no grass and just dirt patches. The sprinklers were exposed in numerous places, and often were out of the ground in some places. It was a mess. So with the help of the neighbors guys (them motivated by the garden in the front yard) we put in a new sprinkler system and landscaped the yard. It made a huge difference and looks so much better.

BEFORE
Put the sprinklers under the cement planters


the yard all trenched up..(Millie was all ready to play while I took pictures)


More trenched yard


AFTER
The front landscaped... we brought in dirt to build up the front yard and cover the roots. With new grass and the dirt area around the tree hopefully the grass will grow well.

With the backyard we put in some dirt in areas that were grass but should have been dirt. We built up the levels so they met up with my patio and new grass made a world of difference.

now it looks a lot nicer and not so trashy

I love how green everything looks in this picture

I have two unique and special trees at my house. This is in the back yard and so we put a planter around it to help make it look better. Millie loves to climb this tree!

THE GARDEN

The neighbors across the street came over at the first of the spring and asked if they could use the south side of my house to plant a huge garden. It was a dirt/weed mess anyway so I told them sure. We got the garden in a little later than we should have, but none the less it is there and growing.
We have corn, peppers, tomatoes, squash and I think zucchini

Firepit and Yard Work

I have been working hard on getting my fire pit area in the back yard nice looking. It was fully overgrown, and that took some time to do the weeding. After slaving away for several days and some help from some great friend and roommates I have finally finished. Cant wait for summer nights having bbq's and sitting by the fire.

After weeding this I decided to put down some serious 1 year weed and grass protection spread some extra mulch in the area to make it look nicer.



The joys of owning an older home are the neat little things I find all over. The machete was in the ghetto garden storage area I had. I found the other tool in the dirt while weeding.




This chair looked awesome against the red fence.


Old rusted antique wheel barrow that was in the back yard when I moved in. Works just great and I use it a lot.

The Bird... The Mow

Today I got a lot accomplished around the house. I finished the fire pit (pictures later). In order to mow the lawn I had to clean up all Millie's toys.... I didn't realize there were so many hidden in the grass. So when I finally got them all out this is is what I ended up with.

Millie had been hanging around the base of the tree and when I finally went over to see what it was there was a little bird running around... I made Millie stay away and I started up the lawn mower. After my first pass around the tree I noticed the little birdie was down for the count but still breathing. My heart broke. I couldn't just sit there and watch it suffer, but I was so afraid to touch it. So I finished mowing the lawn and by the time I was done it wasn't breathing. Poor little one!