New Landscaping

When we moved into this house, the yard on the north side was a jungle. You couldn't access that area without boots and a machete.



See? And this is early Spring. In high summer, it was a wall of green.



The stepping stones were messed up and the sprinkler system valves were an eyesore. We have a small yard and didn't want to waste this much valuable space.

About 6 months ago, we pulled everything out. Well, we hired someone to pull everything out leaving a blank space to design a new patio and path. While we were at it, the front garden had become completely overgrown. So we cleared that out too. The house went from this...



to this...



What a difference! You could actually see the house. I felt bad that we took out the big tree in front. But it was really messy and the roots were starting the shift the driveway, so it had to go.

Today, the landscapers finished the job. Here's the new front of our house.



There's a whole new garden!



Now you don't have to walk up the driveway to get to our front door.



Then, the path curves around to the side gate.





Through the gate we added a path to a patio extension. They were even able to hide those hideous sprinkler valves!



The plants will eventually fill in and up. Plus, there are already lots of bees visiting the new flowers!



What a huge change! Usable space!



You can see where the concrete meets the pavers. Eventually we'd like to tile the old concrete patio and the front porch to look a little more cohesive. (Although, power washing made a HUGE difference!) Every project we do on the house makes me want to do 15 more things. We still need a new gate and now I'd like to extend the paver path around the entire house. Someday. Someday.



We will be outside a LOT more this summer now that we have so much more space.

There's a Hole in My Heart

Missing my mom today. She passed away 8 years ago today. This song really touched me when I first heard it.

Shape Of You by Jewel

September settles softly
leaves are starting to fall,
and I recall
the last time you were here,
your laughter a melody that lingers still

There's a hole in my heart so i'll carry it
whereever i go, like a treasure that travels
with me down every road,
There's this lonely loss so deep, Kinda
bitter kinda sweet, there a hole in my
in the shape of you

Time steals so swiftly
as children having children of their own,
and around life's merry-go round goes
and there you are wanting what you can not hold

There's a hole in my heart and i carry it
wherever i go, like a treasure that travels
with me down every road,
There's this lonely loss so deep, Kinda
bitter kinda sweet, there a hole in my
in the shape of you

Even though my heart aches theres a smile
on my face cause just like a window to heaven,
theres a light shining through this hole in my heart

Theres a hole in my heart,
Theres a hole in my heart,
Theres a hole in my heart,
But its in the shape of you