Home Makeover!

I'm wishing I took some before pictures before we got started! The plan was to weed the front yard but we ended up taking out the split rail fence, cutting out an overgrown bush, and repainting the lightpost. And it was all *free* using stuff we had in the garage. Oh, and there is a new mailbox too (the one I bought two years ago ).

What a difference that made. I have hated that split rail fence since we moved in but figured it would be set in concrete. DH decided to check one of the posts and had the whole thing out in about 20 minutes. Woohoo!

very cool. i love it when you can do stuff like that and it doesn't cost a thing. so your good weather is continuing?

the weather here (still Alaska) is pretty chilly and cloudy today - and it really makes a huge difference of what you can do for the day. we went out this morning, but we're having a laid-back, good baby nap day.

sorry -- off on a tangent.

Mid-70s and mild. I love this weather.

[Sheherezade]

We just did a mini makeover on our back entry from the garage. It was a major junk heap of shoes, jackets, backpacks and assorted stuff. Also, it was last decorated in the 70s - with lots of wood panelling a and strange improv closet space. We painted, removed a bunch of closet doors and hardware and put in a shoe organizer and bin system. It looks fab. Unbelievable what a little paint and junk removal can do.

Do you have a picture Nellie? Are you fenceless now? What about the dog? (Ours would be dead without the fence....and probably take out a few joggers before he got run over. Fence is good.)

[SueC]

Sounds like a nice makeover Nellie! You should at least post an after pic!
We (meaning dh) just did a mini-makeover to our front yard and it looks awesome!!! It all started with me deciding to pull out all the vinca that I've been trying to grow for 7 years. It evolved into dh digging up and replacing all the soil along our walk, wiring in lights to line the walk and to spotlight two of our trees, putting in creeping juniper and some ornamental grasses, and continuing a stone path around to the side of our house. He gets a little manic when he gets going on a project, but the end result is usually worth it.

In the time I ran in to get the camera, another section of fence disappeared. I have a sort of before photo and took an after tonight. If I'm feeling patient, I'll post them tonight.

We are now fence free in the front yard. BUT, the fence didn't encompass the entire front yard and the dog could go under the fence. Same for the kids. Our backyard is fenced. Well, technically, the entire north side is held up by our shed and the hyperactive ivy.

Oh, that was something else interesting today. DH talked to the neighbor about replacing that section of fence and he is convinced that the fence is past our property line by one and half feet. If he is right, we just got a bigger backyard!

[Sheherezade]

Always nice when it goes that way. We have a neighbor that is convinced that 1.5 feet of our patio is his.....and he's going to claim it if he ever rebuilds his shed. I honestly don't think a surveyer has ever really looked back there - the patio and the shed are both cantilevered over a steep hillside. Let's hope he never wants to do the shed.

Congratulations on the backyard expansion, BTW. And post those pictures! (I'll post my organized closet space!)

[Flynn]

Fantastic!!!

Environment is such a huge factor in quality of life!!

Loving your house can = loving your life to a degree!!! It certainly is a nice pick me up!!!

The split rail goodness continues.

The remains of our fence and the bush we cut back still sit on our curb. The regular trash guys won't take it. We've been meaning to get to it...

And, the 85 year old neighbor said he would take it to the dump for us. He told DH that he needed to haul some other junk and he would take ours as well. DH offered to pay the fees and the neighbor turned him down. DH said he would help he load his truck and the neighbor refused that too. He says he likes that type of work. Ok! He has always been a friendly neighbor but I have to say we are a little surprised by his generosity. Very sweet of him. I think I'll have the kids can make a thank you card for him.