Monday, July 16, 2007

ugh.

I'm feeling soooo behind at the moment. So what the heck am I doing blogging, right?!! We did accomplish a lot this weekend, but it has left me so far behind on so many of the "normal" things...my house desperately needs cleaned again, blogs need to be read, and a menu plan needs to be created. And I must do this all today, because my parents will be arriving tomorrow morning.

So, what did I do with myself all weekend? Well, I finally got around to organizing more than 1,100 photos. We're really good about sending them off to Snapfish to have them printed, though for the past year I haven't been so good about organizing the prints once we receive them. These went back to the first day of school last year.

We also FINALLY got the clothesline up. About time! I really missed hanging clothes outside to dry...it's just one of those chores that I find incredibly relaxing. Not to mention that it saves on the electric bill and is better for the environment.

But the biggest job of the weekend was this...



I cannot believe that I forgot to take a "before" shot. You really need one to tell how far this view came over the weekend. Saturday morning, this walkway was made of cement bricks. Many intact. Many crumbling. Some crumbling so badly that there were big holes...it was really a broken ankle waiting to happen! We got a call from the nursery Friday that our stone was in and would be delivered the next day. So Saturday morning, while I fought with the photos, Rich dug out all the cement bricks lining the sides, smashed up the remaining "floor" bricks with a sledge hammer, and bought some landscape timbers and put them in at the sides. By this time it was late Saturday afternoon, and our stone still hadn't been delivered. I called the nursery and was told that they just got too busy to do it today. Jerks weren't even going to call and tell us. So we headed over in both vehicles, got our delivery fee back, and loaded up all the stone ourselves. Got home and unloaded all the stone. Then called it a day.

Sunday, we hauled and dumped fourteen 50 pound bags of sand and spread it out over the walkway. Then I started hauling and laying out stone. After I'd get 6 or so feet worth laid out to my liking, Rich came behind and started filling in with topsoil.

So, now I am aching in muscles that I didn't even know I had. Which means it's probably going to take me twice as long to get anything done today. But I must say, we are both very happy with the results!

18 comments:

Katie said...

You deserve a break, that walkway looks wonderful! You did good!

Unknown said...

It's beautiful!! So lovely ~ and I am admiring your garden immensely :-)

Jean said...

Wow! So that's topsoil around the stone? It certainly looks like concrete in the photo. Very, very nice! Perhaps you should think about a massage what with soreness and the money you'll save hanging the laundry out for the summer. :-)

maggie moran said...

Lovely! Have shovel! Will travel? :D

~**Dawn**~ said...

Wow. 1100 huh? I bet it would make your head spin to know that I have gone to WDW for the day & come home with more than 300 photos from just that. ::looks sheepish:: Of course not all of them are worth keeping, and very few are really great, but suffice to say that I am capable of producing mass quantities of photos very rapidly. =P

twiga92 said...

Wow! That's quite the accomplishment! GReat job - looks really good!

Laura said...

Good job, wow!! Congrats on getting all those pictures organized too! I'm still trying to plough my way through mine.

Laura

Jennifer said...

Looks beautiful!That's a lot of hard work - but it paid off. Sorry about the sore muscles - I can imagine! Enjoy your visit. Hope you get everything done that you're wanting to. But don't sweat it -they are coming to see you - not your house! ;o)

Jupiter said...

Wow,that looks fabulous! I'm impressed :)

I'm so,so behind in EVERYTHING lately...and then I sit down at the computer and go,"WTH am I doing sitting here??"LOL I miss blogging and reading. I think when I write myself a new schedule, there will be time set aside daily for those things,for sure.

Anonymous said...

That looks amazing! I can't wait to own a home so I can do that too! :-) And I just wanted to let you know that even though I'm killing you I'm so glad I'm adding to your TBR list! My blog is doing some good! I can't wait to hear what you think of The Mysterious Benedict Society! And when you go and pick up a Charles Martin book, I recommend starting with When Crickets Cry. It's his first. Happy Reading!

kreed said...

Oh my word! Guess I'll be complaining a little less about my crazy days and overwhelming projects - you did enough for ten people this weekend! The walkway looks great and how about you come visit and give me some advice about what to plant in our new huge flower bed out front?!?

Anonymous said...

Oh Debi! I totally understand and appreciate all that hard work. Our house was finished in August and we've done ALL of the landscaping ourslves ~ the plans and the work. David put in a huge stone patio in the center of our back yard and WOW, the labor that went into that thing ... I just LOVE your walkway! Y'all did such a good job! Hope your body isn't too achy the next fews days. If so, just say ... Ooooooooh Rich, I need a massage, LOL!

Melody said...

Hey Debi, I think you guys have done a great job! I think it's beautiful. And you should also took some pictures of those flowers as well, they are lovely! :D

Candace said...

That is gorgeous! You should be very proud. After you are rested you can come do one for me ;)

Annie said...

The picture looks great!!!

Stacy at Exceedingly Mundane said...

Oh my goodness, that sounds like a lot of back-breaking work, but boy, it looks great! And please let me state for the record, I'm in awe of the fact that you get your photos printed regularly, AND that you organize them. I'm only like, oh say, 3 1/2 years behind on getting my digital pictures printed.

Have a great day and a wonderful week!

gail@more than a song said...

WOW, that walkway is beautiful! And such a lot of work, I know y'all are proud of it.
And gasp, 1100 photos too! Could you pretty please come and help me with mine, I won't tell you how far behind I am!

Carl V. Anderson said...

That looks fantastic! Nicely done! When can you get to my place to start in on my front yard?