Boys and Their Toys

Yesterday, I showed you this.  Papa Pea rented a Bobcat to start dealing with our sidewalk issue out front.

How about some flashbacks?

Here's how things looked when we bought the place...Overgrown trees and bushes (mostly dead underneath), rickety old fence, really narrow walk to the front door, and lots of dead grass between the fence and the walk.

Another view.  And we hated how that gutter ran along the house as you approached the door.

We had redone the gutters, torn down that fence, torn down the bushes out front, and cut down that big bush in front of the house.  Because we were gone so long this summer, the weeds really took over where those bushes used to be, but since we were tearing it up anyway, we didn't worry about it.  See how narrow that sidewalk is?

Bring on the Bobcat.

Papa Pea was in heaven.

The kitties were terrified and ran to hide in their little box!

Papa Pea hates this bush by our garage, so it also went bye bye.  The kitties will miss it.  They like playing and hiding in there.  We'll plant something else here.

Well, most of it is gone, anyway.  Haha.

First, he began tearing up the broken up part of the sidewalk.  Papa Pea had broken it up last year when we reran the gutters.  This downspout runs under the sidewalk now.  We broke up the sidewalk last year to do that.  Now, we'll pour the new sidewalk over that.  Our friend, Shawn, came over to help.

The concrete got dumped in our trailer.  This morning, Papa Pea took a big load to the dump.  We still have more in the garden.  We'll have to take that on another day.

Papa Pea would lift up a piece of sidewalk, Shawn would whack it with a sledge hammer, it would break to pieces, and then Shawn would load it into the bucket so Papa Pea could go dump it in the trailer.  They also pulled up all the stumps next to the house, all the stumps over on the other part, and the big bushes that were left.  I'll show you that in a minute.

Out back, you can see the big satellite dish is gone.  Papa Pea cleared a spot for where we're going to pour a concrete slab for the hot tub.  It's sort of far from the house, but if we can ever afford to build the addition, we think we'll need it back a little ways like this to accomodate the house and new deck we'd like to build.  We're trying to plan ahead.

Here's the front after the sidewalk and stumps have been cleared.

And the big shrubs and stumps gone on the other part, too.  Isn't it awesome?!  It's so much better.

I think we have a plan now...we're going to pour a curved concrete sidewalk up to the front step.  We'll put brick along the edge of it (a compromise between the brick I wanted and the concrete Papa Pea wanted).  There will be a curved dirt patch along the garage there for planting.  I think I'll put a climbing rose between the two windows (with a trellis) and hydrangea bushes under the windows.  There will be a little planting area along the outside of the sidewalk too...probably for annuals.  On the other part (to the left), I think I'll put a kidney-shaped planting area, and fill it with hostas.  It's pretty shady there, due to the big trees in front of the house.  I like the green and white variegated hostas with the purple flowers. I'd like some of those there, I think...something relatively small that won't cover the windows.

As I'm writing this, Papa Pea is powerwashing the brick.  I'm going to paint it the off-white color of the house this weekend.  Yay!  Thank you to those of you who saw my last post about this, where I was thinking of painting the brick.  Your encouraging words and photos really helped us make a decision!

We tore up the yard pretty good driving on it, though.  It had rained recently, so the ground was pretty soft.  This is the path to our garden that Papa Pea drove on several times.  We will have to fix that up now.  (The apples are starting to come in on our trees!)

Here's the debris pile.

And then there's this.  Looks pretty shiny new, huh?

I just have a few things to say about this:

• At least it wasn't my birthday present.
• I'm glad we decided it was time for a new one.
• I'm glad Papa Pea finally agreed with me it was time for a new one.
• It's not as powerful or versatile as the John Deere...it's a dedicated mower rather than a garden tractor that can mow, snowblow, etc.  Much less expensive, too.
• We don't need to be able to blow snow; we already have a 4-wheeler with a blade on it.
• We can probably sell the John Deere for about 2/3 the price we paid for this.  So, that's good.
• Sorry John Deere.  Normally I'd be more loyal to you, but you were just too rickety.
• Mowing will be much more of a pleasure on this one.

It has been crazy busy around here.  And I did it again to my poor friend, Holly tonight.  I was supposed to meet her and some others for dinner and to attend our Art Quilt group meeting.  I was really looking forward to it.  And I plumb forgot.  Totally stood her up.  I feel like crap about it.  I told her this is how I know I'm over-the-top busy.  I just don't miss appointments.  Sigh.  I'm so sorry Holly and gang.

Come back tomorrow for Glamp info!  I finished mine, as did the rest of the Design Team.  And a bunch of others should have their photos to Amanda tomorrow.  Amanda has been good enough to supply me with a giveaway for you all.  So, come back tomorrow to check that out.  Also, the other Design Team members have giveaways, too!  So, you'll have to hop around, check out what they made, and get in on their giveaways!

Until next time,

Mama Pea

Comments

[Allie]

Your grounds are looking much better, it's going to be gorgeous, girl! That new mower is too snazzy - very cool! Yep, you're way too busy....time to slow down, girl.

[Shelly]

Wow! So much work! I can see why you're so busy you forget appointments . . . The new mower looks nice. We just use the horses around here . . .

[Lynn]

Wow! It looks better with all the stuff gone and just dirt in front of the house! I'm sure it is going to look awesome when finished! Breaking up concrete is HARD work. We did the same thing at our house. The concrete walkway just made no sense. It started on the driveway, not the sidewalk, and right underneath a tree that only kids can walk under.

Have fun painting the brick!

[sisLH]

1. Don't feel too bad about Holly -remember you just had a b-day and you ARE older now.
2. Papa looks sooo happy on that mower!
3. Better check hydrangea height before you go under the windows with them.
4. I really like your brick right now.

[Maggie Szafranski]

I'm sure the neighbors are appreciating your improvements! It is looking great! You and Lloyd have done a lot of work to get all this done!

[Caroll D]

Wow, you really are doing a lot of work. But it will be worth it and you are going to love how it looks when you are done. You gotta love those boys and their toys!

[Donna]

Looks better already! I can't wait to see it oompleted. I actually have my own John Deere lawnmower :) and I love it ... used it this morning!
Maybe you should make you a bigger calendar .. you have so much going on! :)
Hugs,
Donna

[maggie Robinson]

Hi Stephanie,
Had to drop by to see how the job was going.... Looks like Papa Pea is getting it done....
Love Sweet Pea's Glamp.. what a neat idea.... 6 year olds know and want a crystal chandalier!!! wow... How things have changed!! LOL
Hope you are having a good summer...
oxox
((((hugs))))
Maggie

[William Gulliver]

The exterior of your house certainly looks a lot cleaner now! The tearing down part looks a lot of fun, too (because, c'mon, who can actually say he's torn down parts of the house to build a new one!).