I'm way behind in my blog, mostly because we have been preparing our yard and waiting for sod. Now it is here! it is in! and here is the story! (no, saga really is the right term - keep scrolling down.)
This is our back yard when we bought the house. You might not notice that there are a variety of different grasses, and mostly weeds that look nice right after they are mowed. We wanted grass, all the same type.
This is our back yard when we bought the house. You might not notice that there are a variety of different grasses, and mostly weeds that look nice right after they are mowed. We wanted grass, all the same type.
We started killing weeds, bringing up sand and digging in the back yard last summer. The complete outdoor watering ban, due to the drought, postponed our plans and left a mostly dirt yard for the rest of the year.
This spring we started again. There was a partial lift of the ban, to allow watering of new landscaping. We tested our soil, put in needed lime and fertilizer and borrowed a tiller to mix it all in (we had been doing it by shovel - we were both grateful for the borrowed tiller). The patch of grass we left (in the background) is the same type we were putting in. The grass in the foreground is what we had and we hope to replace that part (about 1/4 of our total back yard, but not as much dirt) this fall.
Although you see Robert tilling out there, don't think he did this alone while we cheered him on from the deck - I was pausing solely to take a picture of our progress. It is beautifully smoothed by my efforts. The whole time I was raking, though, I kept thinking of my lack of the "Y" chromosome and the innate ability that comes with it to see the perfectly groomed sand hazard on the golf course or infield of a baseball field. I say this with no disrespect to the females who share a love for those beautiful sights or to the possible unfair generalization that all males do, but I thought I was definitely in need of some of that ability to eye in my raking. It turned out well enough with Robert only seeing a need to correct a little, all the while grateful that I did all the initial grading. Tilling was exhausting enough.
Although you see Robert tilling out there, don't think he did this alone while we cheered him on from the deck - I was pausing solely to take a picture of our progress. It is beautifully smoothed by my efforts. The whole time I was raking, though, I kept thinking of my lack of the "Y" chromosome and the innate ability that comes with it to see the perfectly groomed sand hazard on the golf course or infield of a baseball field. I say this with no disrespect to the females who share a love for those beautiful sights or to the possible unfair generalization that all males do, but I thought I was definitely in need of some of that ability to eye in my raking. It turned out well enough with Robert only seeing a need to correct a little, all the while grateful that I did all the initial grading. Tilling was exhausting enough.
I took the test in order to water new landscaping on our allotted three days a week between midnight and 10am. I got a 100% - sure it was open book, but still I got 100%! Taking the test allows us to water longer than the 25 min. of hand watering everyone else is allowed on their three days.
We called many places looking for sod that could be delivered and finally found one (it really took about 10 sod places to have what we wanted available now). It was to be delivered this past Monday, but Friday night we had such a terrific storm come through that the sod was to wet to cut and be delivered Monday. So, we waited one more day.
Robert took the day off and waited longer than he would have liked Tuesday morning (the truck came after 10am, instead of the "between 7am and 9am). But, finally the truck came and we were all excited.
The boys (meaning all three) were thrilled to watch the truck unload. It had the fork lift stuck on the back of the semi and they loved watching the driver take it off and unload the pallets.
Because of the hill down to the back yard he could only unload it to the end of the driveway. We were just glad it was finally here.
The tractor and trailer has again been worth it's weight in gold, again, as Robert transfered the sod down the hill so we could lay it.
Again, don't think he did this all on his own . . . I'm pausing to take a picture!
We're just glad the house was still standing after the boys were left to fend for themselves for 3 hours (Logan went down for his nap about half way through) - thank you PBS!
When we first started, we thought we totally overshot how many pallets we needed - that darn math and trying to convert from square feet to square yards!!
Logan didn't know quite what to do with grass instead of dirt. We are glad he is small enough to not do too much damage to the new grass. The other kids we can ban from going on it until it is established, Logan is another story.
Half way through, we didn't think we would have enough and started planning where we would option out of grass for now. In the end, it was EXACTLY the amount we needed.
WE HAVE GRASS!!
Izzy didn't quite know what to do with it and ran all over, sniffing everwhere (it is good she can't do much damage either).
We now have another reason to pray for rain, especially as today is our two day stretch of no watering (our days are M, W, Sa). But, as I post this, we are receiving a nice soaking rain with chances for downpours later.
Izzy didn't quite know what to do with it and ran all over, sniffing everwhere (it is good she can't do much damage either).
We now have another reason to pray for rain, especially as today is our two day stretch of no watering (our days are M, W, Sa). But, as I post this, we are receiving a nice soaking rain with chances for downpours later.
1 comment:
WOW--that's a lot of work, and it's looking beautiful. GOOD JOB!
Post a Comment