May 21, 2021
Despite it being a Friday, Liz and I opted to suit up after work to put in a bit more time getting the arbor in order. We wanted to get some concrete in for the posts (and to also figure out how much more concrete we needed to purchase, in the event we needed more).
Read More...
May 18, 2021
At the end of the work day today, Liz and I headed out to do a bit more work on the arbor. The weather turned on us, and we ended up working a bit in the rain.
Read More...
May 17, 2021
Ever since we put up our fence, we’ve referred to the top of it as “the fence highway.” All manner of animals (squirrels and cats primarily) seem to use it as a causeway to get from yard to yard.
Read More...
May 16, 2021
With our post holes dug, today we focused on getting the arbor posts situated and fixed in place (mostly). We spent a good portion of the morning talking at the kitchen table, going over our approach and how to best figure out the placement of things.
Read More...
May 15, 2021
Liz, clearing out some roots and rocks. We learned that whenever the augur would bind and jerk, that was our cue to stop it and remove whatever obstruction was down there with a post hole digger.
This was a lesson I didn’t quite learn when I was going solo – I’d hit a snag, and just keep trying to power through. When what I should have done was stop and clear.
Read More...
May 8, 2021
We had a lot of backwards math to do: start with the overall height, then reduce it down to where we wanted it to be. Then figure out the height of the posts themselves. And then also factor in how far the posts should go into the ground.
Read More...
May 7, 2021
Liz has been talking about building an arbor in back, and the two of us have been researching a lot online. We’ve landed on an example we like, and I’ve been running over the specs a lot.
More to come.
Read More...
May 5, 2021
Liz has a vision for restructuring our backyard. To even begin laying out that plan, one of our garden boxes needed to be relocated.
This isn’t a final move, but more of a “get it out of the way for now” move.
Read More...
April 26, 2021
There’s work to be done this year, and also things to be done that will take a few years to realize. But it’s been very interesting to hear her talk about the changes, and to watch her go about planning this whole new space.
Read More...
April 18, 2021
Today, Liz and I were both outside working: me in the backyard, her in the front. She was clearing a lot of the front yard and parkway, while I was working on digging out the dandelions, and mowing the yard.
Read More...
April 4, 2021
As Liz was running towards the squirrel and clapping her hands, she also noticed that a nearby egg was on the ground, open and emptied. We were, it turns out, a little late to the party (which had gotten started without us).
Read More...
April 2, 2021
We are to be getting new neighbors soon, as someone bought the house next door last year and has been renovating. It will be interesting to see how/if life changes for us back here, with another family next door.
Read More...
January 21, 2021
I’ve seen this before, but never quite so clearly. I guess we can really see which parts of the backyard get sun and which gets shade.
Read More...
July 1, 2020
Before one of our morning walks, I called in to Liz to hurry to the back door. Here’s her, looking hard to see what all the fuss was about. It took her a bit to see it, and it might take you a bit as well.
Read More...
June 13, 2020
As we were sitting in the driveway, looking at our lawn… I pulled up some old photos of what the backyard used to look like, when we moved in. It’s such a stark difference, and hard to believe how rough it looked, before now.
Read More...