Exterior - backyard, adding bulbs

Later Shanna and I added hundreds of bulbs to the last garden strip in our backyard.

Hope

Reality

Unfortunately, I did not plan for the level of weeds that were so excited to spring up in the flower bed. Shrubs that were removed came back, and a volunteer tree or two. Oh and of course the tiny arbor vitae we planted didn't survive. So now this bed needs to be reworked but overall the back yard is amazingly lovely.

Exterior - backyard, leveling the yard

So excited to make this next step. Leveling the back yard, adding sod, therby removing the trench path and the pile of dirt. Oh, and just before we did this the city contacted me asking if I had a manhole cover in my back yard. What the heck? No. But they came out, found it, and raised it so that it would be less likely to become buried in my flower bed. Apparently the sewer line for the neighborhood starts in my back yard. It was also an opportunity to remove the hot tub, the wood pile, and scrubby bushes.

Before

During

After

Exterior - backyard, replacing concrete

Finally, I had the money to replace the back patio. I took the opportunity to replace and automate my sprinkler system. Taking advantage of the project scope we filled the old underground oil tank that was used for heating back in the day. This made it possible to add a driveway on the side of the house. Other work included enlarging the gate, and extending the side driveway to connect to the patio.

Exterior - backyard, replacing the sewer line

This was a major endeavor and caused backyard problems while solving plumbing problems. It required a 70 ft trench diagonally across the back yard. I ended up with a pile of excess dirt, a packed trench path that grass didn't want to grow on, and a gash in the back patio. I didn't have the funding available to fix the concrete.

Upstairs Fireplace Remodel

I know this isn't bad, but we didn't dare use it as a fireplace without having it checked out professionally.

The Idaho Chimney Life guys are amazing, creative, and hard working. During our talks we (Shanna and I) made the decision that it would be most cost effective and be easier to maintain if we swapped to gas fireplaces. Chimney dudes came and fixed chimneys and cleaned everything, then came back and put in two gas fireplaces.

Upstairs, the fireplace was changed out before the flooring so this is the original tile hearth.

We chose the same tile that we used for the front entry

While working on the gas line hook up they uncovered a void space behind the right side paneling. Such a surprise to find built-ins, though they were minus doors and drawers. Those came in later with the larger work on the remodel.

I loved how excited my remodel guys were when I said I wanted the built in painted black.

Here I am enjoying my mortage, the new fireplace, the new hearth, and the new old built-in