Getting some things done!

[gja1000]

Hi Diana! My hubby is a carpenter by trade - so he can (or could) do almost anything in terms of building. He and I (with a little help from our friends) built an 800 sq ft addition on to the back of our house 6 years ago. It took us a year to complete. Like your hubby though, he was usually VERY slow to actually complete things around the house. He was motivated to build the addition which consisted of the den he had always wanted and my mom had moved in with us and our house was only about 1200 sq ft and had only one living area. He really wanted his "man den".

Now that he can't do much at all, it is very hard for him to let someone else do the work - but he did great today (as you can see in the picture).

Speaking of pictures, they did get finished, but it was too dark to take pix - I'll do that in the morning.

We had one little hitch though - they cut the cable when digging for the sidewalk in the back. Our internet, TV and telephone all come through the cable I called my handy dandy son-in-law who can do most ANYTHING and he came by to splice it together till the cable company comes tomorrow to fix it.

When I called the cable co, they said the first appointment was NEXT THURSDAY! I said, "Uh no, we have TV, internet, and phones by cable, I need it fixed NOW" She said she'd check with the supervisor and then came back and said that they'll be here tomorrow, but they can't tell us when. She said they'd call before they come. I said, "Hmmmm....how will you do that since the phone doesn't work???" I was calling on my cell - so I told her she could call that number. Some people!!!

[Marilyn]

Gayle, so glad you are able to get this done. It's looking really good. I got a chuckle out of the tiny path your dogs had made. It's like a yorkie size path.

Your hubby looks like a very kind man. Hope he is able to be with you for a very very long time.

Mine is able to do things around the house, but he's either too busy or would rather be relaxing and recharging, but he is good about seeing what needs to be done and hiring someone to do it. Since he's a builder, he has access to economical workers. Our home was needing water blasting and the porches repainted. I hadn't even particularily noticed, but he did, so he got someone over to do it. Our front door is sealed wood, with leaded glass and needs refinishing every 2 to 3 years. He commented the other day that he needs to get the door redone. I feel so blessed to have someone who will get things done.

He hasn't agreed to the bedroom addition that I want though. Must keep pressing him. And I still have carpet in the living room. The tile I wanted turned out to be way to expensive, so we are supposed to be looking at other sources, or perhaps doing it ourselves.

Your flagstone looks great!!!! I love the use of natural things like stone. Can't wait for more pics.

[gja1000]

Thanks Marilyn! Since my hubby has been in construction in the past, we used to know people who would work at a good price - but since he's been retired, we don't know very many any more. We always used to do the work by ourselves though, to save money. Those times are over now - but it is good to kick back and watch everyone else work!

Here's some pix - I'll take a stab at before and after

1. Front yard before
2. Front yard in progress
3. Front yard now
4. Ditto

[gja1000]

Back yard - yes Marilyn, the tiny "Yorkie path" was cute, wasn't it! Also, to the left of the rock path, you see a couple of rocks, that is where our down spout pours water off the roof and makes a hole in the grass. I need to get a rain water collection barrel, but in the meantime, now it will splash down on the flagstone.

1. Back yard before
2. Back yard now
3. ditto

[gja1000]

A couple of months ago, we took out all our plants in the front bed and replaced it with colored rocks and then we had fun shopping for "desert" decor. Here's a few pix

1. Roadrunner (yes, that's a snake)
2. small bed (look for the snake on the rock)
3. Rock bed - full view
4. Sunface on the house

[Janet]

Gayle your rockways are beautiful!!! I really love the look! The rock bed looks great too. I don't think I've ever seen a rock bed before, I like the items you added to it. You have excellent taste.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Janet

The rock bed looks great too. I don't think I've ever seen a rock bed before, I like the items you added to it. You have excellent taste.

Rock beds are pretty common here - even moreso in New Mexico. In fact, in many towns in New Mexico the entire front yard is a rock bed - it would take too much water to keep grass alive because they only get a few inches of rain per year. I think they are beautiful and I would love to have the whole front yard in rock - but it's pretty expensive. The rock for that bed you see in the pix was about $100 and it is only about 2 inches deep (maybe even less in places). So, I'll have to wait for my "whole yard" rock bed.

I just hate wasting water on keeping my thirsty St. Augustine lawn green - but you know what, my daughter's neighbor took out her grass and put her whole front yard in rock and the neighborhood association made her take it out and put the grass back. Such a waste of water!!! So, since I probably won't ever have a whole yard rock bed, I'll just keep chipping away by adding things that don't need to be watered like the rock bed and flagstone walkway.

My hubby and I had such a good time shopping for all those "critters" in the rock bed. We drove all over looking at metal art, finding just the right pieces for the bed. I don't think you can see it, but there is a large metal horned frog (horny toad, for those of you in the south) and then a small clay horny toad sitting on a rock. Horny toads are almost extinct and they used to be everywhere. I think it may be the pesticides and the fire ants that have killed them off.