Oh boy we could use help.

When this project began we had it all planned out.  What we were going to do and what we needed help with from our volunteers.  The plan was changed  a little when some previous plans fell through but we managed to pick up a different days worth of work.  That day went so well we thought we were going to be done early and be twiddling our thumbs.  I was so wrong.  That day we had help.  Wonderful help.  It was not just the two of us and the two short people who live here.

Today was grueling, wet, and tiring.  We filled in the rest of the wall with gravel from the back and good dirt on top and then if that was not tiring enough Travis backed up the truck (We have it on loan from Chuck) to the wall and he then filled wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow full of the gravel from the back and dumped it in the truck.  He only stopped shoveling and wheeling twice today.  To eat and once to drive to and from the church.  He is Heman today.

I felt totally useless  and tried to do as much as I could do at 21 weeks pregnant what with raking and grading.  We then took our load of gravel to the church to fill ruts on the back property and boy were the kids excited!  Since we were driving under 5 mph and stopping constantly we loaded them in the back of the extended cab and let them roam free.  What a thrill!  Towards the end of the off loading at the church I took a look at Travis and he was so pooped!  How could he not be!  I got out of the truck and picked up a shovel and started to work.  I told him to go rest and drive the truck and that I would be fine and he was in such a zombie mode that he did.  He really needed it.  I unloaded the last of the truck and on our way home stopped and got a yard of river rock to fill in the mow strips.  We got home, ate dinner, and then decided that we needed to do a little of the mow strip before it was dark.  We were out working until it was too dark to see and the kids had to go to bed.

We both feel like we have been through the ringer and can't wait to have help at some point during the end of the week.  We get to do it again tomorrow ourselves but I guess this is what makes you stronger as an individual, a couple, and a family.

And it begins.

Our big yard renovation has begun!  We have waited since we moved in to be able to do this and here we are 18 months later.  Travis has taken this whole week off and our family and church are helping with labor and some of the finances.  Our church all pitched in and paid for the retaining wall blocks and some plants.  That was a huge relief off our shoulders as things have gotten very tight in our finances. On Monday Steve, Chuck, and Travis got started with tilling the front and back along with the mow strips and built the retaining wall!  Chuck brought one of his dogs with him named Stardust and she was our yard mascot.  The kids got quite the kick out of Stardust and they were allowed to dig anywhere in the yard that they wanted which was , according to Claire, "The best thing ever!"  We still have to take out the horrible "dirt" (Which is actually just gravel) and get the top soil in, get river rock in the mow strips, grade the yard, plant plants, make planter boxes, build another retaining wall around the deck, and seed the new lawn.  It's a long list but I think we can get it done this week and weekend.  It will be so nice to have a yard the kids can play in and we can use for growing veggies and just relaxing in.  At this point we are ahead of schedule but hope to be in that position all week!

A grave experience.

I have a weird fascination with graveyards.  I love really old ones with big beautiful headstones that are falling apart.  I don't know why but I find beauty in them and then feel the need to capture them on film.  I have done this twice now but think that now I am going to have to bring my camera everywhere with me just in case I happen upon a wonderful graveyard.  This is just a sampling of a few of the best shots.