Yard, Check, Check, Check... + Link Up!

Curb appeal is such a big deal, in my opinion, and slowly but surely we are getting there with it. We have done so much but still have lots we'd like to do (as noted above).

If you have been following along with our home improvements since we moved in, you might remember this post on tearing out our dumby Fitzer bushes. Here are some pictures below of the before...

I just shuttered looking at those.

And the after...

That pink cluster fest started out as one tiny little flower. It really pays to fill your beds with the stinky nasty compost from the dump. Our flowers have eaten it up and really taken over our beds!

My mom and Dad have helped us so much with our yard and it's been fun learning about new flowers and plants. Somehow in the millions of dead heading and weed pulling I've done, I've learned I really do enjoy yard work! 

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Link WHATEVER, WHENEVER up! As long as it's cool ;) Just have it be to a specific blog post.

I want to see what you've created, done, eaten, made, worn, or just think is awesome enough you have to share! Please visit a couple others who have linked up as well. We all love some comments right?

Link away....

A Weekend for the Books

This weekend was perfection! Amazing weather, a museum, working in our yard (finally BBQ ready! Who wants in???), and tons of time spent with lots of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends! Is it just me, or does this weather want to make you slap yourself in the face you're so happy??? PARTAY in the USA!

Bush 1, 2... GONE

Look at those lean, mean, workin machines...

As soon as the house came together, we figured the yard needed some TLC too.  These Fitzer bushes were one of the first things I knew I wanted GONE when we bought the house.  In May, my awesome dad came over with his truck and chain saw to help Wren pull the right bush out (these things are way bigger than they appear, it's like pulling ten trees out!)  We filled up the entire truck bed and huge trailer with just the one bush to take to the dump.  What a nightmare.  We planted a couple trees in the area, laid bark, and lined it with rocks for the time being.  It definitely needed to be built up.  Wren tried his best to spruce up the other bush in the meantime (there ain't nothin that can make those bushes look good though, let's face it).   

A couple months later, they mustered up the energy to pull up the other beast.  That was not a pretty site either.  Wren busted a sprinkler line digging up the roots and the empty area was even bigger than the first area was.  We lived with it like that for a couple more months which was an absolute exquisite site!

Then last week my sweet dad brought us over a truck bed full of compost to build up both flower beds for when my mom comes next week to transplant all of her parrenial flowers, trees, and bushes.  Our yard is coming together and I can't even wait until next spring when they are in full bloom!  

Who'd a thought?    

Now... Wren might just tackle the outside this week and stucco.

Buying old houses is SO fun!

But really though, I think I'm sick because I do think it's like the funnest thing ever.  I'm addicted to before and afters and to be able to say, "We did that."  Which reminds me, we need to show you the rest of the before and after pictures of our house.  There's just little things I want to change/add before I show you...  Sorry it's taken months and month!

Yard Love

Our yard has been my one constant happy place since we closed on the house.  As we were fixing everything up and I was so exhausted and on the verge of tears and everything inside was so terribly frightening, I would just look outside to the yard and feel myself slowly calming down and think, "This is why we bought the house."  

Since we've moved in, every week more flowers keep popping up.  If there's one thing the previous owners did well, it was their yard and I really am so thankful to them for keeping it up so well.  Plants and flowers were such a big part of my childhood.  I remember walking with my little brother and sisters and noticing (and yes... picking, woops) all of the plants and flowers as we went.  We were always playing outside.  I think nature is slowly getting lost with children today.  When this babe comes and gets a little bit older, I want to spend tons of time in our yard, letting him play with the flowers and plants.  I want him to get dirt under his little baby nails and in between his fat toes.  I don't want TV and video games to consume his little mind.  

So thank you previous owners for making our yard such a magical place.

It's going to be mine and baby's little haven!  

Our Flower Pots

In all of the loads of crap we have, I found my two beloved flower pots that I haven't seen since our first apartment.  We thought these were a great way to spruce up our little front porch area.  Lots of the bigger plants can get pretty pricey so we decided to get a couple bags of potting soil ($4.97 each at Home Depot) instead, filling the pots up with that, and then just plant our own little flowers in them.  I think I spent maybe $30 total this way in the flowers.  My cute mom came with me as to make sure I purchased the right ones for the sun exposure in the area.  She said they will start growing like crazy and look full and pretty soon.

I have discovered I really love yard work!  What better way to make your home look inviting?  

And get a tan?

And look white trash with my pregnant belly hanging out all day?