Home Improvement

So, we're getting ready to sell the ole homestead and head east on our covered wagon, Charles & Carolyn Ingalls style. Before we put the house up for sale, we have some improvements to make. My brother Mike and Lee painted the whole house and garage. I wasn't attached to the pea green siding so I wish we would have done this much sooner! Within the next two weeks, we're getting a new bathroom and a new front porch.

The biggest difference is probably the back yard. Remember that stupid storm in October? As of about three weeks ago, we still had many memories of the storm in our back yard. My brother with some help from Lee cleared the WHOLE yard. And as I type, he is setting up a chipping mat so he and Lee can hit balls into the back. Lee's finally going to get some use out of our huge lot.

Ah, memories. Here's a pic of the biggest tree the fell in the back. It landed about 2" shy of our garage and it crushed our 8' tall rhododendron.

Here's another shot of the back post-storm. There's still quite a bit of snow covering all the downed limbs. This shot doesn't even do it justice.

And here's the new and improved back yard!

This was taken a week ago, it looks even better today.

This is a view of the back of the house from about half way back into the yard.

Poor Rhoda, day after the storm.

Here's what's left of her - Mike said she'll grow back.

View of the front the day after the storm. Notice the lovely pea green siding.

Another shot of the front post-storm.

The front taken last week. Fewer trees but it looks much better! Mike took out the huge shrubs and is planting some new ones after the new front porch gets added.

After the back yard clean-up, we had a small pile of brush at the street.

Just a teeny pile.

View of the pile from the backyard. The town came and picked it all up on Tuesday. I knew my taxes were good for something.

I had to take a picture of my hour-glass figure.