yardwork update

Despite being 'on vacation', things have been busy here. After finishing at San Diego State, I started a week of backbreaking labor on the backyard. Here are a couple of pictures of the yard as of this morning. It is mostly finished. There are a few minor things to work on, and we plan to add more potted plants to give a touch of green. The photo gives some idea of the layout, there is still brick, but now it is level and smooth, plus we have a more interesting layout than the big old rectangle from before. Combined with the flagstone/gravel, it looks good and is low maintenance/watering. You can see Maggie's digging pit to the right of the orange tree in the second photo. Spoiled dog!

This was kind of an intimidating job. We had 4 cubic yards of decomposed granite (like coarse sand) and 2 cubic yards of river gravel delivered by dump truck. Walk it off and you see that this is a huge amount of stuff to get dumped in the carport. I bought a 4 cubic foot wheelbarrow. Do the math and you get 40 wheelbarrow loads and a shitload of shoveling. The work took place during a really hot spell, probably in the upper 80s to low 90s. (I know I probably don't have much sympathy after all the teasing about going to the beach in Feb., but it really was hot!) In addition, we got one ton of flagstone, which was delivered on a pallet. We transfered it using a piano trolley with a piece of plywood on top, probably about a ten trips. That part wasn't so bad.

The best part, of course, is enjoying it! It is great for sitting out and reading, having dinner, etc. The dogs seem ok with it as well.