And the Rock Pile Continues

So the rock pile project isn't really getting much smaller. Travis shovels and shovels and shovels and shovels and it still is just there. We're convinced it's a magic rock pile and we've got enough rock for the entire street. However, the bit that's done looks GREAT. Most of our neighbors are now contemplating replacing their rock. Wisely most of our neighbors are pretty sure they're going to pay someone to replace their rock after watching us rake and shovel for weeks.

One weekend we made significant progress on the rock pile when it turned into a neighborhood game. I was tossing single rocks that had rolled into the street onto the bed when one of the boys across the street asked if he could do that, too. Before we knew it most of the kids on the street were standing on our pile tossing rocks into the bed. It actually worked and covered about half the bed in about 20 minutes.

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In the way projects go around here (see: The Dump Truck) as we decided to do the new rock around the front door we decided it was a good time to take out the massive 25+ year old juniper bush that was taking over the sidewalk and driveway. If you have a car on one side of the driveway you can't even open the door that dang prickly bush is so big. I had it pruned back a bit last fall, but it was still annoying. So, we trotted across the street to visit Mr. Jim who has 1 bay of his garage full of tools and asked to borrow his chainsaw. The first weekend Q and Travis got about 1/3 of the bush out and it filled up 10 trash bags. I'm not sure that taking out a prickly juniper was what Q and Karen had in mind when they came to Denver for the funeral but I bet it was at least a little therapeutic. Travis sharpened the saw and went after the next 2/3 the following weekend.

Then there was a lot of work where I didn't take pictures, we hauled bags and bags of dirt and needles, put in edging, amended the soil, I planted, Travis shoveled more rocks, and I did mulch. F did a great job entertaining himself since this weekend he wasn't allowed to play with the kids since he's boycotting naps.

So now the entire world can see our milk box and anything UPS leaves on our doorstep, but you won't have to tackle the bush on your way up the walk. The rocks and bed were all on Saturday, Sunday Travis installed a drip system for my plants in the backyard. We decided to take a break on yard projects for a couple of weeks, there's still the rock pile (will it EVER shrink?!) but it's mostly off the sidewalk now so I don't feel bad about ignoring for a couple of weeks.