The lawn is gone!

We were able to get so much accomplished this weekend, much more than I ever imagined.  We started out Saturday morning going to watch Sweet Pea and her team play probably their best basketball game ever.  As soon as we returned Sweet Pea and her Dad headed down to buy the lumber we'd need for building the two large raised beds we are going to have in the front part of our front yard.  The weather became very windy and very rainy so we were glad to have a project that we could work on in the garage.  We are also very lucky we didn't lose power during the building, we watched doormats and garbage cans blow up the street.

Raised bed number one was completed by late afternoon.  It is made of untreated cedar since we plan to grow vegetables in it.  The bed will actually be turned over - the feet are to help hold it in place.  This bed is 4 feet by 14 feet.

This will become bed number two.  Our plan was to build it today, but when we awoke to sun we decided we'd put this off for another day when it rains.  We can always count on a rainy day, but the sunny ones this time of year are much harder to come by.

The inner grass here had been cut already with the sod cutter by my husband.  We laughed when we finished this area because we said after 13 years of marriage this was the best team work we've ever had during a project.  He pushed the sod cutter while I pulled it around the curves.  I just wish I would've gotten a picture of the sod cutter, but he was anxious to return it.

Sweet Pea got right to work helping to roll the sod.  She is such a hard worker, she loves being outside and being busy.  I think she helped as much as an adult.  Her little sister was inside organizing her toy jewelry.  My husband and I laughed at how different our girls are - one out in the mud and loving it, the other staying clean inside playing with dolls.

My husband aka The Muscle with his favorite tool - the pickax.  He seems to find a use for it no matter what we are working on.  Rolling and lifting sod (especially when it's wet) is very heavy and hard work.

Sweet Pea and the Littlest Gardener on top of our own mountain of sod.  Next weekend we plan to get rid of it.

The inner grass area with it's own little mountain of sod.  This area will be a little seating area with container plantings around for some color.  It's very sunny and warm here during the summer and will be a nice place to enjoy the sun.  Our backyard is quite shaded during the summer and is a nice place to enjoy on days that are especially hot.

The front yard free of grass!  What a nice feeling to have this job finished.  

Our next project will be to finish the other raised bed and start spreading gravel, that probably won't happen for another week.  Until then I can enjoy some of the new flowers I've found blooming around the yard and maybe get some seeds started.