Panda Academy: Where Teacher is Spelled M-O-M-M-Y

• Jun. 12, 2008 - The Yard Clean-Up is Done!

We have our lives back! After 2 weeks of planning, buying over $400 worth of garage organizers, wood and paint for new garden boxes, border bricks, mulch, and flowers, and working 6-8 hours a day in sweltering 100+ degree temps with high humidity, we are DONE! There are still a few minor "leaf debris" areas that there just isn't the time nor energy for but you'll see from the pictures below, we did our best. If we still get fined, we'll be fighting it tooth and nail. Lastly, thanks to all on Homeschool Reviews for their support during this trying time. It was appreciated more than you know. You all allowed me to vent and wail every day, and offered up encouragement. Thank You! Now, onto a ton of pictures! ~Heidi The driveway Before (the Can't Mind Their Own Business Neighbors own that white fence on the left) The driveway will resort back to this state every time it rains or the wind blows. It's what happens when you have 6 trees on a tiny property. When you have a busy life, you also choose to sweep it just once a week or so, not every single day like the neighbors do. The driveway After The garage Before  (I knew the garage needed a dejunking. It was on our To Do list before this happened.) The garage After Backyard Before (doesn't show all of our "violations") The backyard After (multiple pics) Garden beds to the right of our yard and the cherry tree Before The same area After Part of the gazebo and the middle of the backyard Before (Those aren't just leaves, it's soil and leaves, all lovingly placed there on purpose in order to create a deep enough layer for current plants and future ground covers. The strawberries love it!) Same area After (note the two new bright blue compost and potato boxes) Gazebo After Behind the garage and gazebo After (sorry, dh didn't take any before) Front of house Before (note our real problem - the porch needs a paint job and the Astroturf removed) The front After (don't know why there's not one of the same shot because I know I took one! Instead, we have pics of those 2 problem areas to each side of the porch where nothing grows well. As for the porch, image all the recycling totes removed, the porch and sidewalk thoroughly swept. All that gravel you see under the porch is what we removed from the side and front yard our first year in this house - a good 3,000 pounds of it. Want some?) And lastly, 2 very boring pictures. The side of the house and side yard Before and the same strip After. I'll admit it, I was always lazy about this area because it's a pain to clean. This is the side yard we might get in trouble for since all the leaves and twigs couldn't be removed. We've been planning to dig it all up and turn it into a food bed (aside from what's already there) next year. Same area After (note the remaining leaf debris) And that's it! Oh, there are a few more pics we took to cover our bums and some I wish were taken but weren't. I wish there was one of the entire mulch area. I'll try to get one before we leave on vacation. Thanks for viewing.

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