Weekend Project, Day 2

Day 2 brought some challenges we weren't expecting!!  The ground was super hard in some places which made digging holes for the plants somewhat difficult.  Since I did most of the digging, I also had to struggle with some rocks getting in the way.

Everything went fairly well.  I had all 4 of the larger bushy things, which required the biggest holes, dug and planted.  I was planting the African Daisies we bought which only needed small holes when things stopped going as planned.  I was smack in the middle of the bed, trying to dig a hole when I came across a rock.  I spent some time trying to dig it out myself with no luck.  So I called John away from edging to atempt to get it out.  It didn't take him long to figure out that this "rock" was a LOT bigger than I had originally thought.  Here are some pictures of the digging out process...

John broke our shovel (only a few months old) in the process so I had to run to the store to buy another one, then to the in-laws for more supplies.  After at least 30-45 minutes of both of us digging, sledge-hammering, digging, crow bar-ing...we FINALLY got the "rock" out!  Turns out it was more a boulder than a rock!  And of course it was in the ground the long way, making it even harder to get it out.  I think the builders dug it there after building the foundation as a joke! 

SUCCESS!!  John and I with our boulder! Ü

We were then able to easily get the rest of the daisies in the ground, mulch, and add the rock border (which John did while I ran to the liquor store for apparent red-neck box of beer).  Finished product is totally worth the project which took longer than expected and was a little more difficult than expected!!  Next yard step will hopefully be the deck expansion!!!

Couldn't post without any doggie pictures!!

Relaxing in the sun while Mommy and Daddy are digging in the dirt!

Sleeping on the stairs!

A little dark, but my girls sleeping!

Weekend Project, Day 1

We spent the better part of our weekend in the yard (or in my case running back to the store for forgotten things/replacements!).  We had some dead grass along the backside of our house so we decided to just make it a flower bed!  We've got some big plans for the backyard and this is just the start!!  We spent what felt like ages at Home Depot picking out just what we wanted.  That with a few other errands made it 3:00 before we got home and started.  Here are some before pictures...

The door from the basement is at the left of this picture, corner of the house right at the right of the picture.

John laying out the outline of the new bed with the hose!

The pup apparently wanted to be a part of our new landscaping!! Ü

Luckily, John and I have a little bit of experience in digging up sod with the other 2 beds we put in last fall. That was the next step after deciding where to put the bed. We were also lucky to have mostly dead grass which was significantly easier to dig up then the growing stuff!! Then we had to decide where to put the things we bought...

End of Day 1.  Sod up, plants laid out and ready to go!  Day 2 includes plantinging the plants, laying down mulch, and adding a rock border. 

Good Golly Miss Mollie

Well I'm finally finding time to sit down while cooking dinner to post some pictures of our new addition, Mollie.  Mollie is a 4 1/2 month old Wiemeranar puppy that we got this past weekend.  We had always had the thought of a second dog in the back of our minds and both knew we wanted a bigger dog.  (Not that we don't love Aggie!)  I was bored and lonely last week because I didn't work very much and decided to go look at some puppies at a local pet store.  BIG MISTAKE!  I first was immediatley drawn to 3 minature dauschaund puppies but then saw the Wiemeranar at the end of the row.  John and I went back few days later and it was decided before we even knew it that she would come home with us!

It's been tough to adjust to having a puppy around, but we are loving it!  John's been getting up early to run with her (impressive I know!) and Aggie, Mollie, and I have been walking after school.  Aggie has slowly adjusted as well.  She's trying her best to let the much bigger Mollie know who's boss!! 

Our first full day home and Mollie's already foud Aggie's favorite late morning spot in the sun.  Aggie's not too sure what to do with this "thing" in her spot!!

Sleeping in the sun!

I had pulled the pillows out so I could take and afternon snooze in the sun while still keeping an eye out on Mollie.  The second I got up they both laid on sepearte pillows.  Then Mollie decided that wasn't good enough and laid with Aggie!

The flash is kind of bright in this one, but this is Mollie's typical run in the backyard.

John and the girls.

This one's for you Megan C!  I thought that since I was blogging and cooking I'd let you know what I was making.  Real fancy off-brand Hamburger Helper!!! Ü