Back yard makeover

This weekend we tackled our backyard. It was never great looking, but after we brought the rabbits home and let them have free roam, it went from ok, to a disaster. They dug gigantic holes everywhere! (I'll admit, I'm not sure what I was expecting :p ) we were not too fond of the existing shrubbery there either, and a kind lady whom we had bought a couch from had also gifted us a great big 12' trampoline! So we needed to make a safe space for that. 

I didn't take great before pictures, I guess I forgot till we were half through tearing stuff out. Here are some side by side, (kinda) before and after photos. 

Here you can see a little rabbit in the back. We ripped out the bush and took a massive tiller to the entire yard to level it. That thing was awesome. 

The wood on top of the wall was a project that had been abandoned by the guy working for my MIL. It was supposed to be a vinyl privacy topper, but dude did a crappy job and it would not be able to hold something as heavy as vinyl. Instead of tearing it down we ended up using willow branches we had cut and brought home from the lavender farm. We cut them about the same length and nailed them to the wood. Turned out pretty nice for being a last minute, rigged and cheep project. Also, it's a great place for the wisteria we planted to grow.

The hole in the back is for a future pond. :)

We sectioned off half the yard for the rabbits and laid gravel on top to try and minimize the poop abundance. So far it's worked pretty well. And the rabbits have yet to escape. 

Edit: still true two years later! 

Here are my loves laying sod. We got a great deal on it, if you go to the field at a certain time (early in the morning!) you get a pallet of the outer edges of the field for like, $200. Our truck and trailer were so weighed down! Id never have thought it was so heavy! And so worth it!

Instant lawn!! 

Well, we are super happy with it. A little mini oasis is what it will be when the pond is done. Hopefully soon.....

Monster Bank

We have a great little place in town called Art Attack! Where you can paint ceramic pieces and they will for it for you. They also do a ladies night once a month when you can bring your own alcohol and snacks and paint with your friends. I like to go every so often, it's a fun little evening to be creative.

Last week I made a monster piggy bank.

Before being fired. 

 I made it for my son, but he showed little interest in it. It's also his like, 5th piggy bank. So I've adopted it as my own. You can never have too many piggy banks, in my opinion. 

I also had a little extra time and made the little rabbit and frog for the fairy garden. ;) 

Garden beds 2013 FINISHED!

Oh my wonderful garden beds are DONE! Woooooo! Now the fun begins! (I thought building them was fun too, but you only build them once) my husband did an amazing job, of building and improvising. (So far in writing this two sentence blog, I've been asked to get up 5 times by my son, can I get any peace?!? No. )

We put the fence up this past weekend which means I can finally start planting! I have to have a fence around all growing vegetation or my golden retriever will eat it. Bitch.

Woo hoo! Time to start planting!

Happy gardening!

Beautiful dirt

 Finally! The last step to finishing the garden beds has come.... We have dirt!!

We are spending our weekend unloading thanks beautiful soul into my freshly built beds, and I'm SO excited! 

One step closer to being done and planting! Woohoo!

Seedling updates!

Man these little suckers are growing!

 

We were having multiple issues with our lighting throughout the house. I had all the seedlings on top of my 'ghetto gardening' stack in our south facing bedroom. It was great! Until I started running out of sunlight. I started putting a tray of plants in every possible window opening available, some I was moving twice a day to get optimal amounts of sun. Then, the sun 'moved'. My full south windows were getting inches of sunlight throughout the day. The plants towards the inside were starting to look sad and wilty. I wanted the hubs to build me one, but time was of the essence (so dramatic!) and he is remodeling a bathroom.

 

My mom purchased one of these little greenhouses for drying her lavender. I thought it would be perfect for what I needed. I bought one from Lowes and we took off our door leading to the roof deck and set it up right in front. The door faces east and gets amazing morning sun, around noon I figured I'd just take the greenhouse out on the roof deck I for afternoon sun. This has worked out great. Although the green house is a little flimsy, I figure it will do fine for one spring and then we'll (he'll) build me a permanent one. :)

 

Four different types of peppers, tomatoes, onions, eggplants, cilantro and basil.

 

This little sucker got whipped around in some wind before I got the greenhouse. He's making a mighty recovery.

 

Happy gardening!

Fairy garden: newest addition

I have blocked off an area for the fairy garden. We cleared out the grass, laid down landscape fabric and began placing the cinder block walls around it. I'm really excited to get the project rolling but also don't want to rush it. My husband naturally thought this was the silliest idea and didn't understand the point. (That there really isn't one except for self amusement, pleasure and entertainment?) but as I started telling him my ideas and asking for his advice, I could tell he was enjoying himself, just a little. ;0) I liked the idea of containing the garden to a small space so as not to get overwhelmed or out of control. I don't want it to look tacky or trashy. I intend to plant small plants and succulents in the brick tops, and possibly cover the cinder with rock veneer. It's a ways down the road.




My step father gave me an adorable resin fairy door with matching windows and a light for Christmas. (SO CUTE!) I have been anxious to use them but was unsure of the fairy gardens location until recently. So after clearing the area this weekend and prepping it the 'right' way, I was able to put them up......


(See the Easter egg hiding in there? The hunt for Easter eggs was repeated multiple times this weekend. )

I had ordered an adorable dollhouse patio table and chairs to go to the left of the door, but the eBay seller had to cancel my order due to being in the hospital. I'm so bummed! I can't find another one like it! I'm also thinking of making a nice little lamp post/hanger for the light. I'd like it to go above the door.

The tree is a non fruit bearing cherry. It just bloomed its beautiful pink flowers and it made me excited to see it bloom next year with a (possibly) completed fairy garden underneath!

It's got a long way to go, but I'm so happy to be getting started. I love it!

Things I saw on Pinterest and tried #27 strawberry stones

I originally saw a picture on Pinterest of the strawberry stones, but none of the links ever worked for me. Since then I've seen a lot of them popping up, but I could never find any successful stories of them working. Still, it was an easy project with things I already had on hand. So when my son woke up early from nap the other day, we started painting rocks to keep him quiet and from waking the other kids.




He enjoyed himself immensely, and did a fantastic job! It took us a few days to get a few coats on and dried, then I stayed up one night to have some peace to do the 'seeds'. It's impossible to concentrate on details with a three year old. I swear!




Before the clear coat....





And after. I'm really please at their turn out. And I promise to report my findings if I think they really deter birds or not. Otherwise it was a great and easy project to do with my toddler!