Last May, with the help of our friends, we hauled out four tons of concrete and demolished a dilapidated playhouse in our backyard.  In doing so, we made the unfortunate discovery of another four tons of concrete that was buried a few inches below the soil surface.  We figured it must have been a pond that connected to the playhouse and moat.  Although we really wanted two garden beds, we just couldn't take on the task of getting rid of all of that extra concrete.  So, we saved it for this year.....

Shortly after moving in we got introduced to a fantastic landscaping company who has helped us trim our trees and a few other odds and ends that we don't have the tools to tackle ourselves.   I decided to give them a call to see what they would charge to break up and remove the concrete.  When they quoted a price that was no more than the cost of a debris box and jackhammer rental - we were sold!!!  I spent several hours moving dirt from the "pond" to a pile beneath one of our trees (back-breaking work) but Alex & Co. got rid of all the concrete.  It was FABULOUS!!!

We then spent a few evenings and a Saturday morning cleaning out the concrete rubble bits, moving back all the dirt and leveling the back corner of the yard.  Lee built us another garden bed, we planted more veggies (basil, oregano, sage, carrots, bell peppers galore, cucumbers and more peas!) two raspberry bushes, zucchini and four more tomatoes!!!  We also harvested our carrots from earlier this winter and have been enjoying the awesome amounts of strawberries we've gotten this spring.

On a somewhat different topic -- while we were out working in the yard a few weeks back I finally introduced myself to our backyard neighbors.  Hearing them outside, I climbed our ladder, peered over the fence and said hello.  (Couldn't help but think about Wilson from Home Improvement).  We share a fence that is a gust of wind away from falling over.  We tried to reinforce it last spring, but it's on its last legs.  So, I took the opportunity to find out if they were as afraid of it falling down as we are.  Fortunately, they are and are willing to have the fenced replaced and will split the cost!  The new one should be in by the end of the week.  We can't wait.  I just hope they don't trample all my flowers and veggies.

Once the fence is in - we hope to have Alex back to lay sod underneath the tree where we've leveled the ground and patch a few places in our yard that are all weeds and no grass.  We're excited about the improvements back there and look forward to a summer where we can enjoy it!