the house: a work in progress...

I love our house. I really, really do. But sometimes the projects overwhelm me. The part that most stresses me is the front yard. Well, also the backyard, but honestly, the backyard is SO bad that I don't even consider it a project. I consider it a lost cause.

We've been handling projects one at a time, and I've been taking photos the whole way, but I think I've been waiting to do an "all done" post before sharing them. Well, if I'm honest with myself - really honest - then I know the "all done" post won't happen for quite some time. Maybe a decade or so (if ever).

So here's an angle of the house from the right - Winter of 2009, just after we bought the place:


And here's that same angle in the Spring of 2011. Notice that the shutters are gone and the entire house has been painted. Jose and I did all of the painting ourselves.


Here's a front view of the house, Winter 2009, pre-paint:


And the view in Spring 2011:


From these shots you probably get the idea that the previous homeowner LOVED to plant things. The problem is that they never really maintained it, and now it's a little out of control. Also, these angles don't do justice to the height and amount of vinca and ivy that are growing a little out of control. I keep reminding myself that it's just one day at a time, one season at a time, one project at a time, but I just want to do it all. Now. In the meantime, I'm open to any and all suggestions, tips, and tricks from all of my creative and green-thumbed pals!

Garden 2012

We have talked about planting a garden every single year since we moved to North Carolina. In the past we've done tomatoes here and there, some peppers in 2009, and we had great blueberry, raspberry and blackberry bushes in our last yard. This year we're planting three varieties of basil (because I'm pesto-crazy!), but in 2012 we are planning a giant garden-palooza! We've identified the perfect space in the yard:






















As you can see, it's going to require a lot lot lot of work. To celebrate Earth month 2011, we're going to develop an overhaul and planting plan. For those veterans out there (coughChristyAmandacough), we welcome your feedback/tips/suggestions!

Spring-tastic!

This is our second Spring in this house and I still haven't planted the first thing. That's mostly because the previous owners planted so many things that I don't know where to start. Well, that's not true...I need to start by tearing out a bunch of the overgrown, overcrowded things.

In any case, this is the time of year that I find it impossible to be frustrated by the landscapestravaganza....flowers are in bloom and everything looks marvelous!