$$$ FRENCH DRAINS ARE IN $$$

Ok, really I've been told that it was a pretty decent price.

The yard was a disaster for for the 3 weeks they were working on it. But really, it has been a mess since we moved in.  The longest stretch we had of dry weather was in December for 11 days of no rain. However, the back yard stayed a muddy mess the whole time.  It never dried.  Water pooled up against the house and just sat there.

Some sort of drainage system was in order.  We had a couple of options, but due to the owner of the home next door (not his tenants), we decided that as little disruption in that yard as possible, the better.

Day 1

Day 2

And now we wait.  It needs to do a lot of drying out before the equipment can go back and try to flatten things out.  Otherwise they would just be putting ruts on ruts in the mud.

The first 2 days and night, the water was just flowing out like an open fire hydrant.  It tapered to a slow trickle, but then the weather was due to be bad for a couple days.  All those tornadoes in Alabama missed us and so did the rain which was good for drying other than 3 days of mist.  Then 3 more days of freezing sunshine (weather is crazy here) and they came back but needed it to dry more.  

Nearly 3 weeks from the start, we had 6 glorious days of warm and sunny weather.

They came back and flattened out the back yard and fixed the side and neighbors yard.

They put down seed and straw to get the yard restarted.

And Canyon can get to his swing!!

The side and neighbors yard looks pretty good too.

Now the test.  Rain in the forecast tomorrow and more rainy days in the week to come.

I still need to do something over by the storage building because that area stays muddy and Hippie loves to dig under the fence there.  I put bricks in his escape ways, but he just wants to dig every and anywhere along the fence. 

Crossing fingers this helps us with a usable yard!!

Crafting

I saw these online.  I was needing to replace the 'feet' I had as some were cracked plastic caps exposing the nail, some were felt stick-ons, and some were missing completely.

It wouldn't work in a formal dining room, but.... they're cuteish.

Also, I had the idea to make door stops with wrapped napkin holders.  I didn't want something anyone would stub a toe on so these are pretty flat.  They also slide with the door so they don't have to be removed and / or replaced.  For some reason I have 3 doors that close on their own.  I'm sure there is a tweak on the hinge I could do, but I'm not sure how to do that.  So, these are doing the trick.  

The palm / crab is front and back but the other 2 only have a front. 1 is Canyon's room. Can you guess?

St. Patty's Day at Oaklawn

I didn't realize it was last Patty's Day that we were here.  We also went to the worlds shortest Patty's Day Parade last year but didn't this time.

Another gorgeous day.

A little between races entertainment.

Every bet Jared made was a loser! HaHa

Found Ned Perme again this year (local, now retired weather guy).

Thinking of making the races on St. Patrick's Day a tradition.

(but wonder what happens when it doesn't fall on the weekend)

Meanwhile, at the house, Ranger is busy chewing up everything he could get his mouth on.  Mail, checkbook, bills, uncashed / not yet deposited checks, and the entire bottle of Jupiter's hemp oil. GRRRRRRRRR

It had a glass dropper and half of it is missing.

After cleaning up, we had corned beef and cabbage.

Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival

Funny, Sahara remembered that the last time we came here, 4 years ago, she drove her new car.  Again she drove her new car.  Jared didn't come last time because he was at Basic.

We waited until the last weekend to come here which also happened to be the only weekend it wasn't raining.  Also it's warmer today than it's been but still only 50.

There were areas to pick the flowers and buy bulbs.  We just wandered and took pictures.

They had great burgers here and we split a funnel cake.

Beautiful day and place!

Special Olympic Swim

We were invited to come to swim practice to see if it would be something Canyon would like.

It's a long way and deep so he kept holding on to the lane divider for a quick break.

He wasn't too sure about what the point was of going back and forth.  He wanted to go in the play pool.  We will give it another try next Monday to see if this is something we want to pursue.

New Wheels

Sahara decided she had enough of the little engine that could.  Sparki got a new home (actually around the block from where they live) and now she has Shark Bait.  It's a 19 GMC Terrain.

She had been wanting to trade Sparki in for over a year but I told her....wait until you graduate....wait until you get a job....wait until you get married.  I was out of waits.  Even though Sparki had great gas mileage, it only had a 9 gallon tank.  With an hour commute each day she was going to the gas station a lot.  Also, this one is safer for the interstate.

Love that new smell!