The fun's over! It's time for an Easter (Sunday, March 31) Challenge!

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Originally Posted by Patty Smyth

So after battling the hoards at Bonanza this morning(an Italian grocery store, crazy busy), I managed to get the rocks cleaned and put back around 3/4 of the pool. Just have to decide what type of border I am putting on the side with the grass. Initially I had the regular plastic black border but it was finito, so I have some decorative cement blocks I am thinking of putting that. I also got the last 3 planters painted. Now just have the bench and trellis to sand and paint, maybe tomorrow. I am so far behind this year with my outdoor projects. My dad being in the hospital again and other family things and just plain old not enough hours in the day are holding me back lol. I promised Kiera we would get that darn raised bed veggie garden started by the weekend. I wonder if my neighbors would mind me hammering in the middle of the night :P

Holly, you wonder woman, congrats on the half pound. I am sorry you are struggling again but happy to see you back on here.

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Lynn I have to admit I think I took on one too many projects this summer. But as my DH says for me one project leads to 10 :P. I said to him the other day how did this all happen (the chain reaction of projects this summer) , he said you always do this. :P

I can't wait to see the pic's Patty, I bet it's going to be amazing. Isn't that always the way, we think...."oh, I'll just spruce up this area of the garden this week", then, all of a sudden, your entire summer is planned with projects. You're such a handy person though, I know you thrive on stuff like this. I'm always amazed at your talents, and I can see Kiera following in your footsteps. Does she help you can veggies in the fall? That is such a great gift to give to our children. I think there is nothing better than a person who is not afraid to take on challenges and projects, no matter how big or small. Kiera is lucky to have such a great teacher. Lynn, I hear you on the pity parties. At what point do we take accountability for ourselves. If a person is to look around, there are always others that are far worse off than us, both in health and their financial lives. We are here on this earth for a purpose, and if you have chosen to have children, it's YOUR duty to raise those children, to teach them all you can and instill the tools they will need for their future and to be a productive member of our society. Don't get me wrong, we've all had our share of pity parties, but honestly, after a day, we need to move on. Life is for the living, and we are fortunate enough to be here, so we need to grab that opportunity and make the best life we can with what we are working with. I won't ever let go, as long as I can still breath I want to be here. I'm not done teaching my children and grandchildren, and all the other people I meet something, anything, and I'm happy to learn. Every day is a new day filled with new learning opportunities and precious moments. I want to enjoy every single one of them for as long as I can. So Curt.....enough, get out there and start living life. If your not working, then your job right now is to dedicate 8 hours a day to finding a job. The rest of the time should be dedicated to teaching, loving and learning from your daughter and other family members and friends. It can be hard when your in a funk and that pity party has gone on for days, weeks, months and years, but the only one that can end the party is you. We all know you have it in you, because we all have it in us. If you want it, all you have to do is take a deep breath, think about a plan and put that plan into action. Like I said before, we're all here for you, but you and you alone must want it for you, and more than that, for your daughter. Don't be so selfish and start thinking about the other people in your life. They want and need you.

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Well the yard design itself will not look too different but.

1. The deck is painted
2. All the patio blocks around the pool have been lifted and leveled
3. new pool - so all the rocks around the pool have been lifted, washed and put back
4. I spray painted everything metal(that needed it) furniture will be next year lol
5. my large homemade planters, bench and trellis painted(oh man did they need it)
You always think things don't look too bad until you sand and paint one and put it next to the unpainted one ACK!!! lol
6. redid the front landing patio, it had washed out over the years and the supports broke
7. still to do- trellis for my 2 new clematis ( i inherited some treated wood 4x4, chicken wire) will paint them white
8. raised bed gardens not sure of the size yet but will take up half the back yard

I will take a few pics. of the finished things be right back

Ok some pics. the backyard, :( I know it looks bad but I am really almost finished , it was way worse . The blocks need to go back along the fence, then I will put my large planters , bench and trellis back there. In front of that will be the raised beds. I killed the grass by putting a tarp over it all winter. It killed the grass but not the weeds lol

SOme of my spray painting experiments. The pot is just a plastic pot from something I bought last year. I saved all the garden center pots. Will be trying different colors.

The deck, I treated myself to a new belt sander, best investment I ever made. I was able to sand off 25 years of multiple stains right down to the bare wood.

What lies ahead, bench to sand and paint trellis to make with the 4x4 wood , bags of rocks yet to clean and put back around the pool

Pots around the pool planted , just waiting for the heat :P

The front stoop, hard to see with the overgrown hostas but it's 9x9 patio blocks, they heaved forward so we redid that this year.

Patty, just lovely! my fav has got to be the pink/mauve bicycle! Too cute! I guess our next investment will be a belt sander...I didn't think anything could touch the 2layers of stain that flaked off in most places! Good work, Hon. I hope you can take time to finally relax. SOON!!

I managed to paint the bench today, that is all. I got side tracked with taking Rocket for his shots and going to the eco-dump lol, while I was waiting in line at the dump I got this funny feeling I was being watched. There are signs saying you are under surveillance but who knew :P