curb appeal

Before we bought our house, the trim was blue. I hate blue trim (personal preference) unless it's navy and suits the neighborhood. Maybe in the '70s, this powder blue did suit the neighborhood. I'm just glad they painted it taupe for us! I'm not glad they did a terrible job replacing the siding, but that is a rant for another day...

Here's a recap of what the house has looked like outside as we've lived in it/were looking to buy it:

Our house - when it was blue and unloved.

Recap from the one year post.

This 'garden' preiously had a hodge-podge of plants in it. We paid our old yard guy to remove them (YAY!). I then moved and reused the rocks elsewhere:

One time, Austin installed a poorly-made (not his fault) railing for the front porch, per my request, and the demise of at lease one hammer drill.
Idea: curb appeal.
Problem: wobble.
Solution: TBD.

This is what was underneath that little garden (back view), Hideous now, but used to be a brick wall. Why it is gone, I will never know. I truly wish it was still a brick wall. I'm sure someone ran into it and destroyed it.

Thursday, I weeded this area - which has been sitting for a year (sorry neighbors/HOA!), and put the some of those stones back over the wall foundation. Planted these Crotons (2x3-gallon containers = $17) on Friday.

Yesterday, I added sod - about 400 sq ft of it - which I get to water like crazy for two weeks!
Here's where it all went:

More sod by the new pathway - we obviously need to spray
the pathway for weeds. :)

After "we" finally removed the dirt (Austin) and frame (Austin) for the old garden area, "we" (I) planted some new plants - which cost around $45 - just in the area in front of the railing. I then laid the sod (solo!) yesterday. Our neighbor told us that grass doesn't grow well here because of the shade, but we are going to try it out anyway. It's what I would prefer to have there... so I am going to be true to my stubborn self and try it!

When the plants were removed, before the dirt was removed.
It's a deceitfully large area.

No sod, just new plants and some of the rocks from above.

Sod + new garden (+hose from watering all that sod!)

The "front" of our house... which is really the side.

And since I had just a little left, I took some to my parents' house. Matt's dog, Tyson, was very happy about the new grass... or maybe it was just that someone was outside with him!

I'm SO happy to be done laying sod, and so are my arms and clothes (though I'm sure the mud is good for you.. right?).

We also had our trees trimmed in the last few months - something we don't think has happened in at least 5 years. Our oak tree was bullying our magnolia into leaning to the right. Hopefully, some new branches will grow on the left side of the magnolia. It looks so naked!

I really hope this stiff lasts after all that work. I'm also hoping for a massage and a hot stone pedicure, but if the grass lasts, that's reward enough! ;) I'm really ready for my husband to be back from his hunting trip, and grateful that my mom watched Ethan yesterday so I could do all that work!

Project costs:

Plant removal: $200

Dirt haul: $0 (Austin did this)
New plants: $65 (after tax)

New Sod: $180 (we had it delivered, works out to $1/piece; pieces are 16"x24")

= $345 for a new yard!

And the final before & after:

I'm ready for some relaxation and some football this afternoon. I'm praising God for this glorious fall weather, too. I was glad I wasn't the only one to bust out my riding boots for church this morning!

xo,