Spring Projects

The snow has FINALLY melted in our yard. What does this mean? It means our list of spring projects has started. Looking at where the new grass and old grass is growing in has shown just how much we need to do. Who knew a year ago when we bought the house that we would have SO many projects to do in the 2nd year? There are so many that we have a list already for year 3 projects... We keep telling ourselves that the more work we put in, the more money we will get out of the house when we eventually do sell. We love our house but it isn't our forever house.

Here is the list of the projects that will just NEVER end:

1. Sod the rest of the front yard
2. Sod the backyard
3. Take out the wire fence
4. Replace the fence by finishing a wood fence around the yard. (Last summer I helped our neighbors build one side of the yard, but we want to finish it around our whole yard.)
5. Finish putting rock around the deck
6. Rock around the backyard tree
7, Remove the lilac bushes in the back (we are hoping someone from Craigslist is coming today or tomorrow to remove them since they want them)
8. Put the railings on the deck
9. Stain the deck
10. Build a fire pit (this one will be fun!)
11. Pump up the cement on the driveway or get a new driveway
12. Pump up the cement in the garage
13. Plant some bushes in the front (this might be a year 3 project)
14. Plant flowers (I would like my yard to have some color and beauty to it!)
15. Clean the outside windows


That is just outside the house!! There are more projects INSIDE!

1. Finish painting the basement
2. Re-carpet the basement
3. Clean up all of the dust in the basement
4. Lower the bar in the basement
5. Paint the living room
6. Paint the bathroom and fix the toilet paper holder (We quickly learned when my niece Ava came over that we would need to fix this. It wasn't secure in the wall and as I watched her put her hand on the holder to keep her balance, I learned future holdings by our future kids would tear it out of the wall more and eventually we will have a big hole. Needless to say, it needs to be fixed.)
7. Finish wedding picture wall in the living room (We currently have crooked, empty frames hanging on the wall.)
8. Clean out the junk room - everyone has one of these, right??

I am not sharing this with you so you think I'm complaining or want sympathy for the amount of work there is. This is part of being a homeowner and most homeowners know just how much work there is when you buy an old home or a home that hasn't been taken care of. While it is a lot of work, I have tried to take pictures along the way so we can see where we started and where we will eventually finish. The list is more for me to sit down and think about all of the things we need to do. I am excited at the prospect of it all being complete. Though it is going to take some blood, sweat, tears, and maybe some disagreements when my dad comes over and thinks he knows just what we need to do when we don't agree with him, we will get it all done. Maybe not by the next winter, but in time. If you have an desire to donate some time, let me know. I am sure Jeff and I could use some free laborers and we would probably pay you with beer and pizza! :)

I'm off to go start one of the first projects - remove the wire fence and the lilac bushes!

Molly