I said in my last post there was house drama. 

I didn’t waste time creating some more house drama at home, in figuring out exactly what we can do to make our own house more appealing, instead of ditching the whole thing and taking a dramatic loss on our equity to move elsewhere

I do still love our house. It is still my dream house. 

First up: tree work. We’re having about seven zones of tree growth taken out in our yard sometime in November or December, and several other branches cut back. 

Our yard is a mess, and a constant project we mostly ignore. 

The Bradford Pear by our mailbox in the photo above is going, the entire island of growth at the corner of our yard, that sprouted up in the daffodil bed by the stop sign, is going. A tree that is growing toward the house, that has branches touching the house, by the corner of the driveway turnaround, is going. Two small trees close to the driveway on the other side are going. An overgrown holly bush at the corner of our house by our garage is going because we can’t keep it cut back. Several trees in our front yard are getting trimmed back because they keep dropping dead branches. A stump from a previously cut tree at the corner of the house, as well as a dead bush that grew up in other stumps, is going.

There’s another tree that is likely going, on the back side of the house, because it is dying and is overtaking the deck. 

And, ultimately, a whole lot of other growth in the yard is going, too, but we have only had our tree guy, Cole with Arbor West, out for a quote so far. We have someone else coming to give us a quote on tearing out a whole bunch of overgrowth we can’t deal with anymore by our driveway, and potentially at the beds closer to the house depending on budget. 

I’d ultimately like to do the same thing we did at the Holmes Drive house here: put down landscaping fabric or plastic in the beds closest to the house, put in some very small, tasteful, hardy bushes that won’t need tending for the foreseeable future, and fill in with the lighter colored rocks, and leave it all alone. 

I do not have the interest or energy for a high maintenance yard. 

The back is a whole project that is going to have to wait for years in the future. Not a top priority. Except for that tree that is dying that is overtaking the deck, because I do want to get the deck in usable shape. 

I asked Jared to get the chainsaw out and take down the old swing frame that was left from the previous owners, as well as the stubs for the old fencing that appears to have never been put in on the other side, this afternoon. He says it is not a chainsaw sort of job but that we can see about it. Today is a good day for working out in the yard. And it’s up to me to spot him while he cleans out the gutters now, since the big boys are both gone off to school. Oliver is still really too little to hold the ladder for that particular job. We’ll tackle that job this afternoon probably if the rain holds off.

I told Liam that we probably wouldn’t have to cut the grass until October when he cut it the week he left for Grinnell, but I’m probably cutting the corner segment this afternoon.

Our yard has been embarrassing for a long time, and it’s time to do something about it. 

I have a name to talk about a quote for tearing out the tile and putting down matching LVP in the kitchen and laundry and powder rooms.

My house wizard helper cleaner extraordinaire is coming on Monday to help me get the inside of the house in presentable condition.

I need to get serious about laundry after ignoring it most of the last couple of weeks, too. I do not know how Jared and I go through so much clothing in such a short time. Oliver’s laundry is remarkably under control, but ours is ridiculous.

We talked to Liam this morning. He seemed bored to talk to us, but it was good to hear his voice. He said he’s met some nice people. He said the food is alright, good variety. 

Porter is going out with friends tonight. I am glad he is getting out, even if I do worry. I will be glad when he has his own car to get around. 

Oliver went to Cartersville for cross country this morning and while he was unhappy with his time, I’m just glad he’s participating.