Did we mention the pool?

Last summer, we got a big pool for the backyard, but I don't think we really used it much.  Jake and Lucy decided to improve on it this year by getting started early.  Last weekend, just before all the rain came, they relocated the swingset, dug out a flat area in the backyard, and set up the pool.  Yesterday, Lucy had a chance to use it, despite the fact that it was only maybe 70 degrees out.  She went prepared in her new wetsuit:

And it worked out great:

Yes, she is trying to squirt the photographer.  Alice went kinda nuts and tore around the yard (I regret that I did not get photos or video, but it was more important to watch what was happening).  She is very pleased that there is a large pile of dirt, apparently set up just for her to dig in.

Here's the full situation in the yard (yes, it still needs some work):

It was a fun time, and exhausted everyone, as pictured here:

And then Lucy got dressed up for guests:

Yes, that is my dress she's wearing, a little vintage number from sometime in the early 1980s.  It was a good time.

More updates soon, I hope!  Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Yard update

While Jake and I were able to make some headway in the backyard clean-up project, we decided to hire our wall-building neighbor to do the heavy-duty work. He finished the roto-tilling today! Check it out:





We're figuring out now what to do next. Roland has suggested we hire someone to hydro-seed the backyard, and then in select areas (like around the holly tree and up on one of the levels at the side of the house) we get crushed rock (rather than mulch). Any suggestions, readers?

Another rock in the wall!

The garden wall project continues, but we've hit some bad weather this afternoon, so there's a pause. But it's coming along nicely. Meanwhile, the backyard wall is nearly complete. There are a few spots that need more work, and the concrete has to dry, but it's almost done!

Here's the wall from above (taken from the back deck):
Here's a view w/ the steps (the back of the house is kind of a mess. That's the next phase of the project.)



Our wall is made of rocks. Heavy, heavy rocks. It's awesome.

More updates tomorrow, I hope!

Roof 2.0

The roofers arrived at 8 am and set about making a lot of noise. They're ripping off the cedar shakes on the back of the house, and pulling up all the gravel and underlayment. In doing the latter, they discovered that the rotted out areas of fascia are actually old wooden gutters! Those places where we suspected the flying squirrels were entering the house, and where we stuffed a bunch of steel wool, were wooden gutters that had been covered over by the last roof job. This is interesting, in that it adds to the theory that all of the house was built at the same time, since the wooden gutters there match the wooden gutters on the front part of the house.

So here's some of the progress so far:
These shots show the windows and shingles and a bit of the gravel roof before:



And here they are now:


Here's the (recently repointed and capped) flat roof chimney before (also note in the right corner of the picture, you can see the wooden cabinet door (the previous owner's solution) toped with a bucket (our solution) covering a hole in the roof):

And after:


And here's the vent pipe from the downstairs bathroom before:

And after:


Here's a bigger shot of the roof surface:


And check this out:


Our roof is from Carlisle, Pennsylvania! My hometown!

Of course, there's more to be done. First of all, there's this mess:

And they have to put the metal drip edge around, and also take care of the front door overhang and bay window roof. But they did a lot of work in one day!