When we found this house, we fell in love with it immediately. Mike and I could both see huge possibilities in it. Sure there was plenty to do to make it even better, but with a price tag of $50,000 we knew this house would be a great investment. It was an easy decision to buy it.
One of the first things that we knew would be changed was the landscaping around the house and all throughout the huge backyard. Some type of bush, and we aren't sure what to call it, had been planted all the way around the edge of house. Months of neglect had allowed it to grow up into an unsightly mess. Neither Mike or I have been fans of things like that and so we made the decision to get them taken out as soon as possible.
Yesterday the process began.
I took this photo in early January to show what a transformation might look like without the plants growing around it.
After yesterday, the east side of the house looks so much different now. It really opens it up and makes it look so much cleaner and nicer.
The huge bush that had grown on the entryway side of the house was a little bit bigger and not quite so easy to get out. Later on today, the nice young man doing all of this work will return to remove what's left of the stump before moving on to the rest of the project. Although it's difficult to see at first, he found 2 soccer balls and 4 baseballs that had been resting underneath that vegetation for quite some time. They are still in good shape, protected from the north Texas elements all this time.
Soon when the weather warms up for the good and springtime returns to us once again, we have big plans for this area that has now been freed up. Flowers of all kinds will be planted there and soon rather than seeing the overgrowth that once was there, beautiful colors of reds, pinks, yellows, oranges, and whites will be seen.
Before we do lots of planting, we intend to be researching for plants that take as little water as possible to live. Mike and I arrived last summer, after the severe drought that hit this part of Texas had been broken. We know how precious water is and so as we plant, we are trying to keep that in mind always. Plans are to purchase a rain barrel collection system and to use it to water the things that are close to the house. Although Mike and I are going to be planting seeds aplenty, we intend to buy as many perennials as we can. We are facing the fact that at our age, perennials will work out much better for us and save us work in the long run. Working "smarter, not harder" seems the most reasonable thing to do.
Built in 1955, this old house and I are the same age. I believe we've got quite a few good years left between us. Why not make the best of them?
No comments:
Post a Comment