Overdue Overhaul

Too bad Carter isn't 15 years younger. Our front yard has resembled the set of Bob the Builder the month of July.

First, when we had our septic system pumped (for you non-country home owners, they do that every 3 years), we learned our drain field is "saturated" and we'd need a new one. So a new drain field requires digging. A lot. And installing. And adding more dirt. And it ain't dirt cheap. They said they'd show up the week of July 4th and do it.

Meanwhile, back in October we had our driveway measured for an upgrade from cracked, eroding blacktop to concrete. We were "on the list" for 2016. By coincidence, they could finally start work the week of July 4th.

Get out the checkbook and, of course, the camera for the BEFORE pictures!

View from front deck. We're keeping the "turn-around" area.

Getting rid of all that cracked concrete sloping up to garage, too.

And the rotting, wooded walkway along with – thank goodness – those darn juniper shrubs. And we were so thankful they were going to dig them out for us. Whoo-hoo!

Not exactly a short driveway so this could take awhile.

I also took a before of the part of the front yard where the drain field was going to go. The current one is located, obviously, where the rectangle of really green grass is. In the distance you can see where they measured and dug a bit of dirt to determine where the new one was going.

Now the after...

Yup, that's gonna need some grass seed or something. Was not expecting the mess.

It was literally the next day when the gang showed up to dig the driveway, remove old asphalt and crud. They work fast! You can skip over this part but the progress was fascinating. Efficient, accurate work in a certain order for the best results. I hadn't seen this in person before. A little each day just to whet our appetite!

Front yard is a truck parking lot! But they were getting more done before I left for work each day than I got done all day.

 So close!

 Last section!

Looking good! Instead of "keep off the grass" we had to "keep off the concrete"... for nearly a week. Best to let it cure or whatever so it's done right.

Front looks so pretty without that old walkway and shrubs. And Carter keeps his parking spot!

Had to remove my rock garden bricks on one side and will have to redo that, but totally worth it.

Today, finally, the caution tape came down and we got to drive on it!!

To christen the driveway, Jim and I went out to eat at El Mezcal. Good food – and cheap, which might be the operative word for awhile.

Totally, totally worth the wait.