The Beds Take Shape

The Back Yard view - VERY NICE!

Well after a bit of a crazy start to the summer we're getting back to a bit of progress and back on track. I have huge thanks to a group of volunteers that gave up their Wednesday and really made a huge impact to the outside of the house and have kick started a re-emphasis on the exterior. Before I get too far though, I want to take a moment to apologize for a few misguided and ill-advised words I entered a few weeks ago.

For those of you that may know what I'm talking about, I apologize if I offended anyone in any way. I apologize that I let my emotions and frustrations of a very large and stressful situation spill onto what could be a very public forum. I try very hard to remain upbeat and focused on the positive portions of this project and all of the many blessings that I have received in doing this project. Unfortunately in one entry (which has since been edited to omit those words) I succumbed to frustration and disappointment on this blog. I apologize to the person I was most frustrated with and hope that we may be able to retain and continue the close friendship that we had started so many months ago. I realize in further discussions that any mention of Meredith related in any way to that blog entry could have been perceived in a negative fashion and although that was never said, it was absolutely never meant to be implied in any fashion. To be uber-clear, I am thankful and forever indebted to the many people at Meredith that have come forward over the past 18 months to help in the myriad of ways that have made this house possible and truly an amazing testament to how the Lord can do amazing things in times of great tragedy. To the Meredith Corporation both as an entity and as a group of people, thank you.

As for the group that helped out today, Kirby, Sal, Amy and Kirby's Friend (I'll get your name later!) thank you SO much. I could have never thought anyone could make such quick work of five cubic yards of mulch. It transformed many of the weed infested flower beds once again shine and a thing of beauty that frame the house and give it personality. It was amazing to come home tonight and walk the yard and actually see my plants again. That put a huge smile on my face - regardless of the fact that the mosquitoes were feasting on my flesh. As you may be able to tell in a few of the photos here, the yard is still coming in, but for it's first year after being planted from seed, it has really taken and hopefully will provide a lush carpet for many happy moments in the near future for Ellie and many of her friends.
The front flower beds

Flower beds look nice...now about the walkway...

The back Linden (Leslie's) tree got some too

That's it until I have the time to take photos of the interior of the first floor which has under gone MAJOR changes and should hopefully be live-in-ready in very short order - say 10 days (knowing that the 4th is inthe middle of that). To all, thank you once again for all that you have done for Ellie and I, every gesture large and small alike has made a world of difference.