Dreams of my Yard

I've been absent all week.  It's been a long two weeks.  A hard two weeks. But I will not write about that right now - maybe never.

Despite the difficulties my family and I have experienced lately, we have also been very productive. And I felt it was time for a "house update".

As you all know, last fall we bought our first home.  A renovation project that we love...and sometimes love a little less. 

This is what it looked like when we bought it.


This is what it looks like right now.  Just before the first snowfall of winter, we were able to insulate the outside of the house.  When I say "just before the first snowfall" I mean, snow began falling just as the crew finished up the last day!  

Here are some before and "during" pictures of our yard (after is yet to come)
Before
During
A month or so after we moved in, we added the gravel drive. 

Before
DuringZ cut down those horrible bushes and the neighbor cut down his beautiful willow tree.  The willow tree was lovely, but way too close to the house.  Every time the wind blew hard, we were afraid it would damage our roof.
The dead leftovers of the bushes are coming out and in their place I will plant blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.  That little tree there is our plum tree.
Before

During
 We are are adding a fence where that canal is, and the dirt is going along side our drive where we are adding some flowers. Behind the big dirt hill is where my garden will be.  It is slowly being dug up by your's truly.  Here are some pictures of what I fondly term my "haphazard garden".  In other words, seeds and seedlings go where ever I find a spot.




My mother-in-law brought these lettuce and swiss chard seedlings to me last fall and planted them. While I trust her gardening skills (for she truly is a garden guru), I admit to be skeptical because of the snow. But, the snow is gone, we are all in sorts and tanks, and look at my lettuce and swiss chard!! Almost ready to pick and eat!
Now - this is haphazard, because they are located behind the shed.



She also brought onion bulbs. And look at my onion!!!  
Now these are located in the original place where Z began digging my garden. Clearly, we need to put a layer of top soil down, but we just haven't got that far yet.  Apparently the onions don't care.  They are growing like crazy!

Next to the onion, I turned over some clay  soil for some more lettuce, cabbage, carrots and parsnips. 


I have lettuce sprouts!



And cabbage sprouts!


And a friend brought me tons of strawberry shoots. So, I dug up a spot for them.   


And I already have a blossom!!
After the first of May, I will be planting tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, spinach and goodness knows what else!
But look at what else we have...

Apple Tree

Plum Tree


Cherry Tree
And I leave you with some sweet stuff....






  Linking up with some these blogs: M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday