I started the permit application process in June 2010. In September, we STILL had not received our permits and I was getting antsy. Pics from the first half of 2010 are here.
The one area I was allowed to work on was the retaining wall next to the house. The zoning officer said because I was replacing an existing wall, I could go ahead and do that before the permits were in.
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| They are 17 months apart. Not twins. People ask all the time. :) |
For real, I placed and leveled EVERY block in my yard. Not my husband or anyone else!
This is what it looked like at the end of a really long day. 
Are you still reading? Yeah, I told you 2010 was a LONG year.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the backyard...
Can you believe we had our daughter's 3rd birthday party with the yard like that? We did. And we considered it a vast improvement over the way the yard had been a month before.
The kids were in no hurry to have us spread that rock!
We got as far as laying down landscape fabric and filling in some gravel before we got shut down
again.
Our neighbor filed an appeal against our zoning permits and it was
recommended we
not do any more work in case the permits were overturned.
Actually, I finished up some work on other side of the yard, that I knew wouldn't be challenged.
I put a 2 rail split-rail fence behind the kid area. I had to build an unseen retaining wall behind the
fence so I could build up the area around a drain pipe to make it safe for the kids. I re-used the
wood from the dismantled retaining wall to build it.
So ends the first year of real work!
not do any more work in case the permits were overturned.
Actually, I finished up some work on other side of the yard, that I knew wouldn't be challenged.
I put a 2 rail split-rail fence behind the kid area. I had to build an unseen retaining wall behind the
fence so I could build up the area around a drain pipe to make it safe for the kids. I re-used the
wood from the dismantled retaining wall to build it.
So ends the first year of real work!
Good lord, woman! You are super woman! Many kudos to you for doing that entire wall by yourself! I have been pulling weeds (I really need to rent a tiller) and I am exhausted. I can not imagine how tired you must have been after installing that wall!
ReplyDeleteAny word on the appeal? Why is your neighbor filing it in the first place? - If you do not mind me asking?
- Your kiddos are adorable! ;)
Ok so we need to install a french drain and you have inspired me to do so!! Your property is gorgeous and you are awesome!!! You should be so proud of yourself...I can relate...I dug all of my beds by hand! Just me...not the hubs! And what you created with that wall rocks!!! Your kids are adorable!!!! Mine are 13 months apart and we are getting the twin thing a lot now too! Keep up the amazing work!!! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteYou and Julie are the best!! It is awesome to have both of you. I keep telling you... we were separated at birth, you and me!! I'm sure my kids will get that question more as they get older, because it's my son who's older and he'll certainly be catching up to his sister in height. Wait until you see what I did in 2011!! Holy cow! I started working on that post last night and I was so tired just from listing all the things I did in the yard! :) To see it all written out makes it look crazy! But it's really just what I like to do with my time. The fence/gates were the best thing I could do bc the kids can play and I don't worry about them running into the front yard. I can't wait to share with you guys!!
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