Freshening Up

When we bought our house almost four years ago, I was six months pregnant with our twin boys. We closed on the house in September and did a few months work to it before moving in at the beginning of December. The boys were born at the beginning of January.

Before they were born, we had the whole interior of the house painted including cabinets and some trimwork. We had carpet replaced with hardwood floors. We changed light fixtures. We pulled carpet from kids' bathrooms and put down tile. Tons of progress.

After the babies were born, we did just a bit more work to the house - the biggest effort was replacing all of the front landscaping. The previous design was a mish-mosh of poorly placed shrubs and not-thought-out plantings. Trees were removed. Beds were made larger and replanted.

We didn't take out one bothersome tree at the time - and that finally happened today. I gave J the green light and he wasted no time.

It was a pretty tree - but it totally blocked the front of the house and the door. Drove us nuts.

Don't miss the Miller Lite sweatband he sported for the project. Disturbing.

And, after.

The beds, despite being just three years old, have been horribly neglected by me. Four kids, your own business and a total lack of organization will do that to you. My new resolution is to take a renewed interest in reviving the beds. The perennials that originally populated the design have been a mixed bag - some took off like wildfire (a little TOO well), others were eaten by bunnies, while still others languished and never quite staked their claim.

Recommendations for hardy perennials that won't take over the bed are welcome...