It’s Not Just What’s Inside That Counts

At least, not in home-building. With any project of any size, as far as messes are concerned, things will always get worse before they get better. Half the time I think I’m doing something wrong if it doesn’t look like a sawdust bomb has gone of in a ten foot direction all around me. You could say the exterior of the house (most notably the landscaping, although there’s something to be said for the half-finished siding too) is one of those things that has gotten considerably worse and hadn’t made an upswing yet. Luckily the neighbors are very understanding people.

The front of the house had its moments.

Before:
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During construction:
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During geothermal installation:
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And with the help of one of my uncles and a dozer:
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The most impressive thing I can say about it in its current state is that it’s flat. Which is actually something not to be underestimated if you have to a.) install siding around your house, b.) chase runaway donkeys around your house, or c.) are a bit of a spaz who has trouble keeping your feet under you on even the most flat, paved surfaces.

Not that I know anything about that.

The other disaster area was in the back of the house. I had a few loads of trees from a locally cleared property dropped off two years ago because I had delusions of grandeur about building a fence around my garden. (For two years I’ve been lucky to just plant actual vegetables in my garden, the decorative fence is not coming along so well at all.)

Basically its been a big mess on the back of the property…

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But this weekend the skid steer and took care of some of that.

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For now the big piles were moved to the donkey pasture because– here’s something you probably didn’t know about donkeys– they love sticks apparently.

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“More sticks for me?”

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They are ultra curious animals, so it gives them something to nose around in. And helped clean up the back yard.

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There was also small mountain of dirt left from the excavation of the addition that had begun to grow serious vegetation and was in danger of becoming a permanent part of the landscaping.

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Also taken care of with the dozer:

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I’m not fooling myself into thinking this is the most exciting progress that’s been made on the house to-date, but it does feel good to have things a little more cleaned up. And another chunk of siding was installed this weekend without anyone breaking an ankle, which shouldn’t be discounted.

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All house-building projects are not glamorous, but sometimes its just the progress that counts.

3 Responses

  1. Ummm…..speaking of progress? Your website looks amaze balls! Mr. Man loves his skid steer so very much. He’s always talking about it’s ‘joystick controls’.

  2. Wow! I just backed up to the beginning of your “project” – gosh it’s beautiful! Sure miss my other pair of hands. Special reason for donkey’s or just pets? They are precious!

    1. Hi Ree – Welcome to DIYdiva! The donkeys do keep the grass down in the pasture (somewhat) but mostly they’re just around to love and make me laugh.

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