Progress

I spent a lot of time working on the backyard this weekend. I had planned on digging the trenches for the sprinkler system, but instead got things "leveled out". I had big piles of dirt at the edges of the "wall" I dug out, so I spent a few hours yesterday moving the dirt with a shovel and raking it out. Now the upper part of the back yard is pretty level. And as close to level as it will probably get. At least now, we won't be mowing on a huge slope. Today, I shoveled and raked a little more and cut the stairs cleaner. After Mike got off work, we went to Walmart and bought 10 retaining wall stones to edge and define the top step. It's a baby step toward getting that wall and stairs done. I mostly wanted to see what the stones would look like.

Yesterday, I bought most of the sprinkler supplies and my dad is coming to help out next weekend. I can't wait to have the sprinklers done and the grass started. I want the grass to be established before Janna, her kids, and Sophia come up here in July. They need some space to run and play. Plus it's just hot and dirty out there now. The grass will keep it cooler and prevent dirt from getting tracked into the house.

I lent my camera to Sachi to take to Vegas and San Diego, so these pictures were all taken with my phone....

The new stones marking the top step. I'll have to pull at least a few of these out to dig the sprinkler trench through, and probably to level them more...

View from below...

and above...