Kristi, anyone that has done that kind of work can see what you have done and I know how much work y'all have done.
It already looks better to me and I can't wait to see it planted. It is going to be a vision
Good job!!!!

Thanks for the tour, I'm excited about the progress so please keep us updated.

I can hardly wait for the plants to go in, Kristi. What a great job (not to mention hard work) you guys have done.

I just got back from over there after tumbling down the hill! Nothing really injured except my pride. I was replacing some of the fencing and the narrow ledge on the outside of the fence just broke loose. I think I'll wait until later today to go back with a ladder for some better footing! Man, it's hot!

Pam

Those are some great pictures Kristi. I think you should have been a photographer!

Pam

LOL Pam! That's tumble number 2.....that I know of for you! You better be careful over there by yourself! Why don't you just bring your ladder on Tuesday and we can add the fence to the list of things to work on? I hope your pride really is the only thing bruised :). It's awful hot hot there today. The horses are standing under shade and still sweating. I went out earlier to water containers and was absolutely dripping. I came back in and decided office work is called for today. Please wait to go back until there's someone there to hold the ladder for you. If I wasn't chained to this desk, I'd join you later but I have to get on top of this paperwork mountain.

Jolana, thanks :). I think some people might have been a little dismayed after I tore up what grass there was with the bobcat, but as soon as we get done with the beds we can seed the dreaded bermuda grass and since Phyllis is there nearly everyday, she can be sure to hit it with water until it gets established.

We can't wait for the plants to go in either. Unfortunately, some business matters have come up that need immediate attention so myself and a few others are unable to make it back out there until Tuesday. But we'll work double hard then :). I'll post more pics once there is some change that will be of any interest.

Thanks again ya'll, for your interest and generosity!

Kristi

Amazing!!! Great job! Thanks for the pics. It's going to look wonderful.
Pam be careful or I'll have to lecture you into a stupor! LOL!PJ

I assure you, Kristi, I 'feel your pain' and your sense of accomplishment. Feels good to get it done, doesn't it?!?! Keep us updated.

J.D.

Kristi, I think you guys are doing a wonderful job, and I do mean JOB. Any gardener can appreciate all the work you have done.
Jim

Wow! What a difference some work with that bobcat can make. They rock for the creek bed looks good. Hopefully it will be dry enough to work next week, but cool enough to want to get out to work. Maybe some early morning or evening work would be best to avoid the heat. Y'all be careful and drink plenty of water if you do get out when it is really hot. Thanks for sharing those pictures. Y'all are doing a great job!

Well, we just got another 1+ inches of rain! I'm so torn between wanting it to rain and NOT wanting it to rain. We were getting so dry here....the pastures certainly needed it, but I guess the project site could've done without it.

I did go to the courthouse this morning since we were supposed to put fresh loads of mulch into the beds there, but it was an absolute wash-out. It's been rescheduled.

Anyhow, thank you all for the kind words. I think that sometimes when people say bobcat, others don't really understand that it's kind of like having cosmetic surgery.....it's gonna look a LOT worse before it looks a lot better, LOL. Just have to look at heavy equipment as just that....it will do the heavy work, the finesse work will still need to be done by hand. Also, I realized that f you're not familiar with the equipment, it probably would never occur to you that you might lose a little turf :). In any case, I think everyone is happy and we're all looking forward to making some more progress.

Kristi

Well, I think getting rid of the existing turf was definitely a good thing! It looked weedy to me - not much good turfgrass in there.

Denise, the first time I saw the place, the grass was up to my waist! Phyllis's husband was kind enough to weedeat it down for us and the first and second pics were taken after he had done that. We got a pretty good giggle while he was weedeating :). He inadvertantly stepped on a stick that reached up and touched him on the back of the leg....LOL, have you ever seen anyone do the watusi (sp?) with a weedeater in their hands? He thought it was a snake reaching up to give him a *kiss*. Of course, in waist high grass, you can never be too careful, but it sure was a sight :).

Kristi

LOL! PJ

LOL, To bad you didn't have your camera so we could have seen that sight.

Just a quick update...the plants are due to go in next Wednesday morning. I just got back from there and finally got the rickety fence shored up. Kristi and Phyllis hung some lattice for the vines last week, it made a huge difference! It is going to be so beautiful! Last week we all met over there and placed the large rocks that border the planting beds and dry creek bed, ammended the soil in the planting beds and mulched the area under the tree. I know that Phyllis took pictures, but I don't have them yet, but they are forthcoming.

Pam

Thanks Pam! That is really neat. I can't wait to see the pics.PJ

Sorry I haven't gotten back with an update sooner ya'll. It's been hectic. I've spent most of this week joined at the hip with our accountant. Can you say: Borrrring!

Anyway, I can't take credit for any of the lattice work as Phyllis and her husband did that. Pam, glad you were able to put the fence behind you, that's a tremendous help. Has your husband started on the bridge over the creek bed yet?

As Pam said, we will be planting on Wednesday morning. On the Monday morning prior to that (the 20th), Doug will be delivering another load of mulch. Nancy and I will be transporting the plants to the site and Phyllis will meet us there. We will then place the plants in the beds where we want them planted. On Wednesday morning, we will have more volunteers there (we hope!) and we will begin planting. I didn't want to leave the decisions as to placement of the plants until Wednesday morning, because it would be a miracle to be able to get 6 or 8 gardeners to agree on that, LOL!! I'm sure there will be much discussion with just the 4 of us on Monday. We were going to do the planting on Tuesday morning but that's when my high speed internet is being installed. Say it with me.......Praise God!!!! Anyway, I am going to start a new thread with the latest pics from after our last work day. Since I don't HAVE high speed internet yet, my feeble dial up will have trouble with anymore pics on this thread.

Kristi

Jeff is working on the bridge this weekend, so it should be completed before the planting day. I got a huge terra cotta pot so maybe think about one of the large plants for that, it's in the back corner under that nandina bush. I will pick up a couple bags of potting soil to fill it, I think it'll take at least 2 of the 40 lb bags, so wherever it goes, there will be no moving it after it's filled. I also picked up some cute little garden stake/ votive candle holders that I just stuck in the bed to be moved to whatever spot y'all decide on. Phyllis already brought over the arbor bench, it looks marvelous.