To The Island & Back, Part X

Back to work on the landscaping. By this time it is the 8th and we head for Nebraska on the 10th, and there is still a lot to do. 

Lawrence helped Dad with cutting up the trees that David and I previously cut down, and shortening the stumps. 

In the meantime, we found a carpenter to help out on the interior finish work.  He and I spent the morning installing the handrails in the back stair. I had purchased the brackets and mailed them from Lincoln, and we found wood rails at Home Hardware in Montague, so Mom primed and painted them over the previous few days to have them ready to install.

We spent the afternoon at Pantings Shore beach. First time to the beach this vacation for me, with only one day left!

The next morning, Monday the 11th, we were all up early and went straight to work. Lawrence, Janice, James, Sarah, Dolly and David worked on the wall at the driveway...

...while Dad raked out the yard, leveling it out to plant the grass, and picking out all of the rocks...

...and I built the brick walk to the kitchen porch. Turned out pretty good.

 

The trimmed stumps

The wall looks fantastic!

We were satisfied that we got it all in place, and said good-bye to Sarah, James, Lawrence and Janice. Thank you so much for your hard work. We could not have pulled it all together without your help.

In the afternoon, Mom, Dolly, David and I visited Sandy. She dug up some rose bushes for us to transplant. She has a beautiful garden. Thanks Sandy!

The spectacular view of the Northumberland Strait from Sandy and Arthur's front yard.

Mom and Sandy

As soon as we got back to the house, we planted what we got from Sandy, which also included Irises. Below is a row of roses at the kitchen retaining wall which will hopefully grow into a hedge.

David trimming the Irises to plant along the walk

A yellow rose bush at the corner of the "parking lot" wall. I have to think of a better name for it.

Everything is planted

time for a drink

This is a white Hydrangea. According to Mom and Dad, it is doing well and is now loaded with blooms.

The corner garden with Irises, two Hostas, a deep red Peonie, some Day Lilies, and Bishop's Weed for ground cover.

Dad also cleaned up the little yard between the garage and the new driveway. This is where all of the sandstone had been stacked. The two stones left over are too large to move, so we decided they make a nice bench just where they are.

We used up a lot of the brick from the chimneys as well.

It's Monday evening. Everything that I wanted to do has been done. Time to relax and enjoy our vacation. The problem was, we had to leave the next morning.

 One more barbeque