Wow, 2013 already. This is the year my eldest son becomes a teenager (and will most likely pass me in height!). Lots of Spaniards are nervous about the new year because it started on Tuesday, and Tuesday and the number 13 in Spain is like Friday the 13th in the U.S. And given our economic situation, I dare say that yes, we should be nervous.
2012 is over, but we will remember it as our first year living in our new home. Unfortunately, I feel that we didn't get all that much done (or, at least, not all that I had hoped). This was mainly determined by budget constraints, but, hey, what isn't?
Outdoors, our main project completed this year was the front wall and gates. Yes, I finally bowed to Spanish tradition and we raised a wall high enough so only the tallest of NBA players could take a peek over it. For some reason, here there is a big fear of people peeking in your yards and/or homes. Must be because there is always someone trying to do it!
Here are the results:
Front door
Front gate
Front wall
The wall was built by our friend, Pedro, to my specifications (poor guy). The stones for the wall were brought in by Pedro and his backhoe from another empty house lot where they had been dumped. The little stone path to the door was made by my father-in-law, who used the smaller stones that Pedro had discarded. My DH and I have found smaller river rocks on another vacant house lot that we are (slowly) filling in the front with.
All in all, I'd say it looks pretty good...
....until you open the door and ACH! You see this:
Front yard
Front yard (taken from porch)
Ditches, electrical cables, discarded fencing, sand piles and buckets, OH! and let's not forget the weeds and my dead oak tree (wimper, sob). So, you see, an 8-foot wall is a good thing.
Obviously, this yard represents my project for 2013, and I've made a New Year's resolution to work at least 15 min per day in this space. I hope that one day these photos will be "before" photos and that the "after" photos will be a huge improvement!
So, what's your New Year's resolution for 2013?
I can't wait to see what you will do with your yard :). Your house looks wonderful, and I envy you your European experience (and hope the economy will improve soon).
ResponderEliminarприве́т, мажа! It's so nice of you to stop by my humble blog, especially since yours is so beautiful. I aspire to create a Mediterranean herb and rose garden at the front of the house and an area of native Manchego plantings at the back, but sometimes all the work I have left to do is so incredibly daunting. I find your blog very interesting because our climates are very similar (although here in the mountains we have below-freezing temps most winter nights) and the beautiful results in your garden inspire me to believe that, yes, what I am striving to create is actually possible!
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