Thursday, August 15, 2013

Meanwhile Back At The Ranch (House)

Well, I took a break from
posting about Tom & Ruth's house
for a few days.
However, that does not mean that the work
came to a standstill.

My oldest son, God bless him,
had some time between jobs and 
worked tirelessly for 2 days on the back yard.

Here is a quick AFTER:
 My friends were gone about 8 months out of the year for the last 3 or 4 years.
The yard kind of took on a life of its own.
Here is the before of this area.
Much better, huh?

Here's another BEFORE shot:
That pile of brush in the center is a koi pond
that has been abandoned and filled with brush.
My son cleared it and then 
we covered it with plywood
and some indoor/outdoor carpet with signs
telling people what it is and warning them to
 STAY OFF THE GRASS!;>)

Here's the other side of the back:
Before:
Another Before:
After the MAGIC SCISSORS  treatment:
MUCH BETTER.
Not perfect- but oh-so-much better!

Tomorrow, if I can stay awake long enough to type
I will show you the final staging on the
inside of the house.
It's looking GOOD girls, REALLY good.
I think I have EARNED a treat, don't you?
Hmmmmmm
I don't drink so I guess I will have to do 
the next best thing:

Care to join me?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Anyone?

your photo name

57 comments:

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Well, if you insist :) Your son did a great job tidying up the yard. So kind of him to help out!

Kathy said...

In the case of yard work absence doesn't work make the heart grow fonder. Gosh to have that energy.
Thanks for catching us up. Kathy

vivian said...

send your son here next time he has some free time please! youve been so much work over there! I'm sure your friend really appreciates you.
happy thursday !!
xoxo
vivian

Musings from Kim K. said...

Wow. This has turned into quite the family affair. Their yard looks wonderful now. You definitely have earned some sweet treats after all of this hard work.

andy said...

Your son did a great job !!!

Unknown said...

It's looking great - can't wait to see the inside now!!!
XOXO

Busy Bee Suz said...

He DID a wonderful job....much better. So yeah, YOU get a treat. :)
XO

Victoria's Vintage Designs said...

Wow, what a transformation, looks wonderful!!

Victoria's Vintage Designs said...

Wow, what a transformation, looks wonderful!!

Anonymous said...

looks wonderful! As does the treat! I'm in!!!

Nellie said...

Oh, yes! You won't have to twist my arm on this one! I'm quite ready to join you! Have a great day! xo Nellie

Susie said...

Set me up barkeep...You know I am trying to give up sugary things, so there's none in that treat, right?
You son did a great job cleaning out those flowerbeds and making the yard nice. You have been a great friend to Ruth and Tom. oxox,Susie

Sonny G said...


God Bless your youngin and all his hard work.. it looks great.

eat an extra piece of that pie for me please:)

hugs

Cottage and Broome said...

He did a great job at getting that yard back into shape! I think he deserved 2 pieces of pie… Have a great week end, Laura

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Kuddos to your son for doing an amazing job with the yard...and yes I would love to join you for a piece of that yummy looking pie!

Beth said...

Your son did a wonderful job of tidying.

I would love a piece of that pie, if only I could chew it.

Junkchiccottage said...

Ha Ha Diana you are a girl after my own heart. Would much rather have the pie than alcohol!!!! Yum you deserve the whole pie after what you have been doing at Ruth's!! Your son did a great job it is looking so pretty. Glad you took a day off.
Kris

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It looks beautiful and gives you such a good feeling! I'll have a cup of coffee with you while you eat that pie! heehee!

Kelly said...

The backyard looks very nice. I like the stone paths.

Anonymous said...

Hi Diana! Oh, I love it and I'm sure you do too. Thanks for telling me that. I wonder if it's because I don't hook my post up to the new google+. I'll try to check it out. Thank you so much.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

... hand over the fork and no one gets hurt :-)

Marissa said...

Your son did an amazing job... I love home improvement projects!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Diana! Would you mind commenting back on me to see if how my comments come up. I've fiddled and don't know what I'm doing but changed a few things. I may have really messed myself up.
Thanks you, sweetie,
Shelia :)

Stephanie said...

Mmm...would love to join you for a piece of pie :) Your son was such a sweetie and everything looks wonderful.

Hugs to you!

Anonymous said...

test

Tete said...

Tyler did a wonderful job. Looks so much better back there. I hope these people appreciate all you have done for them. Hope the house sells quick, too, before it piles back up again. It don't take long.

20 North Ora said...

Amazing clean up job!

What kind of pie are you having! Looks yummy!

Judy

Anonymous said...

You're gonna wish you didn't know me! :)

Sweet Tea said...

Wow! Great before & afters. Lots of work, but great results!!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Lots of cleanup with a great payoff...and a treat is Always a good thing...

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Your son did an amazing job on the cleanup of the yard! Looks so nice.

The pie looks good. Enjoy! You deserve a nice break after all the work you've been doing!

June said...

It's looking awesome Diana! And yes, you have definitely earned that break!!!
hugs...

pembrokeshire lass said...

Oh yes please.....of course I'm only coming now all the work is done. I was always good at joining in the celebrations. Seriously...what a difference. I bet they were gob smacked. You've certainly made a big change between you! Rest well and enjoy the treat. Joan

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Yeah, here I am, Diana. Send the recipe along, please. You have been hard at work and certainly deserve some sweet stuff!. Looking forward to the reveal. Garden looks very spiffy..Happy Thursday..Judy

This N That said...

Yum..Too bad you can't have both..

Sherry @ Thrift My House said...

It is so much better Diana. I can not wait to see the inside. And yes! Eat some pie :-) Enjoy!

Susan Shull said...

Wow. What a difference!

cindy said...

Huge difference! Great job...and yard work is 'hard work'....100% better!

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

great job! ...and don't let your husband get that piece of pie...you deserve it

Heaven's Walk said...

You two make a great team, Diana! Looks so much better! Keep wavin' that magic wand, girl!

xoxo laurie

Amy Chalmers said...

Nice job I am sure they are going to love that you did all that work (and your son). Now I will join you in the pie fest and then I will have a glass of wine! xo

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Oh, your son is a darling, he did an amazing job, along with you, the garden looks wonderful! I'd like a piece of pie, although I haven't helped you, lol...Big hugs,
FABBY

Anonymous said...

Hi Diana! Thank you for popping in to my little RV blog and for being my springboard today! I really do appreciate you! Now if I could just have 1/2 slice of that pie I'd be in hog heaven.
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi Diana! Thank you for popping in to my little RV blog and for being my springboard today! I really do appreciate you! Now if I could just have 1/2 slice of that pie I'd be in hog heaven.
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Unknown said...

OMGosh is that a banana cream pie...or is it my favorite lemon meringue pie? Either way it is a winner!!

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Dish me up a slice my friend! Really a big improvement. Hard work paid off. Can't wait to see the inside!
hugs,
Jann

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

What a precious gift of your son's time! He did an amazing job. It looks so much better and neater.

Meredith @ The Laundry Can Wait said...

How charming! He did a fantastic job. And don't even get me started on the pie. I don't think I have enough points left for that today...

XOXO,
Meredith

andrea@townandprairie said...

Looks like he busted his butt, D! It looks sssssssssssooooooomuch better, now! Great work!

Edith DUTERTRE said...

hello
j'adore vos maisons en bois
je suis également dans la peinture
extérieure ( bleu-nuage)
joli travail
tendresse
edith (iris) France

Faye said...

OMG! I want to hire your son! I wouldn't dare let anyone see our messy weedy yard (Good thing we live in a woods and no one can see it!) What a great guy!!!

Anne said...

Wow that is allot of work!But it looks beautiful! What a wonderful son to do that!
xx
Anne

Savannah Granny said...

The yard looks great! I am surprised it only took two days. Great job son, would you like to travel south?

As for that pie, get two forks and move on over! I have been working hard at watching you stage this house and I deserve a treat. Come to think of it, I think Sweet Cheeks needs a treat as well.
Later, I am going to bed now. Go Night!
xoGinger

Chatty Crone said...

What a huge difference a little care makes.

karen@somewhatquirky said...

Sorry I missed out on the pie! The yard work was certainly worth the effort.

"Cottage By The Sea" said...

I don't drink either so, may I have two pieces?

Katie said...

It's amazing what paint, a little hard work, and thought can do to a place.