Having a handy husband is both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because I can’t think of anything that Rich cannot do – paint interior & exterior of houses, fix holes in the walls, pour cement, lay carpeting, build shelving, install sprinklers, install drains in the yard – I mean, he’s a pretty handy guy to have around. The curse? Because he can do everything himself, he never ever, ever, wants to hire someone to do anything. And he hasn’t the TIME to do it all. So we have many unfinished projects around this house, and it drives me slightly crazy.
“Honey…it’s been almost 10 years since we’ve moved in here. Can we PLEASE hire someone to finish the side yard?”
“No. I can do that. Why pay someone to do what I can do?”
“I know, but…well, you aren’t doing it.”
“I’m so busy! It’s not like I’m just sitting around with the remote in my hand!”
“I know! I totally get that. You are the hardest working husband that I know. But…well…. it’s been 10 years. TEN YEARS! The yard looks awful. It’s a hazard. Can’t we just make an exception just this once and hire someone to finish it?”
“No. We aren’t paying $2500 for our side yard when I can do it for the cost of cement and plants. I’ll get to it. “
And that’s pretty much how the conversation has been going since the year 2002.
Our side yard. ::: sigh ::: This is what’s it’s looked like since the spring of 2002. See the cement mixer and wheelbarrow? That’s proof that it had been started, with good intentions. See how high the weeds are? That’s proof that it’s been sitting that way for years and years.
Seriously. Don’t you think I’ve been patient enough?
This side yard has been a constant frustration to me. The kids get back there, they get full of dirt and mud. And it’s a hazard! Just two weeks ago A.J. went back there to retrieve a ball, and he stepped on a dirty, rusty nail. I had to take him to the doctor to get a tetanus shot! That was the final straw. I decided – really decided – that enough was enough already.
I had been ‘advised’ by friends to just go ahead and hire the work done while Rich isn’t home. He’ll be mad for a day or two about it, but the end result will be that the yard is done…so it might be worth his wrath. I’ve thought of that, and was completely ready to do it. But, I decided to try one more thing. I told him absolutely NO FISHING and NO BOATING until the yard is done, and it HAS to be done before his vacation is over (July 12th) or else whatever isn’t finished will be completed by a hired company.
I had to raise my voice.
I had to show the mean face.
I had to threaten to post pictures on my blog of the yard NOT getting done, day by day.
I think it was the blog threat that got him.
Wednesday, July 6
the path gets formed
the path gets formed
Friday, July 8
the path gets poured
Well, that’s progress, right? I can’t tell you how excited I am that this is finally getting done! After the cement is dry, we will put in plants and trees. I’ll post photos as each step is completed 
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