Deck, Deck, Goose!

This last wednesday we headed out to the house to get some work done. Zach and Blake worked on the deck while Ryan and I collected nails and metal from the yard. Some one had suggested taking a broom stick or something like it and putting a large magnet on the end of it and letting the boys go searching for the nails. Ryan would go around for a while and then bring it to me and then go play something else and then come back and take it out again. He collected a ziplock bag full of nails and staples in no time. Larger pieces had to go into the garbage can in the front yard. In the afternoon when the boys were out of school my friend Devron picked them up from school and came out to see the progress her self. We swept the basement and picked up the garbage down there, so it's all clean. Friday, Blake went back out to finish up the deck. And we came out once the boys were out of school. Joe our finish carpenter was working on the railing and has it almost completed. I am still loving every time we go out seeing just one more thing done. It's getting close that's for sure. Thursday they did the final grading on the lot so now it's up to us to get started on the landscaping. Anyone know a good way to get a big yard done with a very, very small budget and limited time?

this picture was taken from our far corner of our lot. see how much yard we have to landscape. it's a good thing we won't have a gym membership once we move out there.....we have enough work to do in the yard that we will have no need for a membership.

some of the light fixtures are in, but some are still coming. this is the view from the top of the stairs to the front door. sort of.
this is a close up of the railing and my helper Ryan. he's very careful, you know. safety first!