There is a lawn in my backyard, and a serious dent in my bank account. Pictures tomorrow maybe, if I'm home while it's light enough. It looks SO GOOD. The boys did just as instructed and left me a "planting zone" along the fence line and foundation, and are trying to convince me to put in a deck rather than a patio (because they know how to build decks but not patios). Unfortunately, I'm in a very confined space here and I have to allow clearance for the lawn guy to get back to mow, and a deck would be an issue. When it's done it will be a cute little garden with a postage stamp of lawn for a lounge chair, and a small patio for a table and chairs and the grill. The pond and the tomato patch and the bougainvilla and the roses-and-more-confederate-jasmine-to-be will more than take up the rest of the space.

Home improvements are taking all my time and my money, but it's so nice to see a useable, attractive yard happen where it was all weeds and snakes. It's worth it.

The next step is to reinforce the low spots in the fencing with some chicken-wire - I have a nice 6 ft. stockade fence around the yard, but in a few places the ground drops low enough for a nosy little dog to perhaps burrow out. So Thursday evening's task will be to add a low reinforcing fence along that area, along with a climbing vine or two to distract from said security measure. This weekend there will be mulch, weather permitting.

The pond needs attention - it's time to do something about the filtration system. I'm much more excited about buying climbing roses for the back fence, believe me. I had to perform a quick cleaning and reattachment of the current filter this evening - laying sod and yard work threw insane dirt into the pond - and remembered for the umpteenth time why I hate that damn thing. It's next on my must be replaced hit list.

No knitting, but I've decided that crocheting is just as soothingly Zen for me. I'm working on the Disco critter blanket before bed and with my morning coffee - that's about it for fiber-related crafting right now.

I'm taking the week of June 1 off for cabinet installation babysitting, and I've decided that I will Sew a Skirt during that week. I really want to develop some decent sewing skills and I'm craving some nice, knee length A-line light cotton skirts. I can't find any in the stores- either they're dragging the ground or too short. As long as I have to be here while Men With Power Tools demolish and (please God) rebuild my kitchen, I can huddle in the back of the house with the sewing machine and hone my skills.