Temporary Redemption

The offender, aka the boy, aka Kyle has worked fairly diligently and even quite hard at times and has redeemed himself temporarily for the sour milk/towel incident.

For 2 years since we have lived here I have truly hated the trees that are on either side of the front door. They are some sort of spready-out pine. They are unattractive at best, adding nothing to the curb appeal of my house and just plain old butt-ugly at worst.

I set Kyle to trimming them down so that we could pull them out. Here is a one in/one out picture. (Isn't it hideous?!) Why is it that I always forget to take pictures before something starts happening? Now, with both of them gone!! What an amazing transformation!!! The one on the left came out very easily; the one on the right must have been a few years older because it took quite a bit more effort.

Don't be silly - I can't just leave it bare! I think that I would really like a couple of Japanese Maples - they are so delicate that they wouldn't overwhelm the house. A semi-dwarf variety, not the lace-leaf shrubs (though they're gorgeous, just not for this spot).

Amanda & I planted flowers in the front beds - portulaca, verbena and dianthus. I really love portulaca - it's seriously hardy for full sun areas and is practically a succulent. Oh yes, and some red & yellow peppers - they're so pretty when they start putting forth fruit that they shouldn't be wasted in the backyard.
We also brought home some tomatoes - cherry & beefsteak, jalapeno peppers, english cucumbers and basil. I bought one of those upside-down hanging things for one of the cherry tomatoes. Has anyone tried it?
And some more flowers to fill a large container for the back deck. And potatoes - I just have to pick up some straw to cover them with. Trust me, it works and it makes for a much easier and cleaner potato harvest.
Amanda really loved planting the flowers and I had to hustle her inside for cleaning up and dinner - she wanted to plant everything tonight!! Tomorrow is supposed to be another lovely day so I have promised more gardening after school.