Bernese Mound-of-Dirt Dog

"Once More Into the Breach, Dear Friends....!"

Gluttons for punishment, we've begun a renovation of the house's1960s-era back porch: the door we use daily. Under-sized and stubby, we aim to have it mimic the formal front porch, albeit on a smaller scale.

Initial demolition began yesterday:

Some "before" views taken from the 2014-2015 renovation:

The formal front:

What we are planning:

July 3 -- Hammock

This hammock had to be relocated when the garage was built, as the trees it was tethered to had to go. Today I finally got around to sinking hooks for a new location.

From this vantage point, I can take in all that's been accomplished:

May 19 -- The System Works!

It took some figurin', but the traffic light is operational and performs almost perfectly (depending on the vehicle going into the bay).

Step 1: An empty bay has a green light.

Step 2: As the threshold is crossed, the light turns yellow.

Step 3: When it's time to stop (within a foot of the back wall), the light turns red. Well-worth the wait.

March 5 -- Interior Wall Complete

Still undecided about a capstone layer....

March 5 -- Backfill Ops

Tamping down the area where soil is needed to shore up the paving:

Offloading the soil:

February 27 -- More Wall Work

With the outside wall completed....

We are moving on to the inside of the circle. The existing wall was excavated, the rocks removed, and the placement realigned to match the outside wall:

February 19 -- Back to Work!

The snow has melted, so it's time to finish the retaining wall.

January 18 -- New Wall Nearly Done

There should be a couple more courses laid, but this wall is nearly complete. We have set it out a bit farther to accommodate a lawn mower to maintain the grass between the driveway and the wall.

January 14 -- Softening the Slope

January 13 -- More Wall Action

This week the slope along the driveway saw the excavation of long-buried rocks, which will be restacked to form a retaining wall along this side of the driveway circle. That cube-like rock by the cedar tree? It measures roughly 18"x18"x12". I hope that can become the end stone for the section of wall nearest the house. Also discovered: a rough slab at the north end.