A Garden and a Pathway

The visiting hours here at the zoo have been shortened due to maintenance. Me, the kids, the house, their school, my school and Mr. Zookeeper doing a lot of traveling- sometimes we just have to close our doors and get our work done. But, I am happy to announce that we are back and better than ever.

In my spare time (insert outrageous laughter) I have been working on my latest project. Last year I had to choose a creative arts class for my generals. One of the few offered online was landscape architecture. I mow my own lawn so figured this was a class I could something out of. Not only did I learn that a garden comes in many names and eras but also that I could rip up my entire backyard and build one there. So I did. Hey, I am not one to cut corners- we go big or stay home. I got out my pencil and paper and began drawing up the scope of my yard. I considered what spaces would be used and how we could utilize every space better. I am all about form and function- and with crazy animals stomping the grounds; form usually loses out to function.

Not this time!

With my new found knowledge and a caring, loving extremely supportive husband (LOVE YOU HON!) I started moving bricks around. Form would be easy, A 1/4 of the yard would be a giant sandbox housing the trampoline, swing-set, slide and dinosaur... yes, we have a climbable triceratops made from foam and stucco that stands about 4 ft high and 5 ft long- it's awesome. The center of the yard would remain grass and there would be loads of bushes, plants and flowers to entertain the senses. Now for the kicker. I have children who like to walk in circles talking to themselves (I take full responsibility for making and raising them)... enter FUNCTION.

The entire backyard is lined with a pathway. It curves around trees and flower beds so the kids have somewhere to go and I even built a hill for variation.  I walked it out- I wear a size nine so slightly bigger steps and I'd have a full foot, right?  200 ft is what I measured. We started this monstrosity last spring and decided to use minimum funds and maximize our freebies (brilliant, I know) Usually, less funds means more work. And that's exactly what it has cost me. Mr. Zookeeper had access to a dumpster full of broken, left over granite. I emptied the trailer and got started. I laid about 50 ft and realized I was in way over my head. Of course, I couldn't complain... I still got those eyes that said, "hey, don't look at me you're the crazy one with the idea!" I just trudged on knowing that my brilliance would one day kill me and this could very well be the end.

While out at Women's conference, I got a call that if I were to get a giant hole, where would I want that to go? I came home to find Mr. Zookeeper playing outside with a backhoe. Cool. He's turned to the darkside and I was getting the trampoline in the ground. (this has saved many lives) We decided to save money here too so naturally it took a long time to complete- fortunately I didn't ask for that part so I was able to roll my eyes every time Mr. Zookeeper got frustrated and just give the look of, "hey, don't look at me you're the crazy one with the idea!"

The trampoline was in and the sand arrived. We moved the dinosaur into place and pretty much became the coolest parents ever. Well, for a day anyway.  We had a drainage issue by the garden so we had to address that but did get the planter box in and a garden growing. Then, the mosquitoes and heat came and I was forced to retire.

Spring came early this year and I set back to work. This time we decided to reinforce the granite with cement. I ripped up the 50 ft I already had done (not without whining and begging) and agreed the new way would be better... in spite of my protest and genius ideas to work around it.  Mr. Zookeeper is more accurate than I am. I usually guess and hope for the best then whine when things don't work out. He, however, measures and does it right the first time. I walked off about 200 ft... yeah, it measured more like 420 ft. Luckily for me, Mr. Zookeeper is wonderful and only laughed at me. I think he is still laughing actually.

I am now 300 ft into a finished pathway- of course that's with me walking it off so it could be anywhere between 100-400 ft completed. Mr. Zookeeper has not yet sold me to the gypsies and the yard is coming along. The kids are no help- at all. Rhino stands by telling me what animals are the best diggers as I'm knee high in ditch drenched in sweat holding a shovel. Tiger destroys the house while I'm covered in cement and can't do anything about it and Monkey insists I stop every 5 minutes and explain what I'm doing. Puppy turns the water on and off so she's off the hook- but they all yell at me for being outside too long and then yell at me for not being done yet!

They do love it though. My function is already starting to serve its purpose with endless circles and jumping and digging. It is fun to watch the kids enjoy their space- even if it is slow coming.

I lost a few trees last year to a curious Tiger so we replaced them in the fall and I'm happy to report that they are all still alive! One tree may not make it- it appears the dog has been urinating at it so it's struggling to breathe. The girls have helped me plant flowers and we are enjoying the little projects of making it all our own. We added a 10 ft alligator to the sandbox and a mushroom. I hope to be able to put in my honeysuckle tunnel, climbing art and rose bushes but will be ecstatic with just getting that pathway done. For mother's day, I got the fire-pit paved and 20 more feet of pathway.... and for how much I'm spending in concrete- I may be getting a pathway as presents for the rest my life. The granite does look nice- in fact my pathway will probably cost more than my house if you totaled it all up but I try not to dwell on that- for sanity purposes.

I was just out this morning enjoying the spring breeze and breathing better knowing that after a lot of work- a LOT of work- it is all finally coming together. I fantasize about taking a picture and sending it to my professor- how dare he give me a B, I bet I'm the only one who actually used the information, that should count as some awesome extra credit or something. But, I'm not doing it for him or a grade (unless he really can change my grade- then I'll entertain the possibilities). I'm doing it to make my kids more comfortable. This is our home and we should want to spend more time here than anywhere else. So, we are creating a space that we can all enjoy.

I have learned a lot about measuring and big ideas and frugal labor. All three things that have been engraved in my "crazy lady" box of memories.

I am much stronger for it though; I have carried and mixed over 1000 lbs of concrete and laid tons of granite pieces. I have dug trenches and buried holes. I am like a sunburned version of the incredible hulk, only without the whole naked thing. I have moved mountains, literally and it has given me new found abilities. Mr. Zookeeper has been a huge support. He has helped a lot when he can but let's face it, someone has to go to work to pay for my brilliant ideas. He has shown me what to do in his absence and trusted in me- in spite of my measuring skills.

As I have worked and sweated and dropped granite pieces on my precious toes; I was reminded of the constant pathway I am building not only for my children, but in my children. I have dreams for them and sometimes they seem outrageous. They take a lot of work and a lot more time. It's not about how far I still have to go, but how far I've already come. There will be obstacles and sweat and many times I'll have to call it a day, but the sun always rises and opportunity is waiting the next morning. Whether I pay someone to help me or do the work myself, the work still needs to be done. There will be twists, turns and hills to cover but the finished product will be magnificent and I can stand at the end of the day and say, "I did it! I survived and it's beautiful."

My children are beautiful. They are my world and ultimately we will all survive their childhood- eventually. I would do anything for them, even re-design the backyard if it means they will be happy and one step closer to their potential. I am learning more about myself as I serve them.  I am grateful for crazy ideas and trust to do big things. Even though we think of ourselves as simple and weak, our Heavenly Father knows we are builders. I may not have a garden for the whole world to see and study in landscape architecture, but I have my own piece of the world that is beautiful just for my family alone. Just one piece of granite at a time and I'll have a 420 ft pathway. And just one seed at a time and I'll have a lush garden. My children are my seeds and every moment shared is another piece of our journey paved toward forever. Which reminds me. I must now take action with a certain tree. It turns out, the dog isn't the one that has been peeing on it...