Hoe vs. Tool

We* spent allllll day at HoL.
*Dad, Michael, Bradley, Mark, Amy, me

We got a lot accomplished in that time. It was a beautiful, if hot, day outside. We worked in the side yard which is all heavily shaded. Amy definitely worked the hardest today (well, I didn't see what dad and Michael were doing)... she hardly took a single break. She was digging out the pool that was completely filled in with dirt. It's not a swimming pool-- it's more like a goldfish pond. People took turns helping her dig it out but she was there the whole time. She's going to be in pain tomorrow.

Bradley and Mark goofed around with the wheelbarrow and insulted Amy about being a ho(e). Mark also climbed the giant cactus-tree in the front yard.

As for me, I dug out a walkway from the sidewalk (newly discovered under mud and weeds) to the concrete patio (newly discovered under mud and weeds). It's really coming together. I also spent time just digging in random places to see what I could find-- I came up with at least half a dozen cinderblocks, a heap of old rotting wood planks, and a bunch of pieces of pipe. There's always something. These things were all buried under mud and plants... according to the neighbors, it had been like that for at least eight years. Ridiculous. Among the miscellany we dug up was an old hammock, a tarp, a tin trash can lid, tin cans... you name it. Once again... ridiculous.

It was a great day to be outside, though. It was nice to work on the outside of the house. Apparently after Michael and dad broke out the chainsaw and cut down a bunch of vines and things from the side of the house, some neighbors who had been there for ten-ish years asked when we installed the stained glass windows. Now that they're not obscured they draw a lot of attention. And also since the patio and pool are being dug out... the house is starting to look like the mansion it's always felt like to me.

Oh, and I had an idea for a party... dad and I have been wanting to throw one. It's going to be a "Tent Party," where you bring your tent and come camp in the back yard. It's going to be killer. If you're interested, let me know. It's TENT-atively scheduled for the beginning of July.