Sushi Demolition August 2008

As usual, we plowed through our meal like we hadn't eaten in weeks. What is it about sushi that does that to us? We are hopeless addicts! Sushi Muramoto is the place in Madison and Barney and Dynee are always game! As usual, an ice cream chaser at Ben and Jerry's - Coffee, Coffee, Buzz, Buzz is my fav.

Olbrich Gardens 2008

Our 40th Wedding Anniversary

40 years and counting. We ate dinner with our good friends Roxanne and Mike Matteson and went to a concert in Janesville. Afterward, we went back to Rox and Mike's and Jim taught Rox how to fry a pie. We had wine, pie, coffee and loads of laughs.

The Way it Used to Look

Twenty five years of never raking or pruning left almost the entire backyard in underbrush. We had a lot of clean up to do before we could even think about creating a restful escape!

Back Deck, Before and During Renovation

Hi Opie - We miss you!!

Fire Pit Before, During and After Renovations

Rototiller Time on the Newest Flower Bed

I can't wait for spring!









That first pass with the 'muscle machine' really defines the space.

Newest Flower Bed 2008

Jim staked this out and got the shape just the way we wanted it.


Now it's ready for RoundUp.

Constant Improvements

Jim's gift to me from the Tallman Arts Festival 2007

2007 Improvements on the Homestead!

Jim built two new raised bed gardens: one for potatoes and the other for mates & peppers. One corner also holds rhubarb and chives.

A new course of gravel went down on the entire drive from the road to almost our back lot line. Lots of muscle work, moving and raking the gravel, getting it pitched just right and then 'tamping' it down with the ol' brown truck! Eight, 5 ton loads, equal 40 tons of gravel moved with shovels and wheelbarrow. No Skidsteer for us, no sirree!