Outdoor To-Do List Summer Countdown

Summer is half over. And with that comes a million thoughts of what's left to do. Balancing fun with those million to-do's is the name of the game. And trying to stay on top of everyday chores so that the house doesn't fall apart. Working from home more gives me a chance to have a more flexible schedule so I can prioritize fun with the kids. This time together is precious and we want to make the most of it.

Oliver goes to half day playground camp with his friends, and taekwondo. Matt does soccer and our nanny still comes part time until school starts. We've gone to the beach a few times and the pool several times a week. Weekly walks through the local arboretum. Fun outings with friends and family, play dates and playgrounds and walks through the woods. Craft cocktails, cold brew and dinners alfresco. Bike rides, summer concerts and outdoor movies. Kayaking, fishing, BBQs and night swims. We're trying to go on adventures - like a night dig to look for fluorescent minerals at the mine dump behind the mineral museum. Or hunting for fossils at Big Brook. When it's raining I've stocked up on all these fun craft and science kits. It's become the summer of science and nature (especially geology and fossils - the kids are super into those).

I am trying to remember to take breaks and ignore the remaining chaos of the backyard, but it's not easy. The patio is great, an oasis for relaxing and entertaining (especially if I block the yard mess with the curtains). The deck is lovely (except for needing a coat of stain, but that doesn't bother me as much). The flower pots are full of flowers, the garden beds are thriving. So many parts of the yard right now are really beautiful, or so close to coming together.

Our flower covered yard is literally full of butterflies, dragonflies and rainbows. 

But the reality is that this is what things really look like right now as a whole.

My eyes hurt just looking at it. Toys, toys and more toys, supplies, piles of wood and rocks, bikes, pools, chaos and general mess that can't be easily put away so it just gets worse. Honestly we need to schedule a full day just to clean up everything... but we can't  do that until the major projects are done because we need to keep getting all the stuff out or need room in the garage to store it or will use some of those piles. I know chaos is completely normal during construction, and the garden project definitely counts as construction... but I am just so ready to be done!

There's a lot of self-inflicted pressure to finish the garden project and the backyard to-do's as soon as possible so that we can better enjoy the backyard... but at the same time, September and October are prime patio enjoyment months. It's a beautiful time of year to be outside. Plus those chilly nights will be the perfect time for the fiiiiiiiire piiiiiiit.....

So here's the final to-do list countdown:

Garden:

• Finish garden pathways (weed blocking fabric + square pavers + pea gravel)
• Build trellises
• Build arbor
• Plant climbing rose next to arbor and mulch the new bed

Backyard:

• Clean up crazy wood pile mess
• Find a home for all the unused pavers and stone
• Seal driveway 
• Stain deck (possibly in the fall, but it needs it)

Upcoming: Build a pergola for front of the garage for climbing rose (Fall)

Upcoming: Fix rotted door frames: house side door and garage side door (Fall)

Upcoming: Mitigate way back water issues (Fall)

• Dig 3 drainage ditches
• Fill drainage ditches with gravel and drain pipes with socks
• Dig 3 dry wells and fill with gravel on the right side of each ditch
• Fill in low spots/regrade landscaping back there
• Reseed grass

Also... inside we've been working on making updates to the boys bedrooms (when the weather isn't conducive to outdoor projects) and I've been trying to reorganize our bedroom and closet. Unfortunately for me I promised the boys I'd have it done before school started and I have a long way to go!!!