U + (K - R) + S = L
$
Solve for L, where:
-U is the value for an ugly and quite possibly dangerous backyard
-K is the value of kids who need to play outside
-R is the risk of amputation (or at least a whole lot of slivers)
-S are leggy teenaged seedlings that will shortly want to move out of the house into a place of their own
-$ is the lack of $
(Don't forget to show your work).
Got it? The answer is back breaking labour. Lots and lots of it. Because no money + big plans = hard work, right?
Saturday morning was spent getting the basics done. Like removing the warehouse pallet and splintered chipboard "patio", complete with railway ties and, of course, railway spikes. Perfectly logical solution for elegant outdoor dining. Makes total sense.
Before |
After |
Before |
During |
The enormous hole |
We also cut down a mysterious tree that we call "the bean tree", since arboriculturists we are not. (Yes, it's a word. Yes, I had to look it up.)
Before |
During (Miss was clearly a big help) |
After. Ah. So much better. |
So by dint of five hours hard work, we've got the backyard looking less like a disaster area and more like an undesirable neighbourhood. We're on our way up.
And by hard work, I mean working around this one, who also worked hard. At having fun.