Before..... about 2 years ago...

butterfly bush...gone

dead tree....gone

cobblestone path.....gone

During

Newly planted grass...not fully filled yet

daylillies planted, but no bark and edging yet

far side under tree not cleaned up or

bark added yet....

After

Just before the party,

filled in grass,

More flowers added, bark added

edging added

Under tree on far side, all barked and

weeded...will show from both sides...

Miscellaneous images from the weekend....

A family never before together....

We got a chance to meet a new/old cousin this weekend. Cindy (the first on the left) was separated from the family before she was born and most of us have never met her. These photos are of her, her younger sisters and brother...one with them and my grandmother...then neices and a nephew thrown in.

I told Cindy she would have test whent the weekend was over but she wasn't going for it, she probably met over 50 new family members!

Camping....swimming.....sitting...darts....campfire

The final pictures before the party

My artistic husband

Here is my husband carving--I love to see him work, love the little shavings that he carves off of the board....Took him several days in the garage (in awful heat) to finish this up....We decided to use Cedar because it would weather well, BUT the grain was harder to work with and we found a split in the board, which Jim had to glue together...then he got some sort of problem with his lungs from the glue fumes! I hope he feels it was all worth it.

Here is what the sign looked like before my brother scraped off the old finish that was peeling...and the old sign. Can you read it? Used to say "harvey falls" for a guy who once lived in the home

Here is the sign Jim finished for the anniversary. I think it is beautiful and he got several comments on it. He normally doesn't do this sort of carving but I think he did a great job.

Well the party is over...

I will post a few quick photos. I really didn't take a lot because I was so busy running around and doing things. I can at least show the beautiful cake my sister in law made, and the food we put out, enough to feed about 3 times as many people as was there hehe.

Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary Invitation

Is it finally done????

Its almost a let down now that my folks are home meaning we are done with their "surprise". Doesn't mean I am done helping them but from now on there is no big rush to get it all done. I got up this morning at 5:45 and left about 6:30 to pick up the worker who was helping us with the final leg of the journey. I think we went a tad bit over budget (about 3x) but this will last for a long time! I learned a lot doing this, and getting it all put together.

Now, lets see the greenhouse........Here is the picture from the outside to start. My little brother thought my chauchkies were silly (he is such a BOY) but I had to make it somewhat presentable. I had the bowls of flowers at my house from a sale a week ago, the two stools I got at a yard sale for $2.50 ea, the other stuff was things she had around the yard or garage or deck. The worker says it "cheapens it" another BOY! I dont' care.....I like it. Oh and the chairs are ones that they had taken down because when you sit on them your bum turns black but nobody will sit out here anyway it was just for the silly picture!

and here is my mom entering the place

And Voila!

Here is some inside pictures....

Ok I showed my brother a picture of something to do for the side tables, and he thunk all of this up in his head, figured the supplies we needed, I drove to the store yesterday, bought the supplies, and when I came back he and our Hired helper, Joe, cranked these out in just over 2 hours! Amazing huh?

Now we can do a more close up with the path. You have seen the pictures but not finished with all the little doodads, the edges cleaned well, new bark dust brought in, new rocks around the pond, new gravel put all around the outside edge of the front part of the yard, have views from the driveway and from the deck....

From the driveway above, from the garage below

From the deck

And our last little surprise, Mike and helper slammed this out today, cleaning my dad's garage. No before pictures here but lets say it was getting a bit cluttered and now its all cleaned up.

Ok, I think it all went over ok....whew I am dirty, and tired, and sore and GLAD we did this. Is it really over? Is it finally done?????

Myabe its all just been a dream.