How to have a "green" green lawn

So, the secret to an environmentally friendly, low-impact lawn is this: PRAY FOR RAIN! LOTS AND LOTS OF RAIN! Basically we watered for the first two or three weeks after the seed went down, we've fertilized once, and the good Lord provided all the rest. We lucked out having such a wet summer. We'll have some work to do this fall re-seeding patches that have come in spotty, but all in all I am pleased with the results.

Honestly, I really don't WANT a lawn...at least not this much of it. I have a million ideas for how to reduce the amount of water-sucking (and weed-attracting) grass, but all of them COST money (which is somewhat in short supply at this time) so they have been relegated to the great To-Do list reserved for Someday.

Having said that, I am pleased with how this has turned out. The kids are thrilled to finally be able to walk on the grass and have a place to play near to the house. Walking around the house this evening, freshened up after mowing, beer in hand, sun's late-day golden rays tinging the treetops felt down-right kingly. Summer's grand. Life is good. Amen.

Dog Days/Dog Nights

Sorry for the pause in the posting this summer. Here are some of the most recent shots of the house. Getting the "shop" set up in the basement was the necessary first step before I could proceed with the project that remains my albatross: getting the old barn siding cut and fitted over the inside of the SIPs panels. More pics of this to come.