So it's been a while since I published anything new here.  I have added some recipes, but nothing on the front page for a long time.  I guess I would file that in the category of "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."  This summer did not turn out as expected.  The wall and driveway project turned into a complete nightmare.  The fight with the contractor is still ongoing, and we are still unable to use our driveway.  Since the Driveway is unusable, the cobra hasn't been out of the garage since June.  So needless to say, it has been a stressful few months.  I hope that everything gets resolved with the driveway soon, but I really don't know when things will be back to normal.

Otherwise it's been an okay summer / fall.  I have been very lax about getting pictures off the camera.  I need to catch up on that as well.  We really didn't do a whole lot this year, and as such don't have tons of pictures.  I keep talking about the summer, I just can't believe that Autumn is here, and fading fast.  I guess it's time to get ready for winter.  Hopefully with the change of seasons, there will also be a change in luck.  Things have to start looking up soon.  Lets hope for a nice, pleasant, short winter!  And I promise to have some better (happy) content soon.

Lots of progress on the wall this week... I'll put the full progression  of pictures up. Can't wait to have a driveway again.

After a snag, a redesign, and a reset... it's time to show off the first blocks again.  The new design is a straight wall with the stairs coming up from the front rather than curving in from the side.  It won't be as visually attractive, but it will be enormously better than what was there.  The first blocks were set today, and now that the design is final (I hope), it should go quickly.  I can't wait to see the finished product, and have full use of the driveway / garage again.

and here is the original shot for comparison



Retaining wall first blocks progress

Well it's been a couple of weeks of digging, and grading, and more digging, and dumpsters full of clean fill, but today the first blocks for the new wall are being laid.  Here is a shot from the same view as the original.  It's a big difference.  I hope it all looks good in the end.  I love seeing progress rather than just demolition.

and here is the original shot for comparison

Can't wait to post some more progress pics.