A Hobbit-hole in my Backyard: May 2010

A hobbit-hole in my backyard? It may sound crazy, but I can tell you that my kids love it. It is the coolest playhouse ever. Plus, they can enjoy the grassy hill for sledding in winter and water sliding in summer. This was all my wife's idea. She dreamt it, and I got to be the one to bring it to reality. I'm not a construction expert; this was a total do-it-yourself job by a complete amateur. It has turned out rather nicely, I think. Here is the story of how it came to be.

Since this is in blog format, the posts are in order from newest to oldest. To read this in chronological order, start with How it all Began and use the "Newer Post" links. Or click on the links under Blog Archive, in order.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Maze

Our yard has unlimited fun potential. Besides the hobbit-hole, the trampoline, the mother-of-all-sandoxes, and the 35 ft. cherry tree, which is great for climbing and affords the "aerial views" of the hobbit-hole, we also have The Maze. "Dad, when can you mow the lawn?" My daughter asks. "Cause when you do, I want you to make The Maze." The grass, often neglected due to hobbit business, could really use a trim. Note to self: Go get gas for the mower. Later, as I don my boots and my Outback hat, my son yells, "Hey everybody, Dad's gonna mow! MA-AZE!" I usually have ready helpers to clear toys, sticks and other obstacles, plus one or two tag-alongs forming a little train behind me. Other kids perch on the porch railing or in the cherry tree, waiting for me to mow it high, then mow the twisting, turning pathways low to create The Maze. When I'm finally finished, they wear themselves out playing tag. These were taken from the top of the hobbit-hole:

Monday, May 10, 2010

All put together again

Well, the remodel of the front has turned out great. It is so nice to have everything put back together again, after having it all dug up since last fall. Now I am finally ready to cover the top with dirt, and start prepping for laying sod. It will be so nice to look out and see a grassy hill instead of an ugly metal pipe!