So, I am back after a several day hiatus (from blogging, that is). The fact is we have been up early and out late pretty much every day since I last posted. We have made great progress, again, only because of scads of help. Neighbors, family, friends, and conscripted children have rallied to rid our former family home-turned-rental of the layers and layers of dirt and scuzz applied and deposited by its latest occupants. The most recent tallies account for over six cubic yards of rubbish and tenant leftovers  hauled away to the local landfill, and a large deposit of carpet and underlay waiting its turn for a one way trip to the dump.

I’ve included a couple of the pics to show you what we’re up against.

The kitchen appliances have been hauled away and the damaged trim removed. A thorough top-down cleaning has begun as well as the various and sundry pre-painting prep work–all  in an effort to prepare the house for its date with its painting destiny.

That’s an overview of the inside, now for the outside…..

Suffice it to say that any gardening implement (both manual and internal combustion powered)  has been used in the combined 50+ man hours to return the yard to something resembling anything close to its pre-tenant state. Our crew has hacked, cut, weeded, whacked, sawed, and mowed. We have pulled and grunted and scratched, nicked and abraised and chainsawed and maybe even cussed in an effort to bring order to the overgrown chaos that was the yard.

There has been visible progress … but there is still much left to accomplish. We are grateful for Grandpa Art who has arrived to pitch in and stand guard.