So this one’s not going to be much in the way of words, but there will be a lot of pics 🙂

As of last fall, the work the city had promised to do for us when they repaved Marttila Drive was still not done.

In October, one crew came by to build our new front steps. Even though I asked for an estimate on rebuilding the side steps, too, the contractor never got back to me.

But the work was done. Ok.

No one’s going to trip on that

In December (remember we didn’t have snow until Boxing Day) another crew arrived to do the interlocking brick. They didn’t go under the front steps, though and now the side steps, our old, but very solid steps we made ourselves, overhangs the brick.

Oh well. We’ll build ourselves a new set  . . . someday.

Notice the former garden that’s now growing out from under the front steps

In February, in the middle of a snow storm, yet another crew arrived to install the railing on the retaining wall. It had already snowed quite a bit and they had to excavate the cement pylons they had to bolt the railing to.

Unfortunately, one of them was not placed properly.

Stable as hell

With regard to the garden, I planted the raised bed Phil built for me last year.

The transplanted hops vice and clematis seem to be happy.

Now if I could only get around to weeding . . . 😦

Phil has now added solar power to our gazebo.

So we can work outside, even after sunset. Summer office: accomplishment unlocked!

And that is this writer’s life.

I’ll be back in a bit with the latest Ad Astra reportage.