Making the best of it...

Although we have yet another "yard" that is in dire need of some TLC, we have certainly rose to the occasion of making the best of it. Our first and most significant obstacle is the fact that it is split in two by a very menacing embankment, which in itself wouldn't be so bad if three quarters of the plot wasn't barren of grass. And to add insult to injury, the top corner of the yard is home to a huge slab of concrete that used to be the foundation for some sort of structure.

However, the childhood pursuit of fun runs deeper than all of these obstructions. Sarah has discovered that her sled works just as well on the bare dirt embankment as it does when its snow covered. In Jesse's eyes, the slab of concrete is the biggest drum ever invented and he has a blast experimenting with the different sounds that resonate from various objects when they are pounded on it. In addition to sledding, they have both found the embankment to be a perfect backdrop for many adventures ranging from a great dinosaur escape to a pathway to fantastical foreign lands. Jesse also seems to think that raking is the best game since "Peek-a-boo". Now if I could only convince him that it is more fun to rake things into rather than out of piles I would probably get more work done.

And work there is to be done. See, instead of merely accepting our backyard state in an optimistic inclination to be content, as noble a crusade as that would be, we aspire to make it better. Our most favorite improvements thus far are the two new tire swings hanging from the eves of the patio. Two free tires and a bit of hardware have become one of the most enjoyed pieces of our work in progress. Still to come, we will be converting the slab of concrete into a sand box complete with two side benches, a wood chipped area for a seesaw and play structure with a slide, and a vegetable garden with a compost pile.

For the imaginative eye and hopeful heart, a backyard such as ours becomes a playland not only for the tenacious spirit of youth but also for those young at heart and full of vision. The complacency of contentment will not deter us from, as coined by President George W, our pursuit of "embetterment"!