Here is a direct shot of the driveway going in. This is how we'd have to back out of our driveway. It wasn't too bad but we looked forward to more options.
Another shot.... do you like that stormy sky!?
By that small apple tree by the power pole is where the new driveway will come back to the main road.
See this ugly low shed looking structure? Ya it had to go! This area is where we will plant the raspberries.
Another before shot. See our suburban parked on the grass? For weeks we drove through the grass to get a feel for where we wanted the driveway to go and how tight to make the turn. This was actually a pretty useful way to get the driveway just where we wanted it. Very scientific and mathematical I know.
You can almost see where we've been driving in the grass in this picture.
Ok time for AFTER pictures isn't it? No, sorry, time for some in process pictures first!
It was c-c-cold that morning! Mr. Wonderful started by scraping the sod off. Then he piled extra top soil in mounds for our future landscaping plan.
Another view of him removing material off the yard.
Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better!
Here he is adding soil to the landscaping mounds.
Mr. Wonderful's perspective.
Ready for the gravel now.
It is coming together, the gravel is being spread. One truck-load at a time. First we did course gravel, then the finer top layer. This should create a more stable driveway in the long run.
Sunshine and Whippersnapper on the roller.
Tobers waits in the truck to make another trip for gravel.
Ok Ok, you are really ready for some AFTER pictures now right? Well here you go.
Here is the view from the parking area in front of the pole building along the front of the house.
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The view from the front steps. So nice and smooth!
From the main road, mainly all you can see is where the old driveway was it is just wider now. We will have to reseed grass in a few areas but it is so worth it!
From main road where you can see the new driveway connecting into the main road (by the power pole). Ignore the landscaping mounds we have yet to get landscaped. That will come later this spring hopefully.
Here is a shot of the new entrance driveway that connects into the old driveway in front of the pole building.
Expertly compacted by Sunshine and Whippersnapper, they operated the vibratory roller.
Another view from the corner of the house looking toward the main road.
Isn't it nice?
Oh and look, we tore down the low shelter building! Now this area is all ready for our raspberry patch! That bale of straw will be used for mulch for the berries. I am anxiously waiting for the berries to come in the mail. so I can get them planted.;) First, I have some weeds to wage war on.
You know how I said we were so worried that something or someone would get run over before the circular driveway went in? Well once we had completed the work for the day, and the finishing touches to the new driveway had been made; It was time to park the vehicles in their rightful spots. Mr Wonderful was jockeying rigs around and getting them all back where they belong. We had to play musical rigs all day so they wouldn't be in our way when we did certain sections of the driveway. The whole day, the kids were testing out the driveway with various things of their own, bikes, wagons etc. Well Spud Man left his bike leaned up against the front suburban bumper. When Mr Wonderful hopped in to park it he ran the bike over. The wheels are now off-set by about 8" lol. While we are sad for Spud Man we also are really thankful that it was just a bike and not a child or a pet. A tough lesson was learned by many with that ordeal. It was a little ironic that all day this place was a buzz with activity and equipment running and people all over and it wasn't until the very last moment something got ran over!
A sad day for the bike.
I hope you enjoyed the tour of our progress. We are sure enjoying our new driveway. The best part is the delivery drivers are so appreciative. They can drive right up to the door step now and don't have to back in or out of our driveway. I love how easy it makes it to unload groceries now.....not that it stopped us from driving on the grass before, but now we won't look like such rednecks when we do it. Every time we get to tackle a fun project like this I feel so incredibly blessed to have a husband who works in the construction field and who has access to the equipment we need to get the job done, as well as a generous boss to lend it to us. This driveway project cost us very little compared to what it would have cost someone without the connections we have. The main cost for us was the gravel, which was at a discounted rate thanks to a friend from church. The discount helped us to get the project done now rather than needing to wait until fall and save up more money. We are blessed indeed!
Gee this might be my longest post ever....if you made it here without falling asleep you deserve an award of some kind!
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