Before the winter weather hits, it feels like there are eleventy billion little things we need to do around the yard. But of course, it’s been crazy rainy so doing any of them has been next to impossible.

But just after Hallowe’en we got a couple of sunny (if a little chilly) days, I put on my pretty pink wellies…

And got out there and got down to business. Ok… admittedly, Dave did most of it.

One of the things he tackled was our giant scrap pile. After we got rid of the dumpster this summer, anything we pulled out of the house pretty much just got piled at the back of the yard. Dave went through it and decided what could be salvaged and reused, and what needed to be cut up into manageable pieces so we can get rid of it easier. Then he got busy with the saw.

When we took down the greenhouse, there was a large work table in there. It needed a new top though, so Dave stripped off the old one and gave it a more useable surface. Together we moved it into the shed.

It’s not fancy, but it’s perfect for holding my pots, and soil and garden things.

Next up, he had a wooden frame that had been built onto the laundry room floor as a riser under the washer and dryer for some reason we can’t fathom. We didn’t need it there, so Dave took it out.

He thought it might make good shelving for the shed, but I had a better idea. I desperately needed to get my spring bulbs in the ground or they were going to rot. I don’t really have a garden ready for them yet – I needed some sort of temporary space. So I tipped it on it’s side and filled it with soil.

Happily, most of my bulbs were in very good shape despite spending all summer in paper bags in a box in the shed. I only had to toss a couple. After everything was planted, Dave had the brilliant idea of using some leftover catio fencing to help keep the squirrels from feasting on them all

Come spring, I’ll have crocuses, hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips galore!

And last… I think I’ve mentioned that we plan to put up a clothesline. There is a clothesline pole at the back of the yard, but accessing requires trimming several trees. We won’t be able to do that for a while, so I picked up an inexpensive retractable line at the hardware store. Dave kindly installed it so I can string it between the garage and the fence.

It’s enough room for two loads of laundy, I promptly put it to good use!

There’s still plenty to do out there before the snow flies, but it feels good to have these few things accomplished!