patrick conroy wrote in
:

When the kidz are gone - the first thing I'm tearing down is... the
lawn!

"Take paradise and put up a parking lot." makes a helluva lota sense
to me now.

We tore out the front lawn, and put half of it into a front yard patio,
using tumbled pavers. The other half was replaced with a short seating
height wall, berms, and maybe 40 rose bushes.

The function is that of an old fashioned porch, which the design of our
house did not easily accomodate. Much of the year, in Northern California,
that is one of the most enjoyable areas of the home.

Of course, it couldn't happen until the kids moved out, and took their
cars. Now, the garage has been turned to its rightful purpose: Sheltering
big iron tools and fanciful, partially completed woodworking projects.

Now that there is a young grandson, that 200 sq ft of lawn in the back yard
is just about right.

Patriarch