Back Yard--Stage 0

Well...As you can see from these photos, currently the only positive aspect of this yard is the pool. For the past two years I've been "planning" to start the landscaping in stages. The problem has been lack of vision, lack of money, and overabundance of "where do I start?" Luckily, my talented cousin Ashley has agreed to share her vision with me. I took these photos to send her so that she can begin developing a plan-of-action for this eyesore that is my back yard. Thank goodness for the privacy fence or the neighbors might petition to remove me from the neighborhood. Dave and I have talked about renting large digging equipment to get started with some of our ideas. Dave obviously likes this idea. Think little boy in sandbox with toy tractors. It's hard to tell from these photos but the yard is dangerously uneven and there is still a septic tank (although no longer in use) barely buried in the ground that poses a great risk to anyone brave enough to veer off the beaten path. We would like to fill it in with dirt and eliminate the danger. Another part of this project will be re-training the dogs, Abby especially, to choose their bathroom spots more carefully. Currently Abby applies the "Drop it like its hot" philosophy - i.e. whenever, wherever the urge strikes. The only current safe place to walk is the footpath that the dogs have created. That's certainly one way to add fertilizer to the soil! As progress is made I will post more photos. At least the pool no longer has a crack!