Today I want to show you how we got started...
On February 15 of 1990, we had our contractor start with the preparation of our lot.
It is on a slope, bordered by a creek and rather swampy...
But, being Dutch by birth, we knew how to reclaim the land.
So with heavy machinery they started moving certain trees.
Then digging a pond which Pieter had planned, for using the dug up soil to fill in other areas.
Here I walk on the left, we had still our rental car from the Atlanta airport.
We'd come back from living and working in Italy.
Our containers had not yet arrived.
They came in, a couple of days later with our cars and all our furniture etc.
We would start working and living in Indonesia in March...
You can see the slope of the lot. To my right is the creek; naturally the lowest area.
Strange for us, coming from the Old World, to start on land where NEVER any human being had lived nor cultivated this soil...
We had to reclaim it ourselves!
Heavy equipment was put to use...
A little bit to the right of the center, you can see our pond being born...
Just click on the photo to enlarge.
Now it is May, we did come back to the USA after each two month period of work.
This is the progress since they started clearing off in mid February.
The pond is visible here and there is a ditch dug to connect it with the creek so it could fill up.
Since then, there is an overflow, whenever we have a heavy rain the excess water goes into the creek via a drain pipe.
This is the pond in August of 1990 when we came again to the USA from Indonesia.
Here is about the same spot at the end of March in 2007.
Notice how much that oak tree to the left has grown!
Needless to say how much of landscaping we've done in 20 years, quite a mega task.
But everything is possible; as long as you have a plan and the necessary will power to execute it!
Related links:
This is our canine Mauzie, my female Dachshund who actually came with me from The Netherlands to the USA!
Mauzie with Mira the Guinea pig in the doll beds that I had for my nieces.
A younger me with Mira and Mauzie.
