I've been working as much as I can on the backyard remodel, it's been a chore. A big Ash tree was dying, I didn't like cleaning up the leaves with the wall around the yard, the grass had lots of weeds and bare spots, a few sprinklers were too high and got taken out by the mower, etc.
We added raised bed garden boxes, with weed block and RR ties to create the border and reduce grass needs. (Need a few more ties... and I hate RR ties for landscaping.)
We're planning to add a good bit of concrete on the far side, where the tree was. Hopefully a gazebo for shade and a table. Hoping to end up with a fun, hangout and grill area in the back yard.
Cut the tree down, mulched the roots, tilled and leveled the lawn, hauled several loads of dirt out, added chicken shit for nutrients, got the sprinklers adjusted to a better height and tuned up... now it's time for the work! 3 pallets of sod... probably doing it all on my own.