Our big project this summer is installing a walkway and new entry for our front door. 

The wooden deck that used to be on the front was getting old and wasn't good for much except housing many wasp nests.  The path to the door tended to get soggy and we just never used it much.  So out it all went.  My original idea was to use composite lumber to build a new deck but after totaling it all up, the cost was higher than I expected.

We were already putting in a stone wall near the kitchen for a flowerbed so what was a little more for the entry?

After moving tons of dirt, brick, and stone, we're almost ready to put down the walkway. The entry turned out to be a 6x8 foot patio that had to be build up about 18 inches from ground level.  Not the largest in the world, I'm sure but when you're using a shovel and wheel barrel it's a lot of work!

OK, so I'm really using a garden cart on the lawn tractor to haul material around but I'm really using a shovel!

The patio itself is complete, just not useable. We just have to add a step up to the door and a step down to the ground. 

Oh, and put in the walkway.

The foundation for the walk is in.  For this part we rented a backhoe since the walkway will be 20 ft long and 5 ft wide.  Digging down about 12 inches removes lots of dirt.  Even with the machine it took most of the day due to the large rocks we pulled out and all the rain that weekend.  At the end of the day it looked like I was digging a moat!

After the water dried it was time to haul in the hardpack.  Melissa and Caleb did that this week.  He's getting pretty good at the grunt work and he's big enough now to drive the tractor.  I've been helping him back up since getting a trailer to go the way you want it to is pretty tricky - especially for an 11 year old.  Isaac would help by picking up individual rocks, reaching up on tiptoes, and dropping them into the cart.  Then he'd go play in the sandpile.

That's where things stand for now.  Perhaps I'll work on it tonight when I get home.