The battle with the retaining wall started the day we moved in to our house. Nathan swears that the bowing had gotten worse in the last 6 years, and I’m sure he’s right (don’t tell him i said that), but i just chose not to see it getting worse…or our driveway slanting in that direction.

We had decided last fall that we should replace the old retaining wall, made from deck planking, with a more sturdy stone one, but didn’t get on it in time to have it done before winter…so, all winter we held our breath, hoping that the weight of the sometimes massive snowfalls wouldn’t collapse it into our neighbors lawn.

This spring the battle heated up again. First, we called the city of janesville to see if there was anything we needed to do before we started in on the project. We got placed on the city council agenda and Nathan went to one meeting where they decided it would be okay to replace if the bremer county planning and zoning office approved it. Ellie and I drove the permit application (although we didn’t actually need a permit, they make you fill one out anyway) to the courthouse in waverly on the day before the flood hit…good timing right…and then proceeded to wait forever, because of the flooding, to have anything done with it. Eventually, after numerous phone calls to check on the progress of our application, Nathan learned we were approved.

We called Bear Creek Landscaping out of waterloo on Monday, July 21 and were told they would be here on Wednesday morning, the 23rd, and be done by Thursday the 24th. I laughed. I didn’t think that was a possibility.

Imagine my surprise when they drove in at 9 am on Tuesday and were finished by wednesday at noon. I love contractors who do what they say they are going to do. These guys worked, and worked fast…and I must admit, there isn’t too much wrong with 8 or so college guys working in the hot sun sans shirts for a day and a half. Hooray for maternity leave entertainment!

The retaining wall before…

The retaining wall after…

Now, all of these plants are gone…we’ll replace them someday with something or other…we just don’t know what yet. We’re just still elated that we won’t walk out someday to find our garage lying in our neighbors lawn.