I have invested in the earth moving business

Kind of. We bought our house last June. We love it, though it has revealed many of its inherent flaws. For example, last Fall we started getting mildew along the baseboards in a couple rooms in the house. We couldn't control the condensation on the windows. And the bathroom has no venthilation. We found ourselves with a major moisture problem. We can't afford (yet) to have insulation installed (no, the walls are not insulated...who does that?!). So I occasionally have to bleach the baseboards. I hate using bleach, but it kills the mildew lickity split. We got a dehumidifier, and it's right outside the bathroom. We had it off most of the winter, but now that it's getting a bit more humid out, it's definitely helping to fight off some of the moisture.

Another thing our 60 year old charmer (IMHO) has is dirt piles. I have no earthly idea why, but there are 3 along the back fence. So today I got out there and started hacking away at one. I probably moved 10 wheel barrows full. It was awesome. We are hoping to assemble a patio kind of in the middle of the back yard. Since the drainage is bad, the yard gets really soppy after a rain. I used the dirt from the mound to heighten the area where the patio will go. I've got big hopes! It will be about 10 feet wide by 8 feet deep. Can't wait to see if it happens.

This yard, though, is HUGE. We were standing and the rear end of it...though not all the way to the fence and property line, and the boys will EASILY be able to throw a football (without endangering my windows). AND there's enough room to put in a volleyball net that will not get in the way of the clothesline, the garden or the patio. Awesome, awesome, awesome.