*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Having two little kiddos and keeping one house for sale in tip-top shape while renovating another isn’t easy.  There’s a lot of “No!  Don’t touch that!” going on at both houses right now.  So, when Black & Decker generously offered to send us one of their Junior Power Tool Workshops to help ease the pain, I happily accepted the offer.

Handy Hubby assembled the kids’ workshop Saturday night in about 20 minutes flat.  I figured I should take of picture of him assembling it.  He wanted to put on a shirt but I told him not to worry about it.  It’d be good for the blog.  I like topless DIY…on Handy Hubby, not me of course.

Once he got it put together, he mentioned numerous times that he would’ve liked playing with something like it when he was little.  I think it’s something he’d like to play with now at age 33.  I watched him organize the tools and try each one.  In all honesty, I think he was playing.  The boys were ecstatic to find the workbench waiting for them in the garage the next morning.  Everett kept asking, “It’s a toy?”  I think he was half expecting to be told not to touch it.  I loaded the workbench into the car and we headed up to the Underdog to meet Handy Hubby to discuss some electrical details for the house.  The new toy worked out great and kept the kids occupied while we nailed down lighting, outlet and switch placements.  They especially liked the motorized circular saw and drill.

We decided to leave the workshop at the Underdog to give the boys something safe to play with whenever we’re working out there.  I think it makes them feel like they’re a part of the reno process.  If only they could run electric!

Anyhow, what does all this product placement mean for you?  Well, Black & Decker is in the midst of promoting their new electric and cordless yard tools.  Information on all the outdoor tools can be found at Recharge Your Yard.  With gas going for almost $4 a gallon, who wouldn’t be interested in checking out hassle-free yard products that allow more time and money for family, relaxation and entertaining?  Not only is Black & Decker hosting the Recharge Your Life sweepstakes on Facebook in which entrants have a chance at winning $4,000 worth of yard gear, they are kindly offering two more Junior Power Tool Workshops to TWO lucky House*Tweaking readers!!  Even if you don’t have kids yourself, maybe you have grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbor kids or a Handy Hubby that would appreciate this almost real life setup.  Here are the giveaway details:

• PRIZE: two Black & Decker Junior Power Tool Workshops along with the informative Black & Decker DIY books, A Better Lawn and Landscape Projects, just in time for landscaping season.  That’s one workshop and two DIY books per winner!
• RULES: must be at least 18 years old and have a street mailing address {no P.O. boxes} within the U.S. or Canada.  One entry per email address.
• HOW TO ENTER: leave a comment on this post proclaiming “I WANNA PLAY!”
• DEADLINE: enter before Friday, June 10th at 9:00 p.m. EST.  The TWO winners will be picked at random and announced on Monday, June 13th.
• WHILE YOU’RE AT IT: Go ahead and reminisce about your favorite toy, character or game as a kid.  I was a Pogo Bal kid and I wanted to be She-Ra.  At the time, I didn’t realize how lame and dangerous the Pogo Bal was or how scantily clad She-Ra was.  Oh, to be a kid during the ’80’s.

Don’t forget to check out Black & Decker on Facebook or follow them on Twitter!

images:  1) Black & Decker  2-4) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

During our first weekend as homeowners of the Underdog, we had some lumberjacks professional tree cutters {Ironically, one guy was named Phil Wood.  I couldn’t have chosen a better tree trimmer’s name myself.} come out and remove all the trees and shrubs that were either 1) dead or 2) precariously close to the house.  Cutting down 50-year-old trees that are 25-50 feet tall is beyond the scope of our DIYing skills. Here’s what the Underdog looked like upon closing last week…

{front yard}

{backyard}

…and here’s what the Underdog looks like this week minus dead trees and trees that would crush our little house if they were ever to blow over…

{don’t mind the white trash mess on the back patio}

The tree trimmers also ground up the stumps and roots of the trees that were removed.  Hopefully, it will help the lot and house to dry up a bit and deter future termites.

We opted to keep a large oak that sits closer to the road in the front yard.  The back side of the tree {closest to the house} is kind of bare.  The tree trimmers said it was because the other trees were crowding it and that it should fill out now that it has room to breathe.

We also kept 2 redbuds near the driveway/side yard.

And we left the tree line at the back of the property as-is.

With most of the trees gone at the front of the house, you can actually see the entrance now.

A walkway wraps around the garage from the driveway to the front door.  I love that the garage {left} and far bedroom {right} jut out from the rest of the house.  It gives the ranch a little more depth instead of just being one continuous flat facade.

{That’s Everett peeking in the window.  Would you believe I forgot my key to the new house on this particular day?!}

The front door needs a major curb appeal intervention.  The storm door is so loud and heavy!

There’s a crooked paver patio just left of the front door.  It’s overgrown with weeds.

Our home inspector said the concrete planter full of mulch is just asking for termites.  I could see a really easy succulent garden filling up the planter without the need for mulch.  Hmmm…

The tree removal revealed a few unique quirks about the house too.  Not that we didn’t notice them before, but now they’re pretty evident.

Like this corner of roof that was repaired 2.5 years ago when Hurricane Ike hit.  We learned from neighbors that another oak tree {one that we had removed} dropped a branch on the house during the storm, crushing this corner of the roof.

There are parts of gutter pulled away from the roof.  And check out these wooden shutters…

Next time I go visit the Underdog I’m going to remember my 1) key and 2) crow bar.  Those uglies have to go!  There were some nice discoveries as well…

…like a mature lilac bush that just needs a little pruning…

…some Lily of the Valley that I’m vowing to salvage and transplant throughout the yard.

There are a few rose bushes.  I’m anxious to see what color blooms they yield.  The property has several crowded, overgrown perennial beds that I’m itching to clean up.  I in no way possess a green thumb, but I figure if these plants can survive through years of neglect then I might actually have a chance with them!  They’ve gotta be pretty hardy.

Layne worked on his ‘courtyard’ while Everett and I walked around and took pictures.  He constructed it out of random findings:  loose bricks, broken downspout, old flower container and rusty, wire garden border.

So, that’s what’s new with the Underdog.  I know I’ll probably catch some flak for cutting down trees but, if it makes it any better, we do plan on adding a few daintier, ornamental trees at some point.

Maybe one where the front walkway meets the driveway and another at the far right corner of the house for balance.

The tree removal and stump/root grinding cost us $4,200.  Ouch.  But it had to be done and it had to be done by professionals.  We were able to save $600 by giving the cut wood to a neighbor who has a wood burning fireplace instead of having it hauled away.  So getting rid of the trees wasn’t all that bad.  At least someone else is able to use the wood.

images:  Dana Miller for House*Tweaking