Curb appeal is everything when a potential buyer pulls in front of your home.  If it is not a pleasant scene to their eye, they may not even bother looking inside.  I’m proud to say that this property was one of my first jobs years ago, and my clients satisfaction is still one of my highest priorities in my work.  It was a 3 to 4 day journey digging up old azalea bushes and relocating to another area in the yard.  The prepping alone was one of the hardest manual laboring jobs I have done in the 11 years that I have been in business.  It taught me endurance and persistence to continue doing what I love because it will never seem like work…well…this one did but I still loved it.   The root systems on some of those plants went to China I believe, we did our best and they all survived our transplant.  The soil was so compact (Virginia Clay) that I had to run a hose for a couple of hours just to soften it, then it was a muddy, extremely heavy mess.  I can still hear the suction between the shovel and earth.  I think we had to throw our boots away after that job.  My friend Kristen (my blessed laborer for a few days) and I worked up a sweat but we finished it with new shrubbery, flowers, a ton of lirope and of course the icing on the cake beautiful fresh brown mulch…many yards of it.  I have since then started to hire help with major jobs such as these to help preserve my 52-year-old back.  Leaving me with the lovely part of curb appeal, which is consulting with clients about the plan, purchasing of the materials, and overseeing the project for completion.  Part of the benefits of being the boss is I get to choose which part I want to do and hire for the rest.  Years after the job has been finished the owners have continued with the care and maintenance of the shrubbery and flower garden.  I saw them at an event and they told me that the Yaupon Holly I planted on the corner of the house has gotten as tall as the house and it gets rave reviews from the neighbors each fall when the berries turn their beautiful bright orange.  They gave me permission to go by and take a snap shot because their yard won “Yard of the Month” and proudly displays the sign in the front.  It makes me proud to know my clients are still happy with my companies work after all these years and that our hard work gets prolonged gratification.  Many thanks to my dear friend Kristen who stuck by me on those hot, hard-working days in the beginning stages of starting my company.  Another job well done from the very beginning stages of the U & I Home Decorating and Staging Team formally known as Creations by Deborah and my wonderful friend Kristen.