You know the gentlemen’s rule in nature of “take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints”? Our family has a hard time following this rule.

After we moved one year ago and declared the backyard a whiffle ball field, it wasn’t long before two big patches were worn away on the lawn: one for home plate and one for the pitcher’s mound.

The boys suggested to Jim that it would be cool to have each covered with turf. Within hours, Jim got to work making this suggestion a reality. Not one to do something halfway, he dug and installed two batter’s boxes: one for rightys and one for leftys.

He had some help from the neighbors.

The pitcher’s mound turf is temporary, to be rolled up and set aside when not in use. Before long, it was time for the ceremonial first pitch.

Batter up!

The hardest part was taking turns.

No more bare patch of dirt at home plate! And because Jim dug to fit the turf down into the lawn, the boys can just mow right over it with the lawnmower.