Ever wondered what 99 buckets of rock and dirt look like in a backyard? Well, let me tell you, it's definitely a sight to behold! Picture assorted Home Depot, Theisen's, and even some Farm to Table buckets all neatly stacked around the house. Ninety-nine of them, to be exact.
For those of you who've been with us through this curious journey up to March 14th, 2025, you must have been thinking, "What's the deal with all these buckets?" Some of you might have peeked inside, scratched your heads, or simply marveled at the sheer number of buckets. Trust us, we get it. Our patio has been a construction zone since we bought this house last fall—it's been a mystery even to us!
Let's rewind a bit and share a little backstory about this property. This used to be my husband's best friend Pete's home. They worked together at the University of Iowa and bonded over their love for Hawkeyes and all things maintenance, enduring not just the highs and lows of football seasons but also a more challenging journey—both battling cancer side by side. Pete, against all odds, faced male breast cancer - yes, he was one of the 1% of the male population diagnosed with breast cancer, while my husband continues to navigate stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma - head and neck cancer. Their bond was unbreakable on so many levels.
Pete loved his home as much as he did his beloved Hawkeyes. He was a thoughtful, caring soul who left us too soon due to the relentless spread of his illness. When we lost Pete, we were heartbroken. Buying this house last fall was our way of keeping his spirit alive, honoring his love for his home and his team. It's been a labor of love since then and we hope he's smiling down on what we've done with the place so far. There's more to come!
Now, about those buckets! As we mentioned, we're not entirely sure what Pete had planned for the backyard. There were talks of expanding parking for football season or completely revamping the area. But what we found was a meticulously organized collection of rock and dirt—each bucket a testament to Pete's meticulous planning and determination.
After quite the effort, we've emptied all 99 buckets and restored the backyard to its former glory. We even managed to use some of the rocks to spruce up the front yard! As for the buckets, well, we've repurposed a few of them back into the landscape—it felt fitting to keep a piece of Pete's "project" here where he loved to be.
Whatever Pete's grand plan was, we like to think he's up there, looking down on his home with a big grin, knowing his legacy lives on. Here's to you, Pete—thanks for the buckets and the memories.