I was driving past Dan and Pat Matthews yard when my granddaughter said, "Look at that very very pretty park." I told her it wasn't a park, but someone's personal yard and she said, "well some people make their own parks."

Pat Matthews told me, "it is labor-intensive, but we do enjoy it. We did sod the boulevard, and we added the raised flower beds this year." It's been a struggle this year because both and Dan and Pat had surgery. The secret, besides the intensive labor, is Dan set up the water system behind their shed. There is a 4,000-gallon tank, so they can water whenever they want to. They also have an underground water system. "It's the lack of water that affects most yards." When the school took over the water system, they bought a card so they can purchase water whenever they need it.

Next door to Matthews is Rich and Karen Jesperson, who also have their own private park. Rich told me he had thrown in some shining color stones in their walks so the grandkids could pick them up. I was taking a picture or two, and my granddaughter was so excited to find the rocks. I made her leave them there. In their front yard is a treehouse, Rich's treehouse, if you ask him, he'll tell you he built it for himself.

A retired farmer and his wife, Charles and Lil Foussard, have beautiful flowers along the side of their house and a fabulous garden in the back. Lil told me you can take the farmer off the farm, but you can't take the farmer off the land.

We all know Gwen Kane has a whole lot that she has made in to a beautiful personal park. She works hard at making her yard one of the best to drive by in Big Sandy.