You certainly did a great job. Looks like a lot of work. All our kids are gone also. We bought the new house last year and got a big lot just so we could put in flowerbeds and vegetable garden, trees etc. We considered a pool but with the closest grandkids over 12 hours away we knew we wouldn't get the use out of it to justify the expense and trouble so we're just shooting for a retreat in our backyard, it's just going to take a while.
I have found the garden to be so peaceful, to sit in and watch the hummingbirds in the morning with my coffee. In the evenings it seems alot cooler sitting inside the fence among the flowers:)
Becky