My multi-year project was the retaining wall and patio in the back yard. Paid someone to do a terrible job I had to re-do. The old CMUs were falling over so we went with recycled rail-road ties. Those things are heavy.
My excavated dirt was starting to look like I left it too long. Learned my lesson on that one and tarped the other pile. I think I see the drill sticking out of the tie on the far right. I burned through half a dozen spade bits predrilling the rebar holes.
Had to add one step on top and one stop on bottom. The supervisor stopped by to inspect the work.
Got some six foot long threaded rod and the biggest washers I could find, then routed out a hole in three places and ran the rod into the upper yard for tiebacks.
Hopefully those'll help keep the walls up longer.
Layout was really irritating. The previous guy we paid bought 30% of the required pavers, and it cost us something like $1500. Apparently his math was off, so I had to buy the 1x1s ($1.80 per) to make up the difference. Two 1x1s were not the same as one 1x2 so I had to get creative. Plus they were taller.
Finally done! Not perfect, but close enough.