the patio redux

our new patio!

my back hurts…there’s no way of getting around a sore back from pulling out weeds and overgrown plants. i have figured out that there really isn’t any way of standing/sitting with proper posture and still getting enough leverage to yank a hunk of deeply rooted weeds out of the clay soil…

but this minor ache in the lumbar is totally worth it when i look out at our patio. in the last two days we have completely transformed our little private courtyard into a slice of heaven. ok, not quite, but it looks great and is very usable.

bit by the spring cleaning fever, we hit the patio: pulled out lots of nasty plants, chopped out a few thick roots (hope we didn’t sabotage the tree next door to death), leveled the soil, laid cool pavers, detailed the edges with stone, potted some pots, and set out some new comfy chairs for future morning coffees.

wil and i had a great time working on the project together- making decisions about the “new” space, pushing a cart through lowes, laying the stone together, and each working on our own tasks to make the patio come together perfectly (we really are a great team and can’t wait for owning and fixing up homes for the rest of our lives). we are also excited about the prospect of the final touches to the space. we plan on getting rid of my rusted bike, throwing out the extra lattice, finding the perfect side table for summer dinners, and getting the interior walls painted the same color as the new siding/exterior (that will be done by the h.o.a. for everyone in the near future- so we don’t even have to lift a brush!). also, we were thinking of staining/painting the original concrete (who honestly thought mint green was a good color choice for that?), but that might be a phase two thing as this weekend has obviously come to an end.

gracie likes the new patio as well…especially since she’s never been allowed out there as she used to immediately go to the dirt to dig. now she loves to sniff, explore, and crouch to look out under the fence at passerbys (she probably could see over the top if she stood up, but she doesn’t know that yet…shh!).

i know it still has a few lingering tasks, but to me, we really did the majority of the work in only two days! woohoo! we are proud. be sure to check out the entire process here (sorry, i came in bit late with the camera and missed the really icky ‘before’ shots).