Halfway there

After feeling like I've been getting absolutely nowhere on any of my projects (too many of them going on at once), I decided to focus just on the patio project for now. Also, summer is pretty short around here, we only have three months of summer to get everything done!

I am making some progress with making a new walkway. The best thing about this is it's something I can do on my own. I love getting rid of the old pavers that are cracked with mildew all over it.

A few weeks ago

Halfway done

I picked up a loveseat at Walmart. They went from $89 and are now down to $64. They are selling out fast though, so I figured I better pick one up now before they are all gone! The plant helps things look so much more homey and it was only ten dollars.

All we need now is the trellis for the backround.


I got the wall decoration from Micheals and stole the toolbox with flowers idea from a home improvement show.

The kids got the wall I just painted all muddy (though I'm not finished painting yet), and it does not wash off like you would think. Yes, I was pretty mad. But it did inspire us to buy some mulch.

It drives Dennis a little crazy when I do these projects halfway. You probably have already guessed that I have ADD, ha. But one day I am inspired to get mulch and the next week I am inspired to buy loveseats that are on clearance. It all depends on what's on sale at the time and if it works in the budget.

There might be a little part of me that is afraid to see it end too. I just love making projects.

Back to the Patio...

Back to the patio project...there is so much work to be done, I don't think we will be able to get it all done in one summer.



Sprayed down the walls, waiting for them to dry

But, small steps. That is the only way I know to get a project done.

I sprayed down the walls yesterday to prepare them for painting.

I actually didn't really have it in my plans to paint the walls. For me, I thought that the rustic cement walls sort of added to the "patio look." But people kept asking if we ever planned on painting the walls and I began to look at it through different eyes...

I began to see the knicks and marks and scars of the walls from years of neglect.

And I began to finally understand that no matter what sort of decoration I put in the patio, would never really "perk it up" with these bleak looking walls.

Good thing paint is a cheap fix!

I couldn't believe how much brighter it was just adding a fresh coat of white paint.

The walls are painted, but hold on, it's not done yet. These blank walls need some personality.

This wall is going to be our accent wall. When my brother visited us a few weeks ago, he had a great idea of buying trellis and using it as a backdrop. Wouldn't that look awesome??? I would paint or stain the trellis a dark brown color so that the white wall would show through real nice.

And then imagine a white wicker couch right in front of the trellis with some colorful throw pillows. And two potted plants on both sides.

This broken walkway is going to be completely uprooted.

I'm thinking a stone pathway would look real nice. But I have no idea what that would cost, so that's still up in the air.

This little step is overgrow with weeds. And even though you can't see it, there is a small tree stump that is growing right between the stones. The kids have learned to step around it but it's always a painful surprise to people who aren't expecting it. And a tripping hazard.

So I asked Dennis to remove it.

And he did!

It took some doing though, and we had the kids help as much as they could. The bricks were encased in cement.

Finally out! Look at all those weeds! I would pull them every so often but it was useless, because they were growing through cement.

Dennis even got the tree out! Now when we remake the step, it won't be there.

So there you have it. A lot of work done and yet, so far to go.

The backyard

Well, the front yard is halfway done though there is still more work to do. It is not quite as daunting as the backyard though.

Going to fill up this section with some nice tall flowers!

Flower border is finally done



The backyard is a huge project; one of those problem yards that will take years to fix. The biggest problem is the lawn. It is almost all weeds, and even though we use weed killer on them, they always come back full force. I don't really have a picture to show you but I will try to remember to take some for the next post. What we really need is a professional to come in to take care of them, but, well that's why I said it will take years to correct the lawn.

But the backyard has some wonderful possibilities. One of them is the patio underneath the balcony. The previous owners had used the area for their two large dogs and a place to store their garbage. It was very nice of them to leave it there for us. It was literally piled nearly up to the ceiling.

Once it was cleared out, I noticed it had a very nice layout of both cement and garden plots--which gave me an idea...   

First year

From the inside

We decided to turn the area into a three season patio. We started this project last year.

It took a lot of lattice and screen and it took nearly all summer to do it, but it got done--for the most part.

Nearly done

This year, we will be focusing on finishing the patio project.  We have all the lattice on and all the screen in place (including the screen door.)

Except for this little area, which Dennis will put in double doors for storage use during the winter. It's our compromise--I get to use the patio for relaxation during the spring and summer and he gets to use it for storage during the fall and winter.

This is the area where double doors will go in

Other than working on that, I will also be working on the interior and trying to make it a little more inviting and comfortable.

As you can see, some of the storage is still hanging around

Last year, I planted hostas in the garden plot and it worked real well. I also added little stepping stones to make it easier to walk through when I water. Needs to be cleaned out of weeds but I'm pleased that the hostas made it back. It will make it easier on the budget.

I hope to get the walkway replaced this year. But we will see.

This little flower bed here is a disaster with weeds, but last year I had planted some perennials and they instantly went into shock and died. I was so happy to see that they had come back this year! Obviously, it needs work with being weeded out but I have a lot of hope with this little flower bed and it should add a little bit of color to the patio.

So that, along with the ongoing front yard project, should keep us busy all summer!