I can't believe my good fortune with this weather. Sunny, not a single cloud in the sky, and mid 70 degrees. There is a slight breeze, and it is GORGEOUS! I am in full swing with my fall decorating. Outside I have my 3 bails of straw. Lauren has put out all the scarecrows (two big ones, and 7 itty bitty baby ones). I have 5 mums in orange, red, and yellow. Now we are waiting on the pumpkins. They should be in the stores any day now.
Last Sunday Brannon and I sat down and sketched out the entire back yard. We have 4 different phases. Phase I & II are in the works now. In the front yard in the landscaping, the previous owners put down gravel. I am in the backbreaking process of getting ALL the gravel into the back yard in what is growing to be an enormous mound of gravel. This first project (getting all the gravel moved) before Phase I has two purposes. First, gravel in landscaping, in my opinion, is useless. Gravel doesn't decompose and make wonderful soil that can be turned over in a few years. I am all about the flowers, and flowers do not grow well in gravel; hence, the gravel goes. But the gravel has to go SOMEWHERE. Which is why it is going in a pile in the backyard. Phase I of Project Backyard is to build a 20x20 brick patio. This patio will serve many purposes. From the months of May-September, it will hold the kid's pool. From Sept-May, it will house the trampoline. When the kids are in college and we are not yet grandparents, this patio will house an asunder of items, some of the options being a) a greenhouse b) an above ground potted garden c) a gazebo, d) extra patio seating. There may be 10 more uses in mind by the time this is all said and done. Because our back yard is so sloped, Brannon is going to have to dig in and build up the plot of land. A retaining wall will need to be built. A load of dirt will need to brought in. And we will need gravel.
Phase II, which is also in progress, is putting up the kids' play center that was moved from the Barnes house. It is all laid out and ready for posts. I called Dig Rite today and they will be out (God willing) before Saturday so that we may begin Sunday afternoon (after Cider Days, of course). Brannon thought it best to get the city out here before we start digging 3-5 foot holes. You never know what you will run into.
Phase III is going to be an additional patio built off the 20x20 patio. And Phase IV is going to be jackhammering out the cement where the dog run once was. Brannon has plans to build himself a shop. Phases III and IV will not be started for several years. Phase II will be done in about a month, and Phase I will be worked on from now until May, weather permitting.
And let's not forget all of the VERY COOL amenities that we already have in the backyard. We have a super comfortable hammock on a hammock stand with a huge umbrella for shade. We have a "bird haven" if you will. A tree with oodles of bird feeders and two bird baths for the bird enthusiasts (ME!). It is positively a sanctuary for birds. Then there is the upstairs patio that has a gorgeous iron frame that holds flowers galore. We have a water feature, a fountain that Whiskey the dog has donned as her personal water bowl. Soon the kids will have their enormous play center. Last but not least is the fabulous hot tub. Who needs to take a vacation when I can step into my back yard?
I have been working my ASS OFF to make this house positively glorious. The effort is really starting to pay off and soon we will be having many parties and get-togethers. It's just too much fun not to share.