Backyard Remodel - Just Getting Started

Happy Friday! We are on to our next big project...the backyard! It didn't take long for us to decide on our next big remodel, it was just a matter of finding the time and waiting for the rain to slow down before we got started. Here is what our backyard looked like when we started:

We have a gazebo! Random, but still cute!

A view of the patio and gazebo

View of the back deck...super small

We chose to tackle the backyard for a couple reasons, but the main reason was safety. You may remember the time when our steps fell (with my brother on them - luckily no one was injured)...

So not OK

Reason why you don't use untreated cedar to attach the steps

Don't worry, we fixed them

Then earlier this year we noticed that the deck was leaning slightly so Sara's Dad came over to help us insert a new post. Like most everything in our house, corners were cut and none of the posts were secure or dug in the ground so it was a matter of time. We knew that a new post would be a temporary fix and now we have another looking pretty bad:

That can't be up to code

So we have spent the last couple of months researching and coming up with new designs for a deck. We don't want anything crazy, just something sturdy and functional. We decided to extend it out quite a bit which meant we needed to either reconfigure our stone patio or remove it completely. Whatever we decided to do we knew we would need to remove the stones we already had because they don't make them anymore and we wanted to get out all the red from the backyard.

Wednesday we started lifting the big hexagon stones...holy cow, they are heavy and dug a couple inches in the ground. When they say landscaping can be back breaking work, they aren't kidding. Each stone is about 18" across and over 50 lbs each (groan). We made a little dent together...

I was ready to throw in the towel at about this point

Another view of the backyard

We decided to leave the rest for another day

We got a good chunk done and we were feeling pretty good about it. Then it rained overnight and we had a nice little pool in our backyard that Tequila thought was his own private spa. We decided to rest Thursday night because Brian had taken Friday off so he could tackle the rest. And did he ever.

I have to stop right now and say, I have THE BEST HUSBAND EVER! Oh my goodness, he puts up with my craziness, my lack of patience and wild ideas. Then he spent his entire day off doing major hard labor and digging and moving almost all of the stones out back. This is what I came home to:

All the stones are up and he even moved out the fire pit!

These piles are almost over my shoulder...and this is just the patio

I hurt just looking at all this! Then I got to help and we started removing the other landscape stones scattered around our yard...I had no idea we had so many different and random stones out there! There's no pattern either. I think they would just randomly pick up some pavers or edgers and throw them back there.

These were nice and heavy

Another random group of stones

Holy cow...what is that?

We're going to need a little help with this one...any volunteers>

And once we dug them up, the fun began. Luckily we have an awesome neighbor with a wheelbarrow that we borrowed and got everything moved to the side and front of the house. Now we just need to find them homes! So if you're interested, let me know...first come, first serve! Here they are:

We've got hexagons

A lot of randoms and stones to build a fire pit

And really nice ones

They're free and can be yours...you'll just need to pick them up! We've got a lot more work to do so we will be around all day tomorrow!

I can't move a muscle right now and I do not know how Brian is still sitting up right. This guy doesn't seem to be that affected:

Such a helper

He's feeling no pain

Looks like we will be breaking into some more of Brian's home brews this weekend! We'll update more as we can...and please come take some stones :)

XOXO,

Sara, Brian & Tequila