Go big or go home! (Part 2)

When Jim decided to have the deck built, he gave the thumbs up for some backyard landscaping too!!  One of the big things I love about Minnesota is the weather in the Spring and Fall.  It's perfect for cuddling up around an outside firepit.  When we first moved here, Delanie was invited to a bonfire at a friend's house.  Immediately I'm picturing the huge Texas A&M bonfire where they burn telephone poles instead of wood.......yep, that big!  It turned out to be a firepit the friend had in the back yard.  Minnesota's version of a bonfire.  :)

 

So here is the landscaping plan....  Lots of stone, pavers, boulders, plants and a firepit.

 

I'm usually really good about taking a drawing like the one above and painting a picture in my head.  Not this time!  When I came home from work the first day, I had to pick my jaw up off the ground. 

 

Before - The blank slate.

 

 

Day 1 - Prepping the backyard for landscape. 

 

 

Day 2 - When I arrived home, this was parked on the side of my house. 

These guys don't mess around!

 

 

 

Day 2 (still!) - The tiny concrete slab outside the back door was removed and the grass dug up to make room for the pavers. 

 

 

Day 3 - The firepit was dug out, the stone retaining wall installed.  That black tube is the drainage pipe for when the firepit fills with snow/water/ice in the winter.  It will drain into the pond behind out house. 

 

View of the firepit from the deck....

Day 3 (still!) - The area under the deck was leveled for the pavers and landscaping.  I love how they painted the outline of the flower beds. 

 

After much debate, we decided to remove the garden area and take the landscaping all the way up the side of the house.  I might be able to stick a tomato plant or two between the bushes.  :)

Day 4 - Pavers are delivered and installation begins. 

(I love the color and random pattern of the pavers!) 

 

 

 

Day 4 (still!) - The steps leading to the firepit are installed, the retaining wall is finished and the firepit is complete. 

 

Day 4 (still!) - Our poor wimpy river birch finally got some attention. 

This thing had been growing out of control.  Looks much better now!

 

Day 5 - Pavers on the patio and fire pit are complete.  Drainage tiles complete. 

Flower beds are starting to take shape. 

 

 

Day 6 - Landscaping goes in!!  Man, what a difference this makes.  :)  I love where everything was placed.  Even though we are on a corner lot, we will have tons of privacy!

 

 

 

Day 7 - Landscaping is almost complete.  Just need to add a few more lights so that everything stands out at night. 

 

 

The view up the side of the house.....

 

The firepit.  Goodness gracious......this thing is stunning!!! :)

 

 

The view standing at the edge of the pond looking back at the house.  OOOOMMMMMGGGG!! :)

 

Check out what it looks like at night!!  After a few more lights are installed, it will be perfect.  (And....they will be able to see us from space!)

 

 

Day 8 - Finally finished!! 

 

 

I can't wait to break this bad boy in!! The forecast shows snow flurries next week so it looks like we finished just in time!! :)

 

At the last minute, we changed out the lighting in the front of the house.  I love love love the way these up-lights look on the columns. 

 

The only thing left to do is sit back and enjoy!! :)

 

 

 

 

The wine rack from hell.....

Remember this home improvement post from last month?  The only thing left on my "to do" list as far as decorating the main floor was this big beautiful blue baby I bought at the Junk Bonanza in 2013.  It looks like a shelf used in an old-timey hardware store.  If you look really close, you can see writing that shows the sizes for screws, nails, etc.  I fell in love as soon as I saw it. 

 

The first thing I thought of was a wine rack.  Well......it's been standing in my dining room for over a year completely neglected.  Side note:  If you know my sweet sexy husband, you know he cannot stand unfinished projects in plain sight.  Almost as much as he can't stand anything that looks old or unfinished.  This has been a tough year for him but he has bitten his tongue - ok, not really but let's go with that - and waited patiently for me to figure out what the heck to do with it.

 

Jim finally had enough of the entire situation last week and offered to chop it up into firewood for me.  See what I mean about biting his tongue?!  It was officially time to deal with the big beautiful blue elephant in the room.  So......he went to Home Depot, got a drill extension and got to work.  We now have a wine rack!!

 

Another side note:  As Jim was drilling the holes for the wine bottles, the drill spun out and just about broke his wrist.  The fact that he was finishing one of my unfinished projects made me feel so guilty.  Thankfully the x-rays showed no broken bones but he has to wear a splint.  :(

Unfortunately my husband does not share my love for this beauty.  I mentioned that I should probably put a coat of polyurethane on it to seal the chippy paint.  His response was, "Really???  Because it's not already ugly enough?!"  Ouch!!  Am I the only one who thinks this thing is awesome???

Flashback Friday

Happy Friday!!

 

Now that Fall is just about over in Minnesota, I'm reminiscing about good times and good Fall weather.  This Flashback Friday is all about one wonderful Fall weekend we spent visiting Grandma Ginny several years ago in Missouri.

 

 

The kids loved playing in the leaves......and I shamelessly took full advantage of the photo op!! :)

 

 

 

Farmington, MO - 2004

 

 

 

Go big or go home!

We have lived in our Minnesota house just over three years.  That entire time, Jim and I have been trying to decide what kind of deck we wanted to put on the back.  If you know anything about my husband, you know that he has to go from A to Z in his own time.  There is no rushing......no talking him into something.......nope, not until he goes through his "process".  When he finally finishes his process, his motto becomes GO BIG OR GO HOME!! :)

Hallelujah!  Jim's process came to an end last month when we started looking at decks.  After a few weeks of finding just the right one, work finally began. 

Before - The blank slate

Day 1 - All the materials are delivered and the support beam goes up on the house.

  

 

Day 2 - The base structure is built. (This is REALLY happening!!)

 

Day 3 - More framing.  (Oh yeah, baby......it's starting to take shape! )

 

Day 4 - The "flooring" goes in.  (Did I mention how long it took to choose this particular color???)

 

Day 5 - Flooring complete and the framing for the stairs go in. 

(We stepped onto the deck for the 1st time!)

 

Day 6 - Stairs complete (almost).  Waiting on the landscaping to begin for the final few. 

 

Day 7 - Posts and lighting installed.  (It's starting to look like the Griswold's!!)

 

Day 8 - Most of the trimwork is done.  Columns are wrapped and prepped for the stone mason.

 

Day 9 - So much was done today!! The mason started the stonework at the bottom of the columns.  The archways were installed and the finishing touches were put on the bottom portion of the stairs. 

 

 

Day 9 (still!) - Our railings had to be special ordered and were finally delivered yesterday!  Because of the custom order, all the posts on the top of the deck had to be cut down.  Landscaping has begun (more posts on that later).

 

Day 10 - The railings go in (all but the stairs are done).  Stonework is almost complete (just waiting for some final mortar patches).  Trim is almost done.  I can see the finish line! :)

 

 

Check out the view of the stairs lit up at night!!

 

 

Day 10 (still!) - Look who had the guts to venture onto the deck last night?!  Since the railing is not installed on the stairs, I was so worried she would fall.  I had to physically shepherd her back into the house.  I can already tell Big Booty Judy is going to get a ton of use from the deck. 

 

 

Day 11 - I thought this was going to be the last day but they just didn't have time to finish.  The only thing left is the rails for the stairs and one last piece of trim work on the columns.  I just can't believe how good it looks.....like a completely different house.  The part I love the most is that it looks like the deck was always a part of the house.....not an afterthought.  :)

 

 

 Day 12 - The deck is finished!!!  It was pitch dark when I got home last night at 5:15pm (gotta love daylight savings time) so I had to snap these pictures this morning.   I absolutely LOVE it!!!

 

 

Because our house is the corner lot at the entrance of our neighborhood, we have been getting tons of gawkers throughout the building process.  Bailey - the tough guard dog that she is - constantly sits at the back door growling at the passers-by.  There's no doubt that we're safe with this vicious guard dog.......can you hear my sarcasm???  :)

 

JoJo

Every time I look at this picture, I laugh out loud.  Not just a quiet giggle but a loud, throw-my-head-back-and-let-it-rip laugh!!  What gets me is the pure joy in this moment.  I can still hear all three of you laughing.  Check out the look of complete adoration on Delanie's face (and that cute little toe sticking up!).  This little one is the luckiest kid alive to have aunts like the both of you. 

 

TT & Bea......I hope this picture makes you both wet your pants!!! :)

Can you believe how fast our JoJo grew up? 

Trick or treat

Check out my big sister's Halloween costume!!!  I have been giggling about this since she sent me the photos.  This is definitely one for the record books.  :)

 

You can always count on Tracey to celebrate Halloween in style.  Honestly, I think this is the best costume yet.  She still works at the photo department in the local Sams Club.  She said customers were too scared to check out with her!!!  What is it with people being scared of clowns?!  :)

 

Tracey.......you're the best!! I love you so much.  :)