Patio Update/Pergola

I'm out of town for the week but I snapped some quick pictures of the patio area before I left so I can show you what it looks like with the pergola.

DH 'engineered' the plan and did the heavy work and I helped cut boards and hold things in place. It was a fun project to work on together and I totally love this space now.

I found these vintage chairs and table at a garage sale. I had been looking for something to sit by the fire instead of always dragging the dining chairs over. This little 3 piece set was perfect and a deal at $15 for the set. DH and I like to sit by the fire after the kids are in bed.

This summer has been so temperate that we have eaten our evening meal out here quite often.

This spring a neighbor was sprucing up her property and purging. I'm very honored that she thought of me several times during the week. One of the things she was getting rid of and called me to see if I wanted was these sweet little old wash tubs with their stand. I gave the base a coat of white paint and planted some impatiens it them. Now they brighten the space beside the grill.

And another planter that greets you as you come down the walk toward the back door:

This spring I mentioned on Facebook that I was building a stone wall (or two). I got the one finished and still haven't gotten the other one done. It sure wouldn't get me a job on a landscape crew but it's an improvement over what was there. The driveway side of the house has never really been landscaped since we moved here 6.5 years ago. This year I started some plants in hopes of having a pretty, landscaped bed in a few years. I bought really small plants (because they're the cheapest) so it doesn't look like much this year.

Here is the 'BEFORE' of this area:

I still have one area to finish up (the far left area of this picture). I hope to get it finished sometime in the next couple weeks. Summer is rapidly getting away and school will be starting before I know it.

(Find the first patio update here.)

I have pictures almost ready for my other MMS milk paint project. I hope to get the post up later this week; stay tuned!

Linking to:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Party Junk @ Funky Junk Interiors
That DIY Party @ The DIY Showoff

From the Farmhouse

Not Bad for Free Flowers....

....that have been mostly neglected.

I am truly amazed at the way my flowers look considering that:

1. It's the end of August and normally all plants have been fried to a crisp by now.
2. They didn't cost me anything, and
3. Other than water them a few times, I have done NOTHING to them except plant them.

With everything going on in the house this summer (bathroom reno), I have totally neglected the outside. I hadn't even planted any flowers by the end of June. My niece started working at a local greenhouse this year. She called me one Saturday morning and said that this was the last day the greenhouse was going to be open for the season and everything that was left was free.

Say "WHA?!" FREE?!?!

Now I knew that this late in the season the flowers would be pot bound and gangly. I also assumed there would only be a few flowers left but I headed over right away. I was pleasantly surprised to see a large amount of flowers and a fair selection at that. As I expected, they were rather sad looking.

However, for free, I was willing to give them a second chance. I brought them home, rolled up my sleeves and went to work. I mixed up some topsoil with manure from the barn (well, actually, DH did that part for me), pinched all the beautiful blossoms off, and planted them. I watered them good and mulched them; then forgot about them (almost). My 6 year old would periodically water them for me and here they are 2 months later. They survived some of the hottest weather in Ohio's history.

Lest you get the idea things are pretty around here, I will let you in on a secret.

I had to practice selective photography to edit out weeds, kids bicycles, and long grass.

(Well, you can still see that the grass needs mowed but hey, I can only do some much.)

Have a great weekend!

From the Farmhouse

Linking to:

Potpourri Friday at 2805