Two years ago this week, my yard looked like this. We were in the process of disassembling and renovating our then six year old patio due to the fact that the staircase had "settled" because it had no footings under it when it was built. So, during the week immediately preceding our annual 4th of July party, I decided to start to correct the issue because I love to work under pressure and when I have a few minutes before a party, I like to start major projects. Just ask my friends, they'll tell you. In case you were wondering, we had the party indoors that year.
As long as we were going to make a huge mess anyway, I redesigned the patio, changed the staircase design, added an enlarged lower patio with a fire pit and stone stairs to the lower yard. I also changed the landscaping. I mean, why not?! Everything else was a mess, why not add a little mud and transplant huge trees when it's nearly 100 degrees, right!?
We disassembled the stairs, removed the gravel fill, drilled and concreted pins to the existing foundation and then, two years ago tomorrow, in the morning, on the 4th of July, our family of four (my sons were then 18 and 15) made 11 trips to Home Depot to pick up bags of concrete mix. We hand mixed and poured 3,800 pounds of concrete to form footings for a staircase and a new corner for the upper patio. Needless to say, there were a few "fireworks" since it was over 90 degrees that morning and no one (except me) wanted to be pouring concrete on the 4th of July. We survived and I took a vow that I'd never make any of the men in my life do that again! (at least not on the 4th of July *wink*)
UPDATE: JULY 4TH - with the temperature registering 96 degrees, you'll be happy (and not at all surprised to know that our family of four spent the morning putting parking stripes on the lot at my husband's business. Nope, not a joke...not kidding at all...I'm COMPLETELY serious. At least this time it wasn't MY idea!
Have a safe and Happy 4th!
Happy Birthday America!
xo,
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