Easy Outdoor Planter Boxes and Lighting Fix

So, a couple of weeks ago while the kids were on Fall Break, hubby and I decided to knock out a project to remedy an issue with the patio redo. (never mind that I had just nose-dived into ORC!)

Maybe you remember from the original patio reveal that the light poles were leaning. 

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Patio Reveal!!

I am finally ready to reveal our patio and call it complete!! This has definitely been a process that has taken way longer than I would like. It's finally done and it's 100+ degrees outside, but hey, fall will be here soon and we will again be able to sit outside without melting. It all started here with some dreaming. Some things came to be and others not so much. The yard still needs some help in the landscaping department - all in good time.

So, no more waiting, no more teasing - here it is!!

Lots of pictures coming your way!!

At day...

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Patio Sectional Update

Hey there! We spent a few days last week in Texas visiting my brother-in-law and sis-in-law. It was HOT but we had a great time! Here are a few highlights from Instagram.

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Patio Sprucing

Hey there friends! How are y'all?? We had a bit of rain this last week (thanks Bill), but it finally cleared up long enough for the sun to come out!! Yay!! So, I took that opportunity to style up our newly refreshed patio furniture!

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Sunny Day-Dreamin'

It's another cold and cloudy day here.  And I'm over it.  Sorry, but my soul needs sunshine!!  So, I thought I would at least turn my thoughts toward sunny days!

Our backyard has evolved over the years we have lived here.  But, very little has been done to make it a pretty and comfortable space to be in. 

I have been scheming in my mind for several years a long list of improvements for the space to make it more user friendly.  We shall see if it actually happens this year - ha!!

Today I will share with you a little inspiration. And hopefully spread some warm vibes!! Sources are listed where available (please pin from the source).  Enjoy!

source

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Outdoor Rearranging

So, when we returned from our fabulous vacation, we had several days of rain, and finally a couple of dry days - dry enough to put up our 'redneck' pool!!  I love it and so do the kids!  As we were setting up the pool and getting out all the pool 'accessories' I was reminded that I needed a better way to organize things.  

I really haven't done anything on our patio for a couple of years because I have this vision that requires several purchases and quite a bit of labor.  Both of which are not close to the top of the list right now.  So, I've been kind of stuck.  

But, I just recently read The Nester's book - and I was convicted.  I have embraced the inside of my home, and have been making it ours right now where we are, with what we have.  But, I just hadn't got past what I wanted outside...until now. 

I decided that it needed to be more functional for our family for the summer, and I needed to work with what I had.  Here is kind of where I started (you know, I tore into it and then remembered I would want a 'before' pic :)).

I decided to move the table to the other side of the patio, and use the area closest to the door for pool stuff organization.  I had purchased some solar lights last summer and never hung them, so those found a home.  Things were shuffled around and it all ended like this.

I had found a few stumps, several years back and they have been neglected living on my back patio since.  They got a new home next to my lounge chair.  They have already been used as tables and seats!  

The pool stuff mostly found homes on the wall. 

Everything you see that I already had except for the hooks - found those on clearance at Hobby Lobby - $10 for both.

The wire baskets are actually for flowers, but they work great for water balls and diving things (except the diving sticks fall out through the bottom - but that's okay).  I found a couple of hooks in my garage and attached them to the wall to hold the goggles.

This is such a better system compared to the large bucket we had last year that you had to dig through to find anything, and the towels and swimsuits were just draped over the chairs - making them unusable.  Loving it and SO glad I fixed up the patio even though I don't have exactly what I want!!

I am soaking up every minute of summer with my kiddos!!  They aren't getting any younger, and I want more and more to enjoy every second!!

Linking up at IHeart Organizing  / Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop / One Project at a Time / Hit Me With Your Best Shot / Works For Me Wednesday / Create It Thursday / Enchanting Inspiration / Thrifty Thursday / Fridays Unfolded / Frugal Friday / Remodelaholic Anonymous / Link Party Palooza / Share Your Creativity / DIY Sunday Showcase / That DIY Party

From Mudhole to Rocky Masterpiece

While I was away in New York, hubby got to work on one of his top outdoor projects.  Along one side of our house we have a mud pit.  There are several trees along the fence line and over the years, less and less grass - and all the rain drains that direction.  So, when it's wet that side is virtually useless, which is too bad because that is the side with the air conditioner, and the door to the garage.  So, hubby did this:

Here it is before he started to work.  

Ya, it's also where we store all of our junk...

We have toyed with the idea of filling in the area with some kind of gravel and maybe some stepping stones.  So, step one was clearing out and somewhat leveling the area.

Then hubby outlined the area with some landscape edging, to hold in the rocks.  We chose this edging for the ease of installation, and because it was one of the most pliable.  Just laying down along your area and driving some stakes in the edge.  

We wanted to make sure the rocks wouldn't creep under the fence or into the yard.  Hubby also decided to take care of a problem area on the other side of that gate - and a new place for the trash cans.

Then came the rocks - a whole truckload.

There's that ornery puppy that I mentioned yesterday...and a cute little helper spreading rocks. :)

Here's the before and after again of the two spots.  

I am still thinking of placing some stepping stones amongst the pebbles to make a path.  Walking on these barefoot is not super comfortable.  But, I love the result - no mud, and now the trash cans are tucked away rather than being up front by the driveway.  Great job Honey!!

Linking up with Traci at Beneath My Heart here 


and here

Outdoor Update

As I was walking around watering flowers and trees this morning, I realized that I had never updated you on my "landscaping" progress.

I showed you the before pics here so today I'll show you some pretty after pics, and some of where we are now. 

I'm trying my hand at plants in pots again this year - I have never had much success with that cuz I am lazy - that's all.  

Here is the front flower bed today.  We were blessed with a lot of rain while I was on my trip to New York.

The other thing that happened while I was in New York was not so happy.  I was joyfully anticipating the pots on my back porch to be overflowing with beautiful color, just like the one in the front but instead I found this.

Yes, all four planters looked just like this...the culprit...our puppy...

he decided they looked like a good snack.  Ugh!!  I guess I will try again next year!!

Oh well, moving on.  I also transplanted a climbing rose bush which completely overtook a flower bed that is in front of our master bedroom window.  This is what it looked like in full glory before I moved it - see a little unruly, and crowding out the other regular rose bushes in that bed (please ignore all the grass growing in there).

Here it is after I chopped pruned it down to size and moved it to a sad little flower bed on the side of our house around the corner from the front of our house.  You can see this one from the street and gets good morning sun.  I also planted some daylillys in this bed.  I have wanted some of these for a long time.  

Next, if you follow me on instagram, you know we scored some really good sized burch trees @$50 each!!  Here's a little fun collage of them going in.  {my hard-working man decided to strike a pose, while I sipped on my sweet tea in the shade ;)}

And the after.

and my hard-workin man after ;) - oh and our puppy

My hubby was awesome and knocked out another yard project that was pretty high on his list while I was in New York.  I'm saving that for another post though since this one is already pretty long :).  Tune in tomorrow for that one - it involves, mud and rocks.

Blessings!!

Linking up today with Kim at Sand and Sisal for her Fun in The Sun Linky Party
and with Kathy here