Outdoor Archives - Page 4 of 6 - home is where my story begins...

Well, That Was Expensive Sod

May 23, 2011 By Becca 8 Comments

Remember this picture I shared from Country Gardens Magazine? This is my dream shed. I love the color, landscaping, and cottage feel.

This was the empty space where my hubby and I decided we could put a shed. It was an unused corner of our yard. This was the way it looked when we moved in. You could tell there was grass there at one time, but no plants or landscaping.

Phase one began last summer. We had to level out the ground, by digging down about two feet. Digging out two feet of clay is not an easy job. Phew, it’s a good thing “we” are strong. Ok, I’ll fess up. I don’t think I ever lifted a shovel during phase one. My hubby and 10 year old did this part on their own. Then “we” built a short retaining wall to hold the fence up.

We found this shed, online, at costco.com. It was a screaming deal! It was under $1,000, with free delivery. If you’ve ever shopped for sheds, you know how expensive they can be.

Next, came paint. I thought a lovely lavender would be great…

Just kidding. That was just the primer. We actually went with a red shed and gray door, just the like the picture in the magazine.

This is what the shed area looked like on Friday morning:

Did you notice that the SUN is shining through the trees? It was a HUGE day in the Seattle area. Not only did we have sunshine, but we also hit 70 degrees! My hubby and I both took the day off, as did most office workers on this side of the state.

We borrowed my sister’s truck and brought in dirt and sod. It was a small area, so we didn’t need too much sod.

By the end of the day, phase 2 was complete. Phase 3 will be landscaping, but that will have to wait for a while.

Cooper really loves his new grass too.

If you’re still with me, you might be wondering why the title was about really expensive sod.

Well, we had a little mishap with the truck we borrowed from my sister.

Apparently, it was a diesel truck. Unleaded gas doesn’t work so well in a diesel. For the record, even the tow truck driver looked all around for any sign that said DIESEL. Nothing. I don’t foresee my new landscape happening in the near future. We now have a truck repair to pay for.
At least we’re one step closer to the dream.

A Really Poopy Weekend

March 23, 2011 By Becca 1 Comment

Yep, it was a poopy weekend at our house. The rain finally took a break, so I headed down to Lowe’s to get my chicken poop.

I’m not sure why, but chicken manure was $3.20 per bag and cow manure was only $1.20 per bag. Chicken manure is usually my first choice, but this year I went with cow manure in the interest of saving money. My mom’s garden usually grows twice the size of my garden. I’m hoping that 12 bags of cow poop give my garden the nutrients it needs to grow as well as my mom’s garden.

The veggie garden is ready to go. I’ll plant peas and potatoes next weekend. We’ll plant the rest of garden in May.

Happy gardening!

Come On Over! I’ll Be Out Back.

July 20, 2010 By Becca 17 Comments

Do you open your doors and have a backyard party at the drop of a hat? Are you the first person to invite friends over for a Bar-B-Que when the weather warms up? I love to watch shows like Landscape Smart and Landscapers Challenge. As the designers ask questions, the homeowners usually say things like, “Well, we love to entertain.” Do they really like to entertain? Or do they just like the idea of entertaining?

I really do love to entertain, but I will admit that it causes panic attacks and crabby mom syndrome in the days leading up to a party. I find that I hold off on inviting people over because my house or my yard isn’t “done”. Well, NEWS FLASH… it will probably never be “done”. There will always be something more I’d like to do or a messy project I’m right in the middle of.

So, here’s my yard. I’m throwing open my doors and inviting you to my backyard party. (If you all lived closer, I’d invite you over for real.) I didn’t mow the lawn for you. Heck, I didn’t even sweep off the deck.

Here’s the view as you come in the house. I love my little benches out front. I made the pillows this year, out of Sunbrella outdoor fabric. My hydrangeas are finally in bloom. I just added some True Blue to the soil, which will turn these into… well, true blue.

We spend quite a bit of time out on our deck. We bought the outdoor set at Target, a few years back. Our deck is fairly shady, so it makes a nice place to take a break on a hot summer day.

Our deck extends down the length of the backside of the house. Ahhh, this is one of my favorite spots to sit and watch the kids play in the yard.

Here’s the view from the deck.

When we moved in, this area inside the brick retaining wall was empty. I had no idea what to put in this large space. After living with the empty space for a year, we decided this would be the perfect spot for a vegetable garden. We built a path out of rocks that were already in the yard. This space sits empty for a good portion of the year, but it makes us so happy in the summer. The kids loved digging the potatoes.

The flowers are starting to bloom around the yard.

These little guys are just about done.

So, remember how I said that I hesitate entertaining because things aren’t “done” quite yet? Well, this is one of those projects. We’ve come a long way, but still have so far to go. Please ignore the pile of dirt and the horrible dirt patches where grass should be. Remember… work in progress.

Here’s where we were a few weeks ago:

Here’s the inspiration from Country Gardens:

And, again, here we are with our work in progress:

Thanks for hanging out in the backyard with me. Stop by anytime. If I don’t answer the door, you know where to find me. I’m probably out back.

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/
I’m also linking up to Outdoor Day at Soft Place to Land.

“S’more Me”, a New Display, and Home and Family Friday

July 15, 2010 By Becca 29 Comments

This was my invitation to my family, that I displayed on the dinner table last night. They happily accepted.

When the marshmallows are ready my kids like to say, “S’more Me!” That’s kid-talk for, “Get my marshmallows and chocolate ready! Here I come!”

As a teacher, I’m always encouraging my students to think like writers. We push them to find something typical and think, “Hey, I could write about this.” Since I’ve started blogging, I am finding that I’m starting to think like a blogger. Writing isn’t my favorite aspect of blogging, but when I see something typical that catches my eye I think, “Hey, that would be a great project to blog about or photograph.” The other day I was leaving my eye doctor and spotted a florist/gift shop. In the window were three apothecary jars, each jar filled with a different s’more ingredient. My first thought was, “Oh, I wish I had my camera.” It was such a cool display and the jars were absolutely HUGE. My second thought was, “Inspiration strikes in strange places (like leaving the eye doctor). You just have to keep your eyes open and think like a blogger.”

I knew I wanted to make something similar, although on a MUCH smaller scale. Shopping at the Goodwill this week, I spotted the top of a cheese dome. You know, those cheese domes that are all over Bloggerville. I think everyone has a totally cute project they have made out of a 70’s cheese dome, a candle stick, and a little spray paint. I reallllly wanted to make one of these too because they are so adorable. Well, I could only find the top of the cheese dome. As I was driving home I remembered that I had a small Martha Stewart glass cake stand that might be the perfect size. It was!

I was racking my brain, trying to think of something that I wanted to display in my new treasure. I didn’t want to go out and buy anything new and I really didn’t have anything terrific to display. Then I remembered the apothecary jars from the day of the eye doctor visit. Oh, I could hardly wait!

Happy Mommy! Happy kids! Happy Ending!

How about you? What have you been up to this week around your home or with your family?

Link up. Leave comments. Grab my button. Have fun!

Just after I posted this I found a cloche linky party.

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

A Berry Cool Day!

July 14, 2010 By Becca 6 Comments

I think every single blog I read has had a post about making jam. But, ohhhhh, how can you not post about these beauties?

We have several different berry farms near our house. A couple of times during the summer I take a car full of my kids, their friends, and my neices to Biringer Farm. (Child labor at its best. Kids are great berry pickers and they always have a blast!) My mom lives close to Biringer, so she usually meets us there too. This year my sister joined us. As soon as she saw the pre-picked flats she said, “We could just take those and then be done with this.” Hmmmm. Someone doesn’t see the joy in a fun-filled day of berry picking! The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because as we were waiting for wagon to pick us up (yep, a good old fashioned wagon ride), by neice said, “Um, Auntie Becca, aren’t we just going across the dirt path?” Well, of couse we’re going to ride the wagon across the path!!! That’s part of the fun-filled berry picking experience! (Although, I will admit, we waited an awful long time for that wagon to take us a few yards down the path.)

Each summer I make enough jam to give out as Christmas gifts. I usually put a cute little fabric topper on each jar of jam and tie it with some raffia. Then I spotted Cheryl’s jam over at A Pretty Cool Life. She just used simple black and white check ribbon at the top. I’m obsessed with black and white checks right now, so I went to the fabric store and bought me some of that cute little ribbon. I love Bloggland. Inspiration is everywhere. Thanks for the idea Cheryl! I loved your photo so much, I took my jam outside for their photo shoot debut!

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

The Great Potato Harvest

July 13, 2010 By Becca 4 Comments

It’s that time of year again! My kids love potato harvest day.

We plant our seed potatoes in March, as soon as we have the garden cleaned up and ready. The kids think it’s amazing that all you have to do is dig a hole and drop a potato in. After a few months, when the potato plant dies, we start digging.

I usually plant several different varieties, which means they will be ready at different times during the summer. This plant was called Fingerling Yukon.

Here they are just after they came out of the ground. After a good washing they’ll be ready for dinner.

I love growing my own food. It’s so rewarding to grab a few things from the garden and have a terrific side dish for dinner. We roasted the potatoes with garlic salt, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh parsley. My daughter usually won’t eat potatoes, unless they are in the form of a french fry. Last night she was gobbling them up while claiming, “I dug up this one!” I’d call that a success!

Hydrangea Love

July 11, 2010 By Becca 3 Comments

I think I would line my entire yard with hydrangeas if I could. White hydrangeas are my favorite, but for some reason my blue hydrangeas always seem to do the best in my yard.

Last year my grandma gave me one of her vases. I see the same vase at antique stores occasionally. My grandma told me that it was the vase used at my aunt’s wedding. I love the shape of this vase.

The frog is attached to the bottom of the vase for easy arranging.

My daughter and I cut a few hydrangeas in the morning, before the weather got too warm. (Yep, it’s finally summer in the Pacific Northwest.) The strong stems of the hydrangeas make this vase and these flowers the perfect combination.

Usually I don’t put quite this many flowers in the vase, but when you have a five year old helping, that’s what you do. Hydrangeas make me so happy. It’s my sign that summer is finally here.

Shed Progress

June 29, 2010 By Becca 6 Comments

I was so excited to post about my dream shed (picture from Country Gardens)…

and then the picture from the Costco coupon book, showing the shed we bought. Here is the original post. I know you’re thinking, “Um, I hate to break it to you, but that’s NOT the same shed.” Well, Costco may not have the cute factor, but they certainly have the right price! Just close your eyes and picture turning that boring beige shed into the Country Gardens shed! It’s totally doable.

Here’s the side area of our yard that has been picked out as the perfect spot to put the shed. Our house is L-shaped so this is the weird little unused corner of the yard. We haven’t done any landscaping to this area because I wanted the shed first and yard and flowers second. Don’t you think it is just calling out for the cute little red shed?

The shed arrived a few months ago and it sat in the driveway waiting for the rain to stop and our lives to slow down a bit.

The place I want the shed to go had to be leveled and needed a retaining wall. I will admit, I never lifted a shovel or a brick. My hubby did it all. He had a vision of what he wanted and this was one part I really didn’t care about, so he just made it happen. Ahhh, I love it when that happens.

The shed itself is almost done. It still needs a roof, trim, and red paint (oooooh, I’m so excited for the red paint). Even though the building is almost done, there is so much left to do in this area. It has been neglected for so long. We need grass, landscaping, flowers, a pathway, pea gravel around the base, and the list goes on. It’ll be an ongoing project this summer.

One more look at the dream:

I can’t decide what to do first, paint the outside or start planning out how to use the space on the inside. Either way, I can’t wait to get started.

Road Side Find

June 28, 2010 By Becca 12 Comments

Last week my son and I were out taking our dog for a morning walk. At the end of the road there was a FREE sign. Among the pile of wall hangings, landscape bricks, and a basketball hoop, was this big and very heavy flower pot.

There was no way I was going to be able to carry this heavy pot home, so I called my husband to drive over and pick up the pot. There were even some pretty landscape pavers in the bottom of the pot. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my new treasures.

I have a little nook in my yard that needed a little pick-me-up. The bird house was made by my stepdad many years ago. The stump was here when we bought the house. I kept trying to figure out how I was going to get rid of it, but then finally decided to just put it to use.

I found the little wooden crates in my garage, drilled a few holes in the bottom, and they became little planters.

I used the little landscape rocks to create an area for my planter to sit on. I love the way this little nook turned out. It was just empty space before, and now it’s blooming with color. I still can’t believe someone wanted to get rid of that beautiful pot. I can’t imagine how much they paid for it. Well, the price was right for me… FREE!

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

Home and Family Friday and a New Planter

June 25, 2010 By Becca 29 Comments

If you’re here for the Home and Family Friday Linky Party, you’re in the right place. First, I have a new project to share with you.

I’m really excited about my new planter. I’ve had the container for a long time, so long I don’t even remember where it can from.

I have moved it from room to room, never finding a good place for it. I always loved the chippy white paint and the rust showing through. The problem is, that I don’t have any other pieces like this. When it goes to a new place, it stands out like a sore thumb. The white just didn’t blend with any of my things.

Enter my favorite decorating tools:
Black Spray Paint
Burlap
Checks

I painted the wire basket with black spray paint and then lined the basket with burlap. The burlap will allow for drainage, hold the dirt in place, and add…well, burlap, and who doesn’t love burlap!!!

Add a few cheery yellow flowers.