This year's 'redo'

A year ago in April, we finished our kitchen redo. This picture was taken this April. I still just love it. I am still 'purging' cooking utensils, mismatched coffee mugs and extra plates. 

I wish I had a 'true' before picture of this year's project. "The BACKYARD".  The picture below was taken after Wm had already ripped up most of the boards on the first deck. It already looks so pretty with new boards. We had also started in January with putting pond rock as little 'trails' from the two gates on either side of the house. I have to say...in January, with all the rain, the new dog and lots of rotten boards, I was really getting down about how ugly the yard was looking.

In the background you can see Wm sitting on our porch swing on the 'rear' deck. Can't tell from this picture, but it was in really poor shape. The plant pots were covering HUGE holes. It really was not safe to walk on.

Here's the After Picture. All the old rear deck removed, The first deck was shortened a bit. Pond rock now fills that area and plantings surround the sort of circular seating area.  

Wm strung up some additional globe lights and set up a fire pit. I love it!

When we saw that one long cedar board was costing about $35...we knew that we did not want to maintain all this decking. For $70 we got 2 yards of pond pebbles to create this seating area instead.

Below are some of the work days and the project in progress. I just finished spreading a bunch of mulch and planting more ferns. Calling it done for this yard this summer! Will address the dying grass on the other side of the seating area in the fall. I am going to try some Bermuda seed for this summer.