Our paver patio is done

Break open the bubbly! Do some shots! Put on your flip flops and head over because our patio is done!

We actually need to finish doing the sand to fill in the gaps and maybe leveling a few pavers that settled a little, but nothing a good whack with the mallet can't fix.

If you remember we had one row left to do. But before we could finish it we had to buy one more piece of edger. While the in laws were here on Sunday and could watch Vincent, we quickly plowed ahead and put down the final pavers.

The moment was more anticlimactic than I wanted it to be. Maybe because we needed to hurry and go eat because dinner was ready. I wish we would have reveled a little longer in completing a long, sweaty project that took a year to complete. Instead it was swept away with the next moment. It's a project that marks two wildly different summers for us. 

Last year was bitter hot and Vincent couldn't walk, so entertaining him was impossible without help. This time last year we were certain he was autistic. Jonathan was needing surgery and we had to stop early on in the summer and on the project to tackle that. This summer: The weather has been mild and cooler; Vincent's not only running around the place, he owns it. He's happy; he talking and counting, and asking all sorts of curious questions and making crazy cute statements. Jonathan is all healed and no longer in discomfort. In hindsight, it's amazing we even had the willpower to tackle such a big project last year. I'm proud we did it, but I'm not sure we'll be doing it again. I owe you a final amazing picture. Standby because, to me, summer has only just began!

Patio almost done

On Sunday, Jonathan and I jumped out of bed {at 9}, threw on some old clothes, and worked on the patio. We managed to get two rows laid before the threat of rain had us putting everything away. Of course, it didn't rain, but it was just as well. We only have one more row to do before the patio will be finished! Of course, I had to point out that our last piece of edger wasn't long enough. We've made far too many trips to Home Depot to finish this project. I'm hoping Jonathan can knock out the last row on Friday when he's home.

I did manage to plant my mandevillas but decided I needed another one. Walmart didn't carry any of the small versions, but at $13, I was OK buying a larger version. 

I ended up finding a buying two pots at Walmart too. For the record, Home Depot has a very limited selection. Later I found out that Lowes has a very larger and good priced selection. 

But the two rust colored beauties I found I Walmart were exactly the style I was looking for and they I are actually plastic, making them easier to move inside come winter. They were pretty pricey in my opinion {$17} considering Lowes was selling large stone planters for $22. So if you're looking for containers, check Lowes first.

Clearance flowers

Yesterday I was in an uber grouchy mood. Not sure why. And I needed to go to the store. Vincent is a good store buddy. He loves going to the store, and he's really good too.

We headed to Walmart and I was determined that I would buy some clearance flowers for my patio. 

For $9 I got three mandevillas. You can see them in the picture above hanging out with my containers of herbs, tomatoes, and a few flowers. I plan to buy some worn stone urns to plant them in. Since I have extra pavers, my sister had a great idea to place them sporadically around the patio and place containers on them. Great idea!

The Patio

I struggled with what to call this post, and decided simply to call it The Patio because it has a story. The Patio actually came to be from reading Young House Love's experience of putting in their own patio. That John made it look so easy and beautiful. And I thought, "Surely we can do that." 

This project began last summer. Did you catch that? Last. Summer. And it isn't an easy project. It's not a short affair like YHL's was, which was done by a single person!!!

Oh, did you notice that I used present tense there? Well, that's because it's not done. We have three rows left, which probably equates to three hours of work if not more. It's back breaking, sweaty, and frustrating work. And the perfectionists in us are struggling with doing it right. Except when we're not doing it right. We're probably doing every part wrong to achieve a patio that works for our sloped yard. I'm hoping the end result, which should be done this weekend since we'll be kidless, will still look good. If it doesn't, I might have to move. 

Because we are building such a large patio--I think it's around 6ft.x15ft--we needed to dig down half an inch for every foot. We dug down 7in. I think that's the correct math. It sounds small, but it isn't, especially in 107 degree weather we experienced last summer.

So we dug, and my in laws even got in the action <--forever grateful. Then we laid weed blocker, base, and sand. We rented machines we had no business operating. We laid probably a fourth of the patio before we got derailed by the surgery husband needed. So two tarps were purchased, and The Patio was covered. And it sat until nearly halfway into the summer because of some heavy rainfall we experienced this spring and early summer.

This summer we uncovered it. Purchased more bags of sand and base. We learned our lesson there. Go to a place that will deliver a bulk pile. Live and learn. And learn how to calculate properly. I think that first day back on the job we laid five rows we were so eager to make headway on The Patio. Now we have three rows left and I'm itching to cruise patio sets (we'll buy one next year since almost all sets are sold out), flowers I want to plant, and some containers to put around here and there with flowers. I'm aiming for a Tuscan feel, but it might end up being more rustic (read: DIY and beginner experience)

One day, I'll share more on our process, what we spent (haha...budgets), how it turned out, and some other ideas have I have percolating.