This is happening People!*

 So the deck is really happening! It's not just in my imagination now! Pete's been working so hard to clear the area where the deck will go, leveling the ground, and drawing up the plans and I've been busy researching costs and materials, but beginning to build the structure pulls it into reality for me. We were so blessed to have Pete's (super hardworking) parents come down this weekend to really get the ball rolling. As of today, the piers and surface framing are all in! Amazing! Next step will be framing the steps and then attaching all the Trex into place.

Piers and weed blocking paper (We ended up deciding we could build over the existing step - much easier than jack hammering it out.)

Those top boards aren't attached yet, but it's really fun to walk out from the living room and pretend. : )

If we just completed this deck and the area where I'm standing taking the photo, it would totally feel like we had a backyard. The best part -- we still have a whole huge jungle around the corner of that chimney to tame at some point. There is so much potential back here, it's exciting!

While the guys worked on the deck, including Tony's awesome help on Sunday, Claire pretty much single-handedly weeded the 24' x 12' area to the right of the deck site. No more "grass" - we are ready to develop this area as well. The improvement is amazing and made way for my Valentine's Day present from Pete - a huge 15 gallon Bougainvillea for the corner. We went to this amazing 17 acre nursery on Sunday to pick it out along with six star jasmine vines to grow between the deck and the fence to increase privacy. We deliberated forever about what type of vine to plant, but went ahead with the star jasmine deciding that if bees really became a problem, we would just hedge the flowers off before they bloomed as the nursery expert suggested. Done and done.

 

My Valentines Day Present - I can't wait for it to grow like crazy and cover that trellis. It's so nice to see some color when looking out the bedroom windows.

 3 of 6 star jasmine vines - ready to be planted

 At some point, Tim found the time to extend and redirect the rain gutter. We also uncovered the two rosemary plants I had planted this past summer. Amazingly, they had doubled in size, despite being ambushed by weeds and rarely getting watered, and by rarely, I mean at least not in the last six months besides the occasional rain. They smell amazing! Eventually we would like to make a "house" to conceal the a/c unit and paint out the metal components to match the house.

 All in all, an amazing weekend of progress! I couldn't be more excited about what was accomplished and more hopeful for the great space we are creating to enjoy with family and friends. I'm also counting my blessings for the great family we have (including my parents as well) that have been so instrumental in turning this house into our home.

 Hoping your weekend was wonderful as well! Happy almost spring!


*and bonus 100 points if you know what show that line is from