It is seldom that I show much of our home
in the way of big pictures.
In this case, it's a little difficult to avoid,
but I wanted to share something with you
in hopes that it might inspire you to 'keep faith.'
For about 7-8 years now we have had a "temporary" back step.
I won't go into all the details as to why,
but here's what it was looking like.
I know, nothing says class like the barbecuer that doesn't work
and the air-conditioner that's going back out to the shop.
My photo op. timing is impeccable.
But back to the point.
The large pallet was beginning to decompose back into the earth.
We want to add a porch on back here, but when we do,
we want it to be a good one - no cutting corners,
which is partly why we still have what we have.
We had been pondering whether we could pour a concrete slab
so that we could later add a porch, or build just the deck portion,
or . . . you get the idea.
Patience and not settling do pay off.
Mr. LB's work acquired a town lot complete with whatever was left
sitting there for the past 10-15 years since the old fella left it.
His boss asked if we had any use for a bunch of bricks
so he didn't have to haul them to the dump.
Sure!
Last weekend after canning corn, I unloaded 4-5 pallets of bricks.
I am the brick mover, and Mr. LB is the brick layer-downer:)
The bricks/blocks we used for the patio portion are 3 sided.
It worked out great for paving the way between the house and the shop.
Then there were the short cinder block type bricks.
When Mr. LB first laid them down, it looked like train tracks.
I told him I wouldn't be able to handle it.
It needed a curve, and I also went and grabbed a few red bricks
that we already had and started playing.
This is what we came up with.
I am standing at the wood shed to take the picture.
This way, we won't have to track through a muddy path to get wood this winter.
Never mind the piles of rubbish we are working on removing
and the brown grass and lack of grass.
(Actually, some of that is now picked up.)
We are going to get a few more of the 3 sided bricks to finish out
the rectangle shape over by the BBQ & make a more normal step.
That will be a very do-able sum to afford for what we've gained.
Nothing seems to happen quickly, and from what I hear,
it's not just around our place that it works that way.
I can't tell you how thrilled I am not to be dreading the mud on the floor.
It looks nice - or will once we finish cleaning up-
and it's functional and practical.
If/when we decide to add a porch, we can simply pull the bricks
and use them elsewhere and that's okay.
We haven't thrown money towards something that is not
in our long term plan.
We still have another pallet and a half of backer stone.
We're not ready to tackle that project yet.
It's still canning season, so this alone is a huge accomplishment.
Wherever you are on your journey, keep faith.
It'll happen, sooner than you think, later than you want.
Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches
