Patio progress

My husband is hobbling around. This week is the university's Spring Break, and W decided to tackle the front courtyard. We've had bricks stacked up since June last year, and paid our son to lay the courtyard while we were gone last summer. Long story short, each brick has to be laid individually because they are old and non-standard sizes. T got the sand down and leveled, but only got about a third laid before summer was over. A Mexican laborer who didn't know what he was doing whistled through a few courses that had to be relaid later. So after two days' work,

the main area has only a few dozen bricks left to lay, and W is actually excited about getting the side yard done as well. Most of the stash of bricks is now flat on the ground, and it's time to call for more at www.freecycle.org. With the wedding on the May horizon, I am thankful for progress. If the weather is nice, it would be great to have an outdoor option!

Jono got inspired and is laying 8"X16" pavers to his door at the back. They are straight and even, amazing me with his precision. The hired gardener has been here three times, clearing, planting, weeding, cleaning the yard. It will take a few more sessions to catch up our neglect of the past two years while I've been studying. But since I worked hard on the gardens the first years here, the planting bones are good.

All that work by others has me fired up to clear the gift side of my office closet before our daughter-to-be's bridal shower today. Here I go!

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