Yard Crashers Update

Here are a few photos for an updated look at our back yard, now that our pool is a whopping two summers old.

We could not be more pleased with our blue gem, especially during this brutal summer of 100-plus temperatures and little or no rain. We added a pebble border on one side, because grass kept getting into the pool when my husband weed-eated, and we changed the original “Creepy-Crawly” pool cleaner for The Pool Cleaner.

The pergola has provided much-needed shade and is becoming a popular bird sanctuary. The wisteria I planted last year still hasn’t bloomed, but it is growing bushy and beautiful.

The firepit has not been used a lot, but when our grandkids are here, they love to roast marshmallows for s’mores.

Buddy inspects our crape myrtles, most of which survived the winter; we hope their red and white blooms will eventually fill this mulched area.

Although grass between the flagstones is a great natural look, it is a pain for my husband to weed-eat, and it looks puny during the summer heat, so he is contemplating digging it all up and grouting between the pieces.

We have a great view from our deck and feel lucky to have a bit of privacy, as we are separated from the back neighbors by a right-of-way.

Our patio garden is thriving in spite of the heat.

A flagstone path leads to my vegetable/flower garden on the south side of the house.

Here is the “before” version of my garden.

And here it is today.

I widened and lengthened the garden and have been granted permission by the Surveyor of the Kingdom (hubby) to use all the space I want on this side of the house.

Sadly, even though my garden looks beautiful, it produces lots of vines and little or no vegetables in this oven-like atmosphere.

However, my two year-old peach tree has a dozen or so peaches, so my eternal gardener’s optimism remains intact.

Desperate Yard Crashers Update

On the last update, our flagstone had been laid, new furniture put into place, and lovely plants strategically placed. The plants have long since burned up, thanks to a long hot Oklahoma summer that has put just a few kinks in the backyard project. Although we did get a beautiful pergola finished, it has been like an oven outside, even in the evenings, so we have not had enough opportunity to enjoy it to the fullest.

However, we did get our first break in the plus 100 temperatures yesterday, and last night it actually rained! Here are some photos of our latest addition.

Just for fun, I’ll start with the photo from last year of the “blank slate”.

Here is the finished flagstone last November.

And here is the new pergola, partially built by our lawn guys and finished by my talented hubby.

We removed the railing from our existing deck and added a step-down deck. The railing was recycled by installing it for privacy on the back side of the pergola.

I planted wisteria at the far corners of the pergola and hope it will eventually cover it with gorgeous spring blooms!

Hubby dug out and mulched an area for me to have a patio garden. We had a puny Rose of Sharon already in place that has flourished with the company of caladiums, lantana, and mandevilla.

A couple of patio plants are also flourishing. I think the pergola allows the perfect amount of sun and shade.

Hubby’s vision of grass between the flagstone is coming along nicely; the fescue has suffered somewhat from the heat, but when cooler temps are finally here to stay, this area should be lush. Hibiscus in a pot has bloomed all summer. Next to the fence, an area of fescue that has not fared well.

The firepit has not been used this summer, but I am anticipating fall evenings with a toasty fire and s’mores!

Desperate Yard Crashers – Part 2

The back yard project is mostly finished, at least for the winter. More grass seed will be spread between the flagstones, since the first attempt didn’t take. We want to build a pergola over the flagstone area and a little gate arbor leading into my (hopefully huge) garden area. But for now, we are happy to have most of it finished! (Photos courtesy of my talented daughter, Jenni)

We have a firepit for s’mores!

My favorite part of the back yard.

The pool has a solar cover to help retain the heat.

Buddy has already fallen into the pool twice, so he spends a lot of time on the deck.

Life’s Too Short–Build A Pool! – Done!

Our pool was begun on August 6 and completed on September 10 for a total of 35 days–not bad considering all the rain delays. Business, yard work, laziness, and enjoying the pool have taken priority over posting the final pictures of pool development.

Here is the yard before and after.

Below is a brief gallery of the process since the gunite was applied:

Plaster is mixed on the truck and runs through a hose to the back yard.

Plaster is sprayed onto the gunite surface.

The plaster is smoothed to dark blue perfection.

The last step prior to filling the pool with water is acid wash. I was happy to see this gentleman arrive.

The hose is turned on full blast to fill the pool, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Here it is half-full at 6:00 p.m.

We turned off the water to the pool overnight then resumed filling the next morning. Here it is at 10:30 a.m., being cleaned by a happy hubby.

In the meantime, this awaited us.

My next post will be about the ongoing yard renovation.

Life’s Too Short–Build A Pool! – Part 2

The pool is progressing so fast now that I have not kept up with blogging about it! The gunite has been sprayed, the tile set into place, and the deck is complete. Now we are ready for the pool to be plastered.

The trucks arrived for the gunite–noisy and exciting!

The hose snaked from the truck to the pool.

The gunite is sprayed manually.

A screen was set in place to block some of the dust.

These guys worked quickly, but it was a lengthy process.

We squinted our eyes to picture our completed pool.

Gunite has to be watered twice a day for 7 days during the curing process. A neighbor told me that the Hoover dam had to cure for several years!

Next was tile!
We chose a matte tile with blue, dark brown, and beige, with dark brown grout, and we love how it looks.

Buddy and Randy survey their domain.

Next was prepping for the plaster.

I missed getting pictures of the first dark layer of plaster; the workers are laying the template for the “faux” flagstone decking.

The decking has been sprayed over the forms.

When the templates are removed the darker layer beneath appears to be flagstone grout.

Our weekend will be spent placing sod and garden soil to fill in the yard. During our breaks we will check out college football, and at 6:00 all work must end to watch the Sooners play BYU! GO SOONERS!!

Life’s Too Short–Build A Pool! – Part 1

After braving four summers in Oklahoma’s dry heat, we made the monumental decision to build a pool. This summer, with its particularly brutal 100-plus temperatures and little rain, served as the final impetus for us to seek out one of our neighbors who manages Blue Haven Pools and get the ball rolling. On August 6, the fun began.

Here is how the nice green grass looked with the pool outline.

The logistics of getting Bobcats into the yard made us nervous. They had to first go through this narrow space.

Part of our new fence was dismantled, and the crepe myrtle had to be temporarily relocated.

Our little garden fence had to be partially removed.

After that, it was clear sailing.

Apparently all it takes to bring rain is to start a pool. On the second day, we received over an inch.

You can see why Oklahoma is famous for red dirt!

As the work progresses, the removed dirt is spread onto the yard.

These guys work hard.

The excitement continued after the weekend; gravel was brought to the driveway and carted back to the hole.

This pipe will have to be rerouted.

Scott, the Blue Haven manager, assures Randy all will be well, while my mother and Buddy the dog look on approvingly.

Steelwork was completed.

And of course the rains came again, and again. Here is the back yard after a three-inch rain.

In spite of the mud, progress was made on plumbing and electrical work. Now we are finally dried out and anticipating the concrete work this week.