Comfy Addition for the Adirondack Chairs

My husband recently made footstools to go with the Adirondack chairs that he made a couple of years ago.  We added this spot this spring for the chairs and now it's our favorite place to hang out early in the day. 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

We also added these chestnut colored pads from Home Decorators.  They fit the chairs perfectly! 

 

It's a great spot to listen to the water in the pond and see a different view of the backyard.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

The birds in the birdhouses right there aren't too thrilled with us sitting nearby, but they eventually settle down.

 

 

 

 

Ahh, we sure love spring and summer!

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

 

 

 

Pam

 

 

 

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

 

 

A Shady Spot to Relax by the Pond

 

 

 

A few years ago, we built a pond in our backyard.  We absolutely love  the sound of the waterfall and even the occasional splash of  the huge koi as they come up for food.  We decided to add a sitting area nearby where we could sit in the shade while enjoying the sounds of the pond.

 

 

 

We started with a bit of a slope to a grassy area.  We dug that out, then dug and dug and dug until we had a level area. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went to our favorite rock place in town and filled up the truck.  This load weighed about 1500 pounds.  We hand-picked the rocks, moved them to a pallet, the guy then put the pallet right in the truck, then we put them in a wheelbarrow, pulled each rock out, then placed it.  Yes, we probably lifted each rock at least four times!!  Advil was definitely our friend after this weekend.  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

We used the round rocks to hold the dirt back above the area and the flat rocks to create a patio for the Adirondack chairs my husband made a few years ago. 

We had to make a step to get up to the pond, as the slope was too steep there.  We ended up back at the rock place for another 500 pounds of rocks!  (not just for the step)  :)

 

Because our soil is so sandy here, we were able to use what we dug out to set the stones.  Even using all that we did, we ended up taking almost 5000 pounds of dirt to the dump.  (Enter more Advil....)

 

 

 

We added a new lattice panel and several new plants--lilac, honeysuckle, daisies and coneflowers.  We are looking forward to relaxing in this new shady sitting area!

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your visit!

Pam

 

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

 



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  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

 

You'll Find Me Here All Summer

I am so excited to participate in the Summer Block Blog Party hosted by Heather and Vanessa at At The Picket Fence.    Today's party is hosted by Kim at Savvy Southern Style

Last summer we doubled the size of our patio to accommodate our fire pit and table and chairs.  You can read about that HERE.


This summer, we've just been sitting back and relaxing in this area.  After a long, wet winter, the hot weather is much appreciated!!  We have a great view of the pond we installed last summer.  You can read about that HERE.  I love the sound of water and the great variety of birds that come in our yard now.  I had a group of friends over last weekend and we sure enjoyed being out here.  Once it started cooling off, the fire felt great!

In the evenings, the adirondack chairs are in the shade.  They are so comfortable!

Thanks so much for coming by. 

Pam

Dear Sun, I Am So Glad to See You Again!

I am so happy to report that we finally got nice weather this weekend!  And it wasn't a minute too soon!  This was the rainiest May on record in our area.  We even had snow on Memorial Day!  Where's that Dislike button??

So I'll take you on a stroll through my yard.  Many things are not blooming yet, but some are and after trying to be patient for so long, I had to show some pictures.  I'm sure once things are blooming like crazy, I'll be taking you on another stroll.  :)

These tulips were in bloom a couple of weeks ago.  They were just beautiful. 

These pansies were in full bloom a few weeks ago.  I went out one morning and they were all eaten by the deer.  But, they've come back nicely.  I had to get a picture before the deer figured out that they are available again.

 A friend gave me the burlap bag.  I love it and love the smell of lavendar by the front door.

The columbine seems to be doing ok in a hanging pot.  I know it won't last for long, but right now it's looking good!

The snapdragons, cosmos and candytuft are starting to bloom. 

There's a nest in this birdhouse and the cutest birds making their home in it!

I love lupine!  Here is a  plant that is ready to explode with blooms.  I can't wait! 

I'm pretty happy with the pond area.  We just put it in last year, so the perennials are still fairly new.  The sweet william are about the only thing blooming right now.  Daisies, coneflowers, daylilies, peonies, salvia, and rose of sharon will be flowering soon.

Here's another view of the pond.  The thyme is starting to fill in nicely between the flagstone.  The mesh across the pond is to keep our dog in his shallow area and not where the koi are.  It works.  :)

The people who lived here before us did an excellent job of planting ground covers all around the rocks.  I love the look of it cascading down.

Now it's time to sit and enjoy the good weather! 

Thanks for visiting!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

The DIY Show Off's Project Parade

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

Dittle Dattle's Amaze Me Monday

Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia's Tuesdays Treasures

DIY By Design's Swing Into Spring Party

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays

No Minimalist Here's Open House Party

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday

My New Adirondack Chairs

For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, we went out and bought a pair of Adirondack chairs.  I'd been wanting them for years and was excited about finally getting some.  As the clerk gave me my receipt, she said, "Make sure you never leave them out in the rain, or they'll split."  Are you kidding me??  We get crazy weather here and yes, they will get wet!  The chairs sat unassembled in the boxes for a week.   I was concerned that they wouldn't even last a year.  My husband was thinking the same thing and researched building plans for them.  He had me return the chairs and immediately went out and got wood to get started.

I didn't take pictures of the mess from planing down all of the wood, but let's just say our trash was very full and very dusty for two weeks!

They are coming together nicely! 

He put cork plugs in all of the screw holes.  80 holes per chair! 

The piece that's missing is so he can reach the screw holes in the back of the chair.  He assures me that he will be attaching that piece before he is done.  :)

The corks have been sanded down and the final piece has been attached.

Done!  I am so happy!

(I do realize that a picture of this chair outside in the sun would be soooo much better, but since it's still snowing and yucky here, that picture will have to wait... )

 

Amazingly enough, these beauties ended up costing less than the cheap-o, don't-get-them-wet ones!

  I guarantee we will enjoy these much more and for a lot longer.  I love when I get homemade gifts and I will certainly treasure these!

Thanks for coming by!  I appreciate your visits and comments.

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

Thrifty Decor Chick's Before & After Party

It's So Very Cheri's Party Time

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

The DIY Show Off's Project Parade

Between Naps on the Porch Met Monday

Dittle Dattle's Amaze Me Monday

Centsational Girl's Spring Party

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia's Tuesday Treasures

Type A's Anything Goes Party

Savvy Southern Style's Wow us Wednesdays

No Minimalist Here's Open House

Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Friday

Elements Interior's Whassup Wednesday