Friday, June 26, 2009

Summer project…Operation curb appeal…

So…You have had a peek at parts of our back yard

Here you can see the little casita (guesthouse) in the background…

back_yard

dog path 014-1

…Just threw these in ‘cause they are blooming now…and knock my socks off!

dog path 017-1

Anyways... I am pretty darn positive you have not seen the front of our humble Casa

For good reason…mind you.

It is not lovely in the least.

Oh…it has potential, and yes I have planted a lot of donated and traded plants in it.

But

curb appeal particularly at the door… it lacks.

See the walkway…it was chatahootchie…that son #3 spent a summer scraping off... to get to the concrete.

I'm told it wasn't fun. I'm told some wouldn't come off.

rd 007-1

Now we plan on covering it with homemade concrete pavers.

Yep.

Let me just say, it is GRUELING work to make these pavers. Sift the cement, add the sand, add cobinations of tint…mix with trowel…pour into molds…

Lather. Rinse.Repeat.

A friend who is truly an artisan is doing it…and I helped…well, with eight of the pavers

we need over 40.

gulp.

I was ready to pack it in, man. I was filthy, hot, stained in shades of umber and rust brown…Both skin and clothes...

But Ole’ artisan man kept on truckin’.

yard 2-09 017

The plan started innocently enough

with my love of Rio De Janeiro’s sidewalks…

rio sidewalk1 rio sidewalk

But...knew that may be too much of a stretch.

I think I saw the husband wipe a brow on that one!

So then I moved to this idea…ish

walkwaygrass

Then to here…cause I loved the use of the small rocks on the risers…and the color

walkway inspiration

Then I got realistic… and said to self~

“self... if we even get close to a color like this I don’t need much else”

walkway colorsalt finish

But….I kept seeing this

tria3

…Probably because I am using it as a screen saver…

So…half of the infamous back killing pavers are made Thank you Dale! and we need to make some steps, and add rock to the risers...

and mud in the pavers….and ...

That…among 100 other things…is the summer project.

phew.

What are you dreaming about/working on/ planning and scheming?

hmmmmm?

45 comments:

Carrie said...

Your back-breaking project sounds like it will result in a beautiful landscape treatment!

Ry @ Sotto Il Monte Vineyards said...

I love it! Can hardly wait to see the finished project. We made concrete pavers for a house of ours in Santa Fe. We planted grass in between them - what a pain! Later we switched out the grass to stones. Much easier to maintain.
Cheers!
Ry

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

That's right Ry...I forgot to downloar the pick of the pavers with the stones in between...but they are all measured out, and it won't work. Got pics??

Carrie...thanks!

Renée Finberg said...

omg !!

it is so hot linda !!!
sick crazy job to do in this heat.

years ago i had to do the same thing with the dreaded 'chatahootchie'. i put pavers down in a basket weave pattern.
i hate that chatahootchie stuff, it is painful to walk on.

i saw that you have one walkway with coral. that is my absolute fave.

xx

Melissa said...

I'm so happy to hear that I'm not the only one who dreams up crazy difficult/challenging projects to keep myself busy! The rest of my summer will be spent painting and tiling. Tiling bath tubs, tiling floors, tiling in my sleep. Then there's the whole great outdoors... I don't even know where to begin. The weeds are taller than my tomatoes and they have completely engulfed my bike! It's sad!!!

Can't wait to see photos of your progress.

Vicki ~ FL said...

It sounds like it will be beautiful once completed...can't wait to see finished project.

Deborah said...

Oh Linda! I see you took the machete to some of the backyard! And is that an avocado tree I see growing? Probably from a seed you grew yourself! There is nothing innocent about the Rio sidewalks! I have one thing to say; don't let my hubby talk to your hubby about wives with toooooooo many ideas. Be sure to come to my Mad Tea Party tomorrow...mine's a tad wicked. **blows kisses** Deborah

Anonymous said...

It is going to be great. I feel for your back, ouch. Beautiful plumerias and downright gorgeous huge urns. Your curb appeal will be massive. I can tell.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Wonderful.
Tropical.
Oasis.
Home.

Jenny said...

I'm dreaming of actually having a home of my own that i'm not renting or sharing with my parents and siblings. Just me and the love of my life, Zane. Talk about heaven!h *sigh*

Hibiscus Moon said...

Wow, that sounds like a big project, but I'm sure will be beautiful when finished.

We need some sort of patio plus walk ways and a totally new driveway. Not sure if we should do pavers, concrete or what. That's next year's project.

Anonymous said...

hi,
i love your beautiful blog!
hugs from sweden,
agneta,

Farmgirl Paints said...

I can't wait to see the end result. I have no doubt it will be beautiful.

I really don't have any summer projects planned. I really need to get some inspiration. I would like to make a headboard for my guest bedroom. So yeah that's my project!

Bonnie said...

I love your garden! The back yard is so beautiful and tropical. What kind of grass do you have and how do you get it so green? I need to redo mine. I cant wait to see how the front yard pavers are going to look. I need to redo my front yard too! Your place is my new inspiration!!! Your screen saver pic is stunning! I would love my yard to look like that! I must stop by more often cuz your blog is so inspiring and fabulous!

Sixpence and A Blue Moon said...

It is going to be BEAUTIFUL!!! Wow, you've got some energy. Can you pass some on to me. :)

I am working on my basement that flooded a couple of months ago. Had to pull up all the carpet, paint the walls, and just finished scraping the glue off the concrete. What a NOT-so-fun job it has been. Just going to paint the concrete since we have so damn much flooding. A laminate floor was going to cost $4,000.00, and that was the cheaper stuff; not worth it with the chance of flooding. Your summer project sounds like more fun to me.:)

Can't wait to see your pics.

xo

Barbara Jacksier said...

I also hated the front of my house. I just added a front stairs but with a more Cape Cod look. I posted a photo on my blog earlier this week.

Linda in AZ * said...

* THIS is going to be fantastic!!! And working, MANUALLY, on it will bring SUCH an "extra special meaning" to the project when all is said and done, and you'll always HAVE that memory!!!

You R*O*C*K, my friend! Literally!

Kudos & keep pavin'!!!
Linda in AZ

Unknown said...

I feel your pain.The GreatWall went up in the heat of summer,too.I think I was the only person who had fun.I kept getting nasty looks from the men in my life.I've never understood why they didn't think it was fun.....
Your's is gonna be gorgeous!

Suzann said...

My house, the ugly house (who really needs a nicer name, dontcha think?), is getting it's exterior make-over next summer. BUT, I have posted photos because I need some suggestions. The front door doesn't work, well, nothing works. The inside is getting nicer, the outside hasn't been touched or, it has been but that's another story.
LOVE those pavers. Truly amazing, beautiful, ans worth the effort for sure!

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

Linda, I've always loved the look of your entry, when I've seen tiny glimpses, over the years:-). I can't wait to see the results of this project. I know it will be absolutely beautiful, as is everything you do!!

Mary said...

Always start with your biggest dream and then make it work - or something close. We have seen what you have done in the past - I love your visions and outcomes !! I guess the bottom line is - I love a dreamer !

Unknown said...

It's going to be wonderful...how very lucky for you and your sons! that you have help on this project!

I am taking a break from house projects now that the Mango Studio's in full swing...

so enjoy your paradisio!

for the love of a house said...

Fabulous inspiration pictures. I can't wait to see the reveal and what you chose!! You are one tough cookie to be doing such manual work OUTSIDE right now!! It's 75 today and I'm complaining it's little 'humid'!!!

I would list our projects, but I don't think there is enough of the mega-bite thingys to accomodate it!!;)

Ana Balbinot said...

Dear Linda,
Im sure that whatever you decide, it will be perfect!
Xoxo

anita said...

and that folks is how beautiful creations are made :)
we have deliberated some of the same ideas for our back patio..
i like the spaced squares w/ grass between..but i think we are leaning toward a simple deck w/ large square scores and light mix of grey stains..oh, and maybe a palm leaf imprint or two or three..
cant wait to see what you do, sure
it will simply linda (aka gorgeous)

Rhonda Roo said...

I'm dreaming of your post when you get *your* summer project all done...and come design me a yard o' paradise!
xoxoxox

Karen Deborah said...

Wow incredible. beautiful ideas you are so creative and your yard is fantabolous.

Actually I am working on promoting some new technology that is not yet available in America but will be soon
interested?

MissBliss said...

love your humor, "keep seeing this, probably because it's my screen saver" haha!

Looks like fun...

I am dreaming of doing some little mosaic project, some day, inspired by our lovely South Florida palms and skies... ;)

Lauralee said...

Looks like where you are is great.

Maria Killam said...

Wow that is an incredible job! And I just love all the images you've shown! Beautiful. We'll want to see a photo when it's done :)

Laura Trevey said...

Just popped in to say hello, and get my summer inspiration fix!!

Your blog makes me SMILE :)

xo Laura

Simple Daisy said...

Your project sounds awesome! Can't wait to see it when it's finished.
Me....I LOVE projects and live for them! I think I might have a little adhd b/c I can't ever sit still for very long! My next project will be tearing out one of my front garden beds that is just WAY too overgrown!
Enjoy your project~

Stephanie Clayton said...

summer projects...hmm...i don't have the motivation i had last summer, when my husband and i renovated two houses. oh the work!

yours will get there, and be gorgeous, i am sure! i think backyards are more fun to work on, simply because they're our private little world, a sanctuary of sorts.

Maya said...

I am impressed to say the least..., you making your very own homemade concrete pavers! You will be proud, I am sure.

vicki archer said...

Whatever you choose will look gorgeous...but what a job...and I just love that word, 'chatahoochie' xv

Feedsack Fantasy said...

Oh, the plumeria is so fragrant & sweet. Lovely yard & home. TTFN ~ Marydon

abeachcottage said...

such a hard decision, ours is needing err shall we say an uplift but I just can't get my head round it

what a job to try and do in the heat tho! imagine it will be truly beautiful when finished and more than worth all the hard graft

Sarah

Joyce said...

You do have a project that will be so rewarding when it is finished! Enjoy my friend. xoxo

Ms. Tee said...

Wow - that is absolutely stunning! I can't wait to see it!

Lauren said...

it's going to be so perfect!!! paradise!!!
xoxo

My Notting Hill said...

What an amazing project - wow! Love the idea of the small pebbles on the risers.

cotedetexas said...

it is going to be gorgeous. can not wait to see it finished. glad I don't have to lift a finger either. hehe

a quiet life said...

oh i loved all your inspiration! you know i am a total garden hound and adore all projects like this, i can't wait to see the finished projet!

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