Manual Labour Sunday

Towards supper time last night I hear a beep beep beep coming from the back alley.  I look out to see a bobcat loader dropping off cement tiles just outside of our gate. Hmmm. curious. About 15 minutes later, I hear it again and this time I see DH heading out. Apparently he bought patio cement tiles for our backyard so there is a solid place for the patio set.  (as you can see - apparently we don't consult each other on big purchases which I do NOT recommend for any couple starting out. short of finding a new spouse, there is not much I can do at this point)

The hardware store who delivered it is only four blocks from our place (gotta love small towns) and they were kind enough to deliver these at no cost to us, instead of us having to load them in the truck and unload them again later. Thanks hardware store peeps!!!

The patio/deck has been a source of contention for us for years. He really wants  a deck. I really want to add to the back of the house to make a kitchen we can sit in (no dining room. If we add a deck that pretty much means no adding on. So this purchase surprised me.

The tiles were on sale for $11.21 and DH bought 40 of them...so roughly $492 including tax. DH paid for this and I let him. He didn't help with the patio set or any of the grad costs. And so the manual labour began.

The boys and I dug out the grass in a sometimes shaded area of the backyard and leveled as best we could while DH ran to the farm to get sand. When he got back the testosterone began putting down the sand and blocks and levelling it. It was HOT here. 32C for us is really hot, especially after a very cool and rainy spring. I never do well with heat. blargh. By the end of the day the job was done and we went moved the patio set back onto it. The four remaining blocks we put down just a bit to the side to set the firepit I bought at a silent auction over the winter.

Our house has no AC and it's nice to sit outside in the shade and enjoy being outside if there is a breeze. I can read out there, eat out there or just relax and recharge (fully laden with OFF, of course).

Mom and dad were bbq'ing for supper as a pre Canada Day celebration. Was really nice to just go over and have food ready and not have them mind how hot and sweaty we were. Thanks mom and dad!

Below is a pic of the patio cement area and the new set. Half of it is wet from watering the grass we edged back in on the side. Notice the hockey stick and ball that keep DS1 from going crazy, and DS2's maine coone, who loves him more than anyone else.

As you can see, it is against the one piece of fence we did not replace as that neighbour wasn't ready to do a fence yet. Perhaps next year. With the new fence, the digging out and gravel new driveway and this patio, it certainly adds up to enough, for this year.