We are all Fenced In Now!

We've been very busy the last few weekends installing the fence around the pool.  This is one of the final steps that we have really needed to finish before we could slow down with the whole pool project.  Landscaping will be an ongoing thing, but for now at least all of the must do's are done. 

  Our insurance requires us to have a fence and quite frankly I am very happy about it.  Besides being a human deterrent,  I am thrilled to finally be shutting out the deer from a portion of my yard.  Now, maybe I can finally grow some things that I have been trying to grow for so long.  I saw Mama and the babies a few weeks ago on the right side of the yard in between the wood fence and the pool and about freaked out.  I really have been very worried that I would find a deer in my pool y'all.  Not something I ever want to see!   

We decided to add the fence on the high side of the slope around the left side and the back of the pool.  It then connects with the wooden fence on the right side of the yard.  This gives me more of an open yard area around the pool on one side but closes off the side with the slope which was not very usable space anyway.  We went with a black vinyl coated chain link to save money and because I know I will be landscaping so much that honestly the fence will not be the focus, nor did I want it to be back here.

The Mr. installed the fence himself and I helped a little...very little!  Here's another view after you pass through the gates from the walkway.

Over on the other side of the yard where the wooden fence is we installed another smaller fence and gate just beyond the deck steps to the side yard.  Now we are closed up securely all around.

We also added a gate on the back side of the fence so we can still access the rest of our back yard.  We have a total of four gates, one double and two singles.

Here is a sneak peek at my next project.  I purchased (9) 1 gallon containers of dwarf gardenias to add in the space between the deck and the pool wall.  

It's going to smell so wonderful! I know because 

my car smelled so good all the way home!

I can't remember if I've showed you these yet or not. But, I wanted to show you some of my mums I got from Walmart a few weeks ago when they first came out.  These are the ones they are selling for $4.44.  Can you believe the size of them?  They are amazingly big!

I just love the color of them too!  I had to snap a few pictures for you this evening because it just finished raining again and they were literally just glowing!

I also wanted to show you this plant that is still hanging in there beautifully.  This was one of the first flowers I bought this spring.  I can't believe how it just keeps blooming!  

It's still such a pretty hot pink!

I've been experimenting with watermarking my photos in Picasa but am getting a double mark.  I'm not sure why but for some reason it's adding one in addition to the decorative one I chose.  I guess there must be something further I am supposed to do or unclick?  IDK?  

Well that's what we've been up to outside lately.

Sharing this with BNOTP for

Metamorphosis Monday.

Thanks for visiting with me today!

I hope you all have a great week!

 It's going to be quite a change for me going back to work this week, but one I'm looking forward to.  I'll be sure and check in as soon as I can with updates.

Take Care!

It's Fall By The Pool Tablescape

It seems Fall arrived rather suddenly over the Labor Day weekend here.  It was ushered in by a few tropical storms that blew several dead leaves all over our newly planted back yard and into the pool.  The winds were so strong they almost blew some of our older furniture right into the pool as well.  Whew, it was quite a close call!  I am very thankful that we got the sod done just before the storms came in or that would have been a mess.  Then we were blessed again when next we had a wonderful day of much needed and timely rain.

I am celebrating the transition of fall with my first official outdoor tablescape by the pool on a table.  LOL! I am sure this is going to be one of many to come.  I hope you enjoy it!

I decided not to use an umbrella as we are starting to cool down more and I now have more shade in this area.

I thought it would be neat to pull out one of my plaid tablecloths too, nothing says fall like plaid right?  I use this one at Christmas but thought it would also look great with all my serving pieces today too.

How do you like the centerpiece?

First, I knew I wanted to use this basket I have been storing my wine corks in.  I purchased this on clearance from Hobby Lobby this past winter.  I don't know why exactly but for some reason I also associate fall with wine. Silly huh?

Then I knew I would need to also use a bottle of wine to add to the centerpiece.  That's what you call a useful centerpiece.  I'm sure the Mr. would be pretty proud of me for that.  Ha ha!

And because I thought it needed just a little something extra I added this little arrangement that I made last fall.  The little pitcher was also another Hobby Lobby clearance find that I added flowers too.

Now let's take a closer look at the dishes.

The green and terracotta stoneware is called Casa Verde purchased from Piggly Wiggly many years ago.

The square melamine dessert plates are from World Market purchased on clearance this year.  

I can't believe it's time to pull out my fall napkins purchased from Walmart last year, end of season of course.

I decided to combine them with these pearlescent napkin rings I got from the Lenox outlet because I think it complements the purple in the dishes.

The glasses were an agonizing choice for me this time because I really wanted to use one of the green sets I have. But, I just could not overlook how appropriate the iridescent blue goblets looked yet again!  They seemed to pick up on the blue and purple and greens and almost had a purplish grey look to me.   What do you think?  Good choice?

Well I'm glad you thought the glasses were a good choice because here's the bad choice in all it's photographic glory!  Do you see it?  I got in such a hurry as I usually do and set all the place settings wrong!   I always mix up my forks yall!  I do not know why it is so hard for me to remember this.  I even know in my head that logically you would use the smaller one for a salad first but question whether you work your way out on utensils or in.  Mercy my manners!  I really need some other type of rhyme or something to help me keep it straight.  Should have pulled out my cheat book today.  Sorry!

Well, there it is!  

 The first official "by the pool tablescape" at our table and my first "fall tablescape" this year too.

Thanks so much for stopping by, be sure and visit the link below for more beautiful tablescapes

 that are full of inspiration at;

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

Have a great day and great weekend!

More Pool Progress

We finally reached a big milestone this past week with the construction of our pool this summer.  I am so happy to report that we were able to pour the concrete decking on Thursday despite all the possible weather scenarios that were out there last week.  Woohoo!  No more mud and sand to deal with everyday and everywhere! 

We are still waiting on it to fully cure, but are able to walk on it now and I was allowed to put my blue plastic adirondak chairs only on it for now, provided I do not drag them around.  LOL!  On Monday, I should be able to place the rest of my furniture all around.  I cannot wait to do that because I am so tired of having it all jumbled up on the decks.  Building a pool the way we are takes lot's of hard work and patience, for sure. 

Let's take a look at where we are now.  Since the concrete is still curing it has lot's of different shades.  I've been told it will all even out to a white finish when it's completely dried.  I certainly hope so, or it's going to have to get a stain which I do not really want. I personally prefer the more natural concrete with a grittier texture around the pool because I have experienced way too many slippery  concrete finish's in my day!

Yesterday, the Mr. and I worked a little more on the area around the retaining wall.  This had been a bit trickier then we anticipated due to the curve we built into the wall.  We did not want any hard angles around the pool and thought these blocks were designed best to make a curve.  Not to mention the rest of our house was built using them all around the bedding areas by the original owners.   We decided to just keep going with the same look.  

The first few rows of block were laid before the concrete was poured so that it would all level out and run right up to the wall.  However, 

the blocks did not line up as well as expected on the curve the higher up we went. It was a bit tricky and required spacing them further apart on some levels in order to get it right.  After 3 rebuilds on the upper levels of the curve it's where we like it and were able to start back filling behind it. Behind the wall is a drainage pipe and gravel to redirect the water away from the pool and then dirt on top of that.

We also have drainage pipes running behind the wall in front of the deck and under the last step of our new steps.  We still need to redo all the railings but will get to that later when it cools down more.

This was one area I worked on some yesterday, adding the sand base so we do not have mud splashing up on the concrete in the rain.  I am going to add stepping stones to get to the pump and some type of  decorative screening here soon and more plants and flowers.  

I know it doesn't look like it, but this is another area I worked on yesterday.   I  had to back fill this area between our lower deck and the wall with my shovel and then rake it all down.  Shoveling gravel and clay is backbreaking work.  I am going to plant dwarf gardenias here.  I just cannot wait to tackle this but am having to wait because there's too many other things that we need to do first.

Our goal for today is to finish moving around more sand and leveling to get the land ready for sod.  Thank goodness our neighbor owns a tractor that he has loaned us to do this.  I cannot imagine trying to do all of that without equipment.  It is the smaller blue tractor in these pictures.  Great neighbors are such a blessing!

We are hoping to sod next weekend. That's how we will be spending our labor day, pretty appropriate huh? Then the next step is to install the fence.  Shew!

It's all worth it though!  I hope to be back with more updates again soon.  This is the fun part.  I love landscaping and seeing it all come together.

Thanks for visiting today!

I am joining a few parties today too in celebration of our accomplishments.

Please visit the following links for more of the same at;

Seasonal Sunday

and

Metamorphosis Monday

Have a blessed Sunday all!

Poolside Picnic

With the construction of a new pool this summer I have been so starry eyed about setting a beautiful outdoor tablescape, along with the encouragement of a few friends. Since we are still waiting to complete the concrete decking around the pool tablescaping has been on hold, until....

...now!  But, I see no reason why I can't have a poolside picnic, can you?

The weather is just fine tonight and the water is quite inviting so...

maybe we'll have a few drinks.

And something to eat before we go for a dip.

Speaking of dips, here's one of my newest serving pieces.  I think it's perfect for pool side dipping.

When your ready to eat, I'll pull out the dishes.

I found these melamine salad cuties on clearance at Walmart.  I need one more to complete a set of four and thought that I would find it at another Walmart, but have yet to come across one.  Isn't that how it goes?

I chose these napkins because they remind me of tiles in the pool and the blue glass napkin rings remind me of the water.

A few utensils and we are almost ready.

 I  even have a safe place for the food, if we decide to swim first.

If it get's too late we can light up the lanterns.

That wonderful aroma you smell is from the centerpiece.  I just had to work a gardenia in here somewhere.

These pebbles represent everything about our wait to have a pool someday, so I thought they would be appropiate for our very first poolside tablescape.

Would you rather go for a swim first?

What?  Okay, I guess dinner can wait a bit.

and wait...

and wait.

Should I light the candles now?

Well yes, it is just a tad bit late now.

Maybe, I should just serve breakfast instead?

LOL!

Thanks for stopping by for my very first poolside tablescape.  Please be sure and visit the following link for the more wonderful visions of tablescaping inspirations at

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday.

Have a wonderful day and weekend!

Mary