Fire it up

As noted in a previous post, we finally ripped out the rest of the ivy. The original plan was to make a very large and very mod graveled area. That plan may still be in the works.... eventually.

But to be honest, we really don't have the money to do that project right now. And since I didn't want to leave the backyard looking like this:


So after reading an article in Martha Stewart Living (yes, I read Martha Stewart Living), I was inspired to come up with a temporary solution that I could live with- financially and aesthetically.

We decided to make a small bed for the fire-pit using gravel and some large stones that were dug when we built the patio. We planted grass in the dirt-enveloped area, but obviously, that's gonna take some time to grow.




Then we needed some seating, and we had just the solution sitting in our garage collecting dust- tree stumps! Yes. Tree stumps. Tiago got them from his boss who was throwing them out. I had been looking for some for a different project (that I never actually brought to fruition) so he snatched 'em up. Well of course they have been abandoned in the garage for several months, so we were excited to put them to use and clear up some much-needed space in the garage.


We also decided that we needed a hammock to relax.

Exhibit A; hammock:


Exhibit B; Tiago in hammock:


(Notice that he wishes he had a beer there on that stump.)

Exhibit C; Tiago in hammock with a beer on that stump:



Here's the complete scene (sans the grass that needs to grow):






Let the bonfires and relaxing ensue.