Backyard progress

The backyard is slowly proceeding. Our contractors didn't really have time for us, but since they're so nice they agreed to squeeze us in. We agreed that we didn't expect this project to be finished lickety-split, so we're patiently waiting for them to have time to do some more work. 

At the end of last week they poured the concrete slab that will be under the wooden deck and we put the old stairs back in place temporarily so we can now get out of the back of the house and we have a clean spot to BBQ. We're happy with that for the time being. 

Since there's work still to be done near the house and it's a mud pit where the stone patio will go, Matthew and I decided to start work at the back of the yard and move forward. I convinced him it would be a lot of fun to stain the shed (and the offer of pay probably didn't hurt) so he started on that last weekend. 

My wonderful mother came in on Sunday and spent the afternoon helping Matthew paint. I spent the day dragging around the flagstones that used to be part of the patio close to the house to make a little seating area back there. It gets full sun late in the day, so it's a great place to sit after we get home from work. 

I wanted a casual look, so i decided to put the stones right into the grass so that we can run the lawn mower right over them. I laid out the stones where I wanted them, and now I'm removing the grass underneath and setting them level with the grass. 

It's not really hard work, but it's slow. I'm hoping to get these finished up this weekend so I can get to work on my gardens because that's when the fun really begins.