Yard

Ahmed from Yard Crashers… Crash our Yard!!!!!

eep waiting for Ahmed from Yard Crashers on HGTV to ring my {door} bell. This is what I plan to show him to help him with some landscape ideas for our back yard. I am happy to help him help me (and my yard).

This is what I am crushing on for our backyard. No pun intended …. get it crushing.. crushed stone.. get it?

Source: paisleyandporter.com via imnotatrophywife on Pinterest

And this would be so fun to roast marshmallows or just eat the Hershey bars with a glass of wine and Ahmed. I mean my {first} husband.

Source: goo.gl via imnotatrophywife on Pinterest

My dogs would love this little bubbler. From what I have learned from the landscape ~~architects~~ guys who have reviewed our mess, fountains are overrated and high maintenance! Side note: Do I need a colon or a hypen for this previous sentence.. calling all English majors!

Source:

bhg.com via imnotatrophywife on Pinterest

Love the pavers, not the rug :

Source: bhg.com via imnotatrophywife on Pinterest

And, here’s my reality:

Oh… it get’s better. Here was my attempt at a container garden. Placing this next to the side of the house was not my best idea.

Water and siding= not good.

Here’s another photo. I can’t do a close up because the dogs have taken this former
play set area and turned it into a kitty litter box.

Here’s another view. My {first} husband put the umbrella in the sand pit. I think he was trying to be funny.

And, we have a slight issue with the previous owners’ decision to add a paver patio on top of dirt. The pavers are literally sinking and falling off the edge at the same time.

There are no words.

Oh I wish Ahmed would show up at my door with a HOA pre-approved landscape plan. A girl can dream, right?

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GINGER CRAFT SNAPS

Thrifty Outdoor Lighting!

For the record, my {first} husband named our thrifty outdoor lighting “trailer park trash lighting.”
Our backyard is in chaos, meaning we have no idea what we want to do. Well, that’s not true, we would love a water feature (thinking cascading waterfall down our hill and ending near a gas fire pit (we live in Denver area- no open flames). But, budgets are bursting and the fiscal cliff is the only view we have right now! I just couldn’t resist! Sorry! Seriously people, it is pitch dark in our backyard and we have two dogs and coyotes and an occassional bear who loves to saunter behind our house. So back to my trailer park lighting idea! I usually use my Christmas lights year round, but they don’t throw off a ton of light into the yard. And, my mason jars and votives got a little soggy over the summer.

So I went to Home Depot to look for temporary lighting ideas for the back yard and I found these little guys.

These portable spike lights are awesome! In all honesty, we originally bought them to showcase our Halloween decor, but then we realized they could be a temporary and thrifty solution to our backyard through the winter.

Here are the details: The portable spikes are from Home Depot. They cost approximately $5.00 (I think they were closer to $4.00 but I can’t find the receipt). And, the bulbs are about $5.00