The Maras Family's Quest for Shade

We've lived here for over 7 years and rarely get to enjoy our beautiful back yard because its too dang HOT in the summer on our deck and we have NO SHADE! Building a 3-season room was my dream, but not in the budget. Chris finally got tired of my complaining and came to agree that we needed to do something bigger than an umbrella, but smaller than something that requires a building permit.

After all our summer travel and adventure wrapped up the deck came off and Chris embarked on one of his biggest home improvement projects to date and build a patio with free-standing pergola. We finally feel like we can hire someone to do the heavy grunt work we've always done ourselves. I say "feel like we can..." because we "hired" a concrete guy to come bust out our slab and pull out the 4ft. deep deck footings. He just couldn't seem to make it to our house to do the work. The first time he blew us off we understood when he called to apologize. The second time he just didn't show up OR call. So Chris took matters into his own hands....literally.

The project was a family affair and all hands helped out. Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to take a picture of myself hauling gravel and bricks in the wheelbarrow so you'll just have to trust that I helped too! It really was a bummer that all the building supplies were dropped in FRONT of the house when all the work was in BACK of the house.
Liv enjoyed helping Chris put the "puzzle" together.

And taught us all it's important to look good no matter what the task!

Finally the pergola goes up! We found a few pictures online but basically the whole thing was just in his head. Does anyone know where I can get a better ladder??????

My parents came down for a visit in early October and Gramma Sally jumped right in to help...notice she even has a carpenters pencil behind her ear! How's it goin' over there Jocko?

We made many, many "trick" trips to Menards for this project. Hey guys...lets go to the zoo! (and Menards), let's go out to dinner! (and Menards), let's go....you get the drift. One night when the Menards truck rolled into our cul-de-sac Tony was not as excited as his dad.

90% complete and look at all that lovely SHADE!

In the spring we will plant Hops along the lattice side to grow up and over the pergola. The plants are already ordered from the brewing supply company!

This Saturday Chris put the final screw into the steps....2 months after he began.

Chris' goal was to have it done before the first snowflake fell and he did!

Here's to a job well done!