Other Patio Updates

When we moved the fire pit (during the propane conversion), we moved the gray table on the patio into that corner. 

Before:

Now:

It's now a potting bench/plant stand/serving table/whatever we need it to be. And it's better here, it was taking up too much space in the main part of our patio and we weren't using it for eating much. It was a serving table in the wrong spot basically. We like it here much better. (I just wish our plants and flowers were doing as well as they did last year. This year has been awful for my annuals!) 

Moving the table makes the sitting area of the patio much more open and airy. And now we have room for a gate leg folding table from Ikea that folds up. So it can be a tiny narrow side table... 

... or a small serving table...

... or a full dining table in the middle of the patio when we want to eat outside.

And then it's folded up out the way when we're done. 

Also we have a new hoses that flatten when not in use. They are easy to store and lightweight (so lightweight Matt can carry it). We can literally throw a 100 ft hose into a pretty flower pot and call it a day.  The two teal flower pots in front of the basement windows are hose buckets.

I've been bitten by the succulent bowl bug. I have a love-hate relationship with succulents. And by love-hate I mean that I love them but I hate it that I have a hard time keeping them looking nice. I had a massive collection of succulents 11 years ago when we got married - we gave them out as wedding favors (it was a garden wedding in an arboretum) and I had a bunch leftover. Within a year of us buying the house, they were all dead. Possibly from over-love?

My sister made me a succulent terrarium last year and they are still alive. And while they are a bit leggy, overall they are doing a-okay.

But now I'm trying again. I can't help it. This one was on clearance for 75% off at Home Depot. Couldn't  resist it.

This one I planted myself. The ice plant should bloom with hot pink and salmon blossoms soon. And of course I filled in the gaps with leftover amethyst because, why not. 

The deck and the patio are the only places right now that aren't completely insane. I'm making a lot of extra effort to keep the patio nice, a little oasis away from the crazy explosion of chaos that is the rest of our backyard. I want to sit right here, cozy up with my clearance Target pillows and read a book.