new view

This photo was taken during summer cooking classes. Although the two students in the foreground are fabulous – what I want you to focus on is the background. The view through the window behind the kids.

It is the view I’ve looked at every day for the last four years … ever since we did a complete remodel on our backyard.

In 2008 we expanded our backyard, taking down the existing block fence and pushing out to the back and to the west. Putting up a new block fence. In the process, as my neighbors probably recall, there was the unfortunate incident of hitting a gas line and closing down the street for a couple of hours with the fire department on hand. (Good times!)

We dug out the existing kidney-shaped diving pool, filled it in, and put in a new play pool with a spa, waterfall, and a swim-up bar that has you eating and drinking while watching me cooking away in the new sunken outdoor kitchen.

We tore off the existing patio cover and deck, and boarded up the two upstairs doors so that one of us didn’t somehow forget there was no deck to step out onto and fall to our death! Making the back of the house look like a tornado had come through. Then we put up a new patio cover, more than triple in depth.

Oh, and by the way, one very important note here – when I say “we” – I mean that “we” hired FANTASTIC contractors to do all that. (if you need a general contractor, a plumber, a landscape designer, an electrician, or a painter… let me know because I love those guys!) We only lifted a finger to write out the checks. So many checks! I

Here’s a very fuzzy zoomed in shot of what I see out that window. And it’s not the pool I’m focusing on today, it the patio furniture.

This is a photo of the remodeled covered patio, just after it was completed in April 2008.

Dave and I received the patio table and four chairs (along with 2 chaise lounges and a side table) as a wedding shower gift, in 1985.

Yep, the set is 27 years old. I’ve had it repainted and re-strapped twice, so about every 9 years… making it again due for a makeover.

And although it has served us well, it is time for it to move on to another family… along with many other items from my home.

All this information serves as a segue for me to tell you that there will be a “Treasure Party” this Saturday in my backyard.

A dozen of my neighbors and I are cleaning out our cupboards, backyard shed, attics, garages, and closets and selling them all at great prices.

Here’s a photo of just the garden and yard stuff I pulled from my shed. Things I stuck in there four years ago when we took our yard down to the dirt for the remodel and then forgot to ever take out.

And this is only the garden stuff.
From me.

Imagine how much more there will be from the rest of my house and from the other dozen ladies!

Point is, if you live nearby, you should get here on Saturday! If you would like to come, email me at lpgourmett@aol.com and I’ll email you back with directions and instructions to get in through the guard gate.

That’s right, this is an invite-only party – so you need a “password” to get in.

Oh, and this is the new view out my kitchen window. A gorgeous antique French bistro set that I bought from my dear friend and former neighbor, Lori when she was selling a bunch of stuff from her home. That vintage metal laundry cart to the right of the set was from her gorgeous home too.

See, there’s good stuff in these here parts, y’all!

Treasure Party
Saturday, November 10, 2012
9AM - 1PM