Tips for a do it yourself patio

It's been a busy week and a half in our household. W's dad drove up from Key West last week and helped us start a long awaited project - the back patio! W's mom joined us for the holiday weekend. In between trips to Chapel HIll for dinner and a great group of winery tours - we initiated a major do-it-yourself project. Our builder filled in the patio area with a continuation of tar from the driveway. In the summer it radiates heat and just isn't attractive to look at. W had already torn out half of our back porch to make room for the grill and our gate opening...now it was time for major destruction.

• Point 1 - as Tim the Toolman said "more power" - Half the day into the demolition of the tar, W rented a tool from Ace Hardware. Some type of hammer drill with a flat blade. They asked if he wanted the big one and he said no. He forgot the laws of Tim the Toolman. After discovering the tar the builders had poured was not your typical 2 inch tar and wearing down the first drill to a low growling thing, he went back and got the big drill. (See photo)
• Point 2 - What is crush & run anyway? - It's the stuff you put down after you've removed the tar, dug out 8 inches of grass and North Carolina red clay using the Mantis, your back and a lot of sweat. It looks like...um...ground up tar and rocks. Then you add the sand.
• Point 3 - Thank heaven for our houseguest's truck. And we're sorry about the water pump and truck bed cables. We'll pay you back.
• Point 4 - Are those bricks pink? - Open all three pallets and take a really good look at them before you start laying the pavers. You might find out about 45 bricks later that it really isn't a bad dye lot but a factory mistake. Take a much needed, though slightly frustrating three day break for the holidays.
• Point 5 - Borrow a friend once the relatives leave - Eric - you saved our rear ends and allowed for the holiday trip to Nag's Head proceed with a FAR lower stress level. Paul - wonderful brick carrying and lunch getting.
• Point 6 - I can transplant! Two gerbera daisies and a mess load of dianthus transplanted and they're still alive. We had to make room for the walkway.
• Point 7 - Careful of the toes - Check out the picture. I married the master of tools. Enough said.
• Point 8 - Sweep and tamp - Repeat. Many times.
• Point 9 - We're tired and we're dusty.
• Point 10 - Grab an adult beverage and enjoy being master of your domain.

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