One Room Challenge Fall 2018: Week Four

Ah, the dreaded Week Four of the One Room Challenge. If you remember, last week I was feeling pretty good about the 6 week time line. This week, not so much.

As predicted, weren’t able to knock off much of anything from this week’s ambitious to-do list. Here’s what I had hoped to get done:

-Weed brick border
-Remove rust from outdoor sectional
-Build/stain adirondacks
-Start building planters/arbor
-Pour concrete pavers
-Build/stain privacy screen

The weather wasn’t great for exterior work for half of the weekend (we knew weather would be a factor when we chose to do an exterior “room” but it’s still a bummer) and we had a little gremlin in the form of a teething baby who needed to be on one of us at all times.

So here’s what we did get done: I weeded the brick border little by little throughout the week, I scrubbed the rust off of the sectional and got it sprayed with rust proof spray paint, both adirondack chairs are assembled (not stained), and both planters for the arbor are mostly put together-ish. We decided against the privacy screen for our trash and yard waste bins because we’d really rather they live in the garage anyway so we’re just going to have to clear a spot for them and that item can come off the to-do list. So I guess we actually got more done than I thought.

The big thing I wanted to get done was the concrete pavers but ultimately we were only able to get one done. We have never worked with concrete before and there’s definitely a learning curve. I had a lot of trouble getting a completely smooth surface which could be from my technique or I may have been working the wrong size float so instead the paver we finished is pretty textured with my float arcs but we kind of dig it so I’ll be intentionally creating texture on the tops of the other five (FIVE!) pavers. I’m not really sure what happened with the color but it could have been that I over worked it or there was too much water or both. Clearly not a professional job but I’m pretty pleased with it for our first concrete project ever other than setting fence and deck posts.

That’s really all I have today! It’s supposed to rain again part of this weekend but I’m hoping with my mom’s help wrangling the baby we’ll be able to get a lot done. Here’s my next overly ambitious to-do list for the coming week:

-Leaf blow patio area
-Stain adirondacks
-Build arbor
-Pour remaining pavers
-Hang cafe lights over patio
-Pressure wash siding and brick around patio and walkway
-Start building planters for walkway

It’s gotten cold early here so I’m a little nervous we may have missed patio season this year but holding out hope for warmer days ahead (but not too warm).

Here’s an updated to-do list for both spaces:

PATIO

Clean out junk
–Clear ground – pull weeds and small trees, move large stones, rake out area
-Dig out next to bricks to allow space for gravel
-Weed current brick walkway 
-Lay extra bricks to complete existing brick walkway
-Order gravel to have delivered
-Lay weed fabric
-Spread gravel
-Pressure wash siding and brick
–Build/Stain adirondack kits (purchased at Home Depot during End of Season clearance) – In Progress
-Remove rust from outdoor sectional 
-Build/stain outdoor console table (Not even started – potentially on the chopping block)
-Hang cafe lights
-Decorate/Style space
-Build arbor/baby swing stand – In Progress

WALKWAY

-Clear junk
-Rake out/remove existing mulch
-Remove weeds
-Remove monkey grass that has regrown
-Transplant plum trees (not enough light in current location)
-Clean up/remove surrounding foilage
-Pressure wash
-DIY large concrete pavers – In progress
-Hang cafe lights? (Might look nice to have some here, too)
-Fill in with gravel
-Build planters

Make sure you check out the other guest participants right here!