The Courtyard is MINE now!

I've been wanting a chimenea for about 18 months now. Those that know me well, understand that for me to spend any amount of money over $20 at a time is quite a struggle for me. I'm just cheap. and I hate to shop. and i research and research and research until I find exactly what i'm looking for. and then once I do, I think about it and think about it and think about it. And then... I might buy it if I can justify it to myself.

Well, about 6 months ago I said, "I'm going to buy a chimenea. I'm going to do it." and so the research began. About 3 weeks ago, I was ready to buy! Then I couldn't find them anywhere! I twittered my friends and got all sorts of good suggestions. Then one of them told me of the place on Burnet just south of North Loop. Miguel's Imports. Must do good yelping about Miguel's Imports.

OMG! That place is MAGIC! Any time I need retail therapy, I'm going there!

I stopped by yesterday and looked at them all, compared prices and then left empty handed promising myself that I would come back the next day and leave with one. And I did. I looked at them all again. But the big mouth orange-y sun one won out. So now I have a theme for my courtyard. Sun, trees, frogs and turtles.

Isn't it gorgeous????? I LOVE IT!

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My courtyard was a mess. I've started to clean it a couple of times, but just didn't have the motivation. The courtyard was my ex's domain. He smoked out there and I just didn't go out there. It wasn't my space.

So... two years later and I've finally got it cleaned up enough to call it MINE. I've started to clean it several times, but I just hadn't had a clear picture of what I wanted yet. This is sort of a find myself journey. Realizing that it's not about what anyone else likes or thinks. It's about MY perception of MY perfect space.

So I started with the deleafing. I have a tremendous amount of trees in such a small space. I love them. but they produce a wholelotta leaves. so we started there. I think i carried about 15 buckets full of leaves out of there.

Miscellaneous "stuff" everywhere. All this is now combined into a bucket and placed out of the line of site.

I am soooooooooooooo happy with my Chimenea! and my courtyard! I feel like this is MY space now. and a good space to invite friends over for a campfire.

Now i'm off to buy firewood, wine and S'more makings! Guess what we are doing tonight???