Labor of Love

Thirty-two years ago their backyard was a field of weeds and wind blown dirt, now it is a welcoming destination spot for family and friends. Weddings are held here, neighbors drop in for a beer and horseshoes and every once in a while they set up the volleyball net and have a tournament.

This is Pat’s dream backyard and it continues to transform with time. According to Pat there is no master plan, he dreams and builds as he and wife Marlene decide.

Pat built the fireplace to keep them warm outside as the seasons change, then he added the large deck with the star design for his daughter’s wedding. For the next wedding they hosted, Pat put in the large waterfall at the back of their property.

Because he had dogs, he learned to weld in order to build a metal fence with gates to keep them home.

The raised planter beds provide shape and function for the yard. And as they were clearing grass and soil for the patio, rather than taking it to the dump, they used it to fill their raised beds and then planted trees and flowers.

A two story playhouse sits a distance from the house, once great entertainment for their daughters, might become a Davey Crockett-style log cabin for their grandson.

Pat is most proud of his nautical themed bar and its eclectic decor. The porthole window is used for beer glass storage, and to avoid spills he designed a bucket and pulley to send drinks up to the crows nest.

The crows nest was built on a dare from his kids who said he couldn’t do it and, of course, he had to prove them wrong. Now, it is a main gathering spot for visitors who can get a bird’s eye view of the volleyball or horseshoe games below.