Ever have a project that you started but you just could find the time to finish?
It looms over you like this dark cloud. And it’s even worse when you are a blogger because people have expectations. People accuse you of trying to be deceitful and act like you are hiding something. Well…I am here to admit that I have had one of those dark clouds. Actually it was half dark because part of it was finished and the other part was not at all. It was our deck…
When we tackled it back in the early spring, we had every intention of finishing it. But Jeremy is one of the world’s slowest painters (he does a great job but it’s just a painfully slow task and he gets antsy and frustrated so usually I do the painting) and I am terrified of heights so there was no way I was gonna finish the outer part of our deck stain job.
The other problem we have is that you have to stain when the weather is right. Too hot, too cold, too wet…all bad for staining.
So for the majority of the year, it looked like this….partly finished. OH THE SHAME. Go ahead. Judge me now. Judge like you have never judged before. I can take it.
When we revealed the Home Depot Patio Challenge results some folks were like….show us the other side! Show us what you did there! The answer was like um….nothing. we did nothing. we didn’t even bother staining the baby gate.
And I didn’t want to show the outer railing….
and definitely not the steps…
It just was plain ugly. ignored. and like past episodes of Oprah….pretty much erased from our memory. Sometimes those unfinished projects are easy to see when they belong to someone else but when they are yours…they eventually become unnoticed.
That is…until Carlos our painter arrived and we bundled in ‘finishing the deck’ with our painting the inside cost. We wanted to pay about $400 for the task and in the end, he did it for $500 plus supplies. We calculated that each segment of outer deck railings took about an hour for Jeremy to finish and he had 16 segments left including the baby gate plus a second coat on the upper deck, two coats on the stairs and the stairway railings to do. All in all, we figured out that it would have been about minimum of 24 hours of constant work for us to do all of it. That’s about $20 an hour for a skilled laborer. I’d pay that any day!
So I wanted to share with you the finished deck. This is not staged. This is how it is all the time…rain or shine. Well…sometimes we fold the umbrella down if there is wind. You might notice that it isn’t as snazzy as the staged look we did for the deck reveal but that is okay with us….this is real life.
The whole deck is completely stained and we didn’t sweep it or do anything to prep for these photos. We do leave our seat cushions outside so that is completely normal. The throw pillows are all stashed inside in an ottoman…if we wanted to spruce it up, we could in about two minutes.
When we got home from our beach vacation, it was complete and we do still need to do touch ups on the house (there was two little areas of overspray that Carlos offered to touch up but we couldn’t find the paint at the time so we just told him not to worry about it). We moved the lounge chairs up here in the corner and the boys LOVE using the cushions as ‘slides’.
The middle of the deck seemed like wasted space so we moved the grill there. I think we should probably put the extra gas tank inside 🙂
So the real use of this deck now is a place for plants to be half dying half rehabilitated. The succulents did REALLY well but now I think they are getting too much rain. I have no idea what is happening to that tall one with the flowering tops. Any succulent experts out there? Help!
The white geraniums almost died completely (gray pot) so now I am trying to nurse those back. The top I cut off a pineapple I just threw in a pot of soil and now it is the only thing really thriving. I pay perfectly good money for plants and they die but I put trash in a pot and it grows. Go figure.
My mossy art is completely dead. I have no idea what I was doing with it. I knew in my heart it would happen. It’s like when everyone knew Miley was about to lose it. Or Britney. Or any celebrity tween girl in the spotlight. I decided I am gonna Brit-brit this back to life though. I have a plan. Just call me Simon Cowell.
I had some container tomatoes in the driveway and they did ok at first but then they got super leggy. I moved them back here and now there is a little more green on them. I think they only have a couple more months so we shall see what happens. Next year I think I might have a proper garden again so these might be herb containers 🙂
All the little potted plants were house plants but they weren’t thriving so I moved them outside. This is a really shady deck so I think they only get SLIGHTLY more sun than inside the house. One of them has a fungus. That is what my mom said. The others weren’t getting watered enough. I take blame for the watering….not the fungus.
You can see we had to replace our flag holder. The old one bit the bucket. Is that the phrase? Kicked the bucket? Bit the curb? What is it?
Oh and the ferns we moved to the front porch so our $20 tall planters are empty.
But the outside of the deck looks great.
I didn’t even bother moving the hose or raking the mulch back in the beds. Real life problems. This takes me back to when I started blogging….everyone had crap pictures and it was always unstaged. My how things have changed 🙂
The plants overall are doing okay down there in the ground. I amended the soil enough that they should grow okay. We still have a few little things we want to do…like replace that fluorescent light over the window and spray paint the light near the basement doors.
It’s not too shabby considering four years ago it all looked like this 🙂
Wow, what a transformation from the before picture! You have brought that place back to life! 🙂
That dark stain color is beautiful, it looks great with your house color. Your deck is huge and I am sure it is difficult to figure out what to do with the space. We have a massive patio and I am always moving things around for the right fit. I used moss for some outdoor wall art and it only faded a little. Mine is on my covered front porch so I think that helps. Just wondering, is your moss the head shaving, MTV twerkingt hot messmess phase? I am looking forward to see how you refresh this outdoor wall art!
“bit the bullet” 🙂
Looks great!
Your house is absolutely amazing! No need to be ashamed that sometimes things take time. I also love the real life photos – it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
I would say you’ve done a TON in the past four years! That looks amazing!
When I got to the reveal of the outside of the deck I literally said aloud, “oh wow!” The contrast of the stain with your house paint color and the beautiful green plant life all look fab together.
I also appreciate your real-life approach in the photos. We all know those 25 throw pillows, organic lemonade, locally-made votives, and seasonally appropriate dishware aren’t out all the time anyway. 😉
My front garden died. Like D.I.E.D. this year. Only after walking into my house with my left hand over my eyes for a week did I finally get a stink eye so hearty from my neighbour, I had to give in. Oh the pressure. It’s hard when everyone knows you’re that girl, right? Thanks for the update and the new pics and the silent fist-bump that sometimes…life is just not what we see on everyone’s blog. AMIRIGHT?
You show us all that and my burning question has nothing to do with the post. lol How do you keep your flower beds weed free? My mulch always looks so sad at the end of the summer and weeds have managed to creep through for me to tackle throughout the entire growing season.
I love the rings mounted to the bottom of the deck, you must be working on your muscle ups Katie! I’m totally going to mount some to my deck. Moms gotta crossfit at home right?lol
Your deck looks wonderful! And I like that you didn’t stage it. Thanks for being real! Oh, and it’s “kicked the bucket” and “bit the dust.” 🙂
What a long way your home and landscape has come. My cousin made 2 tall planters for me ~ and I spray painted them Lagoon. I love them. 🙂
I love this! Every area can’t be perfect all the time. I began decorating for fall and I STILL have my rubbermaids out and I’ve only put out half our stuff. Oy. And home project wise definitely my stools at my kitchen counter. We bout 2 sets of matching stools (1 set matches and then the other set matches) but I was going to spray paint them 1 cohesive color (one set was forest green, the other bright red). I did the green set but still have the red set to do. I’ve had them and the supplies for MONTHS. Just can’t get motivated. And they annoy me everyday.
If anybody is gonna get real, it’s the mommy of four little boys. Hey, you can coast for years on that excuse says the grandma of two who thinks she’s brilliant if she has both kids dressed and fed on the same day #nevermindthecrazyladyinherslippersatthegrocerystore.
One of these early mornings, if you find a strange lady with a Frenchie and maybe a 6-year-old (if she decides to bring him along!) asleep on your deck, please don’t call the police! I’m just seeking a tranquil place that you have created! I have been reading your blog forever now but have never commented. I felt the need to today. I love that you are real. I love that you have unstaged photos too. Yes, the staged photos are beautiful, but I love seeing your real life also, toys on the floor, crumbs, dirty faces and all! I am a mom of six, ranging in age from 24 to 6 and I look forward to reading your blog every time you post! THANK YOU for your humor and wit!
Bit the curb??
No. That is not the phrase. Unless you meant to reference a horrific act of violence that’s mostly associated with racists and hate crimes.
Your ignorance is not cute.
I’ve been a reader for a little more than a year, so you may have blogged about this previously, but… are those gymnastic rings hanging from the deck? Can we please discuss how fun and amazing those are? 🙂
This may be a kind of funny question – but – do you ever actually use the deck? Up here (Boston suburbs) , we eat just about EVERY. SINGLE. MEAL. out on the deck from May till whenever I can keep it going (still going now thought dinner is getting harder cause it is getting dark earlier). I LOVE eating on the deck – less mess inside! Plus, because we are out there at least once or twice a day, I see the plants all the time and notice if they need water etc Your deck furniture looks like it would not really get use that much because , lets face it , as young parents with lots of kids, you are probably not the “sit around the coffee table and chat” type right now, correct. Might all might be different if you had a dining table?
Monica
We do a lot now! We have used the deck more in the last five months than we have in the last four years. I think the baby gate was a game changer as well as securing the railings and sanding down the decking. We actually get a lot of shade back there and since it is so close to the kitchen, I can pull out the baby pool on there and the little ones LOVE it. And yes, we do eat at that table…LJ has a highchair so he doesn’t…but the rest of us do and love it.
xo – kb
Hahaha! They are pull up rings and Jeremy uses them for his CrossFit stuff 🙂
xo – kb
I’ve never heard of that! Completely ignorant of it! I’ll have to look it up now because I have never heard of the phrase as being anything. I think insulting someone that has never heard of something is not kind though.
xo – kb
Bit the DUST! That’s right!
xo – kb
DO IT! You can do it! Or you can pretend that you are getting paid to do it 🙂 haha!
xo – kb
Ha. I can’t even do a proper pull-up.
xo – kb
We laid landscaping fabric under most of it…but our neighbors told us that they use Preen and it worked for their gardens.
xo – kb
So right. SO SO RIGHT.
xo – kb
Amen.
xo – kb
You put up with so much Katie! Where do these people come from? I enjoyed your post! 🙂
Seriously, I know I don’t know you, but I freaking love you. Your deck looks AWESOME (um, and the 4-years-ago picture has me floored!), and the dying potted plants crack me up. And it makes me feel better, because pretty much all my plants have a 1 year lifespan before I just can’t stop myself from somehow killing them. Here’s to you having an awesome blog, 4 little boys, and a fabulous deck!!
don’t do it, don’t look it up. there are images you will not be able to get out of your head, and this is one of them. Suffice to say it is brutal. And TBH we actually do say someone “bit it” when the fall or fail, it’s a really common saying in the upper Midwest.
So random — I have never heard of that either. Definitely not very nice assume everyone knows the same random phrases you do, Sarah. There are better ways to talk to people. Just wanted to write to say deck looks great but I had to chime in, even though I’m sure you don’t need my assurance that “bit the curb” is some obscure phrase that most people are probably “ignorant” of! 🙂
Aren’t you a ray of sunshine….Ugh!
Isn’t it a shame not everyone is as intelligent as you are, Sarah. I had no idea that bit the curb is racist? Really?
Personally, I love the real photos better than staged one. Real life is messy, sticky, dirty!! Love the deck and your azaleas are beautiful!!
I’ve never heard of the phrase either, so you’re not alone.
Your succulent is about to bloom with flowers! After it’s done blooming, just deadhead the spent part and it will be good to go for next year. It’s probably blooming because it’s been getting a lot of water. Succulents only need to be watered about once a week, or when the soil becomes dry. I live out in the west in the Central Valley where it’s HOT in the summer. Succulents are the only thing that survive in my containers, so I have tons of them! Mine are huge because my in-house water boy was over watering them. 😉
I totally dig the rings hanging up on the bottom!!! Is Jeremy working on his muscle ups?!?!
If it makes you feel any better we have a rower and an airdyne in our dining room right now. My husband is threatening a squat rack too but I’m standing firm so far!!
Sarah, that was a very unkind, spiteful and unfair comment.
I have never heard of that phrase neither.
Katie, I follow your blog because I enjoy it.
Hey Katie
you probably know by now as someone out there has advised, but your cute succulent with the dark leaves on the left looks like a Echeveria – Black Prince. It’s flowering beautifully, hopefully might throw a few pups/babies. I can’t remember if you drilled holes in your planters for drainage, but guessing you would have. Succulents really need to be able to drain well or they’re susceptible to root & stem rot. If you suspect to much water having tested the soil by sticking your finger in it – just pop it under cover somewhere to dry out nicely.
I think it’s a wee Jade tree you have a the back there, & I’m not good enough to identify the one front right – maybe a Chalk Stick?
Pull off any dead leaves gently & enjoy! (I have a little succulent obsession – just ask my hubby!)
As a person with no deck furniture and lots of dead plants, I love this post!
I’m still swooning over the last deck reveal though. . . and the guest bath reveal. Every little detail is perfection! Seriously, Home Depot should be thrilled!
Wow, what a beauty! I absolutely love seeing the real-life pictures and I never even notice half the stuff you point out, like the hose! I can’t believe how you’ve transformed your home!
PS – I killed the last of my FIVE air plants this week. Boo.
Hi Katie. Your tomatoes may not be doing as well as you’d hoped if they aren’t getting enough sunlight. Six to eight hours is needed. Also, tomatoes do best when potted in a minimum five gallon container and given consistent water. I run a ‘giving garden’ at an arboretum (all food harvested goes to the hungry in our community) and we use 25-gallon containers for determinates, spaced roughly 3-4 feet apart from one another. Fungal diseases are common with high heat and humidity and exacerbated by proximity, lack of sunlight and airflow. You can buy several foliar sprays at your home improvement stores to combat leaf spots and blights, however it is best if the problems are addressed early. Follow directions for application. Succulents are definitely drought tolerant. Geraniums are pretty resilient and go into dormancy….just Google for more info.
I think the “bit the curb” phrase was a reference to a movie from 1998 called American History X. Rough stuff and not recommended for the young, old, or sensitive.
“Kicked the bucket” and “bit the dust” sounds like what has happened to your plants. I feel you on that! I have one green thumb and one black, so it’s always a crapshoot about what will live or die in my planting efforts. Deck looks great! FYI: That little “hen and biddies” succulent is trying to go to seed. Cut off those stalks pretty quickly if you want to maintain the main bud at the base. Otherwise it will flower, make seeds, and then the whole thing will turn brown and drop dead by the end of the fall.
And your azaleas look so gorgeous!!!
I guess that is why I never knew that term. I asked Jeremy and he thought it was a skateboarding reference…like if someone fell off their board and got hurt. Thanks for the advice on the succulent. Off to cut it!
xo – kb
Haha! Yup…those are his CrossFit decor 🙂
xo – kb
AH-HA! That’s what I was looking for. Probably again…not a very nice term if I think about it 🙂
xo – kb
Your deck and landscaping have come so far! It’s got to feel nice to just enjoy that space (and keep the littles contained!). It’s definitely worth paying for some projects so you can enjoy your home NOW.
And kudos for showing your deck in its real state. I think you should start a blogging revolution- REAL life photos of your home. I’m always curious what a beautifully styled home looks like in real life. (Maybe that’s what Instagram is for?) In the style of side-by-side before and afters, you could show real life and blog life versions of a finished project.
While I enjoy a perfectly styled photo, I prefer real life. My house is real and we do a lot of living here. I want to see what real life looks like in a beautiful home, clutter and all.
It’s crazy. Just a hot mess.
xo – kb
I just came across your title: “A Deck of Half Dead Plants” (nearly fainted, truth be told)
Together with your photos, I just can’t resist responding; I have the same deck! (In a manner of speaking.)
However… I can now help with all those half-dead plants!
If you think of a good garden hose like ‘speaker wire’, you can mount it/conceal it up to your deck level and create a new spigot right where you need it!
All you need is a Water Wigot TM. (The Wherever Spigot.)
The system works like a charm! – I know, I invented it and I use it!