A Plan or Two For The Coming Months

August is here and funny thing is....it feels like June! We had hot, dry August weather in June so maybe they switched places and we won't be so hot and dry this month. The daughter and grans left yesterday and wow how quite it got around here except, that the pups have now learned they can bark and love trying their vocal cords out which provides lots of entertainment! I escaped having to go to the beach thank God, I may not have recovered had I went! They had a good time without me which makes me doubly happy!
We are now thinking about some building plans we have. We are going to fence in part of the back yard to make a "courtyard " of sorts. It won't we a elegant as this one...


Or as charming as this one...

More on the scale of this.....I WISH !

The back of it will be just behind this flower bed which is just outside the screen porch

This is a crude drawing of the layout. We are first going to fence it off with a three foot wood board fence. Three foot of dog wire fence will go on the inside of board fence. There will be two gates, one on the back leading to Hubby's shop and one on the right leading to clothes lines.On the outside against the board fence I will plant banana trees, cannas , elephant ears and hardy hibiscus that come back each year. That will be on the right side and back, growing tall to provide the privacy feel of a courtyard. On the left side where the pond is, I'm planting running roses on the outside of fence. I plan to put flower beds on all three of the inside fences with all sorts of flowers. Between the back door and the already existent flower bed, I want to square off a gravel patio for a table and chairs!

We also plan to build a chicken coop/yard. This is a picture of Joni's @ "The Old Centennial Farmhouse" blog. It is 8x16. I only want 6 laying hens, so 8x16 should be adequate.

Our coop will be located here against the side of Hubby's shop.

I hope to to get him to build me a couple of these cold frames....Okkaaayy he says

Now to the greenhouse by frost.... I'd like one like this

Or this....

I'd settle for this one too....

However I'm actually going to get this, framed, covered and a door to enter and exit!

He's moving the cattle trailer to the barn.

Thanks for all the great visits and comments while I was knee deep in kids! I look forward to catching up with all of you today!!