Back Gate and Pergola: And Done

And...complete. The back gate and pergola project has come (basically) to an end, with only minimal cursing and mis-measurements (oops). I really love working on these projects with my partner in crime, John. It's truly a pleasure to work along side someone on a project like this. To share happiness and frustration, to analyze the technical issues that arise, and to see it to completion. Happy go lucky, yo.

Hello sweet shade and beautiful shadows!

This pergola completely transforms our back pathway area into a full-on space. It's shady and cooler and the trickling sound of the new fountain just beckons me in every time I arrive home.

It's a great way to enter the backyard, and so very nice to be able to not have the hot afternoon sun blasting down on us and the house.

There are certainly temptations to grow vines on this baby, or put in chairs and a bistro table, or hang hammocks. But we are going to try our damdest to resist some of that in order to keep the space simple.

Complete non sequitur: the new Death Cab for Cutie album is just.really.good. "We are all the same, underneath the sycamores." Indeed.

Just a reminder to self: here is the before and after shot.

There were some fears expressed before we started - would it be too shady? and etc. - but they were completely unfounded. It worked out just great...whoo hoo!