Brick layer

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I love adding new skills to my life's résumé, and now that my brick-laying work is no longer a one-hit wonder, I'm officially adding it to the list. Is it a skill I ever want to use again? Absolutely not. But once this darn patio is complete, I fully intend to sit back, relax, and take a moment to admire what we've accomplished.

I don't think Tim realized back in April, when he casually announced his backhoe idea, just how massive this project would become. The actual laying of bricks is one thing, but the prep work has been overwhelming. Digging, leveling, hauling, moving materials from one side of the yard to the other, it seemed endless at times. Yet here we are, finally approaching the finish line. If all goes according to plan, we'll be setting up furniture, entertaining friends, and enjoying the space by the Fourth of July.

If you're late to this saga and wondering why on earth we decided to tackle such a project ourselves, trust me, we tried to hire it out. I called contractors, sent messages, and reached out to several people. Some never responded, some never showed up, and others flat-out refused because they wouldn't work with used bricks.

Well, we had hundreds of antique bricks, AKA "used" bricks, and since my house was built in 1880, not using old bricks wasn't negotiable for me. I wanted the patio to look like it belonged here, as if it had always been part of the property. New bricks just wouldn't have had the same character or charm...new isn't always better! 

My body has definitely felt every bit of the manual labor. These days, transitioning from sitting to standing requires a brief negotiation with my legs and rear end. I may need to place a lounge chair on that patio immediately, not for entertaining, but simply for recovery.

The good news is we're down to the final step: the polymeric sand. I was up early buying ten bags so they'd be ready for Tim when I got home. Each bag weighed 35 pounds, so my morning workout consisted of loading them into a cart, lifting them into my trunk, and questioning my life choices. The unloading? That was Timothy's assignment.

Those bags aren't cheap, either, about $30 each. Any unopened bags will be making a return trip to the store. I'll gladly reload them if it means getting some money back. Every dollar recovered can go toward flowers and plants to soften the edges of the new patio and make the space feel finished.

Of course, now that the patio is nearly complete, I've made the mistake of looking around at everything else. The house needs painting. The landscaping is a disaster. There are flower beds that need attention, weeds plotting a hostile takeover, and projects waiting in every direction.

Apparently, finishing one project simply gives you a better view of the next ten.

Still, despite the sore muscles, the dirt under my fingernails, and the occasional questioning of my sanity, there's something incredibly satisfying about creating something with your own hands. Years from now, I'll be able to look at that patio and say, "I built that." And somehow, that will make every aching muscle worth it.....won't it? 

"The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more." ~ Jonas Salk