Pergola.

Usually on Memorial Day weekend, we like to use the extra day off to tackle some yard work or outside project.  This year, it was a pretty big project.  A pergola.  Some time back I had pinned this picture:

source

 

This was my source of inspiration.

 

Thankfully Joel also loved the idea and when we knew we'd have a few extra peeps to help Memorial Day weekend, we made plans.  We ordered the lumber and it was delivered the same day.

 

 

Joel and I did the prep work on Sunday afternoon.  It was a beautiful day out... we couldn't have asked for better weather!  Let me tell you too that it may not look like we got a lot done on this day, but those 6x6x14 beams we put in were HEAVY! 

 

{BEFORE}

 

 

 

 

After Joel put in the readi-mix concrete, we had to let them set. 

 

 

 

The next day our reinforcements arrived... my Dad, Mom, and sister visiting all the way from Hawaii!  Unfortunately the weather was horrible.  Completely different from the day before... wet, windy, cold.  Ugh!

 

 

 

 

Only one injury:

 

 

Did I mention that it was cold?!  It was.  But we had fun too!

 

 

 

{Joel had NO idea we were behind him!  This picture cracks me up!}

 

There is no way we would have been able to complete this project in one weekend if it weren't for the help and physical labor from my family.  {Thank you, thank you, thank you DAD, MOM, and LIS!!!}

 

Here's what the pergola looks like today.  Joel added some supports to each corner and we hung flower baskets up.  At this point, we aren't going to add the 2x2x14 boards to the top and will wait to paint it until next year to give the treated lumber time to sit.

 

We really love it!