From Fountain to Fire Pit in no Time
Fountain in the Spring and Summer
When I bought my house I loved the fact that I wouldn't have to mow a large yard, but I wanted to do something special with the small space. I started the landscaping project in my mind and on paper. I knew I wanted a fountain and a pebble pathway, and LOTS of flowers! The view from my living room window is the brick wall of the house next door, so I decided to put a fountain and flowers in the yard just outside the window. Now we can enjoy the landscaping while outside, but also when we're inside!
Just outside the living room window, I enlarged the pebble pathway to a circle to make a courtyard of sorts. Then I found landscaping stones and formed a circle in the center of the courtyard. This was the base of the fountain. For the basin, I went to a local feed store and found a feed pan 26" in diameter, perfect to place inside the rock circle! The last step was to buy a pump and place it in the feed pan, held down by heavy stones. I ran the electrical cord down between the feed pan and the stone circle, then under the pebble pathway, to the window where I passed it through a small hole in the screen (how I hated to tear that hole in the screen!). I plug in the fountain daily, when I'm home and wanting to enjoy the sounds of water.
Fire Pit in the Fall and Winter
In the fall, I remove the pump, empty the feed pan (the water is usually very dirty by then), wash out the pan and put it away. What is left is the stone circle, perfect for a fire pit in the fall and winter months! Recently I had friends over and we roasted marshmallows and hotdogs over the fire pit.
Next spring I will clean out the fire pit, and put the feed pan back in the stone circle, along with the pump, and voila! I'll have a fountain to enjoy during the spring and summer.
I hope you enjoy the photos and ideas!
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Comments
Lovely! It can be frustrating, for me anyway, to see a half hour DIY show and I KNOW the project would take weeks to complete. (sigh) I'm glad you told us you spent quite a while on this improvement. ~ I will say, the closeness of the neighbors makes me shudder. We have 8.5 acres here and I feel positively claustrophobic at times.
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Msgrits, I'm glad you liked the little project that took 1 1/2 years to complete! As for the tiny space, as I get older it seems that I want less to take care of! The neighborhood association mows the lawns and we just take care of whatever is inside the fence. I love not being a slave to the lawnmower. Also, having lived overseas in very small apartments, even this small yard is a big blessing, and my small 3 bedroom house is big in comparison to many places I have lived!
Your big place sounds lovely too, and I hope you have your husband's help in keeping it mowed and maintained!
How interesting that your son Charlie is in the LUO program. I may have had him as a student at some time. I teach HSER500, HSER508, HSER509 and have taught COUN504,502.
Blessings!
Yes, my husband does most of the mowing. I've tried to get him to convert the front "field" into a wildflower patch but...nope. He's a mowing man! I'll have to ask Charlie which classes he's taken. We are thrilled at how the Lord works in his life; as well as in our youngest son's life. GOD IS GOOD!
BTW: I'm trying to add to my Spanish vocabulary. Don't be surprised if I run something by you....{grin}
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I'm glad you don't have to mow the 8 acres! Let me know what Charlie has taken so far.
And I don't mind at all helping you with your Spanish!
Wow, this fountain turned out great! It looks like a nice place to have a cup of tea and relax! I'm jealous :)
N T T
He's currently working on 620 and practicum starting in January. He came over for a quick Father's Day visit.
Muchas gracias, mi amiga nueva.
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It sounds like Charlie is getting near the end of the program! I'm always so excited when students reach their goal and begin the career they feel God has called them to.
Where did you learn to speak Spanish?
En la escuela. High school to be exact. Since I graduated in 1979, and still remember as much as I do, it's as though Father has instilled it in me and I'm seeing ways to bring it off the back burner. Did you get my note with my email in it?
Wow, you've really transformed this space. Love the fountain as a focal point to be enjoyed outside and from inside your home. Lovely plants and flowers! It is a lot of work but so worth it when all is said and done. Of course gardens are never really done are they?:)
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True! Gardens are never done. There's always another flower to be planted or something to be moved or pruned. I look forward to reading your hubs!
You've a spectacular view of your garden from outside as well as inside! I loved your creative ideas and imagination and wish your garden flourish into purple and pink!!
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Thank you for reading the Hub. Yes it has been a great solution for the view of the brick wall outside the living room window. Gardening is never finished, is it? I think that's one of the reasons I love it. It's a work in progress that never ends. There's always more flowers to be found and planted and weeds to pull. I find gardening very therapeutic! I'd love to see more photos of your garden.
This is so clever, Debbie. I am hoping to do this at my home next year. Too much going on right now...:) The pictures are so helpful. And the directions make it seem like something I can do. I know just the right spot to put it. Thank you thank you... ps
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Patricia, this is totally "doable"! It looks like a lot of work but I decided to take it one step at a time. I hope you'll send photos when you get it completed! I have now removed the pump and feed tub, and it is my new fire pit to enjoy in the fall!
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