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!
