Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: No Cost Backyard Revamp

Our old house had a huge backyard with plush grass from corner to corner and a 10 ft. privacy fence. Our new backyard... well, it doesn't. Mostly it's filled with rocks, leaves and acorns. The new yard has a chain-link fence and offers no privacy. But guess what? I wouldn't change it. The lack of fence has provided opportunity after opportunity to meet, greet and chat with our neighbors. Community vs. isolation, and I like that.  We also have a super huge oak that will, one day soon, have an awesome swing.

This is our view from our backyard when we look up. A canopy of leaves... (one word - awesomesauce)

In an effort to make our rock invested backyard a bit more inviting I decided we needed a fire pit. I marked it's location off with a ruler, a stick and what else...rocks. Then I dug and I dug. Then the hubs came into the picture and helped relocate some of those abundant rocks. We now have an extremely cozy and inviting fire pit that has already hosted friends and family. We've rocked the marshmallows, s'mores and hotdogs. Yum. Yum. Yum.

 Total cost of fire pit: $0.00. Yes, I said ZERO dollars spent. I told you we had a lot of rocks.

Now as many of you know, I like my quiet time and my wine. Ha - do those things go hand in hand? In this house they do. So obviously I needed me a cozy patio...

I went dumpster diving the other day (you know how I roll) and found the two big tree stumps that flank the glider. A few days prior, my littles and I scoured neighboring yards for giant acorns and pinecones. I gathered the acorns into a glass jar I had on hand and grabbed an old tea tin and filled it with a candle. To finish off the patio, I used some other odds and ends I had lying around. Done.

Total cost for patio revamp: $.0.00.  Wahoo. That's my kind of revamp. The FREE kind. I love it. It's exactly what I was wanting and spiced up just right for the holidays. Next come the Christmas lights. Ahhh yeeaah. Bring on the wine and the quilts... it's finally starting to get chilly in the Lone Star State.

How about you? Do you use outdoor elements as decor for your home or patio?

PS - If you joined me in fasting and prayer yesterday, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can't tell you how much that means to me. And WOW - fasting is hard. I had never done it before. I'm pretty glad I jumped out of my daily routine and comfort zone to help out others in need. Thanks again friends. xo