date: “2016-06-28”

Here is an idea of what things looked like before construction got started:

Left hand side of the deck showing the bizarre stucco work and brick arches from what we later learned was a patio.  We had already removed the dodgy 10x10 pergola that was pretty much smack dab over the table.

The big ugly franken-brick zipper from the previously botched remodel done over 35 years ago

We suspect that all of the gray paint and the lattice work were trying to hide the crappy remodel.  That big stucco area with the window was where the original back door was (coming out of the kitchen)

Another view of the franken-brick zipper.  The bricks on the right hand side are the originals.  Notice also the laughable pointing job they did on the brick — I think someone literally stuck their finger in some mortar and just swished it around on the brick seams

A view from the far end of the deck (near the fence)

The dreaded 'driveway to nowhere' and the existing door from the whatever room to the back deck.

At least the previous owners put up a decent fence so our dogs have somewhere to run unleashed.  The bad news is, a huge chunk of that fence is going to go away to allow access for the construction equipment.

Looks like they just poured half and inch of concrete over loose gravel and called it done.  In fact, it isn't even gravel – it looks like chinking out of an incenerator.  Heck there is even some pumice looking stuff like you would see along a railway line. 

They didn't bother to compact the underlayment, grade the concrete so that water would flow away from the house (instead of just pooling) or cutting proper lines to deal with thermal expansion and contracting.

And like so many other thing, we get to fix it...

The yard is relatively junk free for the first time in 11 months!