Before

This week our friend Bill will be pouring a concrete patio behind our house. Then Saturday, our friend Gary is building stairs from the deck down to the new patio. With friends like this, who needs contractors?

Currently, we have no outside access through the back door - only access to the deck. This will serve to open up the backyard, which includes a beautiful lake with fountain, ducks and other natural shit.

Here's a "before" shot of the back yard and deck: