Weekend 1: Patio

It was hot.
It was sweaty.
I **may** have gotten irrationally angry a couple of times.

But it is at about 50% and it feels so good!

Day 1:Thanks to our contractor neighbor Chris, we got this baby generally leveled in no time!
I started to install the edging. Near the house will be a planting bed.
Day 2:
Gravel is at about 85% in. We are running a little short, but that is actually a happy accident because I thought the gravel area was getting too big. 
 So we are going to improvise and do a "planting" bed with the larger round stones we salvaged from elsewhere around the garden. It will be located in the foreground here.
And the fun stuff:One of the main reasons I'm so excited to have our backyard more "finished", is that Franca is quit the outdoorsy girl. She loves to get right in there and get dirty. She leaps out of my arms whenever I take her out back (or out front for that matter).Country girl, just like her momma!
She was also fascinated by the Bobcat. When we were done yesterday, we let her sit on it with Marc. She went nuts and didn't want to get off. [I get a weird feeling some people might give me shit for this, but the Bobcat was turned off, key out, and on level ground. I mean, I grew up riding through pastures in the raised bucket of my Grandpa's tractor!]
I can't believe that we didn't get a photo of me on it. It is pretty fun to drive. Much like my dad's awesome lawnmower. I actually got to drive it up onto the trailer to return it. That was nerve-wrecking, I was sure I was going to end up sideways in the middle of the street.
So here is an update on the master list:

1. Tear up patio area. (Done!)
2. "Reclaim" stone/concrete pieces to reuse. (Done!)
3. Relocate plants. (Done!)
4. Install gutters (Back is 95% Done!)
5. Bust up concrete "troughs". (Done!)
6. "Reclaim" patio flooring flagstones from garden. (Done!)
7. Mark fence posts.
8. Get samples and select pea gravel. (Done!)
9. Rent equipment. (Done!)
10. Move dirt. (Done!)
11. Dig post holes.
12. Trench for pipe and footing at new site wall and house.
13. Pour footing.
14. Install metal edging. (Done!)
15. Install site wall reclaimed stone/concrete pieces.
16. Place road bond gravel. (Done!)
17. Compact gravel. (Done!)
18. Lay reclaimed flooring flagstones.
19. Install pea gravel.
20. Install trench drains.
21. Install fence posts and fence.