Cleaning Up My Patio: Part 1

Hello, Butta Lovers and Natural Products Connoisseurs!

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during the unusual time in our lives. I pray for everyone's safety and well being with hopes of a positive outcome when this is all over.🙏

When everything started, I was home mid March-June. I remember it clearly because I was sad and it was my 40th birthday and I could not tear up town like I wanted to.
Went back to the office early June and now we are home again since the virus is still rampant. First time at home, I was more focused on food hoarding and stocking up on cleaning supplies. Even taught the kids how to make hand sanitizer. Working at home was hectic, business a little slow, kids were bored, and I just had a level of uncertainty I can't explain. I lost focused and was very scared.
This second time home, I want to definitely make the most of my time. I am handling things better and have re-centered myself. Focusing on my mind and my health.

Yes, this pandemic has been stressful for me but I have to stay focused, maintain, and make it through. I have worried sometimes and maybe been a bit uneasy but what matters most is I have kids and family so I have to stay strong. I have to find ways to keep myself occupied when I'm feeling blue or stressed. To relax my mind, I often indulge in garden therapy. I've found garden therapy as my solace, my means of peace. It's quiet, I can focus and clear my mind, just me and the outdoors.

I have plenty of things to do around my home so I am tackling projects one at a time. I'll admit, it's a lot to do and I don't want to overwhelm myself. Plus, its HOT in Memphis, TN with heat indices in the 110s! Just heavy heat!

I started with the front of the house and wanted to bring some life to it. I'm also slowly trying to restore my front yard to its former glory, but that's a whole different story and another project, another season.

Now, my front porch is full of my potted plants. Some plants I started from seeds others I purchased. I often go to my local Lowe's to do what I call, "plant rescues." They have a huge selection of plants but since I'm a mom on a budget, I often peruse the near death plants section that have been marked down on pricing. I have around 25 plants and my porch can not hold anymore. It is a habit I've developed, but a good habit. You can never have too many plants! They just spruce up the entire atmosphere!

My Patio

On the the next project, my patio!

We are home all the time now and need another chill spot. Yes, my patio is sad, over grown, weeds in the cracks, dirty, and home to some strange looking lizards. I wanted to get a pic of one but those things are super fast! Cobwebs everywhere, ivy taking over. No pretty plants, no nothing, and I'm ashamed, LOL. But this is nothing I can't handle. I have cleaned the patio up before but it has been at least 2 years.

After analyzing the damage, I decided for the first part I'm gonna need my gloves, rake, hedge trimmers, a natural bug repellent, and some muscle, so I'm gonna recruit my son.

Tragic but fixable!

This area is nice and shaded most of the day. It's cozy at night because I have a homemade fire pit I made a few years ago. As far as comfort, I'll be working on that, I really don't have the budget for new patio furniture, so I'm going to use what I got around the house and maybe hit up some yards sales and thrift stores over the weekend.