OH:

The balance of patio-debris cleanup is nearly done; an outside rug that is shot is hanging on a fence to get rained on clean. It's headed to a spot in the yard where a weed bush would like to come up again. I have some black nylon tarpage to cover it with to kill off that sh*t permanently, presently adjoining that part of the yard, covering nursery-sz black plastic pots. The pots are holding a lot of the white Rock I removed last summer from the front beds (I prefer actual mulch). There are just enough weighted pots to hold down that tarped area rug. Bob's my uncle!

I see now how to make my own dog door to get them from the patio, thru a short section of privacy fence, and into an existing grassed run behind the garag-- that is already 90% fenced. (I have the missing fence section.) The slats of the privacy panel are exactly the right size to open a pair of them on hinges.

A simple bracing job with lumber on hand on the back side, then a few minutes with the jigsaw ought to do it. I'll put up the hinges (only item to buy), before cutting-- so they work perfectly after cutting; Hardi can trim this out pretty on his next visit here, but in the meantime there shall be a shady, grassed patio alternative when dogs are not wanted in the patio.

There's already a resin trash-can-holder out there to brace the added fence and serve as a second doggie house-- I'll move the igloo into that space as soon as the door is created. I'm not even sure I need a second pair of hands to do this!

I unloaded the two packed trash barrel bins from the trailer this AM before Matt arrived. One is unpacked and now holding the debris from the patio cleanup. With other changes already made, I can go back to keeping the trash cans in the patio instead of walking my trash around the outside of the house to the garage front. Oh joy-- stepping just outside the kitchen door, whenever I have something stinky to set out!!! Not a big deal 9 months of the year, but that winter visit down here can be a b*tch!

~Susan