The Hansen Family

I have noticed a lot of you stopping by from Pinterest. Thanks for looking! To catch you up to speed on our project: { How to build a patio } { How to trench a downspout } { How to build a patio: part 2 } { How to build a pergola } { How to build a patio: part 4 } Get your FREE step-by-step tutorial book to Design Your Dream Patio! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name ______________________________________________ Building a retaining or seat wall After we built our pergola we added a seat wall and columns to each pergola post. We knew that this entire patio project was going to be hard work. And hard work it is (that's an understatement!). Basically, after we knew that the gravel floor was level, we started laying the columns and seat wall. {My previous blogs are some very important steps} The seat wall and column stone we used are Highland Stone in Brownstone. To make...

  Monogramming and personalizing gift items are really HOT right now. You can personalize ANYTHING!  It adds a special touch for the recipient, and it's so simple. Items you need: 8.5 x 11 full sheet labels Microsoft Word Printer Gift bag or other optional items to put your label on Right click on the above image and select "Copy Image." Open Word. Open a new document. Right click on the new document and select "Paste Image." Size the circle image to preferred size. I usually do a 5 inch circle. To create a letter in the circle, click on "Text Box." Click on the circle image to drop your text box on the image. When you do this it may look like a white box covers up the circle image. You have to go to the Format Tab, select "Wrap Text." Under Wrap Text, choose "In Front of Text." Now make sure that your text box doesn't have a boarder or a background color. Select your Font and type a l...

Does your family go through a lot of microwave popcorn?  Our does! I got this recipe from my Dad and Step-mom, thanks guys!  They informed me that microwave popcorn has many additives. Which I guess I already knew, but never really thought about. This is an alternative way to eat popcorn and it's economical and healthy!  I love that! Ingredients Brown paper lunch bag 1/4 Cup Popcorn kernels 1/8 tsp. Olive oil Salt or seasoning of choice Put 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels into the brown paper lunch bag. Drizzle 1/8 tsp olive oil over the top. You do NOT need a lot of oil.  If you put too much oil in the brown bag it will soak up at the bottom and leave a mess in your microwave.  Guess how I know this? Fold the bag two times. Put in the microwave and cook.  Each microwave is different. It took ours over 4:00 minutes to cook. I would recommend putting it in for a long time then stopping the microwave when the kernels stop popping every 0:02 t...

I have noticed a lot of you stopping by from Pinterest. Thanks for looking! We will be doing many more patio and landscaping projects this spring 2013. Please sign up to follow our blog by email or Google Friends Circle on the right hand side if you scroll down.  Or click on the button below to follow via Bloglovin'. To catch you up to speed on our project: { How to build a patio } { How to trench a downspout } { How to build a patio: part 2 } {How to build a patio: part 3} _______________________________________________ How to build a pergola Building our pergola has been an experience. We have run into numerous problems. You'll have to read, and hopefully laugh, at all we went through to get this pergola exactly how we I wanted it. I have to admit, there are no great tutorials on how to build a pergola.  Trust me we searched and searched.  If you find one please share in the comments below! Luckily, my handy dandy husband knew what to do, but...

To view the first step in our patio project view: {How to build a patio: part 1} {How to trench a downspout} {How to build a patio: part 3}  {How to build a patio: part 4} We built a pergola too: {How to build a pergola} Get your FREE step-by-step tutorial book to Design Your Dream Patio! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name The weather here in Iowa as been unseasonably warm which has been great for us to work outside with shorts and t-shirts.  I love being outdoors and in the sun! Our patio is coming together slowly.  After we finally had our patio plan in place we needed to determine the elevation.  We did not have a survey crew or lasers, we did not hire anyone to do this.  Luckily, my awesome husband is handy. Determining the elevation is important.  You want to have a level patio. However, you also want to make sure that you have a slight sloping grade AWAY from y...

This is the second step to our patio project. How to trench a downspout, bury a downspout or extend a downspout.  { click here to see previous post } I know that this post may seem very boring for those of you wanting to see progress on our patio. Stay with me, progress is being made, but it takes time and many, many steps. Hey, someone out there may need this helpful information, right? ______________________________________________ How to trench a downspout There can be many reasons that you would need to trench a downspout: standing water, water redirection, standing water by your home foundation or water flowing into a window well to name a few. We needed to trench our downspout because we are building a patio...OURSELVES...yes we are crazy! The current downspout lands in the middle of our soon-to-be constructed patio.  Another great tutorial on this is at: This Old House: How to extend a downspout Tools you will need (pictures bel...