BBQ plans

This is the after: 

A place to put all of the BBQ equipment at Highlands with pavers underneath to drain rainwater and give a solid surface to stand.   Admittedly, its been on our list to things to do up there for a while!  {But remember, Highlands is basically a raw piece of property.  The only buildings up there is the barn, (and that's a storage unit built under a metal roof) and the pumphouse.  Well, ok, the storage unit, too.}  You can't see them here, but we also hung those Edison-style patio lights above for light while we are cooking at night.  

This is the during:

We're not a couple of engineers over here, so our site prep only involved cutting back the thicket a bit, removing stumps and what we call "stickie ups", removing umpteen rocks, and raking and grading the soil.  Plus lots of measuring.  Then to Lowe's we went for the pavers.  As the pavers settle a bit, we will adjust them by adding more sand underneath.  Its not a permanent structure and the pavers will eventually settle in a stable way.  Now we have a pile of rocks to deal with, but that's ok.

This is the before:

Above, you can see the two tall trees that flank the area - that's where the lights got strung across. That metal table was here when we bought the place and its virtually indestructible!  Hubby added wheels to the bottom of the metal box underneath the table - that's a place to set cast iron Dutch ovens in for cooking - it is leftover from Scouting days.  We cleaned up all of the racks for the various BBQ pits and got rid of the old electric smoker.  We have enough equipment here to cook for an army, and more stuff at home, but there's room for all of it so it stays.

This is the why:

Butternut squash, okra, pork chops, jalapeno chicken skewers

Grilling delicious things at Highlands is something we both look forward to doing!  We often daydream out loud about how when we get the house built we will invite our peeps, family, old friends, and new neighbors to enjoy a meal with us "out in the yard" - pour the wine and turn up the tunes.

Can't wait.

Gina