I am moonlighting as a Mason!

Byljanning@dukemanorfarm.com

Yes, you heard me correctly. Mason or “Brickie” if you are British. A skill that I don’t talk about unless I have to. A skill that I possess without even realizing it. Don’t ask me how or why, but I do. 
Take the project that got me started.

 My husband and I built a walkway to connect our front porch to our side yard. First time ever laying stone…. and it wasn’t to be the last. Feeling  cool, confident and cocky we then tackled this…..


Yes, a pond and water feature in our backyard. This project actually took two summers and was done in phases. It was a true testament of our skill level and marriage! Note: We are still married- happily!
Feeling like retirement was imminent for us, we called in some professionals to create this addition


Just like Michael Jordan, we decided to come out of retirement to play a few more NBA seasons work on one last project, which ironically was the easiest of all so far. We created steps.
First it was two simple stone steps.


Then it was three simple stone steps


Steps that take us from the front yard to the side yard, from the pond to the pit, from the pit to the play area 


and back to the front porch again. 
I love how things come full circle!
Anybody else a Mason?

PS- click here for the behind the scenes DIY







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Just a gal that loves to share my family, home decor, design and life around here in the country.... on my real life funny farm at Duke Manor

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32 Comments

  6. Laura your grounds are beautiful! Wish the hubby and I had that skill! We have to hire out all our mason jobs, but we found a great guy and we have him back every year to do a project so he's been very reasonable with his prices. You guys have talent!!

  11. You did a great job! I have done some stacked-stone walls in the past, never anything done with mortar. Would love to, if I could only turn back the years, but if I tried that now, it would undoubtedly be the end of me!

  20. Laura- I have just discovered your blog through Brenda over at Cozy Little House- I am your newest follower- You are VERY talented! xo Diana

  21. The steps look beautiful but be very careful when you step on them. Sorry to mention it, but stone steps are harder and harder to maneuver as one gets old and older; bricks are better because they are not slick on top but are rough and since they have sharp, squared off sides, tops and bottoms, you can lay them into much safer steps.Just watch your step, please! 🙂

  22. I just came over from Cozy Little House. I love your "Brickie" work. Well done. I could not have done this. Looks absolutely beautiful. I'm your newest follower 😉

  25. I learned how to lay bring a looong time ago. I'm pretty sure I could still do it.
    Your stone all looks great! If you want to come out of retirement and need a yard to work in, you could come to my house…my yard needs a lot of work.

  26. I popped over from Brenda's blog. So happy to find you. Very impressive work. 😉 My husband laid a brick terrace in the back yard of our previous house, built a huge deck, remodeled the inside of the house, painted the outside, . . . I could keep listing his projects on our first home. He went into retirement when we moved to this home. 😉
    I'm off to see more of your space………Sarah

  28. I love stone..what an amazing job…I have a pond as well…rubber liner!! I suggest you don't put any fish in it..Much, much less trouble and cleaner…

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