I wrote this one year ago and wanted to share what we’ve been able to change so far, here’s what I wrote last year, I’ll add an update below..
A year ago, Hurricane Helene took down about a third of the beautiful established trees in our yard. Then this summer, we lost three more trees that we didn’t realize had also been damaged from the hurricane. We were so lucky that we only had yard damage.
But it completely changed our backyard from a finished, private, shady galley, to an exposed, sunny, bigger feeling yard because of all the missing trees. Plus, it’s just torn up and bare because of all the machinery.
It’s time for us to figure out our backyard.
before
Yes. I’m tempted to go out and buy all the pretty flowers and focus on that, because ultimately, I long to be surrounded by beauty and a bunch of blooms. But that’s the equivalent of having a room you’re not happy with and going out and buying a cute vase, throw pillows and new candle.
This is exactly how I used to try to “decorate” my house. I know this never works because it doesn’t solve the real problem.
Which brings us to the next issue: What is the actual problem anyway?
You have to define the problem before you can solve it.
30 days after Helene
I’ve found that putting the literal problems into words is the most helpful way to find actual solutions. Even with something as creative as figuring out a backyard or a family room.
For our backyard, we’ve lost lots of our boundaries. Which feels like we have a room without any walls. We also have patchy grass, and desperately need mulch and some pathways. Basically we need to work on the “floor” of our yard.
Beyond that, I want zones. Chad and I sit on the front porch a lot, but we don’t have a place to sit in the backyard. I want a designated place to sit and eat dinner close to the back door, a place to sit around the fire pit where we aren’t exposed to all our neighbors and don’t have to look at our cars. We want some privacy.
NOW I know what problems I need to solve (and, of course, I want it to look pretty, too).
I love solving problems beautifully. Whether it’s in the yard or in the house.
If you are feeling stuck, unmotivated or frustrated with your home, it’s my greatest joy to help you. You don’t need to know WHY you’re stuck, I can help you with that!
But whatever you do, DO NOT believe the lie that you have to wait for perfect circumstances to get started.
You don’t need a dream house to create a home you’re proud of.
Join me for a free, live masterclass,
September 22, 2026 at noon EST (replay provided).
One year later… an update
We ended up having a deadline of March 28th of this year because we hosted our son’s wedding. Chad married Gavin and Sarah on our front porch, then we all went to the backyard for the reception. I took the photo above out our kitchen window yesterday morning.
The backyard the morning of the wedding.
The backyard right before the reception.
The back patio this morning.
Same spot before Helene, we just had steps to nowhere. but we do miss the big black walnut and the zillions of trees we lost.
Look how huge that tree was next to our house!
Now we have a nice patio and fire pit area. We’ve created zones, we have grass and stone and some structure. We still have lots to do, but it’s coming along and the yard doesn’t make me as sad as it used to right after the hurricane.
For the wedding, we emptied the patio and there was enough room for a DJ and dance floor.
Read more about the wedding here,
click here or the graphic below for links to our patio items, and
here’s where I ordered the little white structure in the middle of the backyard.
