We had our first official heat wave of the year last week. We're on day two of consecutive 90 degrees or hotter days, so we could be in the middle of our second official heat wave. So of course, I find an outdoor project. My thyroid issues make me so much more heat intolerant than others, but I also lived in Florida for 4.5 years, including 2.5 in southwest Florida, so as much as I hate the heat and sweat like a man, I can probably handle it better than most who have never lived in the South.
Anyway, back to my project. Growing up, we had a dirt driveway. As the little tomboy I was, I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Whenever it rained, I had at least half a dozen puddles at my disposal in which to stomp, play, roll and even from which I probably drank, at least once. When I was in high school, we finally joined the late 20th century and had it paved. By then, I was relieved. I was always getting my white cheerleading shoes muddy, and my brother and I couldn't play basketball on dirt very well.
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| Before |
Unfortunately, I still ruin shoes to this day. Our sidewalk from the back porch goes straight to the garage and doesn't connect with the driveway. This sounds like a minor problem, but when you're rushing out the door in high heels or trying to get to your car on a rainy day in flats, there is no way across the grass/dirt (it's actually weeds, not grass, and the weeds are sparse) unless you take a 40-foot running start and leap. And in heels or sandals, that could end badly, especially if you've got my clutz gene.
My brother is a
Woot! fanatic (I'm sure the proper term is something like wooter or wootite), and I finally took his advice and started checking out the daily deals. Low and behold, one of last week's woots was a
five-pack of step stones for only $12. They arrived this week and I just installed them this morning.
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| After |
I like that you hardly notice them since they are made from recycled materials and look very natural, yet they're sturdy and I installed them so they don't shift as you walk over them. Now I can walk across the small section between the sidewalk and driveway without sinking my heels 4 inches into the ground or ruining white shoes in the mud. Yay!
