Working Out My Anxiety And Frustrations (Goodbye, Outdoor Fireplace!)
After I posted about my plans for the back patio and back exterior of our house yesterday, I went outside and thought to myself, “Just how hard could it be to tear down that fireplace and those planters?” It didn’t seem like it would be difficult at all, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the time at that moment, nor did I have the right tool. But I was having one of those days where I felt like I needed to work out some anxiety and frustration, and what’s a better way to do that than to break things? 😀
I had a lot of non-house-related things I had to get done during most of the morning and early afternoon, and then I spent a couple of hours with friends in the late afternoon/early evening. But fortunately, one of my friends had the tool I needed (i.e., a sledgehammer) for this job. So when I finally got home and had some free time to do what I wanted to do, I had a singular focus. I wanted (nay…needed) to break things.
So I headed outside with that sledgehammer at about 6:40pm. I knew I was working against the clock since the sun would be too dark to work outside by about 8:00, so I got busy. Here’s a reminder of what I was working with. There were actual trees growing in the planters, and this whole area had been all but forgotten for far too long.
So all of those trees growing up in that planter were almost completely blocking the view of our back yard. And the whole area was an eyesore.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t start breaking things until I first cut away all of the little trees vines that were in the way. Just doing that made a huge difference, but as you can see, there’s nothing pretty about the planters and fireplace. They were falling apart in places, and the entire backside of one of the planters was already falling over.
So after cutting away all of those plants, I was finally able to get to the part that I had been waiting for all day long. I climbed up on the fireplace and started taking out my frustration on the chimney. It was so satisfying to watch those bricks crumble with each swing of the sledgehammer, and even more satisfying to see more of our back yard come into view as more and more of this fireplace was removed.
Obviously, with so little time to work before it got dark, I wasn’t able to get the whole thing broken up, but I did get the whole fireplace and most of one of the side square things beside the fireplace broke up.
I’m not quite sure how I’ll get rid of all of these bricks. I didn’t really plan that far. 😀 The only planning I put into this was to break things, and I accomplished that plan. And just as I thought, there’s nothing better than swinging a sledgehammer and watching things crumble to work out frustrations and anxiety.
So this is where I left things last night when the sun went down. I think it’ll probably take another day or two to break apart the rest of the planters, and then another day to find someone to come haul all of this away for me. I have a couple of people I call to haul off stuff like this for me, so I’ll have to see if one of them is available to do that this weekend.
And of course, my mind is now spinning with ideas. This patio was used as my painting area for many years, so the whole thing will need a good cleaning with my power washer. I have a table and chairs, but those might need a coat of spray paint, and I’d also like to get an umbrella for the table. Then I’d like to get a couple of chairs and a coffee table for a seating area. And I’ll need a fun, colorful rug for the whole area. I can’t wait to get this area looking cute and usable!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Well done you!!! Just what you needed it sounds like!!! Nothing better to get the energy out and feel like you have some control over your wild and wonderful life! Hope you spend many enjoyable hours in the new space you have claimed!
GO GIRL GO!!! I know that satisfying swing of a hammer that gives you a new purpose in life, and it does feel really good, until you wake up and need the Ben-Gay or a soak in the hot tub. When all said and done, you will find yourself enjoying the great outdoors a little more until that heat and humidity drive you back indoors, we suffer the same here in East Tennessee. Looks Great!!!
Cheers to you, Matt, and the Fur Babies!
I would have left the trees for shade. I would have made a brick walk to my workshop with the brick.
You are a hard worker.
What trees? Those look like suckers, not actual trees.
I agree! Those weren’t trees. 😁
I agree. Those werent trees…😁
I can totally imagine you whacking the stones with the hammer 🙂 I’m glad you managed to work out your frustration that way and got the place looking already better at the same time! Have fun making the area nicer and enjoying it. You might come up with more urgency for your gardening plans when you start sitting out there – or the urgency might as well vanish because the look out there has already improved so much. I cannot tell which outcome is more likely, but being able to enjoy that area more is a big winner – well done!
I love that you’ve found new inspiration! One thought about putting a rug out there. They’re always dirty and end up with dirt and leaves covering them (mine does and my patio has clear curtains around it all Fall and Winter long). Could you possibly paint a rug on the concrete instead?
Agree! Outdoor rugs are meant for covered spaces, and even then, are a pain to clean up, as well as a trip hazard! I would nix that idea! If you plan on keeping the patio in the long run, maybe a textured tile surface???
Love that idea of painting a rug! I gave up having exterior deck rugs, they are magnets for dirt and mold, unless you sweep them everyday and hang them to dry after every morning dew and every afternoon shower.
😂👍Whatever works for you, Kristi. Glad you found a way to address your frustration and find a way to move forward. I enjoy reading your posts b/c you and I are TOTALLY different personalities.
Good on you, but I think I would have used a crowbar, trying to save the bricks, or at least some of them. If you don’t want them, someone might! I would pile them at the curb with a “free” sign, and watch as they go bye-bye! Also, I think that tree behind the wall needs to go. It has severe damage, and could topple over at any time. Might not hit your house, but it will do damage to the yard if it falls on its own. Glad you got some frustration out, hope you aren’t paying for it today!!
I sat outside last night, in our well protected patio, protected from the wind. Said my prayers and watched the day turn in to night . It was just so awesome! There’s just nothing quite like sitting outside and embracing whatever nature chooses to do. When it is finished, you are going to love it
Possibly buy or build a structure to protect furniture, offer shade, and beauty to an already much improved back yard.
Wow! What an improvement and so satisfying getting this done! I love spray painting outside furniture! I’m getting ready to pressure wash my outside patio too. Have fun!
Don’t pay to haul it away. List it for free on one of those listings like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. People are always wanting bricks and will clean them up themselves to reuse in projects. You could even sell them, there is a market for it. 😀 Kara
What trees? Those look like suckers, not actual trees.
Wow! That looks better already. 😁