This is my backyard, my sanctuary.  It didn't look like this when we bought it in 2018.  There was a ramp off the deck, retaining walls made of broken sidewalk pieces, dying trees, overgrown shrubbery, a plastic trellis railing around the deck, and a grungy brick patio. We still have the grungy patio, but a couple of hours with a pressure washer made all the difference.

Before...

After...

Before...

After...

When it gets tough or too people-y out there, I head out to my private space and listen to the fountain and the birds.  Sometimes it's enough to just watch the water, though a glass of wine doesn't hurt either.  A chilly day may require a little fire in the chiminea.  Ahhh, there's no place like home.