Cassie Bustamante

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My Beautiful Backyard: Life in the Country

August 1, 2016 by Cassie 35 Comments

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I am so excited today to be participating in Stefanie‘s “Take it Outside: Beautiful Backyard Blogger Series” so I can share with you an area that I haven’t blogged much about aside from last week’s post about our chicken coop, my beautiful backyard.  Today is not so much about the landscaping or lovely seating areas, but about our family life in the country.TakeItOutsideGraphic

When Stefanie emailed me to invite me to participate in this series, I immediately responded, “Yes!  Of course!”  I hit send right away.  And then a moment later, panic set in.  My beautiful back yard???  I looked out my kitchen window into my back yard, where the grass is nothing but weeds, and it’s been trampled on by dogs and chickens. I thought of our hose running through the back yard leading up the hill into the unfenced portion of the yard into our vegetable garden that we (Chris especially) work hard on year after year.  On the surface, there is not a lot of pretty eye candy there, but then I thought about what it all means to us.  And although the backyard itself is far from beautiful on the surface, it’s a reflection of the beautiful life we are living in this home, surrounded by trees and hills.Porch Leading to back yard

I’ve shown you the porch, and just behind it is a little patio area leading to the back yard gate.  This past Spring I decided to dig up part of the patio (it was made up of bricks instead of the same pavers you see above) and create an herb garden.  It’s done really well and grown in beautifully, minus cilantro and dill which several of my friends have had trouble with as well, so I don’t feel so bad.

Grown in Herb GardenThis little fence wall was here before we moved in and fenced in the back yard.  We made use of it by creating a vertical garden which brings in color.  Last year it was the herb garden, but the land gives us much more space now.Grown in herb garden

We moved here almost 5 years ago and one of the first things we had done was fence in a large portion of our back yard.  (Our entire property is almost 2 acres which is pretty much perfect for us).  At the time we had our old beagle Charlie, and our basset beagle mix, Jake.  Jake liked to be in the yard if Charlie was with him, and Charlie loved having a back yard to roam in.  Now we still have Jake who is almost 13, plus Catcher, an Aussie-Weim mix, and Snowball, a miniature schnoodle who happens to be deaf.  Catcher has high anxiety, so none of the dogs put that back yard to use anymore… they don’t really care to just roam without us by their sides.  I am certain that Snowball would, but since she is deaf and tiny I worry too much about her out there by herself.

Recently, we built a chicken coop, and now the fenced in back yard is once again in use as our chickens free range back there.  Just behind the herb garden sits our blue coop.  You can learn more about it here, and learn more about that vintage minty shovel, that isn’t just decorative. 😉 Coop behind herb garden

Chicken Coop behind herb gardenOur girls love to roam the entire yard for bugs, and the come running when they hear one of us open the gate, hopeful for some dinner scraps.  And yes, there are a lot of locks and bolts and that coop, and you can read why here.Hens at coop

We love that the coop is a fun color, but blends in with our home well.Porch and Chicken Coop

Recently a friend who has been raising chickens for years suggested that we get some sort of shelter in the middle of the yard as well, something to offer the hens shade and a place to hide from hawks.  My kids had been asking for a trampoline, so I decided it would be a perfect shelter for the chickens and entertainment for the kiddos.  On Amazon Prime Day, there was a deal and the 15 foot trampoline was pretty much the same price as the 12 foot trampoline I had planned to order.  I bit the bullet and ordered the larger one.  The kids have been loving it!  Sawyer’s only request was that it have a basketball hoop, and he loves slamming balls in it. Now when I look out my back window, I see them happily jumping, and the chickens wandering about the yard.Emmy on the trampoline

And as you can see, the chickens come under it for shade and to eat, so I’m happy it’s serving its purposes.

Emmy on the trampoline, chicken under itNow, if you look back at that first photo I showed you and look very closely, you can see a hose running along the ground leading up the hill.  Behind our garage is more of our property, and we have a small plateau up on a hill where we plant our vegetable garden every year.  On the way up there, you’ll pass an apple tree and a mulberry tree, where I’ve hung an outdoor canopy for Emmy to play or relax with her friends.  She and her little bestie are the sweetest girls, bursting with creativity and giggles.  They love to daydream under hear, and imagine fairy house designs.Emmy and friend giggling in canopy

They also like to bring books to read, or color.

Emmy and friend reading in canopyAt the top of the hill, you’ll find out vegetable garden.Vegetable garden at the top of hillWe have it fenced in to protect from deer and other animals that want to steal my veggies.Fenced in Vegetable GardenI found a vintage gate at a yard sale and asked Chris if we could use it as our garden gate, and he obliged.Vintage Garden Gate in Veggie GardenIn our garden, our main focus is tomatoes, as we love them!  We have heirloom, some other kind I honestly couldn’t tell you…., cherry tomatoes, and my personal favorite- green zebras!  These guys are flavorful and have great texture.  They’re ready when they are a yellow/green stripe.Green ZebrasThis was our fist harvest this season and I have been enjoying them on my salads!Tomato harvestWe have a raised bed which houses squashes and zucchini.  Our squash did well for a while, and then died.  I’ve replanted some small zucchini plants.  And as you can see, we laid down hay to help keep out weeds. This was our second round of hay.  You can also see we have some random tomato plants that pop up after using this garden for a few years.  We always let those strays grow and see what fruit they might bear.raised bed

Behind the raised bed is a cucumber trellis Chris built and had the kids decorate.  It adds a nice punch of color to our garden, and the kids are proud of their work.DIY Zucchini TrellisCheck out the little caterpillar climbing up!DIY painted cucumber trellisOur cucumbers did really well until our sprinkler got stuck and we didn’t realize it… so for a few of the hottest days we’ve had they had no water and ended up dying.  You can see it’s wilty below and I thought it was just the heat the day I was shooting… oops!Cucumber on trellisWe also have some peppers, green beans, and brussels sprouts growing, and are planning to add some lettuce where the cucumber plants were.  The garden green beans are great steamed and then flavored with a little lemon juice, butter, and lemon zest.Green BeansNext year we plan to create a second garden like this one, doubling our space, with rows of cutting flowers and a path between.  Emmy has dreams of a cutting garden, and I love the idea of having fresh bouquets in the house.  This year I picked up a few on clearance and planted them next to the fencing in hopes they’ll come back next year.  Black eyed susans next to gardenAs you can see, the plants were in need of some love and water.  But I didn’t care so much what they looked like this year, and their blooms were lovely.  I bought these Indian Paintbrush black eyed susans, as well as coneflowers in a variety of pinks and reds.Black Eyed Susans

ConeflowerWe’ve also planted a small fruit garden but we haven’t focused much on it.  We did add a butterfly bush to it, just for fun, and Emmy loves to see the unique butterflies that visit.butterfly bush and veggie gardenWhen we moved into this house 5 years ago, we had big dreams with our big yard, coming from one that was just 1/10th of this size and was totally shaded.  I am so proud that we’re making use of the land, growing our own herbs and veggies, and raising our own chickens while we teach our children these important life skills, just like my parents taught me.
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Of course, it’s all a lot of work to maintain, but at the end of the day, as I fall into bed exhausted, I am fully satisfied with what we’ve created.  And the blazing orange and pink sunsets certainly help.

As I finished this post the other night in the kitchen, I watched out the window as Chris tended to the chickens (feeding them some of the darn caterpillars on our plants), and Emmy practiced cart wheels on the trampoline with the sun setting behind her.  It might not be the pretties to look at, but it’s a beautiful life.

Thank you again to Stefanie for having me, and be sure to visit all of the others sharing their incredible backyard spaces.  I know you will find something that inspires you in your own outdoor space!

July 25: Eclectically Vintage
July 26: DIY Playbook
July 27: That’s My Letter (you’re here!)
July 28: Life on Virginia Street
July 29: Brooklyn Limestone

Aug 1: Primitive + Proper 
Aug 2: Migonis Home
Aug 3: House 214 Design
Aug 4: Rambling Renovators
Aug 5: Facci Designs

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Filed Under: Chickens, Garden, making our home, My House, Summer Tagged With: Yard

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Comments

  1. Kelly says

    August 1, 2016 at 9:31 am

    One of my favorite posts…. What an awesome space you hVe, truly an extension of your home… And we are learning as go about chickens.. They are so very interesting and clickish as we did not get all of ours at the same time…

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:30 am

      thank you, kelly! we are about to get 5 more so it will be interesting… and i definitely see a difference between the first group we had that wasn’t as much of a “group” whereas these hens grew up from hatching together and they do everything together. and as soon as one started laying the others started, too!

      Reply
  2. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    August 1, 2016 at 9:34 am

    Cassie, your property is GORGEOUS!!! We so badly wish we had some land so we could have this. Room to grow your own. It’s beautiful!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:29 am

      thank you, shelley! it really is so nice to have the room for chickens and a proper veggie garden!

      Reply
  3. Denise says

    August 1, 2016 at 9:57 am

    Beautiful Cassie! This is our dream – just to have a little space to spread out. Love it!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:27 am

      it really is so nice to have! thank you, denise!

      Reply
  4. Emily @ 11gables.blogspot.com says

    August 1, 2016 at 11:40 am

    What a wonderful spot to raise your children and your chickens!! Your veggies look amazing!! xox

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:26 am

      thank you, emily!

      Reply
  5. Jennifer Griffin says

    August 1, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    It’s absolutely wonderful, Cassie. I love all of the space you have to spread out! Lots of memories being made here!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:26 am

      thank you so much, jennifer! we love it!!!

      Reply
  6. Jessica | Petal + Ply says

    August 1, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    We’re right there with you on the backyard being more utilitarian vs. styled beautiful. Hopefully we’ll eventually get it to be both (since we don’t have an awesome outdoor porch living space like you guys)! Emmy’s tulle tent looks like the perfect spot for a little girl to dream.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:25 am

      yeah, we are aiming for both…. i would like to do some things to make it more beautiful! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Emy says

    August 1, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    What a beautiful backyard! I love a space full of purpose and love. Your views are incredible!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:21 am

      thank you, emy! the views were one of the things that sold us on this property!

      Reply
  8. Pam @ Simple Details says

    August 1, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    Wow, Cassie! What a perfect place you’ve created for your kiddos to grow up! Love your new blue chicken coop, too! 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:16 am

      thank you so much, pam! i love that right now as i reply to you sawyer and his friends are bouncing away on the trampoline. (please don’t tell the trampoline company as they recommend one jumper at a time, but where is the fun in that?!?!)

      Reply
  9. sarah dorsey says

    August 1, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    such a pretty space! I love your chicken coop!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:15 am

      thank you, sarah! it’s perfect for us!

      Reply
  10. Charlotte Smith says

    August 1, 2016 at 9:17 pm

    SO great! I LOVE our yard, but have the same feelings when looking through the eye of camera! Thrifted furniture… toys… weeds coming up through old bricks. But the way our family uses and enjoys it is all that counts. We’re hoping to get a garden and chickens up and running next summer now that our barn construction is done! Love your painted trellis, etc. What a wonderful space.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 2, 2016 at 11:15 am

      oh i know! kids stuff takes over- i get it! and yes we have weeds creeping through our pavers all the time. i just try to weed every few weeks so i don’t get overwhelmed. and thank you SOOO much!

      Reply
  11. Kelly Elko says

    August 2, 2016 at 5:37 pm

    I love your yard – you’re lucky to have such a huge property! Now if you could just teach those dogs to learn to be alone (although my Sushi doesn’t like being outside alone either)! I guess we’re just that amazing!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 12, 2016 at 12:11 pm

      oh man i know! if i can figure that out i will be golden. GOLDEN.

      Reply
  12. Carol @ CAD INTERIORS says

    August 2, 2016 at 11:22 pm

    Your property is located in the most beautiful setting. Gorgeous! What a beautiful life and home you’ve created, Cassie!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 12, 2016 at 12:10 pm

      thank you so much, carol!

      Reply
  13. [email protected] says

    August 3, 2016 at 9:21 am

    So lovely! And that trampoline is really doing a great job multi-tasking–protecting chickens AND entertaining kids! 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 12, 2016 at 12:08 pm

      right? it’s perfect for everyone!

      Reply
  14. Stephanie @ Casa Watkins Living says

    August 3, 2016 at 1:48 pm

    What a beautiful garden! I love all of it! It’s so great to see all the natural elements like the herb garden and your vertical garden is so pretty. The chickens are the perfect additions. They are just so cute hanging out .

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 12, 2016 at 12:04 pm

      thank you so much! we just love it here!

      Reply
  15. Corinna - ADesignerAtHome says

    August 5, 2016 at 11:19 am

    You definitely lead a beautiful life. My mom has a tough time with caterpillars on her veggies. I may have to speed up my own chicken plans so we can put the pests to good use.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 12, 2016 at 11:55 am

      we got home from a week away and my fennel was COVERED with caterpillars and all eaten. 🙁 boo! but honestly i would rather they eat the fennel than some of the other items i had.

      Reply
  16. Haley says

    August 11, 2016 at 10:30 am

    I love your yard. I didn’t realize you had such an extensive veggie garden. I would love to hear some tips for that.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 12, 2016 at 11:50 am

      thank you! we are still learning but i am happy to share tips- what are you interested in specifically?

      Reply
      • Haley says

        August 19, 2016 at 8:55 pm

        Ooooh, I don’t know. Where to start with a garden and your favorite resources.

        Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Creative Blogger Outdoor Spaces says:
    August 9, 2016 at 4:30 am

    […] garden complete with vintage garden gate and lots of family friendly colorful ideas including this fun fence displaying planters fill the yard of Primitive and […]

    Reply
  2. What I've Learned from All the Jobs I've Ever Had - Cassie Bustamante says:
    May 18, 2017 at 7:37 am

    […] and mountains nearby that offer outdoor recreation, and the fact that we have almost two acres for our garden, chicken coop and hens, and plenty of space for the kids to roam.  As much as I loved Seattle and […]

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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