Next Project -- Patio and Pergola

Our project for 2012 was to build a patio and a pergola where we could enjoy the scenery, the air, and the sun. In the early planning stage, we took a tarp and laid it down on the ground and moved it around until we felt we had the right place for it.

I then put down stakes and lines to roughly determine the area where to dig. I need to dig down 10 cm (4 inches) to put down a base of stone dust also called limestone screenings.
These stakes and lines helped me locate the digging area without interfering with the digging itself.