The Garden Casita

Hey everyone, and Happy Monday to y'all!  I was planning on sharing a different post today, but changed my mind and decided to go with a DIY project that has been a long time coming -- our Garden Casita!  This project was actually started back in June 2012, but due to AZ summer temps, other more pressing projects, company, etc., it is just now finished.  Would you like to see? 

If you have been following me for awhile, like when we lived in our previous home, you will remember this garden casita.

After building this one in our backyard in Yuma, The Man knew he wanted to build another one, and we had the perfect spot.

The original owner bought an extra large lot, and had a concrete pad put on this side of the house.  The Man did a lot of pre-planning to make sure the building could not be seen from the street -- that's one of our HOA requirements.

Adding the additional concrete to fill in the gap was the first job The Man worked on.

Doing concrete work in June in AZ is kind of tricky -- you have to work in very small batches because it's drying so quickly!

Then the lumber started arriving -- it's really a good thing we have a Home Depot about a mile away!

Hard at work!

Here we are into July and the heavy lifting was starting to happen.

We invited our daughter & family over for July 4th and put our SIL to work.  I'd rather cook than try lifting those wall frames.....lol!

I didn't get a good picture of the concrete tile roof, but The Man did that all himself.  We found the tile on Craig's List & it just happened to match the tile on our house, & we got it for a "song!"

Construction is coming right along, but this was August and I was only a "pleasant-natured" helper until about ten o'clock......lol!  Once the cement board was all installed, The Man (with his trusty sidekick who could only work until 10 am) started on the rock.

We were able to purchase this from a supplier who was getting rid of this particular brand, so it was less expensive.  I thought I had a picture of this process, but can't seem to find it.  Anyway, prior to beginning this installation, each section of the building had to be laid out on the ground in order to make all the odd shaped pieces work right together.  I was actually pretty good at getting a more random look than the "retired engineer".....lol!

Rather than keep you in suspense any longer, TA DA......here is the finished building!

I am so proud of The Man and how much hard work he put into creating this Garden Casita.

Aren't these doors gorgeous?  The Man designed and built them.

The barn door rails were about the most expensive part of the construction, but it's the 

perfect finishing touch.

I love the little window, too!

We have had friends say that if we put a bathroom in there, they would be happy to call it home!

Well, that might be true until they saw their first scorpion or black widow -- yikes!

The Man is still working on shelves and storage cabinets, so I won't show the inside just yet.

Just one more "gander!"  I have to say, it was well-worth the wait!

I like to party here:

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays
Leslie at House on the Way for Twirl & Take a Bow

Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading