I just want to brag a little bit. I just finished building a deck for the first time, and I'm so pleased with the way it turned out! I had help from a carpenter friend, and hubby helped with things like digging holes and pouring concrete piers, but I did most of the work.

When we bought the house 2 years ago it had a little 4' x 10' deck, just big enough for a grill (not even steps to the ground). Now we can actually use it! When I took this I hadn't yet arranged the furniture the way I want it, but you get the idea.