Thanks everyone! I must say, our 2 years of researching what we wanted (or didn't want) really paid off.
Julles - No, we did not do the patio, but was well worth the money to have someone else do it and have it finished in 3 days.
I think they put down gravel, then a finer gravel, packed it, and then sand. The finished it with a really fine cement that you sweep in all the cracks, and when you wet it down it hardens. I forgot the name of it, but i'm sure someone here knows what i'm talking about.
We put up the pergola about a month ago, and now i'm working on making drapery panels for a little privacy from the neighbors.
I purchased 4 lime green outdoor table clothes (not the plastic kind it's breathable fabric), and i'm making a tabbed top using backpack nylon strapping and velcro. The only problem is i have to hand sew all the Velcro on 'cause they only make industrial Velcro with a sticky back and it sticks to my sewing machine needle.
So i'll just be sittin' by the pond the next couple of days sewing on the corners of 40 little Velcro squares.
It will be well worth it though.
