Scott spent the day picking up fill dirt and carefully placing it into the courtyard with the dump truck.  This will raise the finished grade up a few feet.  Once complete there will only be a few inch difference between the interior floor to the patio outside.  This avoids the need for steps down from the house to the courtyard.  Steps would take away valuable square footage from the outside living area.  It will also make the outside living space feel like an extension of the interior living area.