We are enclosing our sun room. I didn't do much to help with this project, mostly because Adam's friend Justin came for a week and helped with the framing. The part we know nothing about. I assembled the sliding glass door (NOT fun), the wiring, the insulation and the standing around for moral support (there were times there was nothing for me to do, but Adam made me stay close, just-in-case; I hate that (Adam: "could you hand me my hammer? Have you seen the level? Where did the nails go? I sure am thirsty. Hey, where are you going, come back", etc.). Adam's cousin helped with the dry wall while I was in Oklahoma. Thanks to Joe, I was spared, once again. 
Our other big project is the deck down by the water. We actually started this one first, got the idea to do the sun room and then came back to this. Still haven't finished the sun room, but we are coming along pretty good. Thanks to drill Sargent Adam! I am always thankful AFTERWARDS that he pushes me when all I want to do is fun stuff. This might not look like much of a project, BUT IT IS! we had to dig I think it was 16 holes, two feet deep. The hardest part was carrying the supplies down cardiac hill. We had to carry something like 10 4x4x8 posts, six 2x10x16 boards, a ton of the 2x6x16 for the frame, 8 50lb bags of cement, the 50 deck boards on the top and all the extension cords, saws, hammers, nails, shovels, and misc. tools. Yesterday we carried the 50 deck boards and just placed them on the frame. Tomorrow we will line them up better and screw them in. I am actually pretty excited to do that. Not sure why, it's going to be a lot of work. Adam thinks we carried, just yesterday, a quarter of a mile worth of boards DOWN CARDIAC HILL! We are both sore, but it's good exercise. Next summer we are going to extend the deck with a path that leads to another smaller deck along the water. He thought of that one all himself. It's usually me that comes up with these extensive and expensive projects.For those of you who are unfamiliar with Cardiac Hill, named by Adam's dad for the chest pains it gives him, here is a visual (I hope you can see the stairs part hidden by the shadows):
Adam has been bugging me about how badly he wants cherry trees so we ordered some from Miller's nursery, the place Bob gets all his trees from in NY, and his always seem to grow good. Adam planted these while I was in Oklahoma, along with my raspberry bush and my blueberry bushes. The trees look great, but the others look like twigs. I sure hope they grow in that thick, soggy clay. (below: my cherry trees, which are already blooming, do you think we will get cherries this year? My sad looking blueberry bushes, which you can't even tell which is the bush and which are weeds. And my twig for a rasp. bush).
We are in the middle of painting our picket fence. It was tan.. who in their right mind would paint it that color, I don't know. Picket fences are supposed to be white, everyone knows that. This is a pain in the butt project I have managed to postpone. Adam will get on me soon, though. 
So, do you think the kids are feeling neglected while we focus all our attention to working outside? Not a chance. Walter has been in heaven. He runs all over the back yard while we work. He loved it when we dug the holes because he likes to chase things like dirt chunks. He is very strange. He has tennis balls all over the back yard. He looses and finds them every day. He will just chew on those things like he's doing in the picture like it's bubble gum. I don't know how he doesn't get a sore jaw. And the cats have even benefited from the projects because we sometimes leave the doors open long enough for them to sneak out. Adam said while I was gone that Ellie got out of the house and while him and Walter were down by the dock, they heard Ellie and a tom cat get in a fight on the porch. Adam said Walter tore up cardiac hill and when he got to the two cats fighting, he swatted the tom cat with his paw and chased him up a tree. I thought that was so sweet that Walter would stick up for Ellie like that. Those two hate each other. They pick on each other all day long. But I guess when it comes down to it, like with siblings that drive you nuts, you still love them in the end.
9 comments:
Wow, it looks great, Nat. We will have to be sure to get over your way this summer so we can enjoy all the fruits of your labor.
You two are sure busy but it'll all be worth it when the projects are done. Will you heat the enclosed sun porch so it can be used late fall - spring?
Pickets fences have one color - white.
Tina, there is no heat out there, but it's entirely insulated, we should be able to keep it warm by opening the doors to go out there and maybe puting in a heated ceiling fan or space heater. It will be interesting to see how warm or cool it stays out there in the winter. We keep the house at 68 in the winter, so I already always feel cold anywhere in the house. I just hope it isn't too much colder out there. Thanks for all your concerns about my grandma too. I have been meaning to comment back to you. We are flying there this Friday. She is doing good it sounds.
You have a very nice place and all those projects are making it even nicer. Hopefully, your fruit trees/plants will produce lovely fruit for you. We planted a couple of cherry trees this year also. The last one fell over after the gophers ate the roots. We put small gauge chicken wire around the roots this time. That is supposed to keep them safe from those pesky little rodents. I had planted Blueberry bushes too.. but Bob turned off the sprinklers that watered them without telling me and they died. :( He has been known to pull up my plants.. thinking they are weeds too. Sounds like you work together on your projects. That's a good thing!
That is so cool that you enclosed the sun room, it will be so much more functional now. I am excited to get my new deck too. I hope it turns out nice. Anthony is definitely an outdoor kid, so it will be nice to have an outdoor space I like.
I hope I don't have to do too much helping out though. I will just fill a cooler full of drinks and snacks in the morning and be done with it.
How sweet of WAlter to come to Elli's rescue, I wonder who he would have protected if Ellie and Dea got into it.
Ellie and Dea get into it all the time, because Dea tries to play with Ellie but Ellie gets mad every time. Walter always chases down Ellie.
I feel your pain not being leave the job site and just sew. Guess working on that electrical crew when you were living in TN has helped a lot. Sure wish I knew how to wire a few things. I would have a wall plug behind the microwave instead of a green extension chord that is plugged into the wall across the other room, and I would have a ceiling fan in my living room. Andy has no clue how to do that kind of stuff and I would rather figure it out myself then stress out over him trying. (He has many talents, just not in the handy-man area.)
Your projects are turning out so awesome.
Walter and Ellie sure are weird with each other. They probably love hating each other and the love just trumps outsiders.
I would love to visit this summer. Maybe I just will. Let me know when the girls will be visiting and I will try and make a few extra days off in my schedule. I kind of have to know a bit ahead of time though so let me know as soon as you know yourself.
Tell Grandma Annie I love her when you see her this weekend. I think it is so sweet that you guys are all there for her. Be sure to blog about her while you are there too.
did you sendher your bear yet? Francie said she would be sure to get it to her. You wont get it back though I bet. Because Grandmas gonna want to keep it.
Your projects look fantastic! I especially like your deck on the water. That looks very refreshing for hot summer days. And you are right about that ... what did you call it ... cardiac hill? :) Yea, I could see where a S'more would not be so tempting to make on the dock with that hill to climb after. But at least you could burn off the calories (perhaps). Keep going ~ it all looks so nice!
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