August Was Hot

How Hot?

So hot some people did crazy things.

Some Evolutionary Patio Pics From July, 2009

Just some pics from the month of July dating back to 4th of July weekend when the mass quantity of gravel was delivered, to the following week when the patio sand and blocks were dropped off on palettes. Too bad it's 102 degrees now, otherwise we could be using the patios!

Truckin' Dirt, Smackin' Dirt, Rollin' in Dirt

The wall was looking really good until last Saturday, when it was time to put more dirt behind it to build up for the patio. Check out the loaner truck from Teopfler Construction that Jonathan borrowed. He and Midori gifted me about 2 yards of dirt they didn't need. I helped them haul it into her backyard to backfill her addition; they brought it to our house to park it in the front yard and tip 'er back.

Had to dismantle 5 courses on the front wall to make it happen.


Here's Jonathan using the big gas powered packer (Owhrrr-owhrr-owhrr!) doing the smack down on the dirt pile.

And today, I just need some quiet time after a stressful day yesterday, so I'm working at home taking care of some personal stuff, and here's a shot of my office today; the dining room table with the Nanawall wide open. Birds singing their songs and the cooling breeze flowing through the house. Squirrels darting, Wookie dirt-rolling and oblivious. I likeit.

Wall! (Eeeeeee!)

It's been a few trips to the Home Depot over the past month or so to make it happen, but that pile of dirt in the front is finally enclosed and ready to be further backfilled.

Meanwhile, Jonathan's been remodeling Midori's house and they have two yards of dirt they'll be "gifting" me next weekend, so one step closer to an actual patio in the front yard.

Now we just have to decide what to make it out of. More concrete pavers? Poured concrete? Stone? Tile? Ipe? Merbau? More decisions; again. Oy.

Is That a Plumbob In Your Pocket...

Or are you jonesing for some fresh orange juice?

I was at the Home Depot buying some stakes and some string to put up some level lines and measuring lines to build the footings for the patio walls, and I thought I might need a plumbob. But they were like $12, so being the cheap guy I am, I figured I'd be able to find somethig around the house that would suit the purpose.

So I open the kitchen drawer, and boom- what do I see but the pefect item- the plastic juicer thing. That's it in the picture showing me exactly where 172" is from the face of the house.

Mission accomplished yesterday; after all the string pulling and plumbobbing, it was 20 sacks of concrete,the hoe, the wheelbarrow, and me, just going for it. (Owhrrr-owhrr-owhrr.)

Man Cave Somewhat Operational

Kian just turmed 15! So today is the first time he's had his buddies over to hang in the burgeoning Man-Cave. Rock Band rocks.

Meanwhile, Heather was preparing to make her fabulous Italian Hunter's Chicken Stew and looked under the sink and found wetness. Lots and lots of wetness. Looks like the Hans Grohe faucet has sprung some kind of a leak. I've fixed sinks before, but I've never seen one quite like this one, with four supply tubes coming out of the single base hole. So we've called a plumber for tomorrow night, (saves $50), and we probably won't be cooking tonight.

However, Jonathan's coming over, and he says maybe he can fix it. We'll see!

Someone Else's House

We've been at Mt Baker all week enjoying some excellent spring skiing. Here I am waiting for Michelle Quackenbush, trying hard not to get sunburned. :)

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New President!

Happy Inauguration Day all of you. What a day. What a speech. What a country. What a big sheet of black plastic.

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