Blogging From The Back Yard

Is it Bad?  I'm sitting nursing a beer and resting after putting siding on the shed.  Here, See?  Proof!

I also took this one.  I like the reflections...

So, I did not have a sub job today.  That's ok, I have plenty of things to do around here.  For instance, fold clothes.  I did.  Does anyone know how monotonous it is to fold those horrid clothes?  I got to a place where I could see couch under the laundry and that's when I gave up.

I went out and took a bunch of garbage to the dump.  Mostly it was boxes we've been storing in the shed for years.  But it was also a ton of sheet rock that the builders left in the shed...it wasn't in the best condition and it kept my new door from opening all the way.  So, I got rid of it.

The day would have been more constructive, but my morning was fouled.

Toby was excited that I was working outside.  I opened the back gate so I could back the truck in.  He rushed past me, I assumed to pee on things.  When i turned back, he had gotten in the cab through the opened driver's side door.  I unloaded the ladders that i hauled around for a week and then began loading garbage in...he was still there.  Waiting for a ride.

I finished and we got going.  I decided he could go with me, since he obviously REALLY wanted to go for a ride.  I got within blocks of the dump and felt for my wallet...not there!  ARGH!

I turned around and went back to the house and rushed in for my wallet.  I got it and off we went again.  I got to the dump and was just getting ready to pull onto their scale when I noticed a little pink sign:  CASH ONLY.  There were some muttered expletives, which Toby kindly ignored and I made an emergency U-turn and headed for town...I arrived at the bank and realized I had a check to deposit and so i did that AND got some cash.

I made it to the dump again.  This time all went smoothly and I got rid of everything.  I came home and tried to work in the house again...it's a beautiful day here...see:

  So, I thought about what I could do outside...then I remembered the shed.  I decided that I could at least clear off the side and hammer in nails and take of pieces of wood that were in the way.  I ended up taking pieces off that would allow the neighbor hood strays direct access to the innards of my shed.  So, I decided I could get the first layer on.  Then, I decided I could get the second on and leave the rest for a time i had extra help...then I remembered there was laundry awaiting my return.  I decided I could probably get the last bit, too.

Toby, all this time, had accompanied me everywhere.  When I was in the alley, he stayed close by...only straying further afield to pee on things.  More than a few times I looked down from the ladder to see him sunbathing just a few feet away.  As far as working at home goes, it was a pretty good day!

This is the before picture:

Here are a few shots of the siding as it went up.

 Looks better already, huh?

Looks pretty darned good, I think!  I remembered a few tricks I learned from my Grandpa (and my Dad) to position out-sized things, like siding, with only one person available.  I think he'd be pretty proud to know I picked up a few things from him.

Now, I really should get up and finish that laundry and maybe get moving on dinner...

Here is proof that Toby sunbathes:

 His belly gets sunburned during the summer because he spends so much time in the sun!  He is truly a SUN DOG!

Until next time!

Sunday Returns!

So, one of my main goals was to sell the cars.  Or at least get them posted on Craig's List...still haven't done that...but I have a few hours before the weekend is officially over.  These, after all, will fund my camera purchase!  Anyone want a car?  Or perhaps they just want to continue viewing stunning images on the internet?  You can be a part of it, simply by putting a twenty dollar bill in the mail and addressing it to me!  I promise to take TONS of pictures!

Here are yet more flowers...I hope you people don't tire of them, because I never tire of taking them...we have some pretty flowers!

I cleaned out the shed and found our camping stuff.  It was something of an adventure, though particularly dusty.  I must have sneezed a hundred times.  I cleaned out some empty boxes we have been keeping, you know, you make a new purchase and keep the box just in case?  We do too.  Except we keep them for years since we forget about them in the shed...oops.

I found the camping stuff.  It was...dusty.  We had food in there...canned stuff, it isn't as though we kept bread in there...from 2006.  Still, we cleaned it out and cleaned the camping stuff and I think we are going to be ok!!  Our camping trip to the beach is gonna rock!  I can't wait!  Our plan is to do what we want.  The dogs are going and we just plan on sitting around roasting marshmallows and reading and drinking coffee and being lazy.  We'll play on the beach.  We'll fly kites and I might use my metal detector and we're just gonna relax!  it's been four years since we went camping last!

I made dinner tonight.  It was chicken.  Cora suggested it.  I barbecued it after slicing it in half and seasoning it with a variety of spices.  I sliced up a bell pepper and grilled the whole batch.  I then made a salsa/relish with red onion, some long green pepper, Cilantro, and tomato, with a little cumin thrown in with the lime juice.  We threw those on an onion bun and it made a really nice dinner!!

Here's the salsa...

It was YUMMY!!

Now, I need a job...but this is the last full week of school, and unless there are some completely horrible disasters, I don't expect that I will be working much...though I hope I WILL!!!

Any photos of our trip will be via our paltry Canon Elph...which I love, but it ISN'T a DSLR!!  :-)

Weekend Projects

Cora and I, both, have been working on the place.  We added some sidewalk to help with the dog trails.  Cora, it turns out, is pretty handy with a trowel.

We decided we could put the siding on the back side of the shed with little trouble...yeah, right.

We had to dig out some dirt as the shed has settled over the past few centuries.  SO much so that it has kid of a wavy appearance from this side.

Which makes for some...ahhh...creative carpentry.

And, to top it off, the weather decided NOT to cooperate.  the picture below shows me trying to get the last couple nails in before I knock it off...note I am already semi-soaked.

Cora did not fare any better...she had not planned for a wet tee-shirt contest and so was ill prepared.

We still managed to put a smile on for the camera.

below is the splash back that happened when it started raining.  That siding was clean minutes before!

And here you can see the water cascading off the roof.

We made it back to the house, but were soaked through.  Now we plan on spending the last few hours of the holiday being lazy...

Shed Door Done!

So, like I was saying, I planned on putting a door in our old shed.  Here it is with the hole enlarged so I can put the door in.

And then I put some framing in after taking careful measurements and making a run to Lowes and the dump...actually, I went to the dump twice.

Something about my measurements was off a bit.  I had to...adjust the frame.  All-in-all, though, I think it turned out pretty good.  Sure, it's no piece of art, but it works!  It shuts and it opens and it hasn't fallen out!

To say I am pooped would be an understatement.  To say I am exhausted might be to belittle the work I did today.  OK, I am exhaustipated.

I remember days spent slinging hammer and pounding nails.  I worked with my dad for a couple years.  I developed nice forearms when I was younger.  I could sling that hammer all day long.  Of course, often it was used in an attempt to fasten my father to a roof, but you should REALLY try to have fun at work, right?  Usually, he was able to attach me to the roof more often.  That doesn't mean I didn't try, though.  It has been SO long though, since I used a hammer for any amount of time that I have a feeling my forearms will be sore for a few days.  It was worth it, though!

Now I will be able to access the contents of the shed!!  There is some concrete in there and I plan on laying sidewalk in the next week or two.  There is much to be done!  I like having projects...keeps your mind off other things.

Oh, and as for jobs?  I have the majority of the next two weeks filled!  Awesome, huh?