Fence Update

Well, I should start by saying the fence work is done... for the year anyways.

Jim got sick and now the weather has changed, so he finished up the side fences and the long section across the back will have to hold until next spring.  For now the yard is secure and stronger than before so bring on the snow!

 

unstained -stained

This is a sample of the staining I was doing.  I am using an all natural stain which is great to work with because it has no toxic fumes and washes off with soap and water (no lacquer thinner required.)  It soaks into the wood, instead of just coating the surface, bringing out the natural beauty.

 

In the foreground you can see the tired old weathered fence.  Peeking up from behind you can see the stair step of the new fence.  With the new fence being slightly taller that means more privacy from our ultra close neighbors. (I'm sure they will appreciate that as well.)

 

Raise your hand if you like destroying things!!

Jim was taking out any pent up anger while smashing down the old fence with a small sledge hammer.  Don't all boys (and men) like smashing things?  The new fence extended this side of the yard by 7 1/2 ft X 14 ft., quite a bit more space.  Added to the extension on the opposite side , we have almost doubled the size of our backyard.

 

 

Wow!!  Look at that fancy new gate! 

And the handsome fellow who built it - too bad you can only see his baby blues!

Labor Day Means "Labor"

A "holiday" weekend just means more time to get projects done before winter around our house!! 

 

Jim finished up the side fence along the shed (still needs a picket on the corner so you won't be able to peek in).  This is the final enclosed fence from the earlier posting.  Look how close our neighbors house is on the left!  We even set the fence 6 inches INSIDE the property line on our side.  Building setbacks and codes were never really enforced back when this neighborhood was built.

 

This is the view from our deck.

Jim is starting the demolition of the old fence to again access to the "new" yard.

 

Peeking past his "de-struction" project you can see the "new" yard area behind the shed.

 

So, it's rather hard from the pictures to fully comprehend what we "added" to the yard.  Here's a map explaining it all.  We have added nearly 360 square feet to our backyard.  We are currently working on the other side yard, which will also add more space.

 

More updates to come... after another cup of tea and another day of "Labor".

 

Happy Labor Day!!

Home Improvements Projects

Well, this summer seems to have flown by in the blink of an eye.  Here's just a few before, after and still works in progress pictures of what we've been up to around the house....

An old dilapidated garden box at the bottom of the stairs.

 

Three planters and another old garden box in the middle of the yard.

 

Viola! 

I replaced the boxes and containers with retaining wall pavers that I scored a really great deal on from someone who purchased them and then decided not to use them.  I even had enough to build a new bed in the corner of the sidewalk!  I relocated the canoe from the side of the house to the front.  Nothing was planted yet, just some chives leftover in the canoe (oh, and my kitchen herbs at the bottom of the stairs if you look close).  Now everything is bursting with plants - corn, pumpkins, squash and strawberries.

 

Next came a big new BBQ.

But where to put it?

TaDa!

I picked up FREE flagstone from yet another person that didn't want it in their yard!  A little sweat and a couple days later I had a beautiful new patio area for my "outdoor kitchen".

Another Project?!

This time it's the fence.  Our existing fence is over 25 years old and barely standing.  So we finally bit the bullet and started replacing it.  This time around though, we are expanding our fence to the property lines.  This will give us a larger enclosed backyard.

 

I thought we would never get those holes dug! 

Hardened clay and rocks do not make for easy digging.

We took the easy way out and purchased pre-made fence panels.  This forced us to terrace the fence line but I am sure it has saved us a ton of construction time.

 

At the time of this posting we are about to close off this side of the yard (putting the last panel right where this photo was taken from).  I have started preparing the other side of the house for the next stage.  The longest stretch of fencing (all the way across the back yard) will be the biggest and longest part of this project. 

 

More pictures as we progress!