Building a House

Firepit - Trim (back)

2010-11-14T13:44:00.001-05:00

2010

Sunday, November 14

I finished the trim on the back of the firepit bench. I've been debating how to finish off the bottom of the back of the bench and my brother suggested a great idea to just wrap leftover boards around the bottom. Then I can just backfill the area with dirt.

I wanted to finish off the bottom and not have it open for 2 reasons: 1, to be able to store firewood underneath and protect it, 2, to help keep warmth in the are and not have a cool breeze blowing on peoples legs if it's breezy.

It was a bit difficult to bend the boards without really a way to clamp them the way I had in the front. I just kinda clamped them the best I could. One did let go though and whacked me right in the leg. I'm sure I'll have a nice bruise from that one! LOL.

Firepit - Seat & Trim (left pergola)

2010-11-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

2010

Tuesday, November 9

Today I trimmed out the left side pergola of the bench. It had gone much faster than the other side, since I really didn't have to figure anything out. I'm really kinda liking how's it's looking. It anchors the bench very nicely and kinda gives it a seclusion "feeling" without closing it in.

I can't wait to get the stained glass pieces in it. I have no idea how I'm going to frame those in though, since I want to be able to switch them out or removed them for winter months and such.

Firepit - Seat & Trim

2010-11-07T22:02:00.001-05:00

2010
Sunday, November 7

The last week I really worked like crazy. I wanted to get the firepit bench down before we had an snow. I'd come home from work, eat dinner, then go outside and work. That was pretty much my week. It was freakin cold too. I had built a fire in the pit and had it roaring every night I worked.

Last night I finished bending and attaching the boards for the seat. I had texted a picture to my parents and within 5 min, I heard 2 cars pull up. It was my brother and parents cars. They came to check it out after they got the text. They sat down for a minute and said how awesome it looked and felt. My brother had my lil 2 and 1/3 yr old nephew with him, who didn't want to explore, like he usually does. He reacted his arms to my brother to pick him up cause he was cold. I thought...hmm...it's not that bad out here. HA...when I got inside, I looked at the thermometer and read 22 degrees. 22 degrees??? I said out loud. Damn...I had no idea it was that cold. I had been working like crazy and even a little flushed from how high I had the fire going I didn't even realize.

Today I cut the excess off the seat boards. When curving them around the bench, they'd stick out farther and farther. So I cut them down with my circular saw and flush cut saw and then attached the darker Trex boards as trim. This way they'd match deck bench style. I still had some energy left, so I decided to work on the pergola that will hold the stained glass.

Firepit - Seat

2010-11-02T22:25:00.000-04:00

2010
Tuesday, November 2

Tonight I screwed together a few more of the Trex composite boards, I sawed in half, for the circular seat around the firepit. It's starting to look more and more like a seat. It's now wide enough for a shoe, so I walked around the bench. It definitely feels like a sturdy bench.

Firepit - Started Seat

2010-10-31T22:27:00.000-04:00

2010
Sunday, October 31

I started on the seat part of the firepit bench today. The seat will be made up of the same Trex composite boards, flipped on their sides and curved to form the half circle. First though, I bought a new tool. I bought the DEWALT 7-1/4 in (DW369CSK) circular saw to cut the boards in half. My brother has a similar model and said he loves his.

I wanted to cut the boards in half for 2 reasons. 1, I figured that they'd be easier to bend being smaller, and 2, I believed that the Trex composite boards are strong enough to support the weight just fine with how close the support posts are.

It was pretty easy to cut through the boards with the saw. It had gone through them very nicely and I got to screw together 4 boards. It was cool seeing the seat come together. I love working with the Trex boards. There's not enough to sit on yet and try it out though.

Firepit - Finished Backrest

2010-10-30T20:23:00.000-04:00

2010
Saturday, October 30

Today I finished attaching the boards for the backrest of the firepit bench. It's been..."interesting" bending the Trex composite boards. The have flexibility even in 50 degree weather, which I didn't expect. I expected them to be as hard as rocks and they weren't.

They were actually quite easy to bend using clamps. I've been using Irwin clamps. They are my fav clamps so far. I've been using the SL300 One Handed Bar Clamps/Spreaders to clamp the boards as I bend them and I just bought an XP600 One Handed Bar Clamp/Spreader. That sucker can apply 600 lbs of pressure opposed to the other one's of 300. The end of the board is obviously harder to bend, with less leverage, so I'm using the heavy duty guy on the ends.

Anyways.... I managed to finish the back rest today. I'm loving how it's looking....and I love that the Trex boards can flex like this as I can be creative with my designs cause of it and have a circular bench :)

Firepit - Started back rests

2010-10-17T23:38:00.000-04:00

2010
Sunday, October 17

Originally I started out cleaning the garage and trying to get stuff out of the way as my new car is 3 inches wider than my last. I was working with the door open and said to myself...hey, it's such a nice day, I think I'll try to bend a board, for the firepit seat back, to see what it'll be bending those 20 foot suckers.

Ok...so the plan is to bend the Trex composite boards and attach them to the posts, which form a semi-circle. It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. Once I clamped the board to the first post, it was fairly easy to use the clamps and bend it in place as I had gone along.

It was going well enough I managed to get to boards up. the second one is have screwed into place as we had to leave for some Halloween fun :)

Firepit - Set rest of post supports

2010-10-09T22:21:00.002-04:00

2010
Saturday, October 9

Today was a fun day. We had helpers today setting the rest of the firepit bench supports. Our friends Kelly and Tom came over to lend us a hand, in exchange for helping with their deck next yr. And we couldn't have asked for a better day. It was absolutely beautiful, blue skies, sunny and on a warm October day.

It was fun working together...lots of laughs, teasing each other, and good memories. And of course we got work done as well :). While Tim, Kelly, and Tom were working with 50 lb bags of concrete, mixing them and filling the holes, I was hand pumping out the water from the holes, placing the supports, and leveling them with gravel. We had a nice little assembly line going. In a few hours time we set the 14 posts (7 supports) that were remaining.

It was really-really cool to see them all in place and form the half circle. And afterwards we got to relax a lil bit on our deck. As I sat there, looking at Tim sitting on the bench, and Kelly comfortably laying on the lower deck, I realized that we finally had a yard to enjoy....to relax in with friends. This was the one thing that's been missing for 5 yrs., that we finally have, and it felt amazing. I'll never forget that moment :)

Firepit - Built Support Posts (5 & 6)

2010-10-03T22:40:00.000-04:00

2010
Sunday, October 3

I built the 5th & 6th supports for the firepit bench tonight. It's been raining a lot lately so the post holes are filled with water. I'll have to pump out the water before setting the rest of the posts. The one's I built tonight I just kinda placed in the holes and kinda leveled them to just see what the incline is doing. I found that the ground is not really level on the right side and will have to come down and bit.

Firepit - Built Support Posts (3 & 7)

2010-10-01T22:39:00.000-04:00

2010
Friday, October 1

Tonight I built the 3rd and 7th post supports for the bench. I built those one's cause they have the same dimensions. The first 2 posts, on each side, are the tallest. The one's next to them are a step down, and then the rest are the same height as the seat backs. Here's an elevation view of the bench showing the height differences of the supports.

Firepit - Built 2nd Support Posts

2010-09-30T23:14:00.000-04:00

2010
Thursday, September 30

I was able to construct the 2nd support for the Firepit bench tonight and set it in concrete. Tim called me a "crazy woman" for staying up so late and doing that. By the time I finished cleaning up it was after midnight...lol.

I think the most difficult thing is to make sure all these things are level and plum. The joists have to be level, the post has to be plum, and then the joists have to also be level with the joists of the neighboring joints. It had taken a bit of tossing in gravel...then taking gravel out to get it right...lol.

It's pretty cool, looking at it from a birds eye view of the garage roof, and starting to see the semi-circle start to form.

Firepit - Built 1st Support Posts

2010-09-29T23:53:00.000-04:00

2010
Wednesday, September 29

Tonight, I started cutting the posts and supports for the firepit bench. As I started to cut the posts and post sleeves, I decided to put one support together, just to make sure that all my measurements were working out. The next thing I knew I was sticking it in the holes, and mixing concrete...lol. I didn't really set out to do that tonight and did anyways though. So...the first support is done and in the ground.

Firepit - Dug Post Holes

2010-09-25T23:50:00.000-04:00

2010
Saturday, September 25

At about 4:30 pm Tim and I had gone to Home Depot and rented a 2 person auger. For all those who don't know what an auger is, it's a giant drill used to dig post holes in the ground. A 2 person power auger has 4 handles, 2 for each person.

We rented it cause I figured it would be a lot faster than digging 18 holes manually. It had taken 4 adults, switching off, and an entire day and part of the next day to dig 16 holes, for the deck, with a manual antique ager. Because I just wanted to get it done, I figured a power auger was the way to go.

Well, let me tell you about our experience....lol. First off, they did not build those things for small people, such as myself. Second, one person had to pull the cord, while the other turned the throttle handle. It wouldn't start unless the handle was turned, which meant that it started drilling right away. Before Tim and I knew it, that auger bit was 2 feet in the ground and stuck in the dense clay. When it got stuck, the torc from it cause Tim to fly one way and me the other....lol. Now I can laugh about it....at the time both of us were frustrated.

To our surprise, it did not have a locking mechanism, so that you could lock the bit and spin it out of the hole. It did not have a reverse either....so that auger bit was stuck.

After admitting defeat, I called my Dad for help. He came with a pile wrench and Tim slowly turned it manually out of the ground.

From that we learned very quickly that # 1 - you have to lift the auger a bit when starting so it doesn't catch and drill right now.....# 2 - You need to put it down maybe 8-10 inches and then lift it out of the hole to unplug the drilled earth out of the way....and # 3.....it's starts to become very heavy and daunting after about 2 holes of dense clay.

After Tim and my Dad started most of the holes, my Dad called my bother and "fatherly" asked him to come help his sister....lol. Tim and my Brian then were doing it for a bit, then my Dad had a plan. He said "hey...there are 4 handles...and there are 4 of us.....everyone grab a handle". So, that's how we finished it....all 4 of us had a handle and finished the rest of the holes together.

Firepit - Project Started

2010-09-25T23:44:00.000-04:00

2010
Saturday, September 25

Way back in January I sketched an idea of a circular bench for the firepit area. It will be constructed using the same Trex board, we used on our deck. It'll be flipped on it's side and bent into a semi-circle. I'm also going to design and make 2 stained glass windows to flank either side.

From Firepit Project

In April I started constructing the stained glass windows that will flake the sides of it. I loooove the way it's turning out so far.

Today I started on prepping the firepit area for digging holes. The lumber for the circular bench has been sitting in our driveway for the last 2 months because we've been so busy that we haven't been able to work on it.

In the early afternoon I marked off where the post holes are going to go....there are 18 of them...lol. Because the boards will be bent in a curve, I wanted to make sure I gave it a lil extra strength to hold everything in place, so that's why there are so many posts for it.

Backyard - New Grass

2010-09-18T22:26:00.000-04:00

2010
Saturday, September 18

I walked into the kitchen and looked out the window, then looked at Tim and happily said "we have grass.... we have a backyard Tim". It felt good to say that...and it felt even better to "see" it. It's been a looooong time coming :)

New Tool - Root Irrigator

2010-09-18T22:25:00.000-04:00

2010
Saturday, September 18

After we planted all those Birch and other trees, I started researching a product I had seen on Gardening by the Yard on HGTV. It's a product made by Hound Dog Products called the "Root Irrigator". It’s basically a tube, that you can connect a hose to, and stick in the ground, so you can deliver water directly to the roots. I noticed that because we built up the soil so much around the trees, the water just runs off....and I don’t think anything even got to the roots......so I got this, from Amazon.

I love it so far. I used it right after I planted the Weeping Pine today and a few shrubs. Fyi... turn on the water before pushing it into the ground to prevent clogging, that way the water kinda of drills a hole for you. I thought it worked great, with no run off, and I knew that water was going right where it needed to, which is to the roots.

Backyard - Planted Weeping White Pine

2010-09-18T22:24:00.000-04:00

2010
Saturday, September 18

Today I had the chance, "finally", to plant my Weeping White Pine (Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’), that I bought last yr, when I thought our backyard would get graded. I think he's a fun lil guy. People seem to be kinda if-y about him... my Dad and Tim think he looks like a creature and one of my friends said he looks lop-side. Idk, I think he's unique and fun looking.

Tim and I built up the "mound" a little more, by the Birch trees and I decided to plant him in the midst of them. I thought he looked rather cool there to give a fun element to that area.

Backyard - Planted Arborvitaes

2010-09-12T20:06:00.000-04:00

2010
Sunday, September 12

Last year I had bought a whole bunch of Arborvitae's and they've been just waiting, in their lil pots, to get planted. Today, Tim helped me plant them.

The idea was to "not" have them in a line. I wanted them staggered and natural looking. These Emerald Green Arborvitae's will eventually get about 10 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide. In the future they'll hopefully give a little privacy in a natural looking manor.

Backyard - Birch Trees (Planted)

2010-09-06T20:10:00.001-04:00

2010
Monday, September 6

Around 9 am this morning the door bell rings and it's Russell's Tree Farm, delivering our Birch Trees. They were on a big flat bed, then he moved the trees to our backyard with a lil Toro Dingo Mini Skid Steer. It was really cool watching them being moved and placed near the holes. It was like poof...instant tree boarder.

From Backyard

Ok...well not really poof, cause then we had to plant them. Tim and I realized that the holes we had dug yesterday weren't going to be deep enough for the two 14 foot Clump Heritage River Birches, which were put in the holes. Those bulbs were a lot larger than I remembered...lol. We tried to moved it and quickly realized we needed reinforcements, so we called my parents to help moved and plant them.

Those suckers were heavy....if I had to guess 400 lbs. It had taken Tim and my Dad tilting them and me with a 2x4 leveraging it and rolling them out of the holes. We did it though. The trick was to get them back in the holes facing the way we wanted them, cause once they were going in, I don't think we could've got them out again...lol. They will eventually grow to be about 40-50 feet tall.

We planted the three Jacquemontii/White-barked Himalayan Birches next. Those were lots easier...lol. They were smaller 8-10 or so foot in pots, which will eventually get 25-50 feet tall. These Birches are more upright and slender, whereas the River Birches will have a nice spread.

I purposely wanted the Birches closer together to have more privacy and get back the forest like feel we used to have with the Ash tress. I want to be able to walk in between them later on and maybe add a lil path.

Basement Workbench - the Plan

2010-04-28T22:58:00.000-04:00

2010
Wednesday, April 28

So here's the plan, for my lil work area... I'm going to build a work bench, a shelf above it, and create a cutout for a stained glass piece. I figure, hey, I have the knowledge to do it now, might as well make the area look cool with a stained glass window.

Basement Workbench - Saw & Studs

2010-04-25T22:56:00.001-04:00

2010
Sunday, April 25

Today I started on a project I've been wanting to do since we built. I started constructing my lil work area in the basement.

When we built, I decided that under the stairs, in the basement, was a perfect lil spot. I had our electrician install a light and 2 outlets, for this future project. For 5 yrs it's been waiting there for me. I had the perfect initiative to get started on it, when my stained glass class ended as I need somewhere to finish the window, for the firepit area.

And today I got started by purchasing something that I've been wanting to for a while now..... the DeWalt (DW718) 12" Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw.

For non-tool people...

Miter - the blade can swivel right to left to do angled cuts

Bevel - the blade can rotate side to side (non-perpendicular to table)

Compound Miter - the blade can both miter and bevel
Siding (Compound Miter) - as well as both being able to miter and bevel, the blade can move and forth or "slide" to cut larger/wider pcs of wood.

I was in debate about it cause of the price and then my Mom reminded me that there are MANY projects to come through the yrs and it'll last a lifetime. So thanks to some birthday money from family, I treated myself :)

So, now that I have my saw, I can build stuff anytime I'd like. And tonight I cut the first piece of 2x4's for some extra supports where the I'm going to hang drywall.

Deck - Step (Done)

2009-09-04T22:38:00.000-04:00

2009
Friday, September 4

While I was at work, my Dad and my Uncle Andrew worked on the step and put it in place. Tim dug the holes for the concrete block piers yesterday, and my Dad and Uncle took over from there today.

I was very excited to get home and see it all together. I hopped up on it and it felt nice and solid. Then I sat down on it and it was the perfect size and was very comfortable to sit on. I'm glad we decided to do it the full length :)

Deck - Step

2009-09-03T22:20:00.000-04:00

2009
Thursday, September 3

Instead of just having a small step, we decided that it would be cool to have a step that would be the whole length of the 2nd level deck and be more of a "sitting" step, with being a little wider. So yesterday Dad and I started cutting the wood for the step and trying to figured out a plan of attack. I didn't quite know how it would attach or what kind of a footing to have for it. In the end, we decided that all it really needed was to sit on some concrete pier blocks.

This evening Tim and I started constructing the step and screwing it all together. When we were done with the structure we temporarily placed it where it would be to see how it would look. It looked great and I was very happy with how it was coming together.

Deck - Planters (Stone Veneer)

2009-08-31T22:19:00.000-04:00

2009
Monday, August 31

While Dad worked on the 2nd planter, I started applying stone veneer to the 3rd planter box. It was definitely a lot easier starting the 3rd one with having some knowledge of what the heck I was doing... lol.

Deck - Planters (Stone Veneer)

2009-08-30T22:08:00.000-04:00

2009
Sunday, August 30

Now that the trim boards have been installed we finally were able to get back to applying the stone veneer to the planter boxes. While my Dad worked on the 2nd planter, I finished up the stone veneer on the 1st planter box. I left one spot open for a stone for Mom as I thought it would be a nice touch for her to place the stone on the planter, that we started together :)

Deck - Trim (Level 3)

2009-08-29T22:39:00.000-04:00

2009
Saturday, August 29

Tim and I cut and installed the trim for the 3rd level deck today. It was the last of the trim for the deck we had to do. Now... for the really fun stuff.... finishing off the stone veneer on the planter boxes.... I can't wait!

Deck - Trim (Level 2)

2009-08-28T22:14:00.000-04:00

2009
Friday, August 28

Today we finished trimming out the sides of the second level decks. It's so much easier to tell the edges of the levels now. I also reset the deck lights in the trim boards, so the step down to the levels will be lit up.

Once the trim is done we'll get back to working on the stonework on the planter boxes.

Deck - Trim (Main Deck)

2009-08-23T22:32:00.000-04:00

2009
Sunday, August 23

My Mom and I started trimming out the main deck with the darker Madeira Trex boards. I think it looks really cool looking at the deck from the side and seeing the horizontal lines of the darker boards! We managed to get two boards done before it started raining.

Deck - Benches (Level 2)

2009-08-22T22:01:00.001-04:00

2009
Saturday, August 22

In the morning my parents came over, with my Uncle Andrew and got right to work on constructing the benches, for the second level deck. We started by constructing the framework for each. While my Dad and Andrew were cutting the pieces, my Mom and I were screwing them in their places.

It was actually a lot of fun. Because there were 2 benches, my Mom and I had taken one and the boys had taken the other and had a bit of a race. No one won though cause in the end we were all working on both together :)

After the framework was done, Tim, my parents and I actually managed to finish them off with trim, before sunset. I actually had a chance to relax on them for a bit, before the mosquitoes got crazy. I sat there, texting my friend Kelly, that we had finished the benches, and I must say, it was pretty cool feeling to be able to say that they were done :)

Deck - Planters (Stone Veneer)

2009-08-16T13:52:00.000-04:00

2009
Sunday, August 16

We decided to stone veneer the planter boxes in order to bring a loved element, from the front of the house, to the back. The planters presented a great opportunity to do that and give the deck a different texture.

We started out by covering the planter boxes with roofing felt paper. Then we wrapped it with metal lath, which will give the mortar something to grab onto. We stapled it all in place with a Slapshot Hammer Carpet Stapler. It's basically a stapler that you would use like a hammer and whack the area you want stapled. It's fuuun to use :)

We decided to stone veneer the entire side of the one planter, before putting it in place as it will be mostly behind the bench from the main deck. So my Mom and I mixed up some mortar and started spreading some onto the planter, starting with the bottom and corners.

We had no idea what we were doing at first then learned pretty quickly. We learned that when applying the stone veneer, it's best to keep the stones moist, then "butter' the back with mortar and stick that sucker on. And another thing we learned is it's awful to do it on a ridiculously hot, in the upper 80's/ 90's, day when it's humid. It takes the stones a little time to stick when it's so humid.

Deck - Benches (Trim & Planters)

2009-08-15T22:55:00.000-04:00

2009
Saturday, August 15

The next thing to do for the deck is I wanted to install the one trim board on the main deck, that would be covered up by the planter on the 2nd level. So before we started any work, I installed the Madeira color Trex board. I figured installing it now would be easier than working around the planter later.

After I was done installing the trim on the main deck, my Mom and I cut holes for the posts for the 2nd level right deck. At that point the we had constructed the 3 boxes and stood them in their spots to see how they'd look.

Deck - Benches (2nd bench)

2009-08-07T22:40:00.001-04:00

2009
Friday, August 7

We finished the right bench, on the main deck, today. Everyone had a hand at different points today. Tim and my Mom screwed together the framework, while I had gone to get some extra supplies and then my Dad came over later, with my Uncle Andrew and we screwed the decking and trim onto it and finished it off.

I'll tell you, it certainly changed the feeling of the deck to more of a room feeling the second the other bench was finished. They're a nice distance.... not too far away from each other for a conversation and when the table is on the main deck, we don't even need more chairs, the benches curve around the table and someone sitting at the table can easily converse with someone sitting on the bench.

Now that both of the main level benches are completed, we can start constructing the planter boxes for the right 2nd level deck. It will have 3 planters and 2 benches attached to them.

Deck - Benches (Trim)

2009-08-06T22:13:00.000-04:00

2009
Thursday, August 6

After a little measurement mishap, we wound up taking the bench frame apart that we had constructed yesterday. I thought it would be awful and turned out not to be as bad as I thought. My Dad and I trimmed down the pieces too wide and then Tim and I put it back together and started screwing Saddle color Trex decking onto the top.

My Uncle Andrew and my Dad came back when Tim and I were just about finished with the top deck boards and they helped us cut up and screw on the Madeira color Trex boards as the trim around the sides of the bench. And by the end of the afternoon we completed the left bench and started on the right bench framework.

Deck - Benches (Frame)

2009-08-05T22:09:00.001-04:00

2009
Wednesday, August 5

The benches really started to take shape today when we constructed the frame for left main level bench. My Dad ripped the 2x6's down to a size that would be hidden by trim . After that Tim and I cut the pieces and started screwing them into place. It was so cool when they started to form the shape and we could get an idea of the feel that they'd give to the deck.

By spending a little extra, I think getting composite board post sleeves really add to the benches. They are a thin sleeve that fits over the posts and gives the illusion that they are solid composite board.

Since the decking is the composite board, I made the joists 12" apart, just to give it a little extra support, opposed to the typical 16". I also gave the corner some extra joists and support as I liked the open feel with no post under it. It's actually very strong and hardly moved when I jumped on top of it.

Deck - Benches (Posts)

2009-08-04T22:44:00.001-04:00

2009
Tuesday, August 4

My parents as well as my bother, Brian, came over to help with the posts, for the deck benches, today. We cut all the post and put them inplace. Some of them were being lag screwed right to the joists and the others were just screwed from the bottom.

Brain and I had gone under the deck to screw the posts to the decking. I didn't mind going under there except for seeing a really ugly spider at one point.

We had put some decking boards on top of them to make sure the height was good. I read that the typical height is between 16" to 18" for benches. I designed them to be 16 as I wanted it a nice relaxing height and I have to admit it's also partially due to me being only 5'2". It's actually the same height as some benches Tim's parents gave us as well, so I figured it's probably pretty good.

Deck - Benches (Post Holes)

2009-08-03T22:40:00.000-04:00

2009
Monday, August 3

I had taken the week off to work on the deck benches. This was the first week in I don't know how long that it's decent weather and not suppose to ran.... that much anyways.

I wanted to draw lines on the deck for where the posts were going to go. I found out something interesting about Trex boards.... you can't write on them with caulk. It stick to it. Tim had a great idea.... he gave me washable markers, which worked great!

So I drew the holes for the posts. My Mom came over and we tackled cutting decking for the main post supports in the main deck first. I hated to cut the decking.... it was like cutting the siding on our house for the ledger. Oh well.

I managed to lag screw in the first post to end the day with. It's funny how so much prep work goes into something and it doesn't even look like you've done much :)

The main deck will have 2 benches and will be open at the point to go down to the lower levels. The 2nd right level will have 2 benches with 3 planters. And the 3rd level will have a planter.

Retractable Garden Hoses

2009-07-16T21:12:00.000-04:00

2009
Thursday, July 16

I love the hose reel I have in the front of the house, that I bought from Frontgate, so much, I bought some more retractable reels. I bought another garden hose reel for the back yard as well as an air hose reel, for the garage, for my compressor.

The garden house reel for the backyard is made by Reel King and is a 5/8 house that reels out to 75 feet. The best price I found was at the Home Depot.

After I mounted it I was inspired to finally mount the hose reel in the front of the house as well.

Potting Bench

2009-07-08T22:53:00.000-04:00

2009
Wednesday, July 8

I finally had the chance to assemble the potting bench I bought forever ago. The box had been sitting in our garage, taking up walk space in between are cars.

It didn't take that long to assemble. It's made out of cedar and has two lids that come off and u can sweep excess dirt into the bin area. I can't wait to use it, instead of potting things on the ground.

Landscape - Planted

2009-07-06T22:33:00.000-04:00

2009
Monday, July 6

I bought a couple of things to replace some plants on the planting bed next to the driveway. There were a couple of things that got munched I wanted to replace. So I bought another 'Win & Roses' Weigela, which has pink blooms, a unique Hydrangea and some blanket flowers.

Backyard - Privacy

2009-06-22T22:58:00.001-04:00

2009
Monday, June 22

The one thing that has been baffling Tim and I, for a couple of yrs now, is the path that keeps getting mowed by our property line on the right. Our driveway is actually the former path to an atv trail behind us. The trail use to meander through our property and the thin strip of land between us and our neighbor on the right. That land is owned by someone on the perpendicular road to us, not our neighbor, according to the tax maps.

When we excavated and built our driveway, I figured that the path would eventually fill in, in time, since it wasn't vacant anymore. One part of the path did... the other someone keeps mowing even though there is no outlet anymore.

It use to be mowed by our older neighbor 2 lots down. Never was sure why as it's not his property. He hasn't been doing it this year and it finally started to grow in. A couple of days ago I had seen someone, not him, mowing near it. In the morning, sure enough, it was mowed and our privacy was gone again.

The other part of the path stopped being mowing when I built and planted the planting bed on the right side of the driveway and was defined as a property line. I thought the barberries I planted, by the other part of the path, next to the Pine tree would do the trick. Apparently they haven't, so yesterday I went out and bought 4 Emerald Green Arborvitae's and planted them on the property line. In time they'll fill in and make a nice privacy screen.

Backyard - Starting to feel like a yard

2009-06-13T18:28:00.001-04:00

2009
Saturday, June 13

In the morning, I couldn't get the DR Trimer started as the clutch cable kept popped out of place. On a break from Tim and I trying to fix it, I decided to cut down another tree.

After being frustrated over issues with that as well, my Dad decided to step in and help take down the 5 other trees I had marked for removing. I love my cordless saw and I've taken down at least 10 tress with it. There's nothing like the power of a gas powered one though.

It was amazing the second the two, in front of the deck, were taken down.... we had an instant backyard. I can't believe how much those two trees obstructed the feeling of having a backyard. It was like an invisible boarder. I was in the back, by the willow, when I looked up and had seen, for the first time, a view of the back of our house unobstructed by trees. It was a really neat feeling. I started automatically picturing us tossing the frisbee or hanging out on a bench by the willow. I can't wait to get landfill and have grass back there!!!

Backyard - Cleared more

2009-06-07T23:52:00.000-04:00

2009
Sunday, June 7

I had gotten lots done today in the backyard. I burned most of the piles of brush that I've been building up for the last week. Now that the piles aren't there anymore, you can really start to see the backyard space.

The space that we're clearing on the right will be the space were we'll eventually build a shed. I'd love to incorporate a small greenhouse into the shed as well.

On the left side will be more of a lush area for privacy, including evergreens, the Chestnut tree and bushes with a winding path around them.

Deck - Bench & Trim plans

2009-06-05T23:51:00.000-04:00

2009
Friday, June 5

Today I started working on the bench and trim plans for the deck. Since I'm not a numbers person, it's not fun figuring this stuff out. I love designing... I just hate calculating.

The main level will have benches that will go almost all around and will be open at front to be able to step down to the next level. The level lower, on the right, will have benches that will be on 2 sides and have the planters at 3 of the corners that the Japanese 'Shaina' Maples will reside in. The sides will be covered by darker Trex boards as trim, and anything you see from the top will have the same saddle color as the deck.

Lots of planning and measuring :)

Rock Garden - More yellow gravel

2009-05-31T23:45:00.000-04:00

2009
Sunday, May 31

Tim and I picked up some more bags of yellow pea gravel, for the rock garden in the circle. Originally we had a more of a tannish color gravel. It seems as though no one carries it locally anymore, so we had gotten a little more of a yellowish color instead. It's fairly close... still in the same color scheme.

Now that it has more of a depth, I can make patterns in it and make it more of a Japanese zen garden.

Deck - Japanese Maple 'Shaina' Arrived

2009-05-27T23:35:00.001-04:00

2009
Wednesday, May 27

Tim called me up and said that the shipment of the 3 Japanese Maple Shaina's arrived. He said they looked in good shape. I couldn't wait to see them. When I got home I planted them in larger containers as I won't be able to plant them into the planters until we build them during the summer.

They're little guys now. In a few yrs they'll fill in and be awesome!. I love-love the color of them. I think the red and crimson colors of them goes fantastically well with the saddle color and dark trim of the house and deck. I can't wait til we build the planters now!!!

Backyard - Cleared more brush

2009-05-21T23:34:00.000-04:00

2009
Thursday, May 21

I cleared some more brush with the DR Trimer. The progress is really moving along now that I have such an awesome tool to use for the job.

Backyard - Clearing (Used DR Trimmer)

2009-05-19T23:31:00.001-04:00

2009
Tuesday, May 19

While Tim cut the grass, I tried the DR® Trimmer/Mower, that I am borrowing from my Dad. It was awesome!!!!! It cut the brush like butter. I cleared a lot on the right side of the yard. What had taken us an hr to cut by hand, this sucker cut in about 5-10 min.

I also started to use it on the left side of the backyard as well. I had to stop though as I noticed a pile of grown over cinder blocks, that someone had dumped there at some point. Unfortunately that was just where I would've loved to use it due to there being thorny bushes & vines there.

I started to cut them by hand and gave up for the day when I got walloped in the back of the leg, by a thorny vine. Oh man did I scream. Tim said he heard me inside the house.

I'd say the thorny bushes won the battle today.

DR® Trimmer/Mower

2009-05-18T22:59:00.000-04:00

2009
Monday, May 18

At the end of the day, yesterday, even though Tim and I made a good dent in clearing the backyard jungle of brush & weeds, it was only a little chunk out of the whole. I decided to research if there were any power tools I could buy or rent that would help.

As luck would have it, a neighbor of my parents had the perfect tool. Even better.... he told my Dad he could have it! It's the DR Trimmer/Mower. It was purchased back in 90's and still runs great. My Dad said I could barrow it, until he needs it.

I tested it out briefly and this sucker is awesome! It cut through the brush like it was butter. It's basically a giant heavy duty weed wacker. You can buy the "Beaver Blade" accessory, which is basically a saw blade, with a chain saw blade around around it, and really have fun.

Backyard - Cleared more brush

2009-05-16T22:59:00.000-04:00

2009
Saturday, May 16

Today Tim and I double teamed backyard clearing project. Tim had taken the right side, by the firepit, and I continued my reign of devastation the left side, by our neighbor. We had gotten a lot accomplished today.

Deck - Japanese Maple 'Shaina'

2009-05-15T22:58:00.000-04:00

2009
Friday, May 15

Since we started building the deck, last year, I've been looking for my idea of the perfect Japanese Maple's to go in the future planter boxes. The planter boxes will be had some height & interest to the deck as well as the plants be a privacy screen.

I had already decided that they would be Japanese Maples as deep reds & burgundy seem to go fantastic with the gray tones of the deck and siding. I first thought of getting some baby Japanese Maple Bloodgood trees, like the one in the circle. Unfortunately that tree gets 10-15 feet. I wanted a dwarf that would get no bigger than 5-6 feet.

I looked all over locally and finally found what I was looking for online. The kind I wound up choosing is the Japanese Maple 'Shaina'. It's actually a dwarf of the Bloodgood, developed from a witches broom (deformity in a woody plant resulting in a structure resembling a broom or a bird's nest). So it'll look much like the Bloodgood in the circle and have the same burgundy coloring.

Backyard - Clearned more brush

2009-05-12T22:58:00.000-04:00

2009
Tuesday, May 12

By the willow tree, in the backyard, are lots of brush and weeds we're trying to remove, so that we can get landfill and have it all nice back there. One thing that's been a bear to remove is thorny bush and vines. My parents said it's a type of wild roses. It's awful.... I can't tell you how many slivers and times I've been stabbed by this stuff.

So today I was chipper shredding a lot of what we had been cutting down this past week. It felt so good to see it get shredded :)

Backyard - Clearing brush (around Willow)

2009-05-09T22:57:00.000-04:00

2009
Saturday, May 9

The backyard is a swampy mess that had many weeping willows growing. I love-love willows and hated to cut them down, unfortunately they were a bit too close to our house. I left one willow that I feel is a good enough distance away.

I've been clearing around the last willow. It needs a little pruning and has a rotting stump, from a fallen tree I'll be removing. There's also a 2nd willow growing to the left of it that I'm going to take down to giving it some breathing room.

Redbuds blooming

2009-05-08T22:56:00.000-04:00

2009
Friday, May 8

The Redbuds, that I purchased back in 2005, finally finally bloomed for the first time. They're kinda twigs with flowers on them currently. They're filling in nicely and in a few years they'll be really beautiful.

Shopping for Annuals

2009-05-07T22:02:00.000-04:00

2009
Thursday, May 7

My family and I had gone to Hiway Garden Place today to purchase annuals. They have so much to chose from there and have probably one of the best selections of annuals in the area that we've found so far.

As well as the annuals I also had brought a couple of perennials, including a Sweet Variegated Iris and more Elijah Blue Fescue. For the annuals, I had decided to go with the orange Marigold's, that I had gone with last year as I really loved the orange pop against the dark Barberry. And I'm very excited about the Fiber optics Grass.

Backyard - Crabapple placement

2009-05-03T22:58:00.002-04:00

2009
Sunday, May 3

Currently, the backyard, and especially sitting on the deck, we have no privacy, from our neighbors to the left. This is a perfect spot to fill up with ornamental trees and shrubs to have something nice to look at, other than our neighbors garage.

I'm always struck by the fantastic colorings of crabapples at this time of year. They're just so vibrant........ and so "spring". In between us and our neighbor will be the perfect spot for the The Crabapple Prairiefire I just bought. Since we won't plant it til we get land fill in the back, I just buried the pot for now. And man.... just that little pop of color changed the entire feeling of that area.

I had done lots of research on crabapples, before buying this one. The Prairiefire seems to be the most disease tolerant of the crabapples and it's one of the smaller ones at 15'-20'w x 15'-20'h. It's a long bloomer, with mahogany colored leaves and produces red fruit that lasts until December.

Magnolia Tree in bloom

2009-04-28T22:59:00.000-04:00

2009
Tuesday, April 28

It's nice to come home, pull in the driveway and see the Magnolia tree in bloom, as I had done today.

Weeping Cherry & more in bloom

2009-04-26T22:52:00.001-04:00

2009
Sunday, April 26

This morning I was pleasantly surprised to come down stairs and see out the window the Weeping Snowfountain Cherry in bloom. It made my morning, it was so breathtakingly beautiful.

Actually all the flowering trees are starting to show life again....

The Magnolia tree's buds are starting to get big and open any day now.

The Crabapple Prairiefire, that I just purchased is starting to bloom.

Even the little baby Chestnut tree, Tim's parents gave us, is starting to get it's leaves.

Last and certainly not least.... finally... finally.... finally the Eastern Redbud trees are getting buds. I've been waiting since 2005 for them to have buds. They don't flower for 6-7 years... so I'm REALLY excited to see they have buds.

Planted more Sedums

2009-04-25T22:46:00.001-04:00

2009
Saturday, April 25

I planted more sedum's in the gravel garden, by the Magnolia tree, in the circle.

I planted the Stonecrop 'Blue Spruce' to offset the lime color of the Stonecrop 'Angelina'. It will bloom small yellow flowers.

The Sedum 'Tricolor' will bloom small pink flowers.

Stained Glass Class - Bathroom project (Installed)

2009-04-19T22:20:00.000-04:00

2009
Sunday, April 19

Yesterday I had taken the casement window off it's hinge and gave it a couple of coats of polyurethane. I wanted give it a once over before I installed my stained glass project over it. I've been waiting til the weather had gotten nice enough as I knew the window would be off for a couple of days.

This afternoon, I caulked the stained glass into place and by the evening it had set enough I could put the window back in place as it was suppose to rain the next day. It really changed the feeling of the bathroom I think, by giving it a fun type of privacy.

From Graphics & Design

Bonsai - Blue Star & Dwarf Mugo

2009-04-18T22:08:00.000-04:00

2009
Saturday, April 18

Today I purchased 2 more baby shrubs that I pruned into Bonsai trees. I pruned another Blue Star Juniper and a Dwarf Mugo Pine.

Kitchen - Tile Backsplash (options)

2009-04-15T22:18:00.001-04:00

2009
Wednesday, April 15

Last week (4/9) I found a website that had some really cool tiles that I thought might be some options to look at for a backsplash for the kitchen. I've been pondering it for a couple of years now and I really like some options from www.glasstilestore.com.

I was really attracted to a their Fusion Glass&Stone category. So I bought a 3 samples for 5 bucks each. Today they came in. I leaned them up against the wall behind the sink.

From House

Tim and I like the Alloy Sequoia Blend the best. It's polished beige glass and polished white glass in a wavy finish, with honey onyx marble and beige cream marble. It seemed to really work with the wall and cabinet colors really well. I a loved the "wavy" finish to the one.... it gives kind of a glistening effect... a little spark to it.

From House

Stained Glass Class - Bathroom project (Solder)

2009-04-07T23:17:00.000-04:00

2009
Tuesday, April 7

Tonight was awesome! It was our last stained glass class, which was sad. The part that was great was that I finished my stained glass project I was working on for the upstairs bathroom window.

I was proud of the first line I soldered too as it had gone perfect. There were a couple of areas that didn't go as well that I had to go over a couple of times. All and all, the soldering had gone fairly well for only a second time doing it.

The glass tiles look awesome in it and give it a cool depth. Everyone gave me compliments when I was done... which felt great. I'm really proud of it! When I got home I leaned it against the window so Tim could see it. I can't wait to peel off the stick-on frost paper and install it.

From Graphics & Design

Stained Glass Class - Bathroom project (foil)

2009-03-31T23:43:00.000-04:00

2009
Tuesday, March 31

Today in stained glass class, I foiled the pieces, for my bathroom window project. Before I had started it though, I made a jig, which was the same size as my bathroom window. I wanted to make sure that it stayed the right size.... and doesn't "grow", as my instructor phrases it.

From Graphics & Design

I love... love the blue glass and the glass tiles will give a great added depth and fun to the window.

From Graphics & Design

Gargoyle

2009-03-30T22:16:00.000-04:00

2009
Monday, March 30

I was walking through Lowes today and I couldn't help myself when I has seen this gargoyle. He looked so happy, he made me smile, so I couldn't pass him up.

Building a House

Firepit - Trim (back)

Firepit - Seat & Trim (left pergola)

Firepit - Seat & Trim

Firepit - Seat

Firepit - Started Seat

Firepit - Finished Backrest

Firepit - Started back rests

Firepit - Set rest of post supports

Firepit - Built Support Posts (5 & 6)

Firepit - Built Support Posts (3 & 7)

Firepit - Built 2nd Support Posts

Firepit - Built 1st Support Posts

Firepit - Dug Post Holes

Firepit - Project Started

Backyard - New Grass

New Tool - Root Irrigator

Backyard - Planted Weeping White Pine

Backyard - Planted Arborvitaes

Backyard - Birch Trees (Planted)

Basement Workbench - the Plan

Basement Workbench - Saw & Studs

Deck - Step (Done)

Deck - Step

Deck - Planters (Stone Veneer)

Deck - Planters (Stone Veneer)

Deck - Trim (Level 3)

Deck - Trim (Level 2)

Deck - Trim (Main Deck)

Deck - Benches (Level 2)

Deck - Planters (Stone Veneer)

Deck - Benches (Trim & Planters)

Deck - Benches (2nd bench)

Deck - Benches (Trim)

Deck - Benches (Frame)

Deck - Benches (Posts)

Deck - Benches (Post Holes)

Retractable Garden Hoses

Potting Bench

Landscape - Planted

Backyard - Privacy

Backyard - Starting to feel like a yard

Backyard - Cleared more

Deck - Bench & Trim plans

Rock Garden - More yellow gravel

Deck - Japanese Maple 'Shaina' Arrived

Backyard - Cleared more brush

Backyard - Clearing (Used DR Trimmer)

DR® Trimmer/Mower

Backyard - Cleared more brush

Deck - Japanese Maple 'Shaina'

Backyard - Clearned more brush

Backyard - Clearing brush (around Willow)

Redbuds blooming

Shopping for Annuals

Backyard - Crabapple placement

Magnolia Tree in bloom

Weeping Cherry & more in bloom

Planted more Sedums

Stained Glass Class - Bathroom project (Installed)

Bonsai - Blue Star & Dwarf Mugo

Kitchen - Tile Backsplash (options)

Stained Glass Class - Bathroom project (Solder)

Stained Glass Class - Bathroom project (foil)

Gargoyle

Stained Glass Class - Bathroom project

Stained Glass Class - Soldering

Vole munching issues

Stained Glass Class - Finished foiling glass

Stained Glass Class - finished cutting

Bonsai - Mimosa pudica (Sensitive plant)

Stained Glass Class - Iris Design

Stained Glass Classes

Bonsai Project - Planted and pruned

Bonsai project - Plants delivered

Bonsai project

Dry lubricant

First snowfall of the year

Turkey invasion

Driveway - Gravel