November 8, 2009

Temp update: 59° 52° 34°

We were up by 8:00 and found that my fire burning skills are not so good - okay, they suck! The 2x4 I jammed in the fireplace was barely charred - so now the real fire builder is going to get us a real fire going! Psssst, he cheated just a bit: starter log and propane ~ ssshhh!

The sun was bright and it looks much colder outside than it really is. The squirrels and birds were out and about and picking at our O'Wich pumpkin patch. Some critters were either hungry or just destructive and mutilated one of the pumpkins. Something must be living in the other one! It is fun to watch them scatter the seed and wait on trees before swooping in to eat!

We watched a little DIY and these people really get your idea gears cranking and let you think that anything you think you can do, really is possible! I just wish one of these hosts and their crew would show up here...for a yard off - they could all come - them against them - we would have a perfect finished any sort of project imaginable! Bring 'em on! *wish*wish*wish*bam*reality*ergh!

By 8:30 the birds were ready to gorge themselves on the filled feeders - they are animals; they should realize they need to space their feedings! They are certain to run out of seed with the way they are acting!!!

8:45: 67° 57° 46°

It's gonna be an awesome day!

I took more photos and fed pine cones to the fire - pop go the pine cones!

It was time for our outing. We started our day with a tasty meal at Norm's. We still find it hard to believe that we get pretty lucky with so many tasty meals - whether cooked by us or someone else!

After breakfast we ran into Wal-Mart to pick up a couple of things. $235 later, we were cart full - a few food items, some hunting things, scrapbook items, a couple of Christmas gifts and some other stuff we could most likely live without!

I took pictures on the way back and even walked from the county road to the rock - snapping along the way. What a gorgeous day!

12:45: 65° 53° 70°

1:45: 65° 55° 78°

Carlo ran to Do-It-Best for a few pieces of wood and nails for the construction of the loft railing...will two separate ideas and visions become one railing that we both can be happy with???

The railing project began around 4:00 and we worked straight through until 8:45. In the 4 hours and 45 minutes we laid out our concept, measured and cut all the pieces. Although we laid the pieces and the bottom plates on wood - it still wasn't even; but no problem - still turned out good. Once this section was attached to the beams and secured to the floor we moved on to the second partition. We again laid it out, measured and cut some more pieces. This time we laid it out on the kitchen floor - hoping things would line up better and somewhat level. Bam! First piece nailed but was crooked. We dismantled it and started again. Bam - Bam - Bam - Bam! Oooops, forgot to start with the first piece (which someone laid on the edge of the sink rather than putting it on the floor when it was first found to be crooked). So now we had to take apart these four and start again. Minor setback and although it created a bit more work and wasted a bit of time - it was funny. It was actually somewhat hysterical! So all is together after this little screw up and Carlo secured this section to the beams and to the floor. Level - Plumb - Square - Secured; our creation was pretty darn sturdy. We skirted the top of the middle section, inside and out - to tie it all together - and then we capped it off. The purpose of this railing is to keep things from falling down, create a definition of space and a sense of enclosure and it offers a bit of privacy. All said and done - it looks great and YES, two separate ideas became one finished vision!

Before and after views:

We needed to get something to eat, so we headed out and because it was late and a Sunday, everywhere we wanted to or attempted to go was closed - so we settled on Culver's. After we got back, we needed to clean up all the bugs that came in while I was cutting wood on the deck, put all the tools and supplies away and finish cutting up all the left over wood that has now become firewood - and of course, admire our railing!

10:45: 68° 58° 64°

Finally 11:00 came along and we stopped moving - oh boy, it's gonna hurt bad if either of us try to move! Our muscles were screaming in pain! After waking up from an unexpected, but much appreciated nap around 1:00 am, I was off to bed!