There is a significant increase in Reno happiness when one has four things:
1) Friends to help
2) BEER
3) Warm weather and sun
4) More BEER :)
We spent all day Saturday outdoors in the gorgeous sunshine and warm weather! We could not believe our luck because we were planning all-day work on the deck. Usually when we plan anything outside in the Spring it rains!
Not today, not today.
We also lucked out with a bunch of help from friends and family. Jesse, Shayne, Steve, Joanne, Eric and I tackled the deck for most of the day. We also had a visit from my mother-in-law and niece and nephew too.
Check out our well! This is the first time I have seen it because it hides under the deck.
We rented a construction bin and filled it with the old deck wood. We spent about 3-4 hours just taking all the scrap wood to the bin. We got such a killer workout, however I think I ‘undid’ my massage from this week. ;)
The good news is we can keep all of the existing beams that are 4 feet deep in the ground.
Meet DUKE. :) He is Jesse’s dog.
Duke likes bones.
Duke, nooooooooo! Don’t eat that!
Duke went into the forest and came out with this random BONE!!!! Gross!!
The last thing to be removed from the deck was the big staircase.
We have about 1 month to finish this deck before my birthday party! It is going to be tight because we have the next few weekends booked up.
Eric also saved me this old bench (that he sawed in half) for my outdoor food photography!
Yay, bench.
Don’t mind the wobbly leg. It adds character.
After the deck stuff, I got my rake on and raked out the garden again. I find it takes me 2-3 ‘sessions’ to really get it looking good after Winter.
My goal this Summer is to spend more time on the yard and garden. Last summer, we were so crazy busy that we had no time for anything. This summer is going to be much more relaxed and I can’t wait!
Today we are off to visit my grandparents. My Grandpa continues to stay strong in his battle with cancer. He has his good days and his bad days, but his positive attitude never ceases to amaze me.
I promised to bring a baked good so I guess I should go figure out what I am going to make! Hmmmm…
Love the reno’s and yard work!
My hubby and I are coming onto 12 acres next week and I planted seeds in our little green house yesterday. Hopefully in four weeks I will be able to join you in your pact of spending a lot of time in your yard this summer!
wow that is amazing! Congrats!
Great progress on that deck, BEER is always a good bribe for helpers!
Best of thoughts for your grandpa. Have a nice visit. :)
Hi Angela,
I simply love your blog (and I’m a carnivore; my mother’s vegetarian though).
Prayers for your grandpa, my cousin battled leukaemia as a young boy.
Hey, I love your renos. It would be really nice if you kept a separate section for ‘RENOS’ like ‘RECIPES’
-Varsha, India
Thank you Varsha!
Great suggestion. I do have all my renos in a catorgory called ‘Home Renos’ If you look on my right sidebar I have a category drop down list (its HUGE, sorry!) and it will be on there.
oh…thanks :)
congratulations on all the hard work!!!
Those pictures of you with the bench are just adorable!
I love yard work. Never used to, but once I realized that exercise can be fun and productive, I changed my mind.
Glad to hear your grandpa is in good spirits! That’s very important, so good for the mind and body.
I have a chocolate lab named Duke too!!!
and yes. They can find the grossest things when left on their own. My came home once with a dead squirrel as a lovely present.
oh man!!
Sounds like a successful day for sure!
Well done! I am sure it is going to look fab!
Wow, y’all have been busy bees! I can’t wait to see what it looks like after the reno’s. If its as good as the rest of the house I have no doubts it will be beautiful!
We have so much yard work to do too. Winter was really hard on all of our trees and we have much hauling and burning of limbs and branches yet to do. I did get the yard part of our property raked and mowed, now I need to get to work on 2 acres of trees so that it is mowable.
Quick question: do you have any posts about your decision to go vegan?
Yes I do… Here http://ohsheglows.com/2009/11/18/my-road-to-health-part-vi/ and in my FAQ page I think :)
That sounds like one of the best recipes for success ever :) Oh, maybe throw in a couple of your baked goods in there just for good measure!
Yes, that looks like so much fun! I love spending days like that – at the end of the day, you’ll be exhausted, but oh so happy.
Wow…quite the project. It’s going to be great. Best wishes to your Grandpa!!
Looks like a great day! Can’t wait to see the finished deck.
ew that is so weird about the bone! Excited to see what the finished deck looks like, and super nice of Eric with the bench!
I am a new follower and LOVE your blog! All your recipes I have tried so far have been delicious! I am newly vegan (since January) and it is so nice to have a reliable food blog to browse and enjoy. My absolute favorite recipe right now is your wheat berry salad. Not only are your recipes wonderful, but you take beautiful photographs too! Thank you for inspirational vegan recipes that even my non-vegan friends enjoy!!!
Thanks Mariah!!
Oh boy. That’s a lot of work and time time to maintain that garden! :) We’ve few renoes on our list as well: raised veggie beds, compost bins, second chicken house for raising chicks just to name a few. Have a good day with grandpa!
Way to go on working so hard! I can’t wait to see your deck when it’s finished – I’m sure it will be amazing!
Also glad to hear your grandpa is doing well:)