Old Shed, New Shed

C's parents planned a "working visit" for the Fall and it was decided that they would come and help build us a fence. In order to accommodate the new fence, the old shed needed to be torn down (it was in the way of a stretch of old fence boards that were attached to the existing chain-link fence). Of course, a new shed was needed and had to be smaller as the new fence was going to be built along our lot line. Hence, old shed out, new shed in. The existing metal shed was constructed to last and took 4 hours to dismantle.

Basement Project: Camping Storage Closet

Yes, we have such an abundance of outdoors equipment that it needs it's own storage closet.  

Our first basement project:  We started by pulling down the aging ceiling drywall, then used closed cell 1 inch foam on the floor followed by 1/2 inch plywood subfloor.  Then we insulated the outside wall with more foam and Roxul.  C. framed out the closet and we drywalled it, she mudded and sanded it and I primed and painted it.  We had leftover vinyl tiles from our old house kitchen reno that we used in the closet, but laid them like ceramic tiles with spacers and "grout".  I LOVE this closet!   

Updates and Randoms

The summer has been busy with work (lots) and play (little).  Here's a more recent photo of our growing garden.  Also, C built an ingenious frame that attaches to the car roof rack so that we can buy whole sheets of drywall and transport it ourselves.  

Patio

The backyard patio is a mix of interlocking pink brick and concrete.  There is also this odd altar type structure that has an electrical outlet on the one side.  We suspect that it used to house a light-up Virgin Mary.  I don't think that I have a good "before" shot, but here it is mid-deconstruction and then again  without the altar.  By the way, the electrical wire was buried bare (no conduit) about 4 inches in the soil.  I just yanked on it and the whole thing came above ground.  I'm sure glad I didn't attempt to edge the lawn and electrocute myself.

Virginia Creeper

We researched native vines and discovered that Virginia creeper might grow in shade and eventually grow up the wooden slats that we have yet to build.  We found some Virginia creeper growing in our backyard and planted some in our carport planters.

Ugly garland gone

It took all of 30 minutes to unscrew the fence, roll it up and cart it off to the dump.  Some time in the near to distant future we plan to add horizontal wooden slats to keep snow out in Winter. 

The carport remodel: Stage 1

The carport on our new house has this hideous woven synthetic Christmas tree stuff that we discovered was full of mosquitos.  It is chain-link fence with wired Christmas garland through it.