Tin ROOF! Rusted.

Progress! While I was away the mice started to play. :)

I ordered the steel (no , not tin lol) roofing panels and installation kit this afternoon. I ordered it in a charcoal colour to match the house trim. Once the fascia boards are trimmed in and the last rafters go up, we can install the roof when it is delivered.

I said "WE" like I was going to do any of that....

I cannot wait to be sipping iced tea and laying on my outdoor patio chaise in that, there porch.

YIPPEE

I call it Dharmaritaville!

Man have we been spending our summer in the great outdoors that is our backyard. We’ve been making improvements in and around the new swimdeck and enjoying the space so much I think my friends and family are ready to call out a search party. I refer to my backyard as Dharmaritaville. I am the “Woman to Blame”
….name that reference.
When we put in the new swimdeck, we had a strip of grass leading from the interlocking brick to grass to steps. Boys + friends + kids parties all summer meant a lot of grass in the pool. So, on my trip up north to the cottage, Greg and I *rescued* (ahem, liberated) some flat black Muskoka granite from the lake and brought it home to put down a path.

Butcher knife, a hot day of Greg sweating it out and I now have this lovely little dealio. Ahhhh….much less grass and dirt in the pool. I was in charge of beverages.

After a few weeks of growth, it’s lovely.

But that’s not NEAR as exciting as my first ever estate auction that Greg and I attended here on Saturday morning. I felt like a fish out of water, getting my own paddle, but I persevered. The sale was at an old converted school house turned into an antiques barn. Oh……you would have loved it. I poked over the offerings and even spied a few things I thought were for me. The one and only thing I truly wanted I spied immediately upon walking up to the sale. A 1920s white wicker sofa. Be still my heart. I have seen others like it in much worse condition for hundreds of dollars. On my limited budget, I was sure she would be winking at me from the back of someone else’s truck bed as she sped into the distance.
Never fear, dear reader! I pursued and won my first ever auction item! $80 was my final bid and she winked at ME as we strapped her into our pickup!!!
Meet Savannah:

She needs a little stretcher repair but she is gorgeous! Screaming out for a beautiful set of cushions but I was so excited to nap on her, I rallied and found some odds and sods and quickly passed out Saturday afternoon for a 2 hour nap.


She is even Liam-Approved!

I did make him get off her immediately after this picture was taken though. MINE!

A pallet’s tale…

 

As you may or may not be aware (you are if you follow me on Pinterest), I’ve been skulking around dumpsters in my neighbourhood lately. On the hunt. For these.

I’ve amassed quite a collection. This doesn’t show off what’s lurking in the garage. Greg figures when we are ready for a “hillbilly campfire”, we are good! But there is a method to this madness. As discussed in previous posts, Greg and I are spending the WAD of Gubment $$$ back in taxes this year on a wharf to sit alongside this monster…

So of course this leaves very little money, a huge requirement of inspiration and mucho perspiration on Greg’s part to come up with some cheap outdoor furniture for the GAH-zebo (say that slowly)

Here is my inspiration shot.

I also got as ton of ideas from Sunny at Life in Rehab over here!

I tried out a few configurations for a low coffee table, but the general weight of these pallets is deceiving. Suckas is heavy!!

I bought the necessary wood screws and castors. 2 stationary castors for the back and 2 swivel castors for the front. In doing so I can almost guarantee the boys won’t use this for a skateboard and none of my Magarita-Madness beotches best girlfriends will push it over when they fall down.
Please refer to the following pics as my attempts to outshine the Pioneer Woman’s ass shots of her rancher husband

Let’s get this going already!

To make the depth and strength of the pallet enough for the castors we had to add a little oooomph, as in beefing the corners with scrap wood. But here is the finished product. My thinking (OK, OK Greg’s thinking) is that the top section is good for drinks, candles etc. but I surmised the bottom section (as it is very big) would be nice for putting your feet up.

Staining to follow. I like it!

Good boy Greg! Kisses!!! Pudge, kiss Daddy for me.

Getcher' Mama a beer, son!

Well, the weeks from hell seem to be over (please, please be over). I am finally getting over this chest infection and have quit braying like a donkey.

The garage sale we held for my Mother on Saturday is OVER as well!!!! Thanks be to Gawd. The boys made about $45 each, Greg and I made $50 and Momma took the medal making almost $270 from stuff she was going to drop off at the Sally Ann anyway :) It was a long day before the sale and a short morning of haggling, but I am glad she got some things sold.

All last week Greg was a busy boy wearing his white Supervisor's hardhat while we went from this:

to THIS!

Suffice to say the boys are pretty stoked. It was a significant investment for us and probably means we will never travel again :) Well, OK. Maybe not next year. I spent pretty much all day Sunday, phone turned off, people popping in for a dip. Floating on my chair sending my 9 year-old to the bar fridge now and then. I know, that makes me a bad Mom.....I don't care.

The fence is in. Next up.....

So as my husband just now starts to brush the sawdust out of his hair, I'm already planning a crushed granite patio complete with chimney fire in the centre (look up for inspiration photo). Of course my darling husband will probably chain me to the front entryway posts if he hears me say "garden centre" in any sort of audible voice so I guess I am going to have to creep out early one morning on the sly.

Yes, I'm cheating on my husband with quarry workers....it has come to this. I am so excited to get into summer and get moving on making my brand-new, fully-private yard an oasis from my dreams. Now if only I could convince him to bring over those boulders from my sister's place......hmmmmmm