We have been racing the rain, and won by golly!

So the tomatoes are still a little green…didn’t want them bursting in the scheduled rain. They went well with our morning duck eggs.

Snow on May 19th means we are just now getting our first tomatoes. We will not make 70° today. Even thought we have plenty of green tomatoes, they have been slow to ripen.

The deck is done! Now I can play with a full deck…

Michael and Matt laid the last of the deck flooring in June. It has taken me two months to get the rails and gates cut, assembled, and installed.

One of the challenges was designing posts where I couldn’t use the deck foundation posts.

These are bolted to the face board. Michael drilled and bolted while I held them in place. They were a little wobbly until I tied them together with railing. Figuring out how to cut 4” posts on a table saw that only reached 3” high was interesting. … — These are bolted to the face board. Michael drilled and bolted while I held them in place. They were a little wobbly until I tied them together with railing. Figuring out how to cut 4” posts on a table saw that only reached 3” high was interesting. Matt figured out about marking the guide rail so I could tell where the end of my saw blade came. I didn’t overcut any of my posts!

I’ve gotten better at using clamps to hold things in place while I drill then screw them. Because I’m driving a screw at an angle, the boards tend to “walk” unless there is a way to block them. Having them not flush with the top of the post creates … — I’ve gotten better at using clamps to hold things in place while I drill then screw them. Because I’m driving a screw at an angle, the boards tend to “walk” unless there is a way to block them. Having them not flush with the top of the post creates problems down the line.

This is the gate to nowhere. Eventually, it will lead to either a ramp or stairs. We have to figure out what we can install without hitting any of the sewer or electricity that runs on that side. We want something so we can reach the window to repla… — This is the gate to nowhere. Eventually, it will lead to either a ramp or stairs. We have to figure out what we can install without hitting any of the sewer or electricity that runs on that side. We want something so we can reach the window to replace it (and then maybe wash it occasionally). The blue thing is part of a pool noodle I attached to the jamb so the gate doesn’t rattle in the wind.

The final piece was installing a gate and railing so that we can easily get in and out of the yard, but Zeke and the chickens can’t.

We left the yard side wider so we can still get a washer up those stairs if need be!

Now that the outside work is done, I hope to clean out the work space so I can complete the finishing work in the bathroom, and then Michael and I can get the last of the wallboard hung in the addition. I only have two weeks before I leave to babysit the Grand Girl in Colorado.

We will have to find some projects to work on together while her dad is in school and momma is away on business!