The Pool Deck-almost finished!

Remember when I showed you the first bit of construction on the pool deck Mike was building? He has almost finished the deck and walkway that connects to our front porch.

Here he is, back in April.

Do you want to see how it looks now? I'll walk you up...

Turn the corner and go toward the top deck.

One step up..

View to the pool.

View to the garden.

Now, look back down, toward the house.See the rectangle next to the windows? That is where our outdoor shower will be.

The last part of the project is to finish the handrail along the deck and complete the shower.
The new deck and walkway are not only a practical addition, but an interesting "architectural" feature as well. I think it is awesome. Mike works very hard, improving our property, and I appreciate it so much!

Mike's new project

Now that our major project at church is done, Mike is concentrating on a project here at home. He is putting a deck and a ramp by our pool. This part of the deck will be level with the top of the pool.

It doesn't look like much, but this is where we will have a ramp from the front porch to the pool deck.

See the rounded part of the water hose spool on the lower right? That will be an outdoor shower area so that we have a way to shower off before and after getting in the pool. I don't like walking through the house in a wet suit. And the ramp will keep us from walking through any grass or dirt before we get to the pool. I am really, really looking forward to this!

Grandpa's table

While we were visiting my son, Lee, we accidentally started a home improvement project. He has my grandpa's table and it had cheap veneer glued to the top. It was so cracked and had chunks flaking off. We were talking about the table and feeling of it when we discovered that we could peel off the veneer fairly easily. What didn't peel off right away could be chiseled off. So we all started working.

Lee

 

Mike

 

The veneer is gone and underneath is a pretty wooden top.

Now, the guys do a lot of sanding-all by hand.

 

Time out for a little horseplay...

Lee and I put on Linseed oil as a fnish, and Peggi photographs us.

 

Mike takes a break.

 

I think Grandpa would like how the finished table looks. I think it looks really pretty.

I remember him, sitting at this table with a cup of coffee, reading and talking or working on something...and talking. I also remember huge, magnificent meals prepared by my Grandmother-covering this entire table. We sat together many times, right around this table. It was a joy to get it refinished a bit. We will remember...and enjoy...for many years to come.

The Gap is Closed!

We have been working on a foundation problem for several weeks. It seems that the large pole in the front shifted when the concrete sunk a bit. The pole itself was keeping the side of the house from being repositioned completely.  Mike and our neighbor jacked up the side of our house, cut the main foundation pole to size and repositioned it. Then they set the pole in concrete and let the jack down. That allowed the winch to be tightened more and the gap to be completely closed.

One benefit, other than making our house sound again, is that when the tax appraisers came to measure and evaluate our house, they saw the chains holding the front of our house together. They classified us as "needing repairs". TAX BREAK!

Closing the Gap: The project continues

The bull dozer didn't make an apearance today but a bigger tractor did! The gap is now only about 1 inch wide and they are working on it as I type.

Mike looks on as our neighbor, Randy, gently nudges the house with his tractor.

They took a break for lunch (chicken and dumplings remember?) and now there is a discussion going on about moving the winches and somehow lifting up the side of the house. They also assured me that I am not in danger as I sit here in the living room.

The next step apparently is to reposition the winches and bolt the beam to the joist, or maybe to the foundation. I'm not sure what they decided. I do know that the weather is beautiful now and the sun is out, but I'm still staying inside...