A nifty decking tool

Greetings!  Update on the boys - Nitzy has improved and will be trying to avoid capture for his Thursday appointment.  Doctor had emergencies today and with an overloaded schedule can't see Budman until tomorrow morning at 11:30.  I have amoxicillin which is what they will give him, so I crushed the flavored chewable and dissolved it.  No way it's going down even with the dropper.  He is so congested and miserable I don't want to make it worse for him but will try again later.  On top of it all he is very annoyed that I will not allow him to go outside.

 

Mark and I are working in 94 degree high humidity against a black house that radiates heat like an oven.  Taking breaks but it's terrible.  We bought a tool at Home Depot for wood decking that hides those nasty screws.  Some warped boards still need to be pulled in before securing but I love the fact that those top side screws are hidden.

 

 

We got the Camo Marksman Pro-X1 which gives a 1/16" gap between boards for treated lumber.  There are other models for composite and larger spacing, videos on YouTube.  Still need a few face nails in odd places but this will make it so much nicer and the reviews on the tool are very good.  The tool was $40 and the large pack of screws another $50 but well worth it.  Lowe's price was higher and we didn't have time to search for online prices.  For the 5/4 decking we went with the longer screws and if a board needs replaced, the screws are removable. 

 

Good stuff!!  Break is over and my sweat will ruin the laptop so ...

 

bye.

 

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Blending styles

Guess who needs a doctor right away?  Budman.  His sneezing and coughing Friday led to horrible eye issues and malaise.  I hope the doctor will have an opening tomorrow.  Missy will probably be next and she is the nastiest of all.

While looking for inspiration on Pinterest, I came across a link to a wonderful farmhouse blog,

Liz Marie.  Her husband is a veteran and they have a spectacular farmhouse in Michigan.  When you visit her site, you must scroll down and there will be posts to click on with resources and inspiration.  Many posts.  Just keep clicking "next page" and you can stay busy for hours.

 

Another that I haven't had time to fully investigate is Thistlewood Farms.  Bless'er House has a lot to see and this link shows the before and after of her colonial made fresh but not actually farmhouse.  When there are so many distracting ads I go elsewhere, and many decorating blogs are loaded with them making it hard to navigate.  Most have the subject pages listed under the header and that helps.  Pinterest is still a great source but most times it's only a photo with no information, and I enjoy reading a post about colors and sources.

 

There was a message in reading some of the sites and that is, just because it is a trend and you like it, does not mean you can live with it.  Don't steer too far away from the style that melts your heart.  Adapt, refresh, maybe lighten, but keep the core of what you love.  Not easy, but neither is getting the entire look when you mix in comfortable upholstered pieces.  Just painting walls white will not allow for the look we see when browsing online, it's much more than that.   I don't want farmhouse, I want lighter, cleaner, austere, a little colonial a little primitive, a lot less clutter.  But viewing these farmhouse style sites gives me ideas and inspiration for rooms that can be adapted and used for either style. 

 

Mid nineties today, should finish the front deck.

 

Have a good day!

 

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The checklist

We all have them.  Mine are rarely reduced.  But this year, oh baby.  Finally have the windows and siding done which was a huge bucket dripping over my head.  I finally made a decision to stay with wood rather than composite for the front deck and to not wait for Sam.

 

Stain color for it is also chosen although it will be months before the wood will be ready for it.  Decided to scrap the landscaper's ideas for my own and have that in place.  They of course prefer lush and attractive whereas my taste is plain and simple. 

 

Decided on the style of wainscot and minor trim changes.  CHOSE A WALL PAINT COLOR.  What?  That's right.  CHOSE A WALL PAINT COLOR.  Well, basically I gave up.  It's such a waste of time because until the entire room is painted and all other old colors are covered, the casts and undertones you see are sometimes caused by comparison/reflection.  I knew I didn't want a yellow cast but all others seemed pink.  I found Valspar's Promenade to be very neutral, and also BM's White Dove which was the winner. Lighter than I wanted but so what?  Another waste of time to try these samples for trim work until the walls are done. 

The Brazilian cherry rocker I was lucky enough to purchase many years ago was finally coated in Danish Oil for protection and it looks wonderful.

 

And of course, Nitzy was apprehended for a vet visit.  Quite a few tasks and decisions checked off my list this summer.

 

So I'm sitting on the swing this morning while Mark enjoys breakfast at the Italian Home club, and looking at the crow with his empty bucket.  Haven't had rain in over a week and he's patiently waiting for a fill. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The loon hasn't had any exercise in that same time and is waiting for a breeze so he can enjoy a spin.  Nineties today and seventies overnight may bring a stray storm and both could get their wish. 

 

Now maybe I can settle myself and stop gorging on chocolate and junk food.  My wings can't spin because of my shoulder (which is improving) and my ankles have never fully recovered from the double sprains, but I must start doing some form of exercise other than moving my lips.  The sweat fest after the wood burning didn't cause a pound to drop because of all the fluids I had to take for replenishing.  But in time, I will lose.  Not quick enough for my summer pants to fit, but that's OK.  It's almost over!  Can't believe mid-July is here and before too long, summer will be gone.  As long as I'm still here to enjoy it next year.  As I get older, that seems to be more important.

 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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the Nitzy files

I haven't been feeling well at all lately.  Not really eating, barely drinking, very weak.  I've been on the sofa sleeping peacefully since 6:15 yesterday, and at 10:00 am, all hell broke loose.

 

That long and used to be lanky female, the one with the messy hair, started petting me gently.  I know she took a shower and got all cleaned up, but she still reeked like a lumberyard smokestack.   And not in a good mood, something screamed about not one pair of pants fit her fat ass whatever that is.  The gentle stroking took a startling turn when she suddenly grabbed me off the chair so quickly that I had no opportunity to dig into the fabric.  What the hell is that big thing?  She's putting me inside!!!  NOOOOO!!  What the hell are you doing to me?  I never saw this before and I don't feel well and you're shoving me into this cave?  DON'T SHUT THE DOOR!!  No no no!   I can see out but can't get out and I do not like this one bit.  Let me out or I will wail in my screechy voice!  Oh no.  It's moving.  It's moving!!  I'm flopping around in here trying to get my bearings while sticking paws out between these wires.  This is not good, not good at all.  We're still moving, moving, now what the hell is this?  I usually lay under this big metal box and I do not want to be put inside of it.  But they do anyway and then slam this huge door shut.  And here I am.  A prisoner in a hard box with holes.  What's that noise?  We're moving.  The big metal box is moving!  I'm howling like a banshee and she keeps telling me it will be alright.  Maybe for her!  What could possibly be right about this abduction?  Am I leaving my home?  I've heard her talk about how cruel people are to animals and they drive them somewhere and drop them off.   She sees this stuff on something called facebook and I know she doesn't like it.  I just continue to howl.

 

It stopped.  Then it would move.  And stop.  Over and over until it stopped for the last time and so did the noise.  They opened that big door and I was so scared, I didn't recognize anything!  Where was I and what were they going to do with me!!   Who is this guy looking at me through the wires?  They're talking about me like I'm not even here.  Oh no they're opening the wire door.  But I don't know where I am and don't want to get out!  She (the formerly lanky and currently smoky) grabs me and holds me while this other guy explains that his assistant was called to her father's death bed so she will have to help.  Help with what?  What are you doing?  Why are you pressing that thing on me?  I have a slight heart problem?  You're grabbing and squeezing me too hard!  Get that fricking light out of my eyes and that stick out of my mouth!  Don't flip me on my back, noooo, no, no, no!!  Why are you doing this?  What's a virus?  Contagious between cats?  So I can pass this to Budman and Missy and probably got it from that huge white cat with the black spots?  But I could have FIV and need blood work next week.  He's talking about all sorts of things for next week.  Let me stay in smokestack's arms and away from this guy.   OWIE what the hell was that?  Did you shoot me?  OW!!  Again?  Who the hell are you man?  Please let me go back into that hard box pleeeease!!   I promise to stop howling!  Good good here we go.  We're leaving.  Wait wait.  Did I hear him say to COME BACK???  You mean those next week things are HERE and I have to do this again???  Ain't happening bro. 

 

Back into the big metal box and she talked to me the whole time.  I didn't care.  Howling continued because I had no idea what was happening.  But she said we were home. Took me a while once that cave opened to realize my surroundings - home!  I made it!  And she's giving me treats!  I think I better do whatever she wants from now on so I'll eat the damn things.  Then I'll go outside and run far away!  Wait, she picked me up and hugged me.  She's putting me down and opening the door to outside.  She's not trying to hurt me or keep me captive.  Maybe this was a good thing.  Maybe I will just plop down right here by her swing, and stick around.  We'll know in five days if I'll be sticking around for a long while.  Until then, my bum hurts from being shot, but they brought me home.  Home.  I'm a lucky cat.

 

 

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The baby on my mind

Months ago as I was leaving a local store, I made it a point to take a peek at the baby as I passed a stroller.   I get so emotional so quickly and I was in tears by the time I reached the doors.  I wondered who he was, did he have two parents, siblings, does he laugh a lot, was he in pain, and thought of him often. Today I received an announcement of a benefit for this same child.  Now I know who he is, and have seen the trauma inflicted to his tiny body by the necessary surgeries. 

https://www.lukeschampions.com/

 

The event is this weekend for the little guy and I'm assuming he lives in my township.  Can I go?  No.  I cannot.  I am tearing as I type this.  For some reason my emotions at times, for certain things, cannot be controlled and I certainly do not want to be a moosh moosh around others celebrating this child.  So I will just donate toward the activities or send the family a check.  And I can keep up with his progress and surgeries now that I know more about him.  He has a loving family and siblings, and I feel for the many children with difficulties that do not. 

 

Sitting quietly this evening.  The hour+ of intense heat from burning the 10 foot long cedar boards was too much and I didn't realize I could develop heat exhaustion.  Did not pass out, but pretty close.  It took a couple hours to stop sweating, even with a cool shower, air conditioning, and icy towels on my neck.  Still have the headache and that stupid Tylenol does nothing.  When will they develop a blood thinner that can be taken with Advil?

 

Nitzy is locked and loaded inside, tomorrow morning will be very difficult.  He will be crying to go out and I'm sure continue when he is in the carrier.   I hope he will attempt to use the litter box before we leave in late morning.  How this brat will react at the doctor's will certainly not be cordial.

 

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Annabelle

My Annabelle hydrangeas never got to bloom after deer ravaged them the last few years.  This year we have blooms!   The soil is pitiful yet the Limelight hydrangea next to it grows stronger every year.  For some reason the deer always passed it over in favor of Annabelle.  Limelight flowers are massive on very strong stems and the plant is loaded with buds, anxious to see them mature.

 

Still loving my galvanized bucket covers. 

 

Mark made another bench, larger with three legs, from the old window trim, and has enough for a small three footer left.  The bottom side of these boards are terrible but won't be seen and does not affect the sturdiness.

 

The SilverBerry Vista petunia is doing very well and I hope to locate this color next year as a change for the barrels from the Bubblegum pink.  The Amish nursery we visit every year did not have very nice plants but I prefer one color in a pot (not easy to find here) so purchased them anyway.  I cut them back, took off the entire top, and within weeks they were full of buds. 

 

Mark is tearing off the cedar deck in the front and there is nothing that can be made from those boards.  Horribly decayed and rotted.  Between the deck, the furniture, and the siding, I can't understand why cedar is considered a good wood.  Even with preservative, the log furniture rotted away within 4 years.  My job is to burn the wood as it is removed.

 

When I got up this morning, Nitzy was sitting in a chair, off the sofa where he had been resting.  He ate a half jar of baby food and cried terribly to go outside.  Improvement!!!  We let him go out and he is sleeping in the shade.  I will make sure he is back inside for tomorrow's appointment. 

 

Have a great day!

 

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