:And now for the Next Episode- Day # Two:

Thare's dirt in them thare hills !!
(ripped offed and changed from the 1860-ish quote about the Gold Rush in California- 'Theres Gold in them thare Hills')

Actually, the dirt is all you will see at the start of day 2...

 

Debris and--- Dirt-

 

Dirt, Debris, Sawdust, Sweat, Tears...
But Never Fear--- a Rudimentary framework for this New Deck will Take Shape Today !!!
Gasp !!

  Stuff has to be Shoveled...
 This is Assistant Construction Dude... Shoveling-

Then Shoveled some more... With much Hoisting and Heaving  and Tossing about of each and every Concrete block- numerous times-  with metal Doo-Hickeys embedded in them...

And then fine tuned... Taking the Concrete block out with each addition of 4-5 pieces of gravel...

And Leveled...
 A Lot !!

Then Gravel added By Shovel and Then Leveled some More !!
 

Nakedish looking isn't it ? Pathetic and Forlorn too...
Don't worry Sturdy Old House... this is just a bit of Cosmetic refurbishing...

 

Kuchi with her Ears of Antipithy...

"Mama, why they keep doing stuf ? And banging and making racket ? And LOUD buzz noise ? Kuchi not too Thrilled with this part Mama."

This part involves use of this hot Pink 'String Line'  and much Snickering under my breath.
Please Note the Concrete Blocks with metal Doo-Hickeys

 

Kuchi was in her Element doing Periodic Inspections...

Right about now the Placing of the big Treated Wood -
Sills ? Rafters ?  Holder upper boards ?

...Began in Ernest...  Who is 'Ernest' by the way ? Does any one know ? Have he ever been Seen ?

Not Ernest...

Sills(?) in place sitting on the blocks-- All four sides done.

After the Guys left for the day, Alice come in for a closer Look...

Alice is Still Highly Suspicious of it all.

She still trusts her ramp tho.

Babylon says "Please Mama, I want to go  Out and do Inspects too !!"

End of Day 2 summary:

Dirt shifted and moved and flattened
Blocks in place and Leveled and Squared
Sills around 4 sides.
Kuchi Entertained
Alice Tormented
Babylon alternately Intrigued & Thwarted
Mama working on a Semi-Nervous Hissy Fit

All in All I would say...
A Very Productive Day !!

Mama Tired more...

xoxo
 

Did'ya Ever Start Something ...

So...
Did you ever start something- remodeling-repairing wise and then after getting Really Deep into the project this niggling feeling of impending calamity &  "Holy Cow"  this is never going to be Over with...

My poor old Backporch/Patio had need repair work for ages...
Time, weather, Rain, mean Little bugs that Chew on wood, and - Ahem- neglect has taken its toll.
Now here comes the EEEeeep !!! part...

Ready ?!?

Everything is having to be removed (except the concrete blocks it was sitting on) and replaced.

Decking, side pieces, rails, and other constructiony type Nouns that I Really don't want explained to me.
I need to sit down for a moment. Several Moments.
Maybe a couple of days actually... With a Nice Tall Icy Beverage...

The further Carpenter Dude went, the Worser it got.

His and my Relationship looks to be an Extended one.

And there is much more to be done.

 

Sigh... Surveying the Carnage...
And Sawdust-

 For two days I couldn't go out my back door as ground-dirt level was several feet Down !!

The Girls Loved it tho... All this new Smelly Disturbed stuff for them to explore...

And Roll About in complete Bliss...
Twerps.

Carpenter Dude propped up a piece of board to make them a little Ramp to come and go on.

I had difficulty getting them in the house.
Slowly smell and explore the Ramp.

Kuchi with the Ears of "Mama?  Have I ever Smelled this before ? What is this Mama ?  Is it going to do something Mama? I'm not sure if I Approve of all this Conflaperation Mama !!" (her new word-not mine !!)

Alice is SO not going to accept this hideous new Disruption in her World...

Then after a couple of trys they got that exhilarating Grande feeling of Joie-de- Vivre!!

Run down the Ramp.
Run up the Ramp.

Fight over the Ramp.
Saunter up the Ramp.

Fling yourself Down the Ramp.

Well, you get the idea...
Did I mention they are TwerPs ?!?
Meen to their Mama.

And this is the end of "Porch Day One..."

Now- I is gonna go lay down and have a nap....
xoxo

:Next Post- "Porch Day Two"

A Crocheting I Went...

Last week I had to make my annual visit to my Dr. D. (who is just about my most favorite person ever !!)
I had found out a couple of weeks ago she was pregnant- 
Or as we said in the South... 
'She's.gonna.have.a.baby'

Yes-
It is all ONE word !!

So I knew right away that something must be done about this new information -delightful information by the way !!

So I thought and decided realllly fast to go for a blanket for baby, and if time permitted, an adorable some how sure to embarrass him when he gets older 'Wittle BaBee hat' 
(Yes- its gonna be Baby- BOY- how wonderful !!)

So here in semi-chronological order is my visit.... 
 

. 

My beloved Dr. D...

who is due in TWO weeks !!!

Super fit marathon runner she is !!!

 

 This is the adorable baby "Gnome Hat' that I made for 

Baby Boy that his Mama just HAD to try on !!

(Dr. D. had the wrapping off before I was able to snap a pic !!)

 

I got the Super easy so quick pattern from Lorajean here...

 I used 'Deepwater' chunky -I think- for the hat 

and wove two strands of worsted "Toast" in and out to 

allow the hat to be snugged up

if needed... thus he cute 'bow'

on the side...

Dr. D. seemed to love the Gnome hat...

 Baby Boy might have to go bare-headed !!

 Opening the blankie...

  I just had to incorporate the 'Toast' color into the edge after seeing 

the Granny blanket that 

Le Monde Sucrette  made for her soon to be here little one...

That Warm Hazelwood Browny colour is Loverly !!

 I got the idea of just Big (seven rounds) Simple Squares from the one

 Little Tin Bird 

is  making for her joyfully anticipated baby...

 The green is "Guacamole' The cream is 'Bone'

The Lavenderish is called 'Plum Wine'

Upper- left to right is 'Mallard' and then 'Iris'

Bottom is 'Leaf' and 'Petal'

 

  So Pretty !!

  Bottom Left to Right 'Aubergine' and 'Plum'

 The far Upper left is a royal blue and then 'Bluebell' right below

the darker orange is called (I think) 'Carrot' and the far left orangish is 'Melon'

This is Back Side where I joined the squares together...

I rather like this side- More Character !!

 I think Dr. D. liked it....

And commented on how the colours were right on with Baby Boys other things !!

 She was rather Surprised tho about receiving the prezzies... 

 

But Thats IS the Bestest kind of Gift... Don't You Think ?

~*~

 Then on the way home my Dear BFF Gobnart and I stopped at a tiny Fruit Stand... Okay...

It was a man and his son selling berries out of the back of Their truck...

And bought three small flats of BlueBerries and a couple of Pints of RasBerries...

 Mmmmnnnn...

Blue Berries !!

 Sooo....

Guess who Just had to do a 'Taste Test' before she even got back into the van ?!?

 

 After munching on De-lishious Warm Berries all the Way Home- jiggity jig...

I used the last three pint of Blueberries to make a Rustic Cobbler....

I call it that cause everything I Make is 'Rustic' !!

 Oh My Goood-Nessss... Was that SOOO good... Sorry- no other pics :-}

All in All just one of those Verrry Good Days !!

And-

Dr. D. says I am doing just Fine and Dandy !!

xoxo