Summer Projects

[The Comedian]

Do you have any summer projects you'd like to post about? I thought I'd start a thread about the summer projects that most of us willingly or begrudgingly complete. (I guess you Southern Hemispheric people should think of this as Winter Projects).

In the summer I tend to work outdoors quite a bit. I do gardening, landscaping, and general house repairs and improvements. I used to hate such work, but now I almost like it better than any traditional recreation.

Last summer I started a fencing project around the back portion of our lot. Mrs. Comedian liked it a lot, so this summer the project has been given license to continue.

So, I've finished 1/2 of major construction of the fence (still have to stain it a nice cedar color). It's basically a coral-style fence based on my memories of growing up on and near the ranches in Wyoming.

Here are some pictures.

This is a section of the fence with the tools I used: Quickcrete, spade, drill, bolts, level. . .

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC02537.jpg

Here's a long view of the fence: It's woven around the general boundary of woods/lawn so it's not a 'straight fence' for sure.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC02540.jpg

And another view with my wheelbarrow:

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC02539.jpg

What's that odd pink post? You ask. Before I built this fence, I built a "pullin' post" for my hammock. A "pullin' post" is a simple post in the ground with big hole drilled through it. And a long rope tied to the hole and extending outward to a hammock.

You see true hammock relaxation requires a gentle, side-to-side swing that uses minimum effort to achieve this effect. So I built this post and rope so that I could easily tug the rope to swing, gently, swing. . . .

And the pink? I let my two girls pick the paint and paint the thing. And it just happened to fall perfectly in line with my proposed fence line, so I just used it as a post.

I think it adds character to the fence.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC02542.jpg

[Lulim]

Your fence looks really good, you seem to have a peaceful place in the very neighborhood of the woods, and quite big too. The very adventure playground for your girls :)


As to my summer projects -- after two summery days, or three, I am still waiting for summer to return really. As to yet, no projects in planning or in progress.

[Virgil]

Nice fence Comedian. I would love to have property like that. But alas I'm a city boy.

My summer project is adopting a child and getting him home and incorporated into our lives. Not too big a project I guess. :p

You can read about it all in my blogs for those that don't know about my adoption.

[aliengirl]

What a wonderful place you have! Your fence looks strong and good. It reminds me of the house I lived in my childhood. We had lots of land around the house. But now living in a crowded city we have to satisfy ourselves with little greenery.

We (actually my parents) have a big summer project this time. Our house is getting renovated, one more floor added, then a fresh coat of paint to finish the job. So I think it may continue even after summer vacation is over.

[Lulim]

(...) My summer project is adopting a child and getting him home and incorporated into our lives. Not too big a project I guess. :p (...)

You surely must be joking here. Raising a child is one of the biggest project there are.

[Olga4real]

I have always admired men who do house improvements. Well done Mr. Comedian!

What's for me I am going to renovate my kitchen completely and maybe repaint my daughter's room (which I usually do myself). After that I would love to make a nice trip somewhere in Europe, not sure yet...

[applepie]

I'm looking at your woods and hammock with envy I think ;) It's a lovely looking place you have there.

As for summer projects here... The big one we have is a fence as well. We need to get a split rail style up in our yard as well as a privacy fence along the back. I've a business right behind us, so a nice looking fence seems to be a better option. It also means being able to let my dogs and kids run and play more in the yard. Other than that, I would like to do a patio surrounding my deck, but we'll see.

[Virgil]

You surely must be joking here. Raising a child is one of the biggest project there are.

Yes, I am kidding Lulim. :D

[dafydd manton]

Nice fence Comedian. I would love to have property like that. But alas I'm a city boy.

My summer project is adopting a child and getting him home and incorporated into our lives. Not too big a project I guess. :p

You can read about it all in my blogs for those that don't know about my adoption.

Entirely admirable - Much Respect! You and Ms V are to be lauded to the skies!

[Scheherazade]

Yes, I am kidding Lulim. :DJust as a reminder, you do realise that it is an all-year round project and does not end, come Autumn, right?

:smilewinkgrin:

[Niamh]

I love how the design of the fence means it is good for inclines. :nod:

[The Comedian]

I'm looking at your woods and hammock with envy I think ;) It's a lovely looking place you have there.

Thanks. It's a pretty nice place, tucked away in the woods. I live in a pretty rural area, so honestly, most homes are "tucked away" in the woods.


As for summer projects here... The big one we have is a fence as well. We need to get a split rail style up in our yard as well as a privacy fence along the back. I've a business right behind us, so a nice looking fence seems to be a better option. It also means being able to let my dogs and kids run and play more in the yard. Other than that, I would like to do a patio surrounding my deck, but we'll see.

Those sounds like big projects -- two fences and a patio! But I like those outdoor projects like that. Split rails always look so nice too.

My next project is to build a planter to hide some ugly sewer vents in our yard (my wife hates them, and she's right; they're very ugly). The planter will also give us a chance to plant some sun-loving perennials, which we don't get to do with any success because almost all of our other planters are near the woods. And there is just too much shade for most sun-lovers to grow there.

I'll try to post some images of this project too. I hope to have it done in a week.

[Virgil]

Just as a reminder, you do realise that it is an all-year round project and does not end, come Autumn, right?

:smilewinkgrin:

No? You mean I have to raise the kid for more than a couple of months? :p


Entirely admirable - Much Respect! You and Ms V are to be lauded to the skies!

Thank you very much Dafydd. Perhaps you might be interested in reading my blogs on the adoption.

[The Comedian]

Summer Project #2

As I noted earlier, I was going to move on to build a landscaping block planter to, primarily, hide some unsightly septic vents in our yard. This project is now, more or less, complete. (The "more or less" means that we still have to add some plants, but the major construction is done).

First I needed my toolbox (especially a couple of levels, shovels, wheelbarrow, rubber mallet. . . .)

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC02556.jpg

Then I began building the planter by sketching out the space I wanted to enclose and staking out a guide string to follow. Once I made the guide string, I dug a small trench around the string where the first row of blocks would be placed.

The image below shows the trench and the first few blocks for the all important first row. (The first row is the most important row because each block and block-to-block transition points have to be perfectly level. This will make all the rows on top of it level).

Oh, and in this image you can see those ugly vent pipes too.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC02555.jpg

Once the first row has been set, the rest of the work is just stupid labor -- placing one block on top of another, checking the level every now and then just to be sure. My oldest daughter (not pictured) helped me during this stage of the project. I had her "sweep" the dust and sand off the top of the blocks with an old paint brush. Then, when she was bored with that, I had caught a few toads for her to play with. She put them in that light blue bucket -- I think you can see both paint brush and bucket in the picture below. Here I'm about half way through this part of the project:

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC02559.jpg

Once I had the walls at the desired height (five rows high), I filled in the planter with the following: top soil, 6 bags of composted cow manure, 1 bale of Canadian peat moss, and two (24-count) cartons of leaf worms (from one of our many local bait shops). :) Then I mixed all the ingredients gently together with a shovel and landscaping rake.

Once the worm-ridden fertility soup was ready, planted a few plants: mugo pine bushes on one side, wild roses on the other. The rest of the planter will be filled in later in the week after much family discussion. ;)

NOTE: I'm the only male in the household (wife and two daughters), so the topic of what flowers to plant, what colors they should be, where they should be placed, etc. . .necessitates earnest and careful dialog.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC02582.jpg

[Janine]

You surely must be joking here. Raising a child is one of the biggest project there are.

I was thinking the same thing! When you get home with Matthew, Virgil, the work will just begin.

Comedian, I like your fence - good job! Will it be painted or stained and what is the red post for? Just curious about that.

My summer projects are pretty much same as my winter projects. They used to be yard work/gardening; but now I am lax on that account...too many weeds that got away from me...my garden is very natural now...more weeds than flowers...oh well...

Anyway, I plan to do some sewing and some jewelry making soon. I have delayed both too long now.

Your yard is beautiful and very natural, too. Love the way you are bordering a wooded area...lovely...

[andave_ya]

my summer project is to READ!! :D

My next semester at college will be pretty tough, so I figured I'll get ahead on my reading. So far, I'm on book 8 out of 12 for my Western Literature class, which will most probably be the easiest class I'll have next semester.

my booklist is the following:

Waiting for Godot
Faust
Crime and Punishment
Mother Courage
The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Frankenstein
Six Characters in Search of an Author
Heart of Darkness
The Cherry Orchard
Gulliver's Travels
Metamorphosis
Candide

[Paulclem]

Just found this thread after reading your Blog Comedian. I always have summer projects, but the completion of tends to be a hit and miss affair depending on the weather/ time etc etc.

I've got an allotment that needs a lot of work, but the big project is our large brick garage built by a previous owner. It needs covering with roofing felt to keep out the rain, and some serious sorting and throwing out. Then I've got to lay a floor and begin to improve the inside. I could use platerboard and then paint it, but it will take a lot of time. Also the windows are shot and need replacing.

When get on to it I'll take photos.

[kiki1982]

Our summer project(s), as we jus have moved into our own house, is/are:

Building a library for our books. The massive wood is there, it has to be screwed together.
Painting the HORRIBLE kitchen left by the former owner, which we got for 1000 euros (yes in Germany you have to pay for the kitchen if yu want it), inluding fridge-freezer, dishwasher, cooker and hood. Only 2 years old. But it's such a horrible fake-wood colour. So we're going to paint that burgundy with yellow sides.
Then we have to get cracking in the garden. As the garden wasn't tended for two whole years at least, it really needs some very bold attention. Trimming the mile-wide hedge for instance.
The roof over our terrace also needs to be recovered.
We need to build a garden shed and varnish/paint it.
A lot to do, as it seems.

:p

@PaulClem:

I heard from my father that there are now companies who provide you with a piece of roofing felt that is made exactly to the size you require. So, no overlapping and leeking in the end because the edges that are stuck together start to deteriorate. Maybe something to think about?