deck progress

not sure i can quite call this 'progress' yet. but, moving forward, gathering materials and mapping out the spot. hoping for nice weather this weekend as i have scored a pick-up truck to use. need to get some gravel and perhaps back fill. hoping to find both of those cheap or free. but cheap and free often means a lot of work salvaging from people's yards. fingers crossed though.

i started cutting the outline out of the sod last night by hand. not fun or easy. i'll rent a hand operated sod cutting contraption this weekend. hoping i can get some helping hands to help me roll the grass (wishing this was a more entertaining form of grass rolling). then i can prep the area in the middle of the yard that was formerly and overgrown jungle and transplant the sod.

so much to do. but i'll just plug away.

yard projects

my house-warming picnic is scheduled. august 21, 2010.

so, lots of work to do in the yard.

got some free pallets from my pal, tracie last night. so, went out and laid out a deck design. i'll start working on assembling the actual deck this weekend. wish me luck. how do i get myself into these things? ha ha ha.

a long weekend!

i had planned to go camping all by myself. then i decided i would ask some friends to come. then i decided i would just go for a day. then i decided i'd better not camp at all. my backyard needs so much work. so, although we have a nice holiday, i'll be doing chores in the yard.

if anyone wants to help dig hostas and landscape, let me know.

hope everyone has fun wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

ps ruby should be in england by now. here starts the 11 day count down till she is back. :(

journalism at it's finest

now is when my affection for magazines and writing surfaces. i am so stoked for rolling stone magazine and michael hastings. i adore when a story comes out and it generates as much buzz as the death of a celebrity. printed media is such a sick and dying industry that i love to see a victory of this magnitude.

happy friday.

welcome

on tuesday cari, pauly and oliver added a fourth. congrats to all. here is a post from cari's facebook status line. cracked me up a little.

Lucille (Lucy), 8lbs 2oz, 22"

Okay - we finally have the full name for Lucy: Lucille Sydney Marie Bullemer (Lucille comes from my grandma, Sydney comes from my grandpa Sidney, Marie comes from Paul's great grandmother). We were forced to figure it out so the birth certificate lady could get her work done - I guess it's the push we needed.

i learned

how to drive an ATV yesterday. or a four wheeler?? i'm not sure what they are referred to in the redneck circles. i guess there's not much too it. unfortunately, i was working rather than playing. cutting, hauling and burning fallen wood from storm damage out in plainview.

that's one good thing about NOT owning land, dealing with the clean-up.

stress relief

disclaimer: this might make you dizzy (mom).