More Work around the House

Last year, I built the fences for my backyard. I never did get around to putting the fence caps on though. The plan since spring sprung was to get out and do it. We had almost 4 weeks of un-interupted rain. (You can look it up. We actually set a record for least amount of sunshine in the period) Finally got a couple of nice days, but my neighbour wasn't around to help. Finally, he left the tool with his Mrs for me to borrow and just do the job alone. It's basically a "saws-all" type thing. I must not have all my tool rules up to date though, because the damned blade kept coming undone. After the 6th time, when it flew off into another neighbour's yard, I surrendered. I returned the tool before I ended up breaking it. (Or hurting someone with flying blades) Hopefully, he's around some time this week so we can get it done. I'm also trying to get some benches made from the barn-wood I have lying around. I did get a new hose-reel put up in the back yard, though. I also installed a rain-barrel under one of the downspouts. (That's me, going green)
I picked up a tool bench from someone online. They had posted it for $50 and I responded. He later got back to me and said I was first to ask for it, but he hadn't heard from me and someone else was interested. Did I still want it? I was in the process of sending him a PM that was going to say, "If you've got a cash offer now, take it. I haven't made room and I need to clean..." blah-blah-blah...As I was typing though, I realized that one reason I hadn't cleaned was that I didn't have a proper place to put tools. If I had the bench, I'd have a place. If I have a place, I might actually get the tools away. So I sucked it up and bought the bench. Wouldn't you know it? I cleared a spot in the basement, painted another corner of floor, re-assembled the bench and Voila! I put some tools away. Making the basement slightly more organized. Amazing. (The basement would be even more organized if not for the aforementioned rain. I had to cancel a yard sale...Grr)
So, I still have work to do in the basement. I haven't started the garage loft yet. (Unless looking up plans online counts) My Dad has offered me some shelves from his office. Those will go a long way to helping organize. We're talking those old steel shelves that last forever. Not the cheap ones you buy now. He's also offered some tools that he doesn't really use anymore. I can get the new garden roto-tilled before planting now.
Oh, and to add to my To-Do list? A patio. I'll need to start digging out the area ASAP. (After I get the post caps put on. Before I do the benches, maybe.)
Gonna be a hot, sweaty summer I think.

Some work I've done in the yard today. I know it's not the puppet theatre of the last post. The theatre kind of "morphed" into a bunch of things before I could get a shot of it. It's a barn board garden box for the Mrs and the Blue Monkey to play in. (OK. Gardening isn't "playing", but you know what I mean.)

Spring Sprung.

So I'm sitting here with the laptop on my lap (Duh) while my eldest makes a puppet theatre. Suddenly, I have something to write about! After how many months?

Anyways...

Spring is here. My birthday has come and past. (I'm not 40, yet. That's all I'll say about that!) The weather looks like it might stay in the "pleasant" range for good. (Well, at least until the Summer grossness kick in.) Time to start the serious business of spring cleaning. I've been working on the basement in bits and pieces for a few months now. (Long story-short: I started, I got sick, the kids got sick, the Mrs got sick, shift work.) Today was a "serious" work day, though. While the oldest was at school, the youngest went off to daycare so I was home alone (read: not distracted and uninterrupted.) So I got the patio furniture out to the backyard, moved some bookshelves over, swept up and then painted another good chunk of floor. Then, I ran out of paint. I knew this was likely to happen and I should have gone out this morning to buy more. The plan was to buy more today, but by the time I ran out, it was too late to go get more before I had to pick up from school. (The theatre is starting to look pretty good, by the way. I'll try to get a pic up for you when it's all done and the glue is dry.) So painting had to stop for today. I'll take the littlest monkey out tomorrow morning and try to get some more done while she's napping. Speaking of, we should pack up and go get her soon. Then it'll be time to cook dinner for the brood....
Back to spring stuff though...
Also on the major to-do list is the garage. I'm hoping to build a loft in there to get some (lots) of stuff off the floor and out of the basement. Also, it would be nice to have a proper place to store other "seasonal" stuff. (Packing the lawnmower, kids bike, lawn chairs and more into the outside playhouse for Winter really shouldn't cut it, you know?) We'll have to see how that goes. My very nice neighbour has offered to help me out. (He built his own, so he's not clueless!)
I'll let you know how all that goes.

J

Cheap Plug time again

Sorry folks! But a good friend has started up an at home business in an effort to spend more time at home with her little ones.
http://www.interavon.ca/melanie.groves/
This plug is to get her site on the search engine radar.

Back to normal posting soon. (I think I've said that before)

Merry Christmas

Well, once again I have failed to connect with this thing as much as I'd like to. "The best laid plans..." etc. I suppose.
In the meantime, I felt I should at least come and wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
May all that you hold dear to your heart stay close to you.
May all that you dream of come true for you.
May all the best of the Season find you and yours.

See you in 2011.

J

"And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight
Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night!"

Back in the habit?

Over two months without a post. (Sigh) So much for getting back into this thing with any regularity.

Our oldest is scheduled to have her tonsils and adnoids removed. (Funny side note: I tried a quick Google for the combined term for the single surgery. While I didn't find that, I did find a site that said they'd give my "child a special 'sleep medicine'..." WOW!) Haven't quite figured out how to "sell" that for her yet. "It's OK honey, you're going to the hospital, you'll have a little nap and when you wake up, you'll be missing some pieces! Oh. And you get ice cream and jello!" I've got a little over a month to figure it out. She was originally booked for January, but a cancellation opened up a spot for December. Yeah, it's the last week of school, but at least it gets it done and she has Christmas break to do a full recovery. With luck, she may make it in for a few days of class. (The actual christmas party might be nice.) I think this also means we'll be postponing her ear piercing for a bit now. (It was supposed to be a birthday/christmas gift, but I don't think fresh open wounds right before, or after, a surgery is so wise.) If all goes well for her, though, she'll stop sounding like an old-time operator and snoring will be a thing of the past. I don't know how I'll tell if she's asleep, actually.
The youngest is progressing well. She's turning a bit scary, in fact. The other day, she started singing the Elmo theme song. When I didn't turn one on for her fast enough, she picked up the remote control for the cable/tv and started mashing buttons. (I think this means we watch too much TV if she "knows" how to turn on Elmo.) 18mths old and she's trying to work the remote control. Crazy. Cute, but crazy. Time to start thinking about getting her out of the crib, into a "big girl" bed and maybe potty training. Or just leave her alone. Choices, choices.

Well, my hockey team is down 3 to zip and the first period isn't even over yet. I'm stuck at work for the night. Dinner break's almost over. I guess it's time to wander off for a bit.

See you soon. (Sooner than last time, I promise.)

Summer's Done (More or less)

Good grief.
OK. So I guess summer is officially the worst time to try and get work done. With the kids and the Mrs all home, I had pretty much no time to myself. Not that I'm complaining, I'm just saying.
There was (Still IS) work to be done on my wife's business. On the website. Blogging that never got done. Some housework that went un-checked for too long. (Finishing the fence, for example.)
But the oldest is back in class now. The youngest is at daycare while I'm on night shifts. Mrs is at work again...I have the house to myself. (For a few days anyways. Nights end after next week.)
I'll try and organize my thoughts again. I have a few things to talk about. A few rants. A couple of pleas and some updates.
In the meantime, I'm shooting out these two quickies.
1) If you have the time and inclination, please register and vote for my wife's business for this contest.

http://momentrepreneur.savvymom.ca/entry/3165641

2) I helped design this site here, and I'm shamelessly adding it to my blog as a way of increasing the SEO for it. (We're still tweaking some things, but the Host sucks. http://www.burnettmanagementsolutions.com/