Sunday, April 27, 2014

A few projects . . .

So, a few things we've been up to . . . one of the keys on the piano was sticking/ringing and since I have started teaching again, I REALLY needed to get it fixed, but didn't want to pay $100 for a tuner:)  So . . .my wonderful husband dug into it on Friday -- isn't that how you would want to spend your day off???? Well -- he did it . . .he totally fixed it!  


Long story, but we happened to hear about a program that does energy audits for your home that are 100% reimbursable if you make the suggested improvements -- and it was highly intriguing!  Guess this means we'll have a few more "to do" projects in this coming year . . .!



So . . . we discovered after we moved here that we needed to have an in-ground basketball goal instead of a portable goal . . . so, we decided to make use of a 30% deal from Dick's Sporting Goods and get this party started.  Well, maybe "party" is not the correct term:)

Starting time . . . 11AM.  Bryan deliberated about renting a post hold digger --- but decided to muscle through it.  The task . . . digging a hole 36 inches deep, 16 inches in diameter.  How hard can that be, really????


Um . . . really hard.  Just to put it in perspective . . . this is Tyler . . . and he wasn't done yet!


It makes me claustrophobic just looking at it!  I'm guessing this picture was taken at about 6pm!



Ah . . . finally ready for the concrete!

At 8pm, Bryan finally had the hole dug, cornet poured, and form made for the top platform.  He was one sore puppy for the next week:(  And the sad part -- all you had to show for it was a 12X12 slab of concrete level with the driveway!

I don't have any pics of getting the backboard attached -- but it might have involved roping in the neighbor from across the street (Bryan and Michelle -- you really miss us right now, don't you????), multiple attempts with various ladders, and a loaf of homemade bread as a thank you gift!  Thanks John -- you saved the day!

The finished product!  We didn't have this in mind when we initially picked this goal . . .

 . . . but those "bat wing net thingies" act as a great backup net when Joshua is practicing his pitching.    (See the pitching rubber on the tree mulch????  We're gonna paint that so it's not quite so red neck!)  Not the most ideal setup, but the back yard is SUPER sloped, and it's a great saver for whoever happens to be catching!


And for the next project . . . the backyard had this water garden/pond thing . . . and we knew it needed some attention.  But . . . after digging in a little deeper, it's gonna be quite the project.  The smell . . . it's atrocious.  Think dead leaves, dead fish, dead mulch, dead everything, 12 inches of sludge, Ugh.

It's going to require removing most of the rocks, pressure washing the liner, rocks, everything.  Ugh!  Are you sure you just don't want to fill it in Bryan?????  What a man . . . everything from digging up a nasty water garden/pond to fixing a baby grand piano!!!!!

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