Yes, more deck photos

It is such a big project I just have to journal the progress! The addition of stairs was a milestone. You know what they say, " measure twice, cut once," Karl said it was quite a process to the measurements right.

Karl and I worked on a Rainy Saturday morning by ourselves to secure boards across the top, but the first thing we had to do was get the canvas covering on our shade 'gazebo' so we could put the saw and work table under some protection from the rain.

Tucked just under the stairs is the slide I ordered to attach next to the stairs.

It is looking great. I have been researching deck stain and to my surprise you are supposed to wait a year to allow the wood to cure before staining. I had no idea. So we won't be staining it right away. I have to get some bids on railings next.

Progress

Last weekend we (well, not me, I went off to work while the guys labored) took a big step ahead.

Our two neighbor friends came over along with Rob and Jill and they got the support beams built and the trusses in place! Jill actually built the fence while the guys did the deck.

After the first crew left, Kenny came and joined in the fun.

From underneath, you still have to stoop -- unless you are are a 3 or 4 year old! I think it might turn out to be a fun Fort-like place to hang out. I have ordered a big plastic slide that we will attach to one of the sides.

I'm starting to believe we might get to enjoy this before the summer is over!

Cement

When you do your own home improvement projects, the progress can be painfully S L O W. However, we finally have made another step forward. We are at the mercy of the time constraints of people who have volunteered to help us, or in this case, the after hours avaliabilty of the cement guy.

I am excited to have some usable space under the deck for storage of outdoor furniture, kids toys and pools and even a place for the kids to play. The dirt and rocks that were there were gross and unfriendly whenever you dropped something between the deck boards and had to climb under to retrive it.

This photo is taken from the sliding glass door in the kitchen looking down. In the recent rainfall we have watched the water run properly away from the house and into the grass, so the guy did a good job.

Now that the rains have subsided, Karl is also able to get to work on the fence that blew down in March. The neighbors are renters so the landlord is less than helpful about sharing in the neighborly split of the fence costs....