Moses, Moses, Moses....

Wednesday, a week and a half ago Rat and I stayed out until after ten o'clock at night, working by porch light as the world grew pitch black and disappeared around us.

We completed the back deck, but I needed his help to set the posts out front. I had tried to do it on my own over the previous weekend, but those dang screws!!!! Whomever redesigned the 'composite to wood' screws figured that whoever uses them will never make a mistake.... will never make a design change or need to back them out to reconfigure a cut!!!! What should have taken 20 minutes to complete took both of us, with pry bars, numerous drill bits, hammers and vice grips more than an hour and a half to do!!

The crunch was on... I was heading out Friday morning to visit my son in NH, staying in Maine and I wanted it done!

I worked well into the dark again on Thursday, this time alone.... by the time I was finished....all that needed to be done was to set the final post in the step, attached the three small side rails and the three top rails...

"Shouldn't" take long at all.... Rat agreed to stop by on his way to work Friday morning so we could finish before I left. Seems like the designs I come up with... nothing is never easy. This time we started in the dark and worked well into the light of day. He let work know he would be a little late.

I had to leave for Maine. Rat needed to get to work. The three top hand rails would have to wait until I returned.

And so there was Maine.... stayed at the beach, enjoyed my son's and mother's company, ate the most amazing lobster (for breakfast and dinner), discovered blueberry lemonade, watched surfing seagulls, played with puppies, bought shrubs for around the new deck, took the kid shopping for clothes and food (what else does a college kid need?), got rained on, tried to stay up late to read, stayed up late to visit a friend, met the kid for Sunday breakfast and drove the seven plus hours home....










Monday night, came home from work, needed to buy some groceries, cook a few meals and drive them down to Philly (minimum 3 hour round trip). Son number two was having a week of exams and would have little time to eat let alone cook. I was pleased that I could help him.

Tuesday night I crashed and burned. I had every intent of getting out there and working. Even changed my clothes and went out to start. But the tenant came home with her beautiful 5 month old baby girl and I asked if I could play with her for a bit.... We walked to the pond to look at geese, sat on the swings for awhile, and I got to baby sit for a bit. It is amazing to see the world through her eyes as she just took it all in. I'm pretty sure I was in bed by 8.

Wednesday night while waiting for Rat to come over... I managed to get all the new shrubs and plants in... Once he arrived, we set right to work... save dinner for after the daylight left us... and it did... but we finished!!! Not only did we finish, but we ate dinner and celebrated with some black mead I had picked up in Wisconsin this summer (on my way to MN) Dang that stuff is wicked!!! Kicked both our tired arses!!!

Thursday night with the loving support of my wonderful mother, I pitched three cords of mulch.

Friday night I had errands to run as I had invited friends from work over to celebrate..but I still had work to do before they arrived.

Saturday morning.... get the house clean, make the burgers, do the laundry, prep the food, get the glasses cleaned, power wash the decks..... AND... shovel a ton (literally) of river rocks and wash them!!! But I got it all done with time to spare and we had a marvelous time celebrating the completion of the decks!!
















It is an amazing feeling to have totally completed the projects!!!

I've dotted the i's and crossed the t's....

So, let it be written.... So, let it be done.
Mouse, Mouse, Mouse.....