Little Details

Sep 242012
 

Due to Alexis’ birthday this past weekend, we didn’t get a whole lot done on the “shed”, but some progress was made.

There are so many little details that Rick does to make it a sound structure, that my help isn’t always needed.

But when the time comes, I’m raring to go and not afraid to grab those power tools and get the job done.

We actually work quite well as a team, and I got to learn more about those little details and what their purpose is in the overall structure of the building.

And I like to stand back after another section is complete, like the deck we did on Saturday, and say “Hey, we did that! ”

You know, like Michelangelo  after he finished the Sistine Chapel.

Kinda.

 

Eight

Sep 232012
 

8 years ago today I was stirred from my slumber in the wee hours of the morning by a telephone call and the following statement:  “Mom, we’re heading to the hospital.”

I woke up Rick and called Chris to get over to the house because Nichole was in labor.  I swear that girl was here in 10 minutes flat (which is amazing since it’s a 20 minute drive) (OK, not so amazing when I think about how Chris drives).

Driving 2 hours to a hospital at 2 am is not exactly ideal conditions, because that is the social hour for deer around these parts.  Since I was gonna spend a couple days with the new parent’s, Rick drove separately and I had Chris with me to look out for any critters that may look like they were gonna bolt into the road.

I’m happy to say that we made it down with no incidents.  I had expected Rick to beat us there (he graduated from the Indy 500 school of driving), but I neglected to tell him about the road construction on the normal road we take that detoured to Egypt and back, so he wandered in an hour later.

But all was well and good because it was another 10 hours before we welcomed Alexis Marie Ziegler into the world.

Was that really 8 years ago?  It just doesn’t seem possible!

Before I know it, this little girl is going to be going on her first date, learning how to drive, and graduating from High School.  And on each of those milestones I will think back to the day she was born and the excitement she gave all of us with her first cry.

And I’ll probably cry a little bit myself.

:::

Happy Birthday, Alexis Marie!

Grandma & Grandpa love you very much.

 

Woodpecker Demolition

Sep 202012
 

You know that Fall is right around the corner in the Northwoods when the Pileated Woodpeckers start tearing apart trees.

They want to grab as many bugs as they can before Winter sets in and all they have to depend on is the suet that I leave out for them.

And it doesn’t take long for them to totally deface a tree.

Luckily, this one came down a few days later so I don’t have to look at it any more.

For such a big bird, they are so skittish (kinda like Thor), always hearing the tiniest sound.

In this case, it was probably me.

As long as they stay across the road with their demolition, I’m perfectly fine with having them around.

With their awkward movements, they bring a little comic relief when the Winter blues set in.

 

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I Could Do “Stuff”

Sep 172012
 

Saturday started out to be sunny with a hint of hopefulness.  I was all geared up to cook up some great foodies for the building party.

While Rick organized the lumber that was dropped off on Friday, I ran to town and did some shopping.  I was actually excited, which is something that doesn’t happen much lately, so I started my day off with a smile and oozed happiness to all those that I came in contact with.

But when I got home and started unloading groceries, Rick dropped the bombshell on me:  no one was going to show up.

Well, there goes that balloon.

But I was determined to not let it get to me.  I kept my smile on my face and a good attitude in my back pocket and proudly exclaimed “I’ll help ya! ”

The look on his face was a cross between concern and horror.  Granted, I know which side of the hammer to hit with and what a 2 x 4 is, but I’m not an expert when it comes to building wooden structures.  And lord knows I hate the thought of using a skillsaw, much less wanting to pick the damn thing up (power tools scare the hell out of me), but I wasn’t stupid.  I could do “stuff.”

He must have seen the slight look of dejection on my face and told me to grab my pouch.

So for 2 days we cut…

hammered…

and sawed…

By mid-afternoon on Sunday we had 4 walls up.

All by ourselves.

We make a good team.

 

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