StoneWalled.

Jay has been busy building walls with all those rocks we have been collecting over the past few years. Today, he is rebuilding some steps, but this is the wall to date, and a few pictures of him working on removing a stump in the way of the next portion of wall.

Mahogany Door

Jay has finished making his beautiful mahogany screen door for the porch. I think we may have to take it with us if we ever move. :) We ordered the hinges and the door latch from http://www.houseofantiquehardware.com and put 3 coats of Sikkens Cetol Window and Door on the door, which took all week as it required 3 coats, and there were 2 sides and we had to let it dry for 24 hours between coats. 

The old steps were too high for the door to open, plus the bottoms were rotten, so in a surprise move by Jay Cole, he simply cut off the bottom step and gave them some structural upgrades instead of building new ones.  We also decided to paint the porch steps red. We had a little help for that too.

Almost done!

All that is left to complete is the door!

I made him smile and this is what I got. 

Holy crap! I look fat. Good thing I am actually preggers or this would be embarrassing.

It's All in the Details

Jay is slaving away to finish the screen porch. You have seen some of the photos of his finished work, but here are some shots of the details that go into it, so you don't think he is just goofing off and taking his own sweet time, cause he's not. He really works hard to get all the details perfect. And this porch will probably outlast us, or at least the dog.

Routered in to fit snuggly.

The routered in part,

Cut in perfectly.

The router jig.

Getting ready to router.

Routering!

Grooves for the screen.

Cut to fit into the clapboard.

Drying. Waiting to be screened.

A finished panel.

Another finished panel.

Routered out part.

The GlueMaster.

Gluing.

Gluing.

Wyatt and I painted this side. 

Pillowpalooza!

So, while the boys were away, I was able to actually USE my sewing machine uninterrupted! My friend Barbara had given me a ton of cool upholstery fabrics, so I made some pillowcases and pillows for the new furniture. If you have ever helped me move, you know I have a tendency to love pillows. I have never been able to sew seams shut though without being able to tell. Thanks to this website http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2013/02/sew-a-pillow-closed-by-hand-blind-ladder-stitch.html
I was able to do a pretty good job. You be the judge.

New Screen Porch

Jay is working quite diligently to build new panels for screen. And as he and Wyatt left me family-
less this weekend, I am quite happily enjoying the new screen porch wicker Martha Stewart Living furniture. And my cool Mad Mats 100% recycled plastic, non-mildewing, pet safe, completely washable outdoor rug. I am not however, enjoying the mosquitos. So hurry up and finish the screens hubby! :)
I did start staining the panels though....so I am not completely useless in this screen porch endeavor.

Chris the New Beek!

So, Beek is short for beekeeper, and Chris and Liz are getting totally into Bees, so in light of my bee sting/hives experience on Friday night, I suggested that Chris do the hive inspection and remove the Queen cage from the hive.  Here are the photos!