Evolution of a Deck: Day 3, 4, 5

The evolution of this deck took an interesting turn on Saturday...

Here is the work that was done...

Here is the unusual turn.... A sledgehammer was dropped and landed on Matt's head. A lot of blood, some scary moments, ER visit, and 2 hours later... This is what we had... 3 staples. Scary day! We were supposed to be at a wedding at 2, The accident happened at 12. Needless to say, we didn't make it. Matt is doing fine now. Staples can come out any time Sunday or after.

The steps went up Sunday after church. You will see them in the pic above that I said was Saturday. I forgot to take the pic Saturday because of all the head trauma chaos, but the floor was what was done.

On Monday evening we added the first of the rails and pickets. The worked slowed Monday because my contractor has several jobs going on right now. It is coming right along though. It should be completely finished by Sunday. I hope so anyway... Might be some rain coming to slow us down a bit. Stay tuned!

Evolution of a Deck: Day 1 and 2

Since last summer I have been thinking about adding on to my existing deck. I love to have people over and needed more space outside. I bit the bullet this week and started the process. No I am not building it myself... but I know a good builder!

Before the work began.

The materials arrived Wednesday afternoon.

This was the end of day one, Thursday afternoon. It took a while to get the posts in because of a lot of bedrock that was hiding just beneath the surface. It kinda gives you an idea of where I am going with this. The finished product will look like a "T," and the window to the left will become a door.

Here is the end of Day 2. In a matter of no time I was walking around on it today. It was exciting to see it there so quickly.

This view from the ground shows even more of an outline of what the finished product will look like. The empty frame that is coming out of the large part will be a step down patio with room for the grill to the right and then the steps will come off to the left. The 6x6 posts to hold it up will be concreted in first thing in the morning. The little skinny boards are just there to brace it temporarily. The mess in my yard is about to tear my nerves up, but it's all in the name of progress. It should all be finished by this time next week. Keep your fingers crossed.

Mr. D

I am not sure if I have ever shared this with my blog readers... It is a picture of me that one of my students drew on the board this year during a rainy day recess. It was so good that I saved it in the clip art library and used it again in some of my Promethean lessons. I love the way she did the beard. Happy Monday!

Summer Reading Tourney

Our school is participating in a district wide reading tourney where teachers read as many pages as possible over the summer. The school with the most pages wins something... I really have no idea what... bragging rights I guess... We are doing this because we wanted our kids to participate in the kid tourney. They will be expecting us to win like we are hope they win.

Anyway, the last time I read a whole "grown up" book was years ago, and it was most likely a requirement for some class. My reading consists of blogs, children's book and foxnews.com. My attention span requires short chapters and lots of bulleted info.

So far this summer, I am happy to announce that I have read 3 whole books and started a 4th. Below are the ones I have read.

This one was first.... LOVED IT! Everyone should read it.

This one is going to be our school's book study for the school year. I was a nerd and read it early. Easy read and I learned a lot.

AWESOME!!!! Get it on Amazon and read it. I read it in 1 day! I don't do that people.

This is the 4th one that I have started... When I get finished there are a few more below I hope to tackle before school starts back.

Hopefully I will get to these.... Any others I need to get?

Blog From A Front Porch Swing 2

I said I was gonna be out here a lot this summer... Guess I better get to gettin' huh??? It is just now getting dark good... Some crazy fool is shooting off what is left over of his holiday fireworks and the Eastern Spade Toads are having a fit down by the creek.

It is kinda cool out tonight. We had some rain earlier and there is almost a hint of fall...... I know I know... way too early for that, but it gets me excited to think about all that comes with fall... Fall and back to school are on my brain today. Wal-Mart officially put out school supplies today and I bought my Crayolas for 25 cents a pack. I always buy them for school and my OCC boxes. If you are gonna pack a box, then now is the time to get crayons. Go run and get them now... I will be here when you get back....

Glad you made it back..... I am still on the porch... Surprisingly there are no mosquitoes tonight. Either they are gone in or I am getting bit and don't know it. I am glad it is dark right now... It is keeping me from seeing all the weeds in the flower bed....There is more grass in there right now than flowers. My hostas are dying, and the Day Lillies are way too high... They are beginning to look Amazonish.....

O well.. I am headed in... Apparently there are mosquitoes!

Strep Throat

I have it.... apparently my mystery, random fever Friday at the beach was the onset... Then no fever or nothing for 3 days.... Then Monday night out of no where my fever went to 102.3 in just a few minutes. In a few hours blisters on my throat...

I thought I was better Tuesday morning... got up, showered, got dressed...then... POW... a fever... and the throat pain was ever worse... My fever lasted most of the day... broke around 3ish.

Today... so far so good with no fever... but my throat is on FIRE. Hands down the worse sore throat I have ever had. VERY PAINFUL!

Hopefully I will feel better in the morning. Wish me luck... If you are still reading.

I know... I know... I have fallen off the planet, and I am trying to get back on, but it spins way too fast!!!

Can it truly be that I have gone over a month with no blog??? Is there anyone still out there??? Does my lack of blogging mean there is nothing for me to say??? HAHAHA.... you know that "ain't" so!!!

According to my last blog, on MAY 28th, I was about to post some pics from Disney with Dennis and the Memorial Day trip to Atlanta. Then I must have gotten distracted by the end of school... Then a week out of town with no Internet, then a week back home with no computer because it was at the MAC hospital, then another 10 days at Ocean Lakes with a "borrowed" signal that went in and out.... Finally, I am back at home with a working computer and Internet.... THE WORLD MUST BE BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF!!!!!

Let me catch you up....

This pic is me sitting in front of the monorail with the driver. Only 4 spots there and you have to ask the attendant. Dennis always seems to get the hook up. I am glad I am his friend! Hope it wasn't our driver that was involved in the crash down there yesterday.

Here we are at the gate... Dennis is the guy in the red tie-dyed shirt, and my favorite teacher of all-time... Mrs. Garrett is on the left. You may remember them from last year's trip to New York.

Me and my favorite Disney Character... Excuse the double chin... He was coming fast and there was not a lot of posing time.

This could possibly be my favorite pic ever. We took it inside the Buzz Light Year Ride and it just turned out so good.

New Trip..... This was a quick Memorial Day weekend trip to Atlanta for Six Flags and the Braves. Not a lot of pics from Six Flags because it rained off and on the whole day and the camera stayed hidden.

Another Trip.... Myrtle Beach for 10 days. Just got back today. More pics to come soon. Johnnie-Lynn has some really good ones on her fancy camera.