Monday, October 25, 2010

New Post

Crank up the roof with this cool jack

take out the old post (that was fun)

Install the new plate for the new post to go into

Uncrank the jack and

Voila! New post!. Needs a paint job and the railings, but it was going to rain, so I had to move quicker than I wanted to. Railings should be easy, paint and then I'm done! Woo Hoo.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Three Down


On the right of the photo you can see the 4x4 that I bought to replace the post at the top of the stairs. I will put that up later this week. Maybe Saturday. I need to borrow my neighbor's roof jack. Then I will finish the last stair railing and do the small straight railing. Touch up the steps and a few paint "holidays" and this will be done! Woo Hoo!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Hi Again!

Hi all,
I am back after a very long absence. We decided not to connect internet at home when we moved in more than a year ago because we were saving money for future plans. We thought we could get signal from the development's clubhouse wi-fi but it never worked well. It turns out that our house had a very weak signal and after several visits and phone calls we were lucky enough to finally get the problem fixed by a tech yesterday - a month after we signed up for the service with a cable company. So, here I am again!
I don't even remember what my goals where before I got pregnant. During my pregnancy one of my main concerns was to organize the house to be able to use our storage room as a nursery. We live in a very tight townhouse - or, to tell the truth, not TOO tight but it lacks of sufficient closet space and my husband likes to have everything in place - nothing lying around in the living room or dining room. That goal, I got it done by myself. Although I must say that whenever we do laundry I have trouble finding a place for our clean clothes. I like them better in the laundry basket. And there's baby's toys everywhere. Ok, we need a bigger house.
My other goal was not to gain too much weight. I dreaded to stay overweight after giving birth and that did not happen. I need to loose a few pounds still and I am working on it. I am sure I had more goals and ideals but... my baby was born, and then all changed. For the better. I find myself busier than ever, happy and at the same time exhausted. Maternity leave was like a dream. No rush, no schedules (only nursing schedule)... then I went back to work. In the past my thoughts were that "this" was something I would never be able to do. I was the kind of person that needed her good lot of hours of sleep. And then a nap. I was  very laid back, not very energetic and I could multitask only at work - never at home. For those reasons, reading this blog was like reading a superhero's story. Really. "How do they do this and that? and then have enough time to also do this other? and on top of that, run a marathon?" It's been very inspirational. And now it seems more real than ever! I realize that there's so many things I've never done because I didn't need to. I am proud to say that I have become a very organized person. I prepare a healthy lunch ahead of time, I wake up at the crack of dawn, leave home with enough time to be able to nurse my baby before leaving her in daycare, I work 9 hours, I get back home 12 hours after I left... I am always doing something to have it ready for the next day. And it feels good! I am exhausted but at the same time I am getting used to being productive more hours of the day. Emotionally I still feel confused about being a working mother but for now I think it is the best for all of us. It may be time to set new goals as I am adjusting to my new life well, so I will think about them and come back.

Two Down

Two sections down. Two to go.

Of course, I will have to replace the wooden post at the top left. It's not supposed to be sitting directly on the cement, yet it is. And it's rotting. Figuring that I am doing the railings, I should finish the entire project and fix that as well. I am not sure if I want another wood post or a composite, like the railings.

As for the railings, all I can say is they are an absolute bear. I decided to toss the instructions out and build them in place. Install the top rail, the bottom lower rail, put the slats in and screw the last bracket in place. It went a whole lot faster than putting the railing together, then cutting it down to size then installing it all.

I will be glad when this is done!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The First Thing

The first thing my nephew said when I asked him what he thought of my new solar powered posts was: "Shouldn't there be railings there?"

Grrr.

Monday, October 11, 2010

The Backyard

The backyard is a whole lot cleaner. The woodpile (of the offending screw I stepped on) is gone and in it's place is 10 or so garbage bags filled with wood pieces.

I have all five posts up for the stairs. Next up is the railing. Then continue painting the foundation.

On the health front, there is a muscle (hamstring) that runs from my butt under my knee that is aching and makes sitting uncomfortable. I think it is also not helping my knee. Am working on getting that less tense. Always something to do.