Porch Project (After)

FRI., AUG 21, 2009: After the joist hangers were secured to the frame this morning, the composite was ready to be laid. I should add there were a number of sinkholes under the porch. The guys sunk in 1 1/2-2 ft. deep in reconstructed earth.





Light pencil lines guide the placement of screws.


The steps are also composite. This piece will have a slice cut out of the top edge so that it becomes a tongue and groove type of installation. It's then slid under the riser and tapped into place, giving a nice snug fit.


Here's Fred, owner of High Quality Construction out of Luray, VA, lending a hand. The workmen, Bobby and Keith, are locals. I must not forget to mention Bill. He came in and helped finish the job. The last two days have been terribly hot and humid. Looks like we'll be getting some much needed rain over the weekend though. I hope that helps cool things off a bit. The project should be completed on Monday.

TUES., AUG 25, 2009: No work on Monday, but Fred dropped by to let us know. What a beautiful morning we have! Misty, cool and dewey. A rash of webs popped up overnight. Thought I'd take a picture of one on a yew by the house. We have a good population of funnel-web spiders and here's one of their webs. He's back down in the hole waiting for breakfast. This spider will make only one web during its entire life. He's not poisonous, just a little scarey looking. The males are about an inch long and females a little larger.


Blocks are nailed into place for added stability of decking material.


Wed., Aug 26, 2009: Another hot day. Supposed to reach 90 degrees. You'll find the hand railing on the steps is more narrow than the top porch railing. This gives one a better hand grip when going up and down steps .. especially important for small children.
They took great pains with the lattice. Stone work will replace the lattice when we complete the extended porch section. And they did a good job cleaning up. Note the neatly stacked lumber we were able to salvage. It's finished! You know, this company was absolutely great. I would recommend them in a heartbeat. Check them out. They have lots of project photos on their website. Just go to www.twothumbsupconstruction.com!

Porch Project (Before)

WED., AUG 19, 2009: The boxwoods and yews have been removed and now we get a real look at Hill Spring's front porch. *yawn* We originally wanted to extend the porch across the front of the house, but that will have to be done at a later date.



The steps show signs of decay plus they didn't have any handrails. I don't understand why they were never installed. Apparently it's illegal to not have them. We were very lucky no one got hurt.


The major support post for the overhead truss was floating in air. This post originally met with the top decking material. Under that another post was sunk into the ground, but it looks like someone shimmed it with blocks of wood to raise it high enough to meet the bottom of the deck. We'll use one long beam and sink it in a 3 ft. hole filled with concrete.


Instead of wood, we'll be using a composite material that won't need painting. The old wood will be salvaged to make seedling and work benches.

THURS., AUG 20, 2009: The workmen arrived this morning and wouldn't you know it, they discovered a gathering of wasps hiding UNDER the floating post. Or rather the wasps found one of the guys. For a moment I couldn't think of the treatment for a wasp sting, but then I remembered I had purchased a first aid kit for stings. I like to have one on hand if I'm out in the woods, or in one of the parks around here. Grandma used to make a baking powder and water paste which was then applied to the affected area. I've heard it gives relief as well.


The guys were pretty careful when they tore down the porch so we'll be able to reuse the lumber. They're even going to pull the nails out for us. The old railing will make a dandy perch in the chicken house. The girls will love it.


By the end of the day we had the support post in and the frame up.

August Update

What everyone's garden should NOT look like. Waist high weeds, starving corn, and a scarecrow about to lose its pants. I should be swimming in vegetables to can, have well-trained horses to work and most of my projects completed, but here I sit, healing ever so slowly.

I am out of the "boot" and wearing an ankle brace now. The dogs have been constantly underfoot,and when they're not, they are climbing on top of me. Here's Miss Dana with her "buzz cut". This is the first time we've ever had to shave a Keeshond, and it certainly is not recommended that one do so, but our groomer took pity on her and decided the pondwater/horse manure mats were just too much to contend with. Cody is looking rather suspicious. I suspect he doesn't know if Dad should be trusted with that cellphone or not.

I did manage to make it to the District Assembly in Richmond, VA this month. There were people helping me up and down stadium steps, carrying my baggage, taking me to dinner, etc. I was truly grateful. Of course my garment bag didn't make it to the car so I had to shop for clothes to wear. Dearest Husband complained I had not handed it to him to take to the car. I guess crutches are no excuse. The duffle bag with my unmentionables and supply of black knee-highs to keep my bare white toes from drawing attention to my boot did make it though. I was going to be the utmost example of modesty.

After three spiritually uplifting days in Richmond, it was time to go home. I felt brave and ventured, "I can make it to the car. You're not parked that far away." Dearest Friend offered to carry my bags and I must say, it was amazing. She had become perfectly balanced with bags draped over her entire anatomy. She looked like a pack mule ready to descend into the Grand Canyon. I felt it my duty to not hinder her progress and kicked my crutch into high gear.

In a sea of sisters and brothers we headed toward the parking garage. In a sea of sisters and brothers I felt my other ankle twist as it hit the uneven concrete sidewalk. In a sea of sisters and brothers my dignity was lost, but thankfully, not exposed. As I lay on the ground I heard gasps and a rushing of people to help. I struggled up onto all fours and suddenly, an outreached hand from one of the black brothers came into view. I looked up into his smiling brown eyes and welcomed his help.

After a quick check to see if I was still in one piece I looked down at my boot and there was - oh no! - the ugly glare of white toes. My knee-high was literally shredded to pieces and blowing in the breeze. Dearest pack mule stood there and laughed. Since then we've had numerous discussions about this serious character flaw of hers.

Our District Assembly theme this year? "Keep On The Watch"