The Fence

In less than 3 1/2 hours on Thursday our backyard was enclosed with black vinyl chain link fencing. I was totally amazed watching the process mostly because this fancy contraption attached to a giant air compressor was able to drive 8-foot posts 4 feet into the ground in less than 10 seconds. It certainly made quick work of the project... (gate #1 is between the first and second posts where the guy is kneeling, next to the privacy fence we put up three years ago).

... more post driving fascination ... (this is our back lot line)
... top rails are on ...

... gate #2 is located behind the shed so we can access our "fire pit area" ...

... side yard facing the neighbor ...

... side yard again with gate #3 ...

(gate #2)

Long story short ... we've been outside every chance we've had since Thursday afternoon (we would have been outside even without the fence, but it does offer some peace of mind since we're on a crazy busy residential street). We're able to let the dogs off their leashes so they can run around ... and this next picture pretty much sums up life once we're back inside. The little peanut curled up on the ottoman as though to say, "yup, I'm spent."

Closet Update

Remember this??

I figured you wanted an update ... actually I'm sure you didn't, but I finally got the rest of the shelves up, so you're getting an update anyway. Everyone loves a good "before and after". Lots of room to grow into on this side...This is what started it all... oh, and see those 1x2s on the floor? Since it's the basement and we've had a history of water problems (pre-sump pump era) and leaking, my dad got me in the habit of propping everything up on scrap strips of wood. In the event of a leak or whatever, nothing gets ruined. It has saved us more times than I care to remember. (Not so much an issue with plastic tubs, but why risk it??)There's a little room to grow into. The tubs are filled with Mallory's "too small" clothes (what else do you do with them??) so they'll be rotated out soon enough. Some off-season, non-maternity clothes and blankets, pillows, etc.
This shot kind of looks like a disaster, but there's a method. The black bag is "too big for Mallory - Finley clothes" and behind that a space bag that needs replacing. Also, we don't use that door, so the bottom shelf sticks out in front of it and I considered it wall space to hang some bags.

One more section of organized heaven in our house. Casey was losing sleep over it, just ask him. :)

Move over spatula ... where's my drill??

Some women bake ... I like to build things. And if the task includes power tools it's all the more exciting and rewarding. (Pies are realllllly not my thing, just ask Casey.) Some would say I'm "nesting" since I've had the overwhelming urge to clean out every closet in the house (I'm getting there), but really I just can't stand clutter. Organization makes me happy. :)

Today's task was putting shelves in the cedar closet in our basement. Of course, I could ask Casey to help or do it for me. And he absolutely could and would. BUT, what fun would that be for ME?!?! This project involved a trip to Menards, a radial arm saw and a drill. Don't worry, honey, I'll do it!

Anyway, here's the before:

And here's the after:

I installed three shelves in less than an hour - so satisfying! I'm a dork, I know. After creating such handy storage space I'm re-evaluating what I will actually store in this closet which of course means I'm going to have to move some other things around too. (I'm working on purging and re-arranging the rest of the basement, so that shouldn't be a problem.)

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And as is the case with most projects, another trip to Menards might be in order since this is the OTHER side of the closet. I see more shelves and less clutter in my future.

When I finish a project like this I always ask Casey ... "See, don't you feel SO much better now?" He always smiles and nods, but really he just thinks I'm nuts.