We not only built the planned eight-foot section of wall, but also another where the window will fit.

Started on Wednesday evening for:

July 24, 2014 - Thursday

degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I'm so tired tonight I could fall asleep here in my recliner and not move until morning. I thought I'd start writing this evening while waiting for Sargie to get ready for bed as she works early on Thursday and I want to ride five miles with her and walk back home.

Mom and I wasted little time Wednesday morning measuring, cutting, then laying out the planned eight-foot wall. Using another section as a pattern that Yooper Brother Mark had constructed, we had the wall finished and in place well before noon.

I was proud of it... no I was darn proud. With Mom looking over my shoulder and spending a goodly amount of time reading the tape measure and/or correcting my mistakes from misreading the tape measure, we roared right along. It was lunch time, but first, I wanted to send a picture to Yooper Brother Mark of our accomplishments.

He called soon after congratulating me and asked if I was up for tackling the most difficult section, that where the window will be installed. I himmed and hawed and he asked if I was comfortable trying to build it. That's all it took. I can do ANYTHING if I set my mind to it. I replied that building the wall was a go, especially using Mom's eyes.

As with any construction I do, it was three steps forward, two-and-a-half backward. I read the tape measure wrong, made wrong marks, nailed the right boards on the wrong marks, nailed the wrong boards on the right marks, multiplied and divided incorrectly, and did about everything else wrong. But with Mom's help, we eventually sorted it all out and made progress. Almost five hours after we'd started, that section of the wall was completed.

I may not be able to build worth a poop, but I'll brag on my estimating capabilities. I had purchased thirty 2x4's prior to starting the walls. I used the last stick, right down to the last scrap, as I fastened the final stud and stood the wall upright. Talk about luck... or is it uncanny skill? 

Sargie didn't get home until almost 9:30 last night. She had a quick bite to eat and then it was bedtime for all of us.

Sargie works early today, so she's up and at 'em. Thankfully, she should be home early this evening.

I took time out after lunch to build and mount a new squirrel trap platform.

I'm going to walk my five miles this morning then go to the lumber yard to purchase some more 2x4's. There's still three feet of wall to build and later, the door on one end to frame. I'm also hoping to get in some quality backhoe time today. I'd like to get the side yard finished sooner rather than later.

I better get busy; my cup is empty and that coffee isn't going to drink itself. But then, are we surprised? After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...