Weekend Yard Project

Even though I should be blogging for one of my paying gigs right now. I'd rather show off a little proj progress from the long weekend. It was such a nice break. We worked like crazy in the yard, but also had some awesome home cooked dinners with friends, and walked to a gorgeous double waterfall nearby. But I digress.

Here's the deal. I snapped up this table and chair set at my favorite affordably priced Warren Street haunt (there are a few I promise!) Carousel.
When I bought it, the chairs were white vinyl.
Ick.
Sticky summer legs, where do I sign up. Right?
Anyway - I'll probably put a clear coat over them so they don't continue to chip and rust. I like the current ratio.
Before...


After (one is an armchair and one is a side)
I'm not super awesome with the upholstery projects yet - I don't suggest starting with stripes btw - but I'm happy with it even if they are a little wiggly.



The cuteness comes together.



The over all sitation:
What you don't see is the huge pile of crappola including but not limited to posts with huge concrete globs on them (deck carcass), tons of rotten wood, three (why) rusty propane tanks, snarled metal fencing etc. etc. etc. that was piled up directly behind this little patch of concrete paradise. That's cause we lugged it outa there!



The yellowish grass is where it lurked.



Ok so maybe this IS too many pictures.
Whatever. It took a long friggin time people, so please humor me.




Bernie loves it - so there.



I made a little DIY firepit out of some of the pretty antique bricks we had. I salvaged these from one of the "chimneys to nowhere" that we took down from the roof when we had it repaired. Note to self, find out city fire laws.
I've seen other neighbors with firepits but God knows I live my life in fear of a scolding, so I'll have to check.



Here's where all the stuff is now - cause I know you wondered.
Note: Alleys are rad!



Here's more of it.
Sometimes things take a long time around here becaue Rainman loves him some organization. But I look the other way because I have found over time that his methods generally pay off.



Anyway - we will probably lay flagstone on top of the little cement patch - or box it in and pour pea gravel. Either of those would be preferable to cement. And both will be fairly simple to do since we don't have to level anything.
But this will do for now.

And after all that Joe mowed


So there's the dirt patchy, former pool area on the right and the cement island on the left. The former home owners sure loved to break up flow. If you are wondering what the heck's up with the rusty pole center frame, why it's half of the gigantic clothes line that diagonally cuts across the lawn.
We know.
It's next on the chopping block.
Joe's totally looking forward to digging out the concrete pilings holding it in place.

More soon!

Mary Doesn't Like To Talk About the Asteroid

We finally broke down and listed the WT pool on craigslist for free. We figured that if any family was willing to show up and spend the day dissembling it, then they kinda deserved to leave with the spoils, know what I'm sayin?
We did not anticipate the 150 replies we got. But being a true skeptic I was sure that no one would actually show up. I finally chose the woman who was willing to drive 2+ hours to get it - though again... skeptical.
Here's the deal - we just sort of never felt like spending the $1,000 or so that it would take to get it up, running and de-grossified.
Especially since we only considered keeping it until the renovation was finished. Believe it or not, my homeowner dreams never included an above ground pool. They also never included a Mary in the half shell, but whatevs. Mary stays put.

Partially because she is one of the only post 1900's additions to the property that appears to be well constructed and thus - sound, and partially because I'm kinda superstitious and I feel like she's good juju.
Sorry Catholicism at large, I mean thee no offense.
Here's a nice before:



And a few durings. This is after the family drove away with all the pool parts. What you see left behind is tarp detritus and pool scum.
ps: it was a freezing day. The family that came to get it were total troupers!

This is a grouchy Joe attempting to appease me with an action shot. So lifelike!

Yeah, so it kind of looked like a depressing pond for a few days. Till it dried up and began looking alike an asteroid crash site guarded by the Virgin Mother.

It looks so much better now can't even take it. We also ditched the "deck."
Mary really fancies up a yard don't she now?
We plan to fill it in and plant grass and flowers. Yay!

I've Missed You

Ahhhh Saturday. A break from the job that ate my life. Since we last hung, some shidt has gone down, my friends. For one thing it got frufrufru-freezing!
Leaf watch '08 has officially come to an end.
Visual evidence below.
Last night I brought out this full length fur coat that my aunts gave me. It belonged to my Granny, it has my name embroidered in it blah blah blah.
It's a family thing so I have to keep it, yet I look like a crazed Russian mail order bride in it. Plus I fear vigilante fur justice will be visited upon me, so I don't wear it in public per se.
Full length I said!
But ohmigod is it a hell of a Bernie walking coat. Especially when he takes so long to consider which particular leaf to crap upon at 1am.
Anyway Brrrr.

A mere week ago...



The Magnolia went early.
Now Mr. Maple is finito.

The good news is that the no leaf sitch provides a much clearer view of the white trash pool which may or may not have become a toxic waste dump. I seriously dare you to stick a finger in there. I vote for throwing a tarp over that mess and pretending it's not there till spring.

Yep, it's over till spring.

More 4th of July shenanigans

After the sun went down completely we walked over to our friend Rob's amazing studio/rehearsal space. Note Claudia's patient mother chillin' groupy style on the back couch. Rob's the one wearing the macho pink crocks. He sold all of us our houses. Welcome to smalltown USA people. Get on board.
Anyway here's a shot of all the guys expressing their jealousy at the awesomeness of the space.

I made Drea and Claudia pose for me with all the hilarious "world music" instruments.


This picture rules because Claudia is clearly frightened. But also because its a great example of the way Drea will take total direction from me whenever I point a camera her way - and she has no vanity whatsoever. (think: me screaming "give me more, more! Make me believe you totally love world music!) That my friends, is the definition of a good f'n actress.

I can't even stand how much this stoner art makes me laugh. I can just imagine the dude who made it having the brilliant revelation that led to it's creation. Dude, wherever you are, thanks for blowing my mind.

Aaaaaaaand then here's me. Because I'm classy.

Claudia is such a cutie pie.

Fox.

The end. July is gonna be so fun upstate! The white trash pool will be operational super soon!

Finally!

I didn't get up to Hudson for a little over three weeks due to working through weekends - and all around life fatigue. Which is why I have had nothing to report. Luckily, we headed up for a day last Thursday because I couldn't stand it for another second. I missed that friggin house! So I nagged Joe - under the auspices of draining the white trash pool. True, that thing has kept me awake at night (it would not be cute if thousands of gallons of mossy-moldy water came crashing down on the house) but honestly - I just needed a reason to get up there.
Come on in, the pea soup is fine!


That's two years of rain water baby.


I brought lots of country knowledge into the marriage. So I knew how to siphon. How does my brain have the room to hold stuff like that but no room to hold... say... my home phone number?