I created a path leading to the front of the treehouse this weekend….it required VERY CAREFUL bushwacking with lots of repellent and immediate showering with copious amounts of tea tree soap.
Until now, we have taken a short cut coming in from the left, but it’s steep there and a bit hazardous when muddy. We are used to it, but our future visitors might be annoyed. Nothing like biting it on a muddy slope to brighten your day….
I need to cut through the old railroad tie to create an official opening from the main trail, but I’m skeered of chainsaws, so I have to wait for the CC on that one. I have found my appendages to be quite useful over the years…I know, so selfish.
While we still plan to create a proper patio area outside the kitchen, as discussed here, I wanted to implement something we could use this year…and before it gets too hot. (Impatient much?)
When word got out this winter that the Ikea Vågö would be re-issued, I knew our outdoor firepit situation (version 1.0) was settled. $25 each? DONE and DONE.
An Atlanta trip was not in my game plan given our treehouse commitments, so we enlisted the dudes at ModernNash to do it for us. Locals who may not be aware of this amazing service..take note…totally worth it.
While I still have visions of the CC casting a beautiful round firepit in concrete, that’s not happening right now, so a metal tree ring kit from Home Depot will have to do. They come in sections..I got 3 to make a three foot wide ring.
I didn’t want to actually SEE this ring, so after digging out the pit, I piled river rock around the outside of it. Since we burned through all the nice dry split wood in our log holder this winter, and we haven’t built a firewood shelter yet, (on the list) the wood that’s left is getting rained on, so we have to ring the fire with logs to dry them out a bit. At least now the ring is disguised inside and out.
Like the Things ash graffiti?
Camp Vågö was a huge hit with the whole family. The deer came surprisingly close while we were chillin’ by the fire…we’re STILL waiting for the owl babes. Lots of hooting, but no sighting yet.
While this area still leaves a lot to be desired….plans are to cover the fugly concrete wall with a custom built firewood wall, plus patio and pit upgrade…this was just the ticket for now, and we don’t have to wait another year to cook s’mores and the like over our crackling fire.
Here’s what I think I want to do with the CC’s new cement mixer. The area known in the past as the ugly poor man’s patio, will be an oasis of concrete circles, like Jenn Ski did here.
Today marks the birthday, blogiversary, whatever you call this thing that we feel the need to measure in increments of time. Two years… already? Apparently so! Last year’s recaps are here and here.
Hmmmm… 2010. This year was vastly different from the last, and I guess we’ll just wait and see what going to 11 does. This year’s biggest project was completing the next phase of landscaping…front steps and back decks specifically. The tour of the exterior gives a feel for the sequence of things that seemed to drag on, mostly due to our crazyass weather this year. The city flooded, which caused us to lose a treatment plant, thus water shortages. It was a difficult Spring for a lot of Nashvillians. We were VERY lucky. We still had a home.
At the end of 2009, I still couldn’t get in my front door, despite having some nice new concrete steps up from the driveway…
But we got that done in 2010….
With some big jobs done outside, it was time to start focusing on making it a home inside….read FURNITURE. 2010 was just getting this place starting to feel like it goes together. I’ve updated the Tour a bit to show where we are on the main rooms. For example..the living room last year….
was very different than it is now….
I moved in with a mix of Mid Century and Deco furniture that seemed to work well in my previous 1912 home, but, notsomuch here. It was time to cycle out some old pieces and get in some things that seemed to suit the house..and me better.
With that in mind, I faced a challenge with ModFruGal this year. When you move inside and start decorating, it’s a lot more personal! Sharing exterior projects doesn’t hold the same amount of dread that showing your living room to the internet does!
Thankfully, that fear has eased over the year, mainly because I have awesome readers I NEVER thought I’d have, so seriously, THANK YOU for making this a fun, and less terrifying endeavor. There was a certain comfort in thinking that no one was reading, then boom! There you were, and you surprised me by how supportive you were..and are. While renovations and growing pains are not everyone’s thang, I’m glad it’s your thang, and you can keep me company while I get this place groovin’. I don’t call it the Regal Beagle anymore because all the green carpet, maroon walls, and general decor malaise is almost gone! Almost.
So let’s knock out some more projects in 2011, whaddya say? I can predict one thing for sure for this year…there will be concrete. The CC got something for Christmas that he’s wanted for a few years..well, ever since we did this.
This one took me a bit by surprise…..The exterior tour took almost 50 photos and I didn’t even cover everything. I guess doing this little internet thing is good for getting perspective on how much has actually happened in 2 years.
One of the many things that has us a bit crazy lately is that we are rushing to add those finishing touches to the deck that we mentioned here, here and here.
It has to be done before Halloween so that children unfamiliar with the place don’t fall 3 feet off the deck onto the pine straw patio. Yes, we are hosting a Haunted Forest shindig, so time is a-ticking to keep the kiddies safe…except that I may scare them all away cuz I’ll be wearing this. Too bad.
So what are these “finishing touches” you ask? More hog panel, of course, since we ripped out that old railing during the staining, and…well, while you’re there…let’s move the steps and expand them!
Since we’re all feelin fall-ish, I thought a snow shot of the old railings might be soothing…
OK, so here’s how it’s been going…some new hog panel up, some fugly lattice still hanging out to taunt me…your days are numbered so enjoy your limited life….
New steps will center on the door where all those tools and crap are….
But the ground isn’t level so the CC poured a concrete pad….. (can you BELIEVE the mess?)
and last night he got the first treads up….
…and here it is next to the old steps, which should be coming down shortly. Getting close, but yet so far….soon!
