Weekends at Home in July and August:

Being a homeowner means home maintenance and yard work, so I took a couple of weekends in July and August and finished up some projects.  In July I got down to the final pallet of the 4 pallets of brick that I got delivered from Home Depot back in late May and found that the color and pattern did not match the rest of the brick in the retaining wall.  The retaining wall project became protracted due to several weekends of camping and a 10 day trip to Minnesota.   Well, the fiasco of the non-matching pallet from Home Depot required 7 phone calls and 3 trips to the store to eventually get straightened out and delayed completion of the project by 2 more weeks, but I finally got it completed in early August.  Now, I can sit back and enjoy the new landscaping and brag to Holly how nice my handiwork looks.  I can now also safely walk into by backyard without slipping or breaking through the steps I made out of old pallets when we first moved in 4 years ago.  I think I can cut some slack for a couple of more weeks, but I have a trellis to put up along my garden for our grapevines.  Apparently, the third year is when those vines really take off on their growth.  It also appears that the birds really like the grapes.  

Another project I finished up was the restoration of a 12’ 1954 Alumacraft boat and newer trailer.  I got the boat and trailer on the cheap from another HP employee.  The boat needed a little work, but the price was right, and it was the perfect size to put in the bed of my truck.  Also it can fit in the bed of the Dodge even with the Lynx attached.  I had a new 4hp Yamaha long shaft, and the new boat had a short transom, so I built a transom extender out of aluminum diamond plate.  It looks sharp and is removable, so the boat can remain in “factory” condition.  I brought the boat out on the Willamette for the inaugural launch on August 12^th for a little Bass fishing.  After a couple of hours in the water no bass were in the boat, but neither was any water, so I’d say the restoration was a success.  I’m planning a big fishing trip to Tenmile Lake with the camper in September, and next week we have a float trip planned down the Willamette as part of the picnic for HP analytical labs.   

On July 7, 2007 (7/7/07), Kimber, a friend of ours, opened up her new restaurant.  We have been there a couple of times since the opening when we haven’t been camping, and it seems to be the not new place in town.  Nate got a job there and has been keeping busy.       

The Final Section of Retaining Wall:                                                         Nate at Work:

Holly with Kimber:                                                               Brian at the Bar: