It’s been a long time coming, but things are finally starting to coalesce.
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I peeked out back at noon and saw almost half the deck boards had been laid.
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When the husband got home at 5:00pm, two thirds were done.
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Apparently with the help of a wooden mallet.
But because nothing ever goes smoothly here, it was then we learned the contractor had misjudged the width of the boards and would be two short at the end of the project. And since this is a special color no one keeps in stock, we’ll have to live with an unfinished deck for at least two weeks while we wait for the order to come in.
Sigh…
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But if I take a photo from this angle, I can pretend all is well.
As you know, the state of Maine decided to dig out the ditch in front of our house… even though we wanted to fill it in.
The head mucky muck said they would call my husband and give him fair warning when the crew would arrive so he could plan to be here during the process.
You know where I’m going with this right?
On the very day my husband ended his (unhappy) retirement and went back to work at the office?
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Yeah.
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Bright and early at 6:45am, with no warning whatsoever.
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I scrambled to get dressed and went out to talk to the crew, trying to explain the problems we’d been having. No one cared. Their instructions were to dig out a ditch and that’s what they were going to do.
I told them about the temporary mailbox situation and said it was too heavy for me to move, but could they please drag it out of the way when they shored up the sides of the ditch.
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As you can see…
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That did not happen.
They went right around it.
WTF?
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It was a noisy, dirty day at Casa River and I knew all they were doing was making the ditch worse. The carefully tended grass on top?
Gone.
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But look, they spread some dry seed.
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Which they then dislodged with a leaf blower.
Again… WTF?
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In the bottom of the ditch, they spread a rolled line of hay like fiber.
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What that’s supposed to do I have no clue.
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They dug and they swept, but if you look closely they did nothing to build up the sides of the ditch or the top which is what caused the caving in problem in the first place.
A trip up the coast to Belfast brought us to Darby’s Tavern.
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It was built in 1865 and still has its original tin ceiling.
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The bar screams prohibition era retro.
And speaking of the bar…
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A ruby red grapefruit martini hit the spot.
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I think the Babe approved.
Darby’s is famous for it’s “from scratch” kitchen, and lunch did not disappoint.
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I started with homemade cornbread with blueberry maple butter. Ooh la la! So good I didn’t want to share.
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But the husband started with a sinfully rich cream of broccoli soup and kept reaching for my bread.
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Above the bar? The antique Budweiser lamp my husband has been trying to cajole off his brother who owns the same one . When you switch it on, the lamp lights and the Clydesdales start walking. Real man cave material, but Darbys wouldn’t sell theirs either.
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I ordered off the specials menu, though I had no idea what made a crab’s toe peek.
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Didn’t matter, it was delicious. Toes et al.
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Husband chose a broiled haddock in scampi sauce with a fresh green salad and maple Dijon vinaigrette.
Warning: disturbing avian photo to follow, but trust me… no birds were harmed in the making of this blog.
If you remember, our contractor had just laid rubber protective tape over the framing of our back deck.
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I can’t say I examined it too closely after he told us it would protect the boards from water damage. I figured he knew what he was doing…
Until yesterday when I heard something strange out back and went to investigate.
What I found was a small sparrow hanging on the board, with one wing stuck to the tape. It’s little bird companions were tweeting and pecking and trying in vain to free it. I didn’t take a picture, I didn’t have time. I just wanted to save the poor thing.
Which I did, and it flew away happily.
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Although with a few less feathers attached.
Feeling pleased with myself for saving the small fellow I went back in the house, until I heard something strange out back an hour later.
Another bird was caught in the tape.
I saved that one as well and hoped that was the end of it.
Nope.
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Bird number three… who I did take a quick picture of before I scooped him up and freed him. This one bit me for my trouble.
Not wanting to continue the sparrow torture sessions, I grabbed a knife and made small cuts in the tape so it would lay down flat around the upright posts.
Thankfully no more feathered friends were trapped after that.
Mister Cow is happy in his new home and growing rapidly.
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Billions returns for its final season this weekend. Axe is back… and I’m totally on board.
👍
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Pineapple margarita, just because.
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The baby chucks don’t look much like babies anymore.
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It’s getting harder to distinguish momma from the group.
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I performed a minor miracle last week and dragged my husband to the movie theater. This happens approximately once a year, so I have to choose carefully. And since I’m a history nerd? It wasn’t Barbie we went to see.
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When His Lordship is determined to look outside, no mere blind will stop him.
While we really like our contractor, I have to admit he’s not the fastest worker we’ve ever seen. His motto is do it once, do it right… which is great in theory… but I have a feeling it’s going to be hard on the check book.
After three days of work….
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We have perfectly level framing (which was already there, he just sanded the boards) …
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And rubber sealant tape.
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And one loose laid picture frame board.
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And rain.
Yes, we had that as well.
It rained so hard the contractor gave up and left, which was fine. Until we realized he didn’t take down his tent.
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An hour later tent drainage surgery had to be performed.
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And there was a lot to drain.
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Water is heavy.
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Which is why the husband performed the surgery and I documented the procedure.
Three days.
16 billable hours at $55 and hour.
$880… for prep work and some rubber tape. This is going to be one very expensive deck.
The contractor set up a tent to beat the heat of the baking sun.
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He started work on the framing.
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And then my husband went out to talk.
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And talk, and talk, and talk.
At the $55 an hour we’re paying this guy, I could do with a little more work and a lot less talk so I hauled the husband inside and got him busy organizing some of his old magazines and newspapers.
Bad idea. Very bad.
Because as soon as he found some interesting ones?
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He took them out to show the contractor.
And then he talked, and talked, and talked.
Jesus wept…we’ll have to remortgage the house before this is through.
And if Jesus weeping wasn’t bad enough?
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The heavens decided to weep that afternoon as well.
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Torrential rain, heavy downpours and big mud puddles.
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Left us with very little progress.
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But there is a great big tool trailer parked on the lawn.
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That’s a plus, right?
🥴
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Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.
River's world..... 