Summer project, even

So we just put a little patio/deck kind of thing on the back of the house, in between the house and the garage; I built it with the help of my friend Rod, who is the same guy who did the breezway enclosure for us several years back. 

I guess it isnt a 'deck' per se, since it is not in any way attached to anything. We get enough heaving in the winter (we are on all clay being so close to the Kennebec River....the river is probably only 800 yards away from our house actually....most folks dont realize that) so I didnt want it rising and falling with the house and garage. Rather, the whole structure is 'floating,' and is just resting on some 2x6 boards/joists and such...Then, for a little 'flair' and privacy, we put up some 4x4s and some lattice work and such on the corner facing Weeks Street....

Dont let the picture fool you.....I dont even know how to use a drill....lol,, even.....

The easiest (yet slowest) part was actually putting on the decking itself....lottttttttts of screwing (DONT!) and new bit buying as we kept wearing out our bits with all our screwing (DONT!!!)

The 4x4s up and just fitting the last piece of decking around the posts before putting up the lattice. I am saying this now that I have a feeling I will be fighting that ancient Hosta on the right for years and years to come....

The finished product! It is bigger than we thought it would be (we are pleasantly surprised!) and, of course, Maira thinks it is a stage on which to dance, and the first thing Callum did on it was dump his box of Hotwheels and start racing....but that is awesome! That is exactly what we want this deck to be! We left our picnic table off and put it on the lawn under the shade of the cherry tree thing....and we will just put some chairs or a little table or whatever....we dont even care...we are just happy to have a nice, flat, clean place to sit. We have a small yard, so we try to take every advantage of it, and I think this will serve us well!!

Sally was talking about growing some peas or Clematis up the lattice...perhaps I will try hops! So come on over and have a drink with us!!!

Oh yeah...and Maira got stung by a bee on her lip today....she is fine now...she was checked out and all...but look at this picture.......but dont worry...she is back to being her sassy little self!