Winter

Winter

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Home Improvements

We are still in home improvement mode. Well we were until it hit 100 yesterday. That will slow things down a bit. Growing Japanese maples here in the central valley of California is challenging.  We have heat and drought and hot winds. If we were living in say the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon it would be somewhat easier. So last weekend I showed you photos of the shade cover that Ron built to protect his Japanese maples that he grafted on to his root stock.

Here  is the garden shade if you missed it.
This weekend, after having to go all the way around through two gates to get in the house. He decided he needed a secret gate through the fence. We love secret gates. From inside the yard you don't know they are there until you get right up to it.

Which made it really easy to bring him coffee without spilling it five times before getting here. We went in and out and it was funny to watch the dog and the cats and the kids walk in and look around at it.

Then he needed a table to be a work bench so he made one of those. I will tell you the truth, I have table envy in the worst way. I did think about sneaking out here one night and putting it in my loft. It is really too heavy I think to get up the stairs by myself. He must of known because now it has his little trees on it.

Isn't that just the best table? Here is another shot of it.

He has plans to make some more things like a really pretty bench to put his trees on but he has to dig drains and lots of stuff like that. He wants to make a thing called mist chamber for propagating cuttings. He bought things so he can put in an overhead mister to keep the trees damp when the hot winds blow and dry every thing out so bad. Today is bad because of the fires in L.A. and the winds are blowing the smoke here so it makes it seem so much hotter.

That was what my hubby did this weekend. He was so busy making things. It is nice to watch him do projects and then I get to blog about it. I of course don't do anything but sit in a chair and watch. And ask him things like, " If we lived in a parallel universe would time travel be possible?" Then he has to think and measure.

That is how it is around here this weekend. I have lots of interesting scraps of wood to play with.
Have a great week.

~Kim~

15 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i know you enjoyed yourself (and he did, too). sorry about the heat and smoke, though! terrible fires on the news!

Kessie said...

Another secret gate! I love those! Now you guys have another secret hangout, this time with little trees. The misters will be nice to sit under when it's so hot.

Also, I like the weird questions you ask. I ask them, too. My one for today was, "What if the sacramental wine really did turn into Jesus's blood on the way down? Would there be Jesus vampires?"

Kim said...

I'm sure if you hinted that Ron would make you all the tables you want ;). I do like your secret gate. We had our first warm weekend. It was heaven. I even got a little color.

Julia said...

Hi Kim, I think that the new table looks very sturdy and I'm sure that Ron will make you one if you ask rather than you stealing his table, lol.

Sorry about the smoke and the fires. It must make it hard to breath when the winds blows your way.

I hope that you get some rain to douse the fire.
Stay safe and have a restful week.
Hugs,
JB

Primitive Stars said...

Terrible about the smoke and rise, not good...sure hope you get rain.....I am sure He will make you a table if you ask nice, Blessings Francine.

Pom Pom said...

Your husband really is a tree man! Cool!
Really? That hot? Yikes! I had so much energy all day until I took a wee nap. The sunshine made me tired.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

What a joy to have a hobby and working hands...how healthy! Well it sounds like a wonderful weekend.

Jacque. said...

Sounds like things are settling down now. Good to have many projects to look forward to, don't you think? For everyone!

Sue said...

I don't blame you Kim, I might try and help you steal that beautiful table, and if I lived nearby, I would become your partner in crime. ~smiling~ Great job!!! We have some unfinished projects that are on our to-do list for summer, I am the one who stands or sits by asking a hundred question while dh is working,I am also the go-for.
I hope your temps. soon change, and that you will get rain,it usually hits the 100's here in August!
Enjoy your day.
Hugs,
Sue

Alica said...

Your husband sure is a handy guy to have around! :) (that's what we tell my Dad all the time!) It sure is a nice bench...I'll bet he would make one for you too. Stay cool out there!

Empty Nester said...

We were busy in the garden and the husband actually got out there too! He's quite handy, like yours, but you just can't get him to do anything. Such a waste. I like the idea of the secret gates! Makes me want some. But I need a privacy fence first. Drat. :) We've been in the mid 80s but no 100s. Thank God!

Meg said...

Wow! I have table envy too! That is a very nice table. And I bet it is nice having a gate there. Soon, your whole fence will be secret gates. :) I wondered if there were fires, the sky looks so brown and gross.

Nellie said...

Great progress on those projects, Kim! I love the "secret gate." I hope those fires are put out soon!
xo Nellie

Miss Debbie said...

Busy man! I think your hubby and mine could be good friends....they like the same things.

Debbie said...

hehe, you have a good friend and partner kim, now you share secret gates ;)))