Some pix of the deck

Here are a few pictures of the deck. I will take more tomorrow when no one is on it, so you can see the whole thing. It's so wonderful to have it finished and be able to sit outside in the wonderful fresh air.

I am going to be spending a LOT of time out there. The dogs love it on the deck. D'Artagnan didn't want to come inside today.



 




Our new deck

Our new deck is almost finished. We have worked for days to get things ready and done.

We bought all the wood on Saturday and had to haul and stack it in the back yard. It was exhausting. I have to give Shawn and Pat credit for carrying most of it. I did help carry but mostly moved the wood from the truck to the ground. We had to rent a moving truck to get it home.

On Monday we tore the old deck down. I am so happy that we decided to build a new deck because the old one was rotting and we didn't even know it. The wood crumbled at some points. It was a mess. I was trying to help bend nails down and stepped on one nail that went thru my left big toe, but not all the way. I called my doctor and they had me come in right away for a tetanus shot. It has been years since the last one. So we go the deck torn down, the joists put up and the support beams up. I made only one trip to the hardware store.

Today the guys started working at 8am. B y 8:30 I was on my first trip of the day to the hardware store. I had to exchange two boards that weren't the right size.

By the time I got back, I was ready to start laying the deck floor. My daughter and I laid the entire floor of the deck while the guys secured all the beams and make the structure safe and stable. It was fun to do the deck and I get to see the results of my hard work every time I walk out on my deck. So halfway thru laying the floor, I had to make trip two to the hardware store. Mind you. Olivia had literally just returned from Lowes when I ran out to Home Depot.
We got the entire floor done, the handrails up, and Olivia and I started putting the pickets into the frame. We didn't get the entire job done, but we will tomorrow. Our dogs are already loving the new, larger deck. D'Artagnan was ready to run out onto the deck even when the floor wasn't completed. Zura was a little more timid and wouldn't come out because she didn't feel safe without the pickets on. The cat was having nothing to do with the deck. All the noise and people in and out of the house really set him on edge.

I will take pictures of my new deck when I am finished tomorrow. It won't be stained yet, but it will still look good. I'm so proud of how it looks.

I haven't worked this hard physically in a really long time. I can't complain tho because those men worked their rear ends off. I was so proud of my husband, who got to help today. He really worked hard to have his deck done. I definitely got cardo and weight lifting done this past 4 days. Tomorrow will be another day of lifting and bending.

I hope all of this work shows on the scale this week.

Thread, shuttles, and crazyness

I got more than 50 skeins of thread dyed yesterday. I had a bunch of help and it turned out great. It's all going with me to Palmetto Tat Days for my vending table. I know I was approved for the table because my check was cashed last week. Woo Hoo. I am ordering some really cool stands to display my threads. I'm not sure how big of a table I will get, so I need to be prepared with table coverings and decorations. I'm getting really excited about this event. Here is a photo of the thread I got done so far.

I have about 50 or 60 shuttle forms in various stages of completion for the event also. I want to bring a lot of stock even if I don't sell it all, I'll be ahead of the game for my Etsy store. I would also like to get into a store somewhere selling my products.

On Saturday I started a new FB page called Crafters Unite to Change the World. It's for crafters because we all get along on FB even tho we come from so many different countries, lifestyles, religions and personal beliefs. If we can all get along, why can't everyone in the world?

This this just happened. We just had a funny family moment. The dogs went out the back door to go to the bathroom and the door was closed. All of a sudden, there was a little banging on the door and no one knew who it was. The door was opened and my cat was standing there. He's an inside cat and doesn't like to go outside. Poor baby ran when he came back in. He's now hiding somewhere in the house.

Frustration abound

UGH, UGH, UGH.

I was supposed to get my laser machine today. It didn't show up. I called Fed Ex to see where my package is. They transferred me to International Shipping. So the "wonderful" rep who I spoke with used the terms "I think" and "probably" too many times for my liking. Customer Service reps should never use those terms. I had to explain the tracking scans to her. She didn't even know how to read that the package cleared customs 5 days ago. Now my package is in Memphis TN and there is an N/A where the estimated delivery date is.

I know that I shouldn't be complaining and that it will be here, but I scheduled the entire day to have someone at my house so they could receive the package and I don't know when that will happen again. I have too much going on this week.

Deep breaths are definitely needed.

Making shuttles and dyeing thread again

I have begun to start getting ready for my vending table at Palmetto Tat Days.

I cut 50 shuttle blanks and have them marked for shaping already. I will begin my process of making shuttles in a few days. I also am getting ready to wrap thread for dyeing.

I figure there are already 90+ people registered for the event, so I will be bringing more product. I will also have a vending table so it will be easier for people to see my merchandise.

I am getting excited for this trip. There is so much to do to get ready. No matter how much I bring, it will be enough. I will make an order sheet available in case anyone wants to order something they don't see. I hope to be able to bring some engraved shuttles with me as well.

I'm jumping on that machine as soon as I get it. I want to be ready to go.

I also have so much to do for the wedding. Tatting and other things. I am going to put all of that off until after Palmetto. I can't be double minded right now, so I will concentrate on one thing at a time.

I also am taking a beading class in August. It will be a nice break from all the tatting I have been and will be doing. I also have some bobbin lace classes coming up with my teacher. I may have to postpone them because she hurt her knee and I don't want to have her over do it.

I have put my tatting book and my personal book on the shelf for a while. I think I need to put other things on the shelf and concentrate on them. We'll see. I don't have a time limit for the books.

Gee, when did my life get so complicated? I'm just this person who hates to leave my house and finds it really hard to step outside of my comfort zone. I am really pushing it. I hope that I don't crack from all the pressure I'm putting on myself. I need to take this stuff one day at a time and one project at a time.

Along with all of the stuff I am doing, I'm trying to lose weight. I am a stress eater and boy have I been tearing up the snacks. I need to slow down. If I keep my hands busy, I won't have time to snack.

Well, off to wrap some thread. No procrastinating allowed.

Laser Engraver is on the way

I am really excited. I just checked shipping and the laser engraver has passed thru customs and is enroute. It's in Cali right now. I will have it on Tuesday. I am going to see if I can get my friend Bryan to show me how to use it. I just hope I can get the hang of it fast. I know that this machine is going to open up a whole new level of sales for our Etsy store.

I am going to me so happy and busy at the same time.

I also got some really cool babinga wood that I am going to use to make shuttles. The post kind that click. I'm working on them now.

New machine is coming...........

Since I broke Shawn's Shopsmith, a friend of ours is going to take it to see if he can fix it for himself.

When I told Shawn that I needed to get a new lathe he said that I had to decide between the lathe and the laser engraver. No brainer their. I bought the laser engraver. I heard from the seller today that it will be here on Monday July 14th. I am so excited. I'm going to rip that box open and figure out how to work it right away.

If I get good at making shuttles, I will ask if I can make commemorative shuttles for Palmetto Tat Days. I'm giddy waiting for it. I am just praying it's not a disaster like the last machine I ordered.
Here is a picture of the machine I got.

It was a little more than I planned on paying but it's also a way better machine. I didn't want to get the cheap version. If I'm going to be using it, I want a good machine with some power.