Project #6 Hot tub

This last weekend, we cleaned up our hot tub. We haven't had it in operation for a few months.



We first emptied it, using our submersible pump. We bought it last year. Before we had it, we had to empty it bucket after bucket. (Took a long time!)



Then we cleaned out the tub from all the "scum". It wasn't as bad as we thought it would be.



After we cleaned it, we filled it up part way, then emptied it out again, and wiped it out.



Then filled it.




Tonight we plugged it in...and...unfortunately, we ran into some problems. The power came on, and the jets started, but then quickly stopped. We tried it over and over again, and then finally we heard it...poof, and then the power light went out, and we smelt an electrical burning smell. So, now we are going to have to call the company and see if we have a warranty left. We bought it 2 years ago at Costco, and they always stand by their products, so if the warranty is out, hopefully Costco will help. At any rate, we are very disappointed!

Project #7 Splitting Fools...

Well, we did it. We split all of our wood from the Walnut tree, and all of Raj's families wood from their Cherry tree. What a tiring 2 days! We rented a gas powered splitter from HomeDepot at the Airport in Portland. It was $71 for 24 hours. We were hoping we could do it all in one day, but we ended up needing 2 days, so the grand total with gas and insurance was $161. We had to buy a bumper ball for the back of our truck, which cost an extra $6. (This was the first time we've pulled anything in our truck). We also used two gallons of gas during the two days. Oh, and we ended up buying some ear plugs. The machine is very loud. When we got it home, we were surprized to find that it wouldn't fit through our back yard gate. So, we had to split the wood on the driveway, which meant we had to bring the wood from the North side of the back yard, to the south side of the front yard. We are planning on putting the cut wood on the south side of the side yard, so we would of had to moved it anyways, but moving it before it was cut meant it was very heavy! We spent about 3 1/2 hours splitting the wood at our house, and about 10 hours at Raj's families house. We were exhausted and filthy afterwards, but relieved to have it all done!

Here are some pictures of our adventure:













And a few shot's at Raj's families house:


This was just one of the two huge piles of wood they had.



Nice action shot of me throwing a finished piece!







I was 90 degrees today, but this isn't my tan line, that's a dirt line!!!

What a week!

We have had quite a busy and productive week. We started and finished quite a few projects on our "Summer to do list". I took an extra day off this week, Saturday, and it was nice to sleep in! Tonight we finished cleaning our hot tub, and it's currently filling up. We can't wait to use it. We just have to add the chemicals, and buy a new filter, and then it's ready to use! Tomorrow we are planning on renting a log splitter to split all of the wood from the walnut tree. And if all goes well, we hope to split some of Raj's families wood from their cherry tree. (We'll see how much time we have!)

I'll post pictures of all the projects we got done later this weekend.

Happy 4th of July

Hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July. We had a nice evening. We enjoyed the firework show put on by the Historic Reserve from our driveway. What a show! Here is a Smilebox slide show of the night.

Just click on the play button below. Once the slide show comes up. Click and hold on the match and drag it over to the fuse to start the show!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Ankle Update

Well, I finally dragged myself to the Dr. on Wednesday. They took X-ray's and examined it, and thankfully, no broken bones! Dr. said I probably ruptured the ligaments, which is why the swelling hasn't gone down yet. I've injured this ankle before, always pulling the ligaments in it, but Dr. said that the more you do it, the worse it gets. So, he gave ma an awesome brace to wear for the next week. And then I can wear it when I am playing sports. I got one for both ankle's. I had to sit yesterday's game out, and maybe next week as well. But then hopefully after that it will all be healed, and I can continue playing!

Project # 5 Walkway Part 1

I bought an "All Occasion" lighted arch at Goodwill on Saturday for $12. Raj made fun of me, he couldn't understand why I would want a "wedding" arch in my yard! I thought it would be really cool to put it at the end of our walkway. And the best part about it, is it has 8 different speed/setting you can put the lights on. From dimming on and off, to blinking, to chasing. It's pretty cool. After I set it up, I started cleaning the walkway up. It was full of left over leaves from the fall, yes I know it's summer, and weeds. While I was doing this, I got a little over zealous, and started taking out our horrible ground cover on the hillside. I got about half way done, then decided hey, why not change the shape of the walkway, and so I took out the stones, and rounded the walkway. I got quite a lot done, but there's still more to do!

Here is what I got done:



Oh, and that pretty wood pile behind the arch is where my new fireplace is going. (Thanks Mom and Dad!) I just have to get Raj to split it so we can move all that wood. The wood is from our neighbor's walnut tree they finally took down. I can't tell you how excited we were to have it removed. No more banging of walnuts on our roof above our bedroom! And hopefully the squirrels will move out!





I want to put paver's in the walkway. Right now it has rocks, and it's horrible to walk in. I am always twisting my ankles! It would be a huge project to take on, but something I think would really make the walkway nice. (And a whole lot easier to rake up the maple leaves in the fall!)



Isn't it pretty at night!!! I plan on growing a vine of some sort on it, that's why there is a pot next to it. Something with a lot of fragrance. Any ideas?

Ankle

Well, the ankle is still swollen, but not as bad, and it's bruised a bit. I've spent the last couple of days "nursing" it. I've iced it several times a day, kept it elevated at work, and have been wearing a brace on it. I think I'll probably have to sit the next game out...Darn it! I probably just pulled some tendons or ligaments. I seem to be able to walk better on it today, but I certainly don't have full range of motion in it, or it's normal strength.