Pluggin' along...

For those of you who follow this blog you're probably wondering what we're up to now on the roque croquet court. Is it a weird lawn mower? Is it a rototiller? Is it a line marker? Is it some sort of new exercise machine (after all, we seldom actually PLAY croquet...)?

In real life the machine is an aerator/plugging machine. One walks behind it while it takes removes small plugs of dirt and spits them out. The theory is (I will admit there have been a LOT of theories developed in conjunction with this court...) the holes will allow the roots to expand thus leveling out the court and the sod. Anyway, Terry & John "plugged" (or is it "de-plugged"?) the court and spread lawn winterizer (special fertilizer) and 250 pounds of sand. It turns out that much sand is not that much. Supposedly the holes are supposed to be filled with sand -- didn't happen. (Oh well, I'm sure the squirrels will be happy as there are thousands of acorns in the park this year and the squirrels won't have to dig so many holes.) Now it's up to chief hydrologist, Fred, to keep the winterizer watered until winter. (With all this tender loving care can't you just envision a sea of oak seedlings next spring?!)

Of birthdays & wood...

How do you surprise an "experienced" birthday girl (cousin Judy - photo right) with a birthday party? It ain't easy especially when your husband (cousin John - you guessed it, photo left) says he's taking you out to dinner, then parks at the Emergency Squad/Fire House. Their community room is a GREAT place for a party!

Do you remember from blogs past, trees being cut from cousin John's woods for John's boat building? In case I didn't mention it before, cousin John is VERY experienced with tree cutting. All the lumber in their absolutely beautiful home (John & Judy built it themselves) came from their property. Since they finished their house, John has switched his skills/talent to furniture making. The latest addition to their ever growing furniture collection is this absolutely gorgeous "entertainment" center (it certainly kept cousin John entertained for months!). It's made from black walnut and ash from their property. While John was waiting for the lumber to dry naturally in his garage, he designed it in his head. If the sides look curved as well as the top it's because they are plus they're all dovetailed together (my mind won't even begin to grasp how one does that!). Even the handles on the doors and drawers were hand made. Notice the handle under the TV (John waited until flat screen TV's were available to begin this project). The bottom molding under the TV is actually a sliding shelf so the TV can be pulled out if needed. The counter top John took to his auto body shop and spray painted with anti-graffiti varnish that makes it practically indestructible. Good planning. Even though Judy is now another year older, she's still sometimes up for dancing on table tops...