Almost Done / Sad News

 

Song: Vincent

 Artist:  Don Mclean

Yesterday...

I still felt slightly off.

As I didn't wish to push myself...

I stayed in bed longer before rising...

and I then took care of some things inside before starting on the deck.

This is the front side of the 2nd deck...

And this is what I had left to carpet.

I took out one roll of carpeting.

I laid it out with the correct amount of overhang measured out.

I had lain out some excess carpeting from some previous days' work...

and I will use them to fill in other areas.

I was part way done here.

I must make the separating cuts on two posts at a time before I can fit the carpet to the posts 

and make the desired multiple cuts needed to form fit the carpet around each one.

Otherwise...

the resulting torque of the twist 

would throw off the measurement and cutting of the one before it.

I sat down and rested for a few minutes here...

knowing I would only get to this one carpet on that day.

I just felt a little depleted.

Knowing I had many days in which to complete the job...

I didn't wish to allow myself to get sick again.

I tacked down the carpet...

and put everything away.

I still had to do my laundry...

and take a long hot shower before I went 

to my customary Tuesday night out at Maggie's.

I sat down in my usual table at Maggie's...

not knowing this would be the end of my weekly visits.

I then received my sad news.

I learned that this was the last night for their half off pricing...

as it was a limited promotional trial run

(I know they lost money on me...

as I would usually get the most expensive dishes :)

I felt like eating a lot of meat...

and so...

I got the full rack of BBQ ribs once again.

The soup was excellent as usual.

Their ribs are just so succulent.

I am going to miss them...

as although I can always just cut my visits down to once or twice a month...

I had so looked forwards to my once a week visit.

I was only halfway done here.

My final bite.

It was like saying goodbye to an old friend  :(

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I was so full when I got home

that I just lay down in bed as my food digested.

 I had become so tired that I just didn't feel like updating the blog

with that day's events.

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It is still morning as I am updating this while drinking a cup of coffee.

I will soon retrieve another roll of carpet...

and start on the other long portion still open.

I will still have to fill in the open end after fitting the long side...

and then fit, cut, and tack the end portion...

and I will then have to seal the whole side's carpeting.

I don't think I can finish it all today...

but I should be able to at least cut, fit, and tack everything today.

Butter Sautéed Ponzu Salmon / Sealing Deck

 

Cover Song:  Wicked Game

Original Song By:  Chris Isaak 

Performing Artist:  Jamie Dupuis

For breakfast today...

I had a craving for salmon and potatoes.

So...

I took them out of the deep freeze and began preparing them.

I decided that I would butter sautée the salmon...

...and for the potato wedges...

I just baked them at 425 F for 30 minutes.

I love potatoes...

and so...

I bought about 20 lbs of frozen potato wedges...

some pre-seasoned...and some not.

I started by melting a half stick of butter in a pan as I defrosted the salmon...

and as the potatoes were baking.

This was the salmon I would cook.

I had it on medium heat...

then salt and peppered them as they cooked.

The potatoes were done...

and the salmon was almost done.

I had the larger piece of salmon...

and I gave Bandi the smaller portion...

and some fries.

I still have some leftover salmon and fries...

so...

I am thinking of making fish sandwiches tomorrow.

I poured Ponzu on my piece of salmon.

It was so good.

This was my version of Fish and Chips.

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As it is not supposed to rain or snow for at least the next week...

I started on sealing the carpets I had lain yesterday.

After I had finished...

I realized I would have to wait until tomorrow to lay the side carpets...

as it was too windy.

Had I tried today...

the wind would have kept lifting the carpet

during the measuring phase.

But...

no worries.

I now have an open weather window of many days.

I am supposed to get my delivery of sealant tomorrow.

If it is still windy then...

I will just start waterproofing the upper and lower railings.

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As it is still rather early in the day...

I am thinking of just resting in bed for a few hours...

perhaps taking a nap...

and afterwards...

 brewing some peppermint tea...

and then practicing some music in the loft.

As there are clouds in the sky...

I am hoping for a beautiful sunset once again.

As I lay in bed...

if I notice colors forming...

I will come back up to the loft and go out on to the 3rd deck to take more photos.

------------

While not spectacular...

it was another nice and serene sunset.

And so closes another day.

I will now brew some tea...

come back up to the loft...

and work some more on my cover song

(I still have a long way to go).

2nd Deck - 3/4 Completed

 

Song Cover:  Misty

Performing Artist:  Jamie Dupuis

Today I got the front of the second deck almost finished.

Although I had lain down two carpets in a greatly overlying fashion...

cut them to fit all the nooks and crannies...

and then tacked down the carpets...

I still have to caulk around each post and nook and cranny...

as well as to ensure an absolutely water tight seal where the carpet

meets the house.

I had first lain out the carpet near the stairwell...

made the fitting cuts...

 and then tacked it down.

I then rolled out the near house carpet.

You can see the amount of overlap I have by comparing the previous photo 

to this one.

After laying it out...

I had to ensure a fairly large amount went up the side of the house...

as to allow enough to trim around the areas which stick out...

while still allowing the carpet enough depth to fill in the alcoves.

I then trimmed the carpet.

I have to have much overlay of the carpets...

so to ensure water does not seep to the wood below.

This front area...

and the side especially...

is where snow builds up...

usually one to two feet...

but sometimes much more.

It builds up especially high where the snow slides off of the roof and makes large piles.

And so...

tomorrow I will seal the carpet I had lain down today...

and then I hope to be able to lay down the two carpets which will cover 

the rest of the second deck.

I also ordered two more soft closing toilet seats and covers.

I had put one on the second floor bathroom...

as I use it the most often.

However, whenever I use the third floor...

or sometimes the first floor bathroom...

since I am so used to the soft close seat and cover of the second floor...

I will sometimes forget and just let it fall.

I hate the loud banging noise which results...

and so...

I have another quick indoor project for future inclement weather.

I had two 6 foot and one 4 foot box to tear up so I could take them 

to the community center trash collection point at a later time.

I usually do this from the comfort of my recliner...

with the scenery as a beautiful backdrop with which to tear up the boxes...

and with soft music playing.

I always try to make any chore as enjoyable as possible.

The 4 foot box and one of the 6 foot boxes fit into one trash bag...

...and the other 6 foot box easily fit into another bag.

---------------

So...

why carpet on a deck?

This is a special marine waterproof carpet.

It has a full rubber backing and very short carpet on top.

The rubber makes it waterproof...

and the carpet protects the rubber from UV induced degradation.

It also makes for a quick drying carpet...

besides making it naturally nonslip.

It was made for boat decks...

where it is exposed to all day sun...

and lots of fresh or salt water spray...

and where it needs to dry fairly quickly.

This makes it perfect for decks.

I want to make my home...

but especially my decks...

as maintenance free as possible.

Plus...

I know that maintenance delayed is damage multiplied later.

It is one of the many things I had learned in the Army.

One thing constantly stressed was that...

'Proper preventive measures...

prevents poor performance.'

Okay...

not exactly in those words...

I paraphrased it  :)

And...

if you do a job...

do it right the first time...

never do anything half way.

Okay...

another paraphrasing :)

But...

I know as I age...

my ability to work on things outside may degrade.

Plus...

I would much rather prevent unnecessary expense and work

so I may then have more free time to travel...

and to just enjoy life in general.

1st Deck Sealed

 

Song:  Time (cover)

Original Composer:  Hans Zimmer

Performing Artist:  Eiro Nareth

I had reserved today for the sealing of all the vertical bars on the railings

on the first floor deck.

I had to do the stairway mid railings as well.

Later on...

I will be waterproofing and placing raised rubber mats on this stairway as well.

But...

I have other things to do on the deck before I can get to this.

As you can see...

there was not nearly so much to do on the first deck.

The number of mid-railings are far fewer than on the second deck

plus the third deck.

I bought some supplies to waterproof all of the railings on all three decks.

I ordered Olympic Elite sealant to accomplish this.

It should arrive in about a week.

Sealing the first deck didn't take nearly so long as had the second and third decks.

Not only were there far fewer mid rails...

but my method of filling the syringe and applying the epoxy

had become far more efficient.

I had finally finished all of the sealing.

Only after looking at this photo...

I just noticed I missed capping two posts on the first deck.

I will do those first thing tomorrow.

I was wondering why I had two extra caps left  :)

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I am thinking that as the first deck is mostly protected by the second deck...

I won't need to carpet it...

as the stain on the first deck shows no sign of wear or deterioration.

I can just add waterproofing to the deck itself once every five years or so...

as it not only protects against water...

but UV rays...

which the first deck doesn't get much of for most of the day.

Unless there is a major rain or snow storm...

in which the rain or snow is blown sideways...

for the most part...

the first floor deck doesn't get snow or rain on it.

The stairs are another matter however.

So...

I hope to be able to finish them before heavy snows come.

I will have to order more friction waterproofing...

and more raised rubber friction mats.

The cloud covering looks promising for a nice sunset.

I am hopeful...

but I will have to see.

The edge of the horizon must be clear for the sun to work its magic

as it goes down...

and the clouds must not dissipate before then.

------------

In the meantime...

I am enjoying a mug of hot peppermint tea.

This is my normal reward for finishing a project for the day.

-----------

I made roast beef this morning...

so, I ate a roast beef sandwich...

and I then put the rest into the fridge.

If I get hungry tonight...

I will just have beef ramen...

and if not...

I will have it tomorrow morning.

As I wait for the sun to set...

I will just stay up in the loft and practice some music.

Tomorrow...

I hope to be able to finish the carpeting on the second deck...

or at least a large portion of it.

One thing I learned the hard way...

I will wear socks when working on the decks...

not because my feet get cold...

but because the tops of my toes got sunburned.

I was lying in bed the other day...

when I realized the tops of my toes were hurting.

After thinking about it...

of course...

I had applied sunscreen to my face and hands...

but not to the tops of my feet!

Anyways...

if the sunset will be as nice as the clouds suggest...

I will post pictures of it afterwards.

And so...

I will await the result before I post this article.

--------------

Ah...

before that...

I just realized that I often speak of my great happiness here...

and that some people might be put off by my seeming constant bragging.

NO

( This is the perfect segue into my tired old joke:

"I don't want you to think I am bragging...

I mean...I am...

I just don't want you to think it!"  :)

-----------

In reality...

again...

NO...

that is not me.

I just wish to inspire others to dream...

to plan...

to follow their plan...

and to achieve their dreams.

I have been inspired by many people throughout my life.

I have always been thankful to them...

as I often think of how they had helped guide my life

(and I repay them by helping others).

And so...

I wish to do the same for others.

But...

what is the fundamental drive behind it all?

Again...

by getting joy from giving...

you automatically double pleasure in life...

through that of giving...

as well as through that of receiving.

It is a win-win scenario.

--------------

Later that evening...

While the sunset wasn't a spectacular one...

it had a nice pastel pinkish orange to it.

It was...

as always...

deeply calming.

I just imagined myself sitting at the bistro coffee table on the third deck...

 with a cool, gentle, and fresh mountain breeze on my face...

and sipping my peppermint tea while watching the sun setting...

in the near future

( I plan to get one next Autumn).

I took this directly above me.

Although this was just a standard sunset...

I still loved it...

as always.

It is part of my reward for making progress on whatever project 

I had been working on that particular day...

that...

and my peppermint tea.

I just love them both.

It is my time to live in the moment...

and to reflect.

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You simply must make time each day to deeply enjoy

and appreciate all of the great simple pleasures of life.

Life is just so short.

But...

when you fill it with meaningful events...

and the great simple pleasures in life...

it is so fulfilling.

And so...

with having worked outside earlier...

having had my peppermint tea...

and having had viewed a serene sunset...

I am off to bed early.

Tomorrow...

I hope to get most of the carpeting done on the second deck.

It should prove to be a long day.