Well, I decided to do some "accessorizing" on my blog... I added a guest book (lower-right), so please feel free to sign it.
I also added a simple tracking capability to allow me to find out how many people are accessing my site. It doesn't show on the page, but it allows me to go view a daily report. I can't really tell who visits, but I'm not interested in violating anyone's privacy anyway...
When I added photos the other day, I signed up for Google Picasa Web which allows me to have web photo albums, slide shows, etc. So, while that doesn't yet, I do have a place to put such things, and future posts will likely use the slideshow rather than separate photos like I did before. In fact, I may go back and change that posting to show the pictures as a slide show...
This has been fun, and there certainly are a lot of tools out there to help newby's like me :)
No further progress on "The Hill" to show. I do have a job :)
Today is the first day my SW has not had to go to school, and it is nice to have her home. When the kids get through with this year's school work, that will be even nicer... (We home school, in case that wasn't already evident.)
Hope to see some guests sign in sometime... You should be able to make your entry private if you prefer... Thank you in advance for signing :)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
The Terraced Hill... (part 3)
I have a feeling that this isn't what Jesus was referring to when he said that if we had the faith of a mustard seed that we could say to this mountain, "Be moved," and it would be moved...
In order to terrace this hill to have a reasonable slope in between the levels, we are going to have to virtually lop off the top of the hill, and it is nearly all clay. I may have bitten off more than I can chew...
Well, one wheelbarrow load at a time, we will make progress, and hopefully, we will conquer this hill!
I would include pictures today, but it just isn't pretty!
Meanwhile, my SW has completed her last day of school teaching at the public school. Now, the fun begins -- school teaching at home... Let's hope she has not bitten off more than she can chew...
In order to terrace this hill to have a reasonable slope in between the levels, we are going to have to virtually lop off the top of the hill, and it is nearly all clay. I may have bitten off more than I can chew...
Well, one wheelbarrow load at a time, we will make progress, and hopefully, we will conquer this hill!
I would include pictures today, but it just isn't pretty!
Meanwhile, my SW has completed her last day of school teaching at the public school. Now, the fun begins -- school teaching at home... Let's hope she has not bitten off more than she can chew...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Terraced Hill... (part 2)
Well, I missed blogging yesterday as I was very tired from working on "the hill" all day, and then we went out for ice cream after dinner... To say that "I felt like a blimp" this morning would imply that I felt lighter than air -- which I assure you, I am not... The metaphor would have to be something between feeling like a beached whale and feeling like I was hit by a truck...
As I rolled from the bed, I was glad the floor was there to catch me. You get the picture.
So, I worked here at the computer for part of the day, and then went back outside to work some more. While it is true that we have completed 1 of the 6 rows of landscape timbers, it would be misleading to say that we are one sixth of the way to completion. The first row was shorter and easier than the rest will be. I'm pretty sure that I'll end up removing a good portion of the hill since it is currently far too steep.
I have now moved the pictures to a slide show on the right side of the page...
Actually, I had started laying the timbers out where I wanted them, making sure they were going to be level on the contour of the hill. You can see the progress after 1 day (or really, 1 and a half days)...
So, there is the beginning of this grand project... Tune in again later this week to see if I have time to finish the second tier (or even to start it)!
As I rolled from the bed, I was glad the floor was there to catch me. You get the picture.
So, I worked here at the computer for part of the day, and then went back outside to work some more. While it is true that we have completed 1 of the 6 rows of landscape timbers, it would be misleading to say that we are one sixth of the way to completion. The first row was shorter and easier than the rest will be. I'm pretty sure that I'll end up removing a good portion of the hill since it is currently far too steep.
I have now moved the pictures to a slide show on the right side of the page...
Actually, I had started laying the timbers out where I wanted them, making sure they were going to be level on the contour of the hill. You can see the progress after 1 day (or really, 1 and a half days)...
So, there is the beginning of this grand project... Tune in again later this week to see if I have time to finish the second tier (or even to start it)!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The Terraced Hill... (part 1)
It was a pretty good Sunday... After Church and lunch, we went back to Home Depot to start getting supplies for building this terraced hill (however you say that). We now have several tools and 80 landscape timbers (on our way to 200)... It is going to be some project!
Oh, and we were able to get the edging around the tree and mailbox about 50% finished. We have the old one out and the scalloped bricking down, but we're adding an border around the outside of the brick that will be covered by top soil to just secure the brick pieces since they tend to be loose on the hill around the tree...
So, we have our projects under way, and I think they will turn out nice...
My SW says she is going to go take pictures tomorrow morning before I get any real work done. I just have a leveling line set up so I can try to keep the timbers level as it contours around the hill. It is going to be a big project, but I plan to get right at it and get it done...
Oh, and we were able to get the edging around the tree and mailbox about 50% finished. We have the old one out and the scalloped bricking down, but we're adding an border around the outside of the brick that will be covered by top soil to just secure the brick pieces since they tend to be loose on the hill around the tree...
So, we have our projects under way, and I think they will turn out nice...
My SW says she is going to go take pictures tomorrow morning before I get any real work done. I just have a leveling line set up so I can try to keep the timbers level as it contours around the hill. It is going to be a big project, but I plan to get right at it and get it done...
Saturday, May 26, 2007
DIY Projects
One of the things I've learned in my vast blogging experience is that it makes most sense to type the blog before the title... What I want to say sort of evolves as I type, and so I never quite know what an appropriate title will be until I'm done :)
Today was a good day. Besides the work I was able to get done, I started planning a couple of small to medium outdoor projects for the next few weeks (as I have time).
The small projects are some new edging around the tree out front and the mailbox where Dawn has some flowers. The current edging is cedar blocks, and they have seen better days. We decided on some scalloped red brick that comes in 1 foot sections. So, we brought it home from Home Depot tonight, and it should take me a few hours tomorrow afternoon.
Then, we will get a couple big loads of landscape timbers (and re-bar to stake them into the ground), and we will try to terrace the hill behind the house so that we will have 6 levels about 2-3 feet wide each, separated by stacks of three timbers at each level. It is currently a very steep hill -- far to steep to mow or even walk up or down. So, it will be a nice area for rows of flowers instead of an impossible hill...
So, this one is probably a bigger project than I realize right now, but then most DIY projects turn out that way. Maybe I'll post before/after pictures :)
The good thing about blogging project plans is that you have someone to ask you how it went...
The bad thing about blogging project plans is that you have someone to ask you how it went...
We'll see how it goes...
Today was a good day. Besides the work I was able to get done, I started planning a couple of small to medium outdoor projects for the next few weeks (as I have time).
The small projects are some new edging around the tree out front and the mailbox where Dawn has some flowers. The current edging is cedar blocks, and they have seen better days. We decided on some scalloped red brick that comes in 1 foot sections. So, we brought it home from Home Depot tonight, and it should take me a few hours tomorrow afternoon.
Then, we will get a couple big loads of landscape timbers (and re-bar to stake them into the ground), and we will try to terrace the hill behind the house so that we will have 6 levels about 2-3 feet wide each, separated by stacks of three timbers at each level. It is currently a very steep hill -- far to steep to mow or even walk up or down. So, it will be a nice area for rows of flowers instead of an impossible hill...
So, this one is probably a bigger project than I realize right now, but then most DIY projects turn out that way. Maybe I'll post before/after pictures :)
The good thing about blogging project plans is that you have someone to ask you how it went...
The bad thing about blogging project plans is that you have someone to ask you how it went...
We'll see how it goes...
Reflections on Chores and Priorities...
Well, it has turned out to be a reasonably profitable day so far... Dawn (my sweet wife ;) did a bunch of house cleaning, and I was able to unpack the suitcase and get the lawn pretty well mowed, though there is always more lawn work to do...
What I don't get done today will just have to wait until tomorrow... When I'm old and gray, and I look back over my life, I doubt I will remember whether I did the trim around the trees, etc, but I'm sure to think I should have done more things with my wife and kids. Some things can wait until tomorrow, and some things may not be here tomorrow... These are called priorities...
What I don't get done today will just have to wait until tomorrow... When I'm old and gray, and I look back over my life, I doubt I will remember whether I did the trim around the trees, etc, but I'm sure to think I should have done more things with my wife and kids. Some things can wait until tomorrow, and some things may not be here tomorrow... These are called priorities...
Lazy Saturday...so far
Well, it is Saturday on Memorial Day weekend... I feel like I should be getting many things done around the house, but Saturday is half over, and I haven't really done much of anything...
I spend more time planning than I spend doing... I suppose that isn't too uncommon, but maybe I plan to do the same things today that I neglected yesterday. If that's true, then maybe I'm just being plain lazy.
Well, it isn't time for New Year's Resolutions, but today is the first day of the rest of my life... Maybe it's time to get more done by planning less and just doing...
So, it's time to mow the lawn, unpack the suitcase (from a trip last weekend), and maybe I'll even find a few other things that need to be done along the way.
I spend more time planning than I spend doing... I suppose that isn't too uncommon, but maybe I plan to do the same things today that I neglected yesterday. If that's true, then maybe I'm just being plain lazy.
Well, it isn't time for New Year's Resolutions, but today is the first day of the rest of my life... Maybe it's time to get more done by planning less and just doing...
So, it's time to mow the lawn, unpack the suitcase (from a trip last weekend), and maybe I'll even find a few other things that need to be done along the way.
Friday, May 25, 2007
First post...
That's an original title... Guess it is going to show that I've read very few blogs, but I've simply never "blogged"...
I'm sure my blog posts will vary greatly. My thoughts and interests vary widely. So, while I may sound a bit like a philosopher one day, I may sound like a geek or scientist the next. I guess after a few months (if I'm still blogging by then), my "dominant thoughts" will show through the titles...
What is "blogging" anyway? A sort of "public diary"... Remember the days when your sister would hide her diary and it had a little key? Yet, here we are, publishing our "diaries" on the "world wide web" where anyone can peek in and read our thoughts... And, worse, they can either read silently or else comment, complain, argue, and whatever else the first amendment allows them to do! Of course, I suppose we are a bit egocentric or even narcissistic that we assume anyone else in the world would take the time to look for and read our thoughts...
And, if someone does stumble across my blog, what makes me think they're going to think it is interesting enough to read it again tomorrow or the next day? Maybe you won't (considering if you're reading this, you did stumble onto my blog somehow)...
Well, I guess tonight's post is more about blogging from a philosophical perspective... Hence, I should change the title to "Why Blog" or "What is Blogging"... But, alas, then my first paragraph would make no sense, and I would have to start again -- losing this valuable piece of human reasoning...
And, so I say, "Good Night", and ask you to check back and see where we find my mind wandering tomorrow or the next day...
Thanks,
Scott
I'm sure my blog posts will vary greatly. My thoughts and interests vary widely. So, while I may sound a bit like a philosopher one day, I may sound like a geek or scientist the next. I guess after a few months (if I'm still blogging by then), my "dominant thoughts" will show through the titles...
What is "blogging" anyway? A sort of "public diary"... Remember the days when your sister would hide her diary and it had a little key? Yet, here we are, publishing our "diaries" on the "world wide web" where anyone can peek in and read our thoughts... And, worse, they can either read silently or else comment, complain, argue, and whatever else the first amendment allows them to do! Of course, I suppose we are a bit egocentric or even narcissistic that we assume anyone else in the world would take the time to look for and read our thoughts...
And, if someone does stumble across my blog, what makes me think they're going to think it is interesting enough to read it again tomorrow or the next day? Maybe you won't (considering if you're reading this, you did stumble onto my blog somehow)...
Well, I guess tonight's post is more about blogging from a philosophical perspective... Hence, I should change the title to "Why Blog" or "What is Blogging"... But, alas, then my first paragraph would make no sense, and I would have to start again -- losing this valuable piece of human reasoning...
And, so I say, "Good Night", and ask you to check back and see where we find my mind wandering tomorrow or the next day...
Thanks,
Scott
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