Moved in..... so what's next

We got ourselves moved in right as Memorial Day was approaching.  So what should we do now????

Moved in + unpacked more or less + long weekend = DECK BUILDING

There is so much to do on this house but my #1 request once we got moved in was to have the deck built.  Mark couldn't understand my thinking.  I don't have a kitchen but I want the deck done, really?

Yep!!  I was tired of looking at the pile of deck boards in the side yard AND it's summertime.  I wanted to be able to enjoy time outside and what better place than in "our woods".  I had visions of working hard and sweating in the summer sun to make progress on the house and then being rewarded with an opportunity to relax in the sunshine on the deck in a comfy chair with a nice cold beverage!  After 32 years together Mark can recognize when it's in his best interest to indulge my whims even if he thinks I am crazy.  Thus we spent 2 days of "family time" and the end result is a beautiful deck (perhaps not up to code right now but beautiful nonetheless - who needs a railing anyway?)

We started by putting on the railing posts so that the deck boards could be installed around the posts

Mark and I worked together on Friday while the kids were at work to put up the posts. It seemed so simple. Cut it to the right length and screw it in, right??  Even the simplest tasks seem to take forever until we get the hang of it.  But we got it and on a beautiful sunny day we finished all 8 posts.  

We put up an easy one first.  The corners were more complicated so we saved those for last

On Saturday our "deck building crew" showed up for a hard day's work! We decided to start with the lower section of the deck that is by the living room. Mark and my brother, Tim, started measuring for the first board and planning our strategy. They quickly figured out that the entire span of that section is less than 16 feet and if we had 16' boards we would not have any seams in that whole section. So Matt and I were sent on an errand that I don't recommend anyone ever attempt..... Going to Home Depot on SATURDAY. We were up for the challenge.  First stop....Chanhassen to borrow Tom Dewitz's trailer. Thank you, Tom! Then to Home Depot get the boards and come back to Comet.  Seems so simple. Of course, it wasn't. There were not enough 16' boards on the display floor and the ones there were warped so I wouldn't buy them anyway! Thus, we had to get help - almost impossible on the weekend! But if you are Deb it's possible. I just had to find "my lumber guy" and he made others get to work to drive the forklift over, make the people putting lawn furniture and grills together in the lumber aisle get out of the way, close off 2 aisles of the store for safety, haul down the giant pile of boards and put them in place so Matt and I could pick through then to get the straight ones that didn't have an ink stamp on the top side.  Never did figure out why the manufacturer would stamp the top side, but they do.  We left those ones for the next customer.   After our 2 hour adventure we had the boards we needed back on the work site.  

New 16' deck boards on the pile of 8' and 12' boards

Now we could really get to work.

Careful work being done around the tree

Emily supervising

Matt hard at work driving screws

Tim getting in on the action

Working in tandem made speedy work of getting this section done

My job was to put the boards up on the deck for the "installers" and to take pictures in my spare time.  Grandma Nancy was with us to lend moral support! 

Dixie watched too until it was just too much for her and she had to take a nap

That "white spot" is the real reason Dixie needed a nap.  Cooper, Tim's dog, is a great companion but Dixie can't quite keep up. Cooper even tired himself out this day!

At the end of Saturday we were almost done! It was awesome how quickly the work went once everyone got into the groove of it.  

Boards all installed, just need a bit of trimming on the ends

At the end of the day we had just a couple rows left to do. 

Mark and I got back at it on Sunday and it took us all day to finish the last few rows and to put the support under all 4 door thresholds.  It was so tedious but we did it.  The ends are all trimmed as well. 

Mark completed the finishing work around the tree also.

I now have my afternoon relaxation spot.

Mark's Father's Day addition to our deck

On to getting ready for foam insulation inside the house.  Thank you for reading.