Pilgrim's Electric Boogaloo - v2.0 - Page 4

Yeah, I have toyed with keeping it. We might swap dimmers in to the simple switch. I don't think we want to rewire everything though..

If people are interested in seeing the yard project (layout on Post #78), here are a couple pics. Its quite OT, unless you accept that its where the HT money is going for now. These pics are about a week back, the retaining wall is under construction now, but rain has been a factor.

Re-graded sloped yard:



Some of the gear (my son provides scale), and the underside of the deck DIY repainted (took for ever)

I don't take much encouragement. Here is the past week's activity (post grading).

First, the gravel for the patio was spread out:

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And the mason began the retaining wall.

Here you can see the path of the wall taking shape:

Here you can see the backend of the work. The mason is using broken cinder blocks as ballast that he is mortaring the stone to. It isn't what I imagined I was going to see in some of the verbal descriptions, but its coming out quite nice, so I'll take it. I was expecting a high end veneered wall. This is better IMHO.

Closer of the same

This was after the second day of building:

The local inspector is monitoring the progress quite closely.

Thanks CJ. It aint 1080p, but its coming along.

Ha, good line, might have to steal it when these pics eventually hit facebook (see, AVS friends get the goods before real life friends/people I once sort of knew). But trust me, nothing about having kids has been cheap!

EDIT - PS - sconces and green glue are for sale in the classifieds if anyone wants the stuff I am selling now that I will be going with a multi-purpose room after the yard is done (2011, I hope).

There has been a ton of rain the last several weeks which slows things down. The retaining wall and seat wall have been done for a while, then things slowed down. They have been working on drainage and the base for the patio. Today the swingset was delivered, but it was too muddy for the kids to swing.

Without rambling, the pics:

The wall

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The corner:

Seat wall (huge, we'll need more friends)

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Steps from the walkout basement:

And the swingset (our kids have been hooked up):

Below the playhouse is a sandbox. I haven't done the math yet to figure out if it will take more or less than the stage in my old HT.

As for the BBQ, I am sure we'll get some winter grilling in. I am watching lowes to see when the fire pits go on closeout.

Few progress pics from the patio.

Coming along.



The other way (seat wall is too low and will be adjusted):



The mud is drying up, we put sand in the sandbox (26 bags, 6 more than my old stage) and the weather looks clear. We have a Landscape Architect, and he is keeping the landscapers honest. He has had them adjust a number of things that weren't to the standards of the plans, more or less at the good enough standard vs good standard. You can tell the landscapers don't enjoy the review, but we are getting good work.

Yeah, I was looking at that yesterday also, but I didn't know what it was. I was out of town while most of the patio went down. Yesterday they spread topsoil and did some touch up grading. Next week the last of the patio should go in, and the side steps should be underway. The supply house is a little slow it seems.

As for launching off the swings to clear the retaining wall, my kids are still a little young, but they will have about 9 feet from the top of the swing's beam to the edge of the wall. It will take motivation. Hope my kids don't get that motivated.

Virtuosity - finally had a chance to follow the link. Looks great. We considered a pergola, and may add one later, depends on shade. DIY is pretty impressive. Thanks for sharing the link.

Yard is moving again.

New stairs being (re)built:



From the top:



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Oh, and I put together an alton brown style smoker (flower pot + hot plate basically), and recently modified an IKEA table to house it better. Did my first pork shoulder about a month ago (11-12 hours to cook) and it was super fun.

Few more yard pics -

The front walk:


The patio:




Seatwall -


The wall -





Gravel for the swingsets (finally arrived)



More stairs:

Boy a couple of shadows of me in the shot tell the tale, huh? Nice of you to notice .


Glad I have a few people interested. I sometimes feel bad posting so much OT material. I promise, I will get the rec-room pulled together. The sprinklers may have eaten my PJ budget in 2011, but with the rest of the yard and the basement bath being done this year I will have cleared the more pressing needs on the wishlist. Not sure I am ready to challenge Logan though based on his recent progress.

On the architect - he seems to have gotten a bit busier, but as it comes together I am a definite booster of his design acumen. Irrigation is supposed to go in within the next two weeks and a lot of the work needs to be done before that happens.