Gardening On My Deck

I love our new deck. The railings are just right for putting flower pots on. I have the kind that fit over the railing like a saddle and have planted some of my favorites. I can see the flowers from indoors too and it brightens my day whenever I see them.

Nicotiana - sweet smelling and so dainty . . . I found these at the Grocery Outlet - the only plants they had that weren't stressed and awful looking . . .

Oh Nasturtiums - how I love you!

These are Alaska Nasturtiums - I'd not seen them before - they have lovely variegated leaves . . .

White petunias - so sweet and simple . . .

My fuchsias are about to burst into bloom - I have three large pots of them. Photos soon.

What are your favorite summer flowers?

Jahn Learns to Sew!

While Jahn's pop was busy building the deck, there was some free time for Jahn and me. I was sewing and asked Jahn if he wanted to learn to sew - and he said "YES" - so we started. First was practice on the Featherweight with paper and unthreaded needled. That went super well - and then on to practicing on some fabric with thread in the needle - again - super!!! That Jahn really does learn fast.


He knew exactly what he wanted to make. He has a favorite computer game called Mine Crafter - you fly about and dig up treasures to advance - and he wanted to make the logo as his quilt block. So he got busy designing the block.

Next came cutting templates - since it was not a simple design. I asked if he wanted to start with something a little easier but he really wanted to make this block. His goal was to make a pillow with the Mine Crafter logo on it.

I was so excited about teaching him to sew that I didn't think to get out the camera until after he had done his practice on paper, and had sewn together the three pieces for the logo. It resembles Tumbling Blocks, and he dealt with the Y seam (inset seam) like a pro. I gave a little advice, and he zipped it right up.





Next came topstitching - I know - things we don't learn until we are a bit more accomplished - but he wanted to try it.


And top stitch he did - like he'd been doing it all his life. On the very edge - straight and true - I couldn't have done it better myself.




Sewing the back and front of the pillow together - again - the 1/4 seams were perfect.

Then he decided that he wanted to embroider the words - Mine Crafter Fanatic - on the pillow - so a quick lesson in embroidery and he was off. He wrote the words in chalk pencil and embroidered them in turquoise - his lucky color.

An embroidery hoop helped . . .

Some stuffing and we have the makings for a good pillow.

Hand stitching the opening on the pillow. Can you believe he had never sewn before?

A very successful pillow . . .

Next he decided that he wanted to make a purse for his friend Nina. Nothing like jumping right in. So he picked fabric and with some instructions from Grandma he had that purse whipped up in no time.

A button for the closure . . .

Concentrating on that button . . .

And then he wanted to embroider Nina's name on the purse. His own design and great embroidery work.

All done - and posing for a silly photo!!

I am so proud of Jahn's work. Next we started a quilt - but didn't get much done on it before it was time for dinner and then they all went home. Jahn designed the quilt (again from Mine Crafters - but not with inset seams). We got the squares cut and the first two rows sewn - so this will have to wait for another time.

Our new deck

We've been saving for this - planning for this - and finally we are ready !!!!

The deck was built by our son-in-law Jay - with help from other family members. I made the plans, decided the major features and the result is absolutely fabulous! It was a lot of hard work - a LOT of shopping at three hardware/lumber stores, a lot of hauling of materials and a lot of "going back for one more thing". You just never really know how much material goes into a deck until you see it being built - miles of beams, and acres of decking, piles of railings and zillions of bolts, screws and nails - oh my.

Don and I wanted a big deck - it is 12'x20' - big enough for sitting, eating, barbecuing, entertaining. We figured that once it was built we couldn't make it bigger - so we started with BIG. The porch that came with the house was a tiny 4'x4' with steps down to the sidewalk - barely room to put a chair on - and certainly not big enough for two chairs - and I love to garden and wanted planters and pots for my flowers. So let's get started!

All the beams had to be put in first . . . Jahn was a great help!!!

Beams on the pilings - that is a lot of wood!

The rule is - the deck has to be freestanding - not attached to the house - so the frame had to be partially built a few feet out from the house (so Jay could put the bolts in place in the back) and then the beam section had to be lifted up and moved two feet back, so it was against the house. I was not there for the lifting - wish I had a picture of that. Four people lifting the heavy frame and inching it back until it was against the house - we had to recruit a neighbor to help.

Jahn cleaning the ends of the boards - they all had staples and stickers on the ends.

A boy needs a good French Toast breakfast to keep up his energy . . .

Decking going on - there is a lot of decking on a 12'x20' deck . . .

Ceremonial last screw going into the decking . . .

Start of the railing - 4x4 cedar posts . . . I love the slanted corners - gives the deck such a nice artistic look . . .

And the top boards of the railing . ..

Jahn learning to put a new plug on an electrical cord . . .

With the ends of the decking Jahn made us a "wood henge" . . .

The beginning of the ramp - I am so excited to have a ramp . . .

Don standing at the end, when the ramp was almost done - just need the last few decking boards and a railing (another trip to the lumber yard) . . .

The yard had to be landscaped after the deck was built - Jahn helped his dad unload the three loads of topsoil - while a neighbor stops to chat . . .

Loading topsoil into my ladybug wheelbarrow - don't you think every girl needs a ladybug wheelbarrow?

First flat of strawberries of the season - the perfect snack for a hard working boy!

Our other son-in-law, Jason, and our daughter Beccy came to help us put the slats in the railing on Saturday and the deck is complete! When we went grocery shopping on Sunday we stopped at Big Lots - and what did we find - clearance patio furniture that is wide and soft and oh so comfy - and apparently just made for our new deck.

Two chairs that rock ( on some sort of spring), a loveseat and a table . . . and on clearance - be still my heart!

And so this is our deck - there are flowers on the railings (those planters straddle the railing and are perfect for the gardening I want to do. There are three tomato plants in the pots to the left of the love seat.

These two little gnomes sit in the new table - one is busy - one is dozey . . .

There are three of these lanterns - shaped like a lighthouse and they hold a candle for evenings on the deck. I got them from JoAnn Fabrics on clearance - love summer clearance just as summer is beginning!!! More about the flowers and decorations on the deck later.

Don't you think this is the niftiest deck ever? And today we have a family bbq here!!! Ahhhh summer!!