Roll-Out Shelves

YES!  Another notch on the belt... maybe that's the wrong expression.  But, anyway, I did install the roll-out shelves.  They are awesome.  I can organize like crazy now.  I don't have much to mention about installing them.  I just LOVE them!

OK...I've come down from my new roll-out-shelf-high.  I can talk about the installation now.

I've had the shelf kits for a while and just need the time (and willpower) to install them.  It took a while to get around to it because one of the shelves that needed to come out was built into the cabinet--which turned into an excuse to buy myself a jigsaw ; )  The first time I tried to use it the power was set too high and I almost lost control of it, then I got scared and gave up that day.  That was many moons ago, I have gained new confidence (and apparently new eyes -- I found the power settings on the side and turned it down a couple of notches).  The shelf came out with two cuts, a few pounds from the hammer, and mild cursing.  Installation went well...then...I feel that high coming back just thinking about it...I organized my tupperware onto one of the shelves.

Remaining projects include:

1. Dig out the heap of crap I call a compost pit and build compost barrels
2. Build outdoor stairs from 4x4's to connect the upper and lower levels of my yard
3. Install a patio made of pavers that I can get for free (also need free gravel and sand for the base)
4. Install roll out shelves in two of my lower kitchen cabinets
5. Cut 3-4" circles in a wood shelf and hang outside with pots of flowers. (must also paint)
6. Build trellis for brother-in-law
7. Sew chihuahua pillows
8. Finish caulking bathroom (Uuugh)
9. Install thresholds between floors
10. Paint pictures (maybe with friends)
11. Paint and build frame for a photo face-cut-out for my party July 30.
12. Add floor and roof to the doghouse and paint.

3 Pot Shelves

Finally!  Time to write my updates.  There've been a couple of finished projects lately--one of them being my final exam, and the other the 3-Pot Shelf.  I bought the shelf for $2 at a garage sale.  Then drilled 3-4" holes in the shelf for three terra cotta pots to fit in.  I painted the shelf a tropical blue.  Planted the flowers in the pots and hung it from the fence.  

That's the short sweet version.

The REAL version goes like this...

None of the tool-toting-guys I know had a 4" hole saw, so I had to buy one.  For the price, I'll have to find lots of other things to put 4" holes in.  Oh, but I still couldn't drill the holes because I didn't have the bit that it attaches to.  Another ridiculously priced item for how small and simple it is.  Oh, again, I still couldn't drill the hole because my drill's chuck is too small for the bit.  So is the neighbor's (Andy) "big" drill.  So he had to bring over the "crazy-big" drill, with the strength of a tow-truck.  Way to much power for this job, but it was either that or go buy a new drill.  Mark and Andy decide to tackle this job after a few beers.  At one point the power of the drill got away from them and the shelf shot out of their hands and halfway across the yard.  A few bruised limbs, and egos, but for the most part everyone was ok.  

I power washed it to prep it for painting (...and, because I love power washing, I also washed the kayak, table, bar, the cooler with the guys beer in it, the pool, the doghouse, etc.)  The guys surprised me and planted the flowers in the 3 pots.  Then I painted the shelf the next morning.

Remaining projects include:

1. Dig out the heap of crap I call a compost pit and build compost barrels
2. Build outdoor stairs from 4x4's to connect the upper and lower levels of my yard
3. Install a patio made of pavers that I can get for free (also need free gravel and sand for the base)
4. Install roll out shelves in two of my lower kitchen cabinets
5. Cut 3-4" circles in a wood shelf and hang outside with pots of flowers. (must also paint)
6. Build trellis for brother-in-law
7. Sew chihuahua pillows
8. Finish caulking bathroom (Uuugh)
9. Install thresholds between floors
10. Paint pictures (maybe with friends)
11. Paint and build frame for a photo face-cut-out for my party July 30.
12. Add floor and roof to the doghouse and paint.

Score one for me (and Matt)

 Ok, not a whole score.  The compost heap was cleared with the help of my brother, Matt.  But I didn't make the compost bins that I had intended to build in this same project.  Those bins are small fries in comparison to the dig-out that was done today.

The before pic is the very-overwhelming-overgrown-heap-of-crap that had to be dealt with.  But I didn't even remember to take the "before" pic until after moving the kayak,  broken wheelbarrow and pool ladder out of the way.

This is the "before"

The extra's from the "before" pic

The pic with Matt is the "after".  He's pounding in the last post for the temporary fence to keep the chihuahua's in the yard.  The last picture is the aftermath in the yard.  We were just too tired to clean that up and I had to head off to my first night with a running group.  Not so scary now!

This is "after"

Yard "after"-math

Remaining projects include:

1. Dig out the heap of crap I call a compost pit and build compost barrels
2. Build outdoor stairs from 4x4's to connect the upper and lower levels of my yard
3. Install a patio made of pavers that I can get for free (also need free gravel and sand for the base)
4. Install roll out shelves in two of my lower kitchen cabinets
5. Cut 3-4" circles in a wood shelf and hang outside with pots of flowers. (must also paint)
6. Build trellis for brother-in-law
7. Sew chihuahua pillows
8. finish caulking bathroom (Uuugh)
9. Install thresholds between floors
10. Paint pictures (maybe with friends)
11. Paint and build frame for a photo face-cut-out for my party July 30.
12. Add floor and roof to the doghouse and paint.

Addendum:

Matt and I got weird rashes from one of the plants.  So we had to take a rash break to wash our arms in dish soap and cover them with Benedryl.  Our other break was a slug break--we found an awesomely cute slug.  We observed him while running slight experiments in his environmental preferences.  (This is what happens when two Bio-major siblings do things together.)  I didn't get pictures of him but the memories will last forever.

Summer Break Has Begun

The herb garden

Being a teacher I am very busy throughout the school year and my crafting needs are neglected.  By summer break I have a long list of projects I want to do.  Building things, creating art and completing any type of project is very fulfilling to me.  It's what feeds my soul.  But often I get stuck in a rut of sleeping in, and watching tv all day while surfing the web.  This summer I want to push myself to complete as many of the projects I've been dreaming of as I can.  Aaah, the catch - I'm broke.  So most of the materials have to be things I already own, or can obtain for free or very cheap.

Bean Trellis

I have completed a few projects already: planting my veggies, and herbs, as well as building an up-cycled trellis for my beans from wire fencing and tiki torch sticks.

Remaining projects include:

1. Dig out the heap of crap I call a compost pit and build compost barrels
2. Build outdoor stairs from 4x4's to connect the upper and lower levels of my yard
3. Install a patio made of pavers that I can get for free (also need free gravel and sand for the base)
4. Install roll out shelves in two of my lower kitchen cabinets
5. Cut 3-4" circles in a wood shelf and hang outside with pots of flowers. (must also paint)
6. Build trellis for brother-in-law
7. Sew chihuahua pillows
8. finish caulking bathroom (Uuugh)
9. Install thresholds between floors
10. Paint pictures (maybe with friends)
11. Paint and build frame for a photo face-cut-out for my party July 30.
12. Add floor and roof to the doghouse and paint.

That's all I can think of for now.  And I did all this typing with a cat trying to sleep on my arms and biting me whenever I moved.

BTW -- I'm not procrastinating right now.  It's very cold and rainy out.

Send your encouragement and suggestions and I'll keep you posted.

Melissa