Just in Case

Just in case I do not win the Worst Kitchen in America contest with the DIY network.... I began trying to accomplish some things in the kitchen.

Lowe's Home Improvement sells the handiest 10 pound bags of mortar and concrete mix. They are easy to tote around and you just add a bit of water and 'viola'.

I used concrete to fill in the hole that was in the chimney. (Prevents the chimney swifts from flying back into the house.) The hole had been cut out to accomodate the exhaust pipe from the Franklin fireplace some previous owners had placed in the kitchen. I also used some concrete and mortar to shore up the bricks at the bottom chimney area.

Filling in the hole, which was the size of a soccer ball, was a slow process because I had to allow inch layers of cement to harden..... then return to build another layer. Successfully finished so mark that off the 'list o' things to do'.

My initial plan was to use a layer of brick around the outside of the chimney and have exposed brick in the kitchen, however I have decided that will add too much weight. I am leaning toward covering the chimney with some ceramic tile.... maybe some Mexican red or brown tile. I'm going to take a trip to the Habitat for Humanity Rehab resale store and see if they might have 60 square feet of some acceptable tile.

Desperate Landscapes

OK... so my yard was NOT chosen for the most desperate landscape in America and no one is coming from the DYI network to help me out. It was all up to me. Thus, I had 20 tons of driveway rock delivered to The Beast to spruce things up.

I realize I haven't "blogged" for a couple of months...so sue me. It has been TOO hot here in the midwest to do much work... much less kick rocks around on the driveway.

There is some hope, though, for I finally moved around all the piles of rocks and have the whole back area covered in about 2 inches of lovely rocks. The little turnout behind the house looks quite nice. I need another 10 tons tailgated down the narrow part of the driveway on the side of the house to the street and this job will be called completed.

Thank the Lord for some 80 degree days finally so something could get accomplished without fear of falling over from a heat stroke.

Thus, with a rake, a shovel and my salmon colored bucket I moved around my rock piles. I actually have a wheelbarrow, however the tire (which I thought was repaired) decided to once again be flat as a pancake, and was no help.

You can work wonders with a bucket.

OH... and FYI those rose of sharon bushes attract mega huge bumblebees.