2 Things @ Once

Blog Buddies at the Beer Trappe

, originally uploaded by 2Things@Once.

This afternoon, I met a couple of virtual friends--folks who have been a part of my blogging experience almost from the very beginning. Through them, I'd heard about a great new craft beer pub in Lexington and it seemed the perfect location to meet. It was and we had a great time getting (re)acquainted in 3D while sampling tasty beers on tap.

Frickles

Frickles, originally uploaded by 2Things@Once.

Had a lazy start to the day, sipping coffee and reading out on the back porch. Took a walk over to the Georgetown College art gallery, but it was closed so headed home, via Grannie's Goodies, the local purveyor of tasty pimento spread. Also picked up some Frickles from the diner downstairs. Can't visit without at least one stop at Fava's for frickles.

After lunch, we drove over to the Kentucky Horse Park to see the exhibit "Gift From the Desert." Jan volunteers as a docent so she was able to give us the insider's tour of "the art, history and culture of the Arabian horse." Quite interesting with some really gorgeous pieces, gathered from all over the world.

Delicious Duck Dinner

Per usual, Jan treated us to a wonderful home-cooked dinner. Roasted duck with orange salad, gazpacho made with tomatoes from her rooftop garden, and blueberry muffins. So far, the eating portion of our visit is off to a grand start.

Up On the Roof

After lunch, and a pleasant drive around the area, we spent a lot of time out on the roof of Jan's place, drinking beer, chatting and watching the sky change. The evening sounds changed from whirring cicadas to chirping chimney swifts and finally the rusty squawks of the night hawk.

Lunch at the Science Hill Inn

I had the open-faced country ham with melted pimento cheese spread on crispy corn bread. It was salty, cheesy deliciousness.

Science Hill Inn

In Kentucky

If you want to know where I am and what I'm up to, Jan's blog gives you a concise glimpse into my week. TypePad's silly instant posting thingamajig doesn't do HTML apparently, so here's the link to Jan's blog.

Transforming the Outdoor Space: Phase Three -- Cement

Seven a.m and the cement guys arrived to lay in the walkway and patio area. Another day's interesting entertainment watching them prep, pour, smooth and brush the cement.

 

After staking out the frame, they dug out a layer of the muck before laying down the foundation.

The gravel and sand base layer, all tamped down. Lunch time.

Pouring the cement:

Smooth and steady:

Marking the stress lines:

Brushing on the finishing touch:

We chose to tint the cement and I'm very happy with how it turned out.

Transforming the Outdoor Space: Phase Two -- Plotting and Visualizing

Mud wrestling, anyone? 'Cause we've got the mother of all mud pits going on in the backyard today.

It rained (and thundered and lightninged) all night long, so there was no chance of pouring the cement today. Jim, our landscape guy, did show up to haul away the old deck and map out where the cement will go.

This gives you a good idea of what we're doing. We're doubling the amount of ground that we have to plant in and will have greenery all the way around. The bottom left corner, just out of the frame, is where the decking will extend from the back door, two steps down to the cement walkway. On the left is a section for the grill. The right section is for seating (and a table down the road.) Then the walkway to the garage.

The upper left corner will have an evergreen tree, some perennial grasses, including the moor grass (currently in the big pot) and probably a smoke bush. On the right, will be the serviceberry tree and some astilbe. Continuing clockwise, along the fence, behind the seating area, will be a climbing hydrangea. The lower right-hand corner will have another evergreen, a couple of small lilac shrubs and the fountain. In the lower left, will be another lilac and a small plot for herbs. And behind the grill will possibly be a crab apple tree, espaliered on the fence.

Fingers crossed that we're done with the rain for a while and Monday is the day for cement.

Transforming the Outdoor Space: Phase One -- Demolition

Watching three guys make short work of my ugly, drab deck is probably some of the most fun I will have all year.

Seriously, I pulled up a chair, sat at the window and enjoyed the show.

I don't know why I thought they'd use a crowbar to pry each board up. Good thing I wasn't doing this job. A chainsaw is so much quicker.

The first step was a slice out of the middle. Chunks of the deck came up and out surprisingly easily.

Plastic covered the ground under the deck, which explains why all the water would pool in the yard near the garage whenever it would rain.

The step was the last bit to go.

All gone!

What emerged under the deck wasn't as nightmarish as I'd envisioned. A great number of plastic toys, a very old soccer ball, some caution tape, more plastic tarp, and lots of black, sludge that looks like dried tar.

Today, in the hot sun, the yard looked pretty trashed. The coneflower, a few black-eyed susan and the false lupine were temporarily replanted where they won't be in the way.

The place is a muckity-muck mess.

The concrete steps that were built with the house will be covered by the new steps that will be built out of composite wood--zero maintenance.

The old deck spends a few nights in the garage before it will be hauled away.