A couple weeks ago, the weather was actually sunny. Crazy, I know given the torrential downpour that has been our summer. However, we took advantage of the sun and tried something that Paula's always wanted to try...kayak with our dog, Maddie. (Just so we're all clear, I always told this would never work.)
So, here's what we did. We outfitted some padding to fit in and around the stern dry storage compartment where we hoped that Maddie would sit calmly.
Paula and I have been busy lately, although it doesn't feel like it at the time. However, having looked back through some photos lately I realized there's lots of great and fun stuff we've not shared. Have no fear, we're going to slowly catch up over the next couple weeks. So, stay tuned...
Read more...A few weeks ago, when the weather was nicer, Paula and I got excited to start working out in the yard and start our first garden. So, I did a bit of research and picked up some lumber to build some raised beds. Meanwhile, Paula went to town on planting seeds for all sorts of soon-to-be delicious veggies (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, basil, onions, and more). She wasn't too sure how green her thumbs were, so she planted a ton of everything.
The next weekend, I borrowed a truck and picked up 2.5 yards of an herb garden soil mix from Cedar Grove. Paula and I did the back breaking work of hauling the soil by wheelbarrow around the house to the garden beds. After 2 full weekends, we had 2 pretty kick-ass 4' x 8' raised beds. I've been 'feeding' and 'energizing' the soil in preparation of the new plants by spraying various garden 'tonics' onto the soil as recommended by a master gardener in one of the many DVD's we've checked out from the library.
The next thing is to put in the garden starts, right...
Well, apparently there was still about 2 months of growing for these garden starts that Paula got going. Furthermore, her thumbs have turned out to be SUPER green. She only had a few seeds not germinate. So, we had to convert our smaller bedroom into a home made greenhouse to house all the garden starts that are going crazy!
After some discussion, we decided to build a new garden shed in the backyard. Actually, Paula didn't want a new shed (wasn't a priority) but I was a rude and unthoughtful husband and moved ahead with it anyway. So, I spent the next several weekends working on a new shed. While its just a shed, I didn't have any plans and wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do, so it took some time. Nevertheless, we're almost done! I still need to install the siding, add a gutter, and pimp out the inside with shelving. But, we finally had it ready for us to move our grow operation out there about 2 weeks ago after I installed 5 grow lights! (We go all out in the McJohnson household)
So, now we have tons of veggies that are going nuts in their new home and we're looking forward to mothers day when we're apparently able to put these babies in their fresh beds.
With the majority of my experience in carpentry and construction limited to house building trips to Tijuana, Mexico, I have begun a massive learning experiment. Paula and I purchased our house with the understanding that we'd update it and do as much of the work as we could ourselves. Paula has entertained my willingness and eagerness to use our house as a massive learning experiment. So, she's graciously entertaining and put up with all my tangential ideas about different floor plans (which she has many great ideas about), which walls to blow out, and where we should add bathrooms and bedrooms. It's amazing we've made any progress.
Paula and I are settling on a pretty comprehensive floor plan rearrangement which will keep our time and bling invested in the house for a few years, we've begun to make a little progress. In late January, some brilliant friends and I took out a load bearing wall and replaced it with a gluelam (e.g., an engineered beam constructed of laminated pieces of wood). Taking load bearing walls out are super easy...right?
The idea was to blow out the wall between the living room and dining room to create a more open feel (sort of like a half-great room). Above is a picture of the living room taken when the previous owners were living here. The dining room is on the other side of the wall on the right.
So, we built temporary brace walls on either side of the wall we were going to remove. Ahren and Nelson are trying hard to play the role of the stud in the temporary walls.
Once the temporary walls were up, we slid the gluelam into the attic, cut the ceiling joists that were resting on the top plate, removed the top plate, and then fastened the gluelam to new beams and the ceiling joists to the gluelam. Piece of cake. Actually, it wasn't too terribly difficult, although I chalk that up to the Nelson, Ahren, and Matt holding my hand through the whole process. 
Now, we've got a large open room that includes a distinct area for dining yet is large enough to make the house feel so much larger. The only problem is that we have a hole in a floor and exposed insulation hanging down from the season. Oh well, we'll sort that out sometime in the next 2 years.
It's a new year and a new decade. Personally, I could not be more excited to have the "Naughties" over and done with (with the exception of a few key events). Now, a week after 2010 rolled in, I thought I'd reflect on our final events of 2009.
To usher in the holiday season, I drank some crazy Kool-Aid and smothered our tulip tree infront of our house with 1,000 white LED lights. I've received several complements on its glow by the astronaunts in the International Space Station, so I've got that goin' for me.
Then, Paula and I hosted Thanksgiving and attempted to cook a turkey without killing everyone. The fact that everyone is still alive following that dinner suggests turkey wasn't a complete flop. More importantly though, we were surrounded by great company and were reminded of all that we have to be thankful for.
In early December, Eirik, Heidi, and our nephew Skye came to town for a pre-Christmas visit to check out Eirik's show at the Henry Art Gallery (by the way, check out his show at the Henry which is up until the end of January). While it was a short trip, I had plenty of time to subtly work several bad habits into Skye's routine for Eirik and Heidi to deal with later (sorry in advance, E&H!).
The joys of Paula's work schedule kicked in at Christmas when she was on-call and had to work Christmas Eve and into Christmas day. Fortunately, she got off work pretty early and was able to enjoy Christmas breakfast at my mom's house. Very relaxing! Then, we hopped on the ferry for a trip to Vashon. Again, we had a fantastic time with the family and relaxing on the beach.
Our nephew, Luke, decided once on the beach that the water looked too wonderful for dogs to enjoy by themselves. Needless to say, his cold feet and wet pants changed his mind relatively quickly.
The day after Christmas, I kept another tradition alive and well with my good friend Jeff (aka. Jefe rojito bonito). Since high school, Jeff and I (along with our friend Drew who has failed to live up to the responsibility of such a tradition) have gone swimming in freezing Lake Washington. This year was no different. Paula came to document the occasion and remind us how dumb it is to jump in a cold lake. Clearly, she doesn't appreciate the need to polar bear it every year.
New Year Eve (my least favorite pseudo-holiday) was spent appropriately with our friends, Josh, Melissa, and Chad. Paula had 3 days off and we made the most of it. Chad invited us to his cabin (aka., the Elk Horn Lodge) in Packwood near Mt. Rainier where we ate, read, ate, watched movies, ate, played games, ate, ate, and snow shoed. What better way could we roll in the new year.
So, now it's 2010. We've set many resolutions that we've already forgotten, but we're excited for what this year/decade has in store for us. We remain hopeful and looking forward to the changes ahead.
Happy New Year everyone!
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