summer update

bought used power washer from coworker, brought it out to house in may.  power washed the exterior of house in june to prep for the full repainting.  of course managed to damage some of the siding w/the washer, but was a lot of fun!

dad came to visit over 4th of july weekend on his return from x-country motorcycle trip to AZ.  i wouldn't get on the motorcycle so we were limited in our ability to venture anywhere, but dad did help with the remainder of the siding prep work (scraping the remaining loose paint).  i started repainting the siding after that, which still needs more done.

the following weekend mum, don & paul came to chicago on thurs to visit.  friday was spent downtown @ millennium park & then the museum of science & industry before we headed to the house.  don took the power washer home with him as gift from me.
16-july. ordered pavers & fencing for the backyard, delivered on sun the 17th.  spent sunday working on laying patio pavers in backyard (dry run).

installed watering system in front yard (4-sprinkler heads on a tube in front planting) along with soaker hoses on side & back, all on timer to keep plants watered during the week.

23-jul.  rich & tom were supposed to come to house for day to help w/painting.  rich had basement flooding due to rainstorms & had to postpone until aug.  tom still came out, but wasn't really up for painting so we instead ran some errands around town & hit the outlet mall.

having taken monday off, i spent monday working on the patio & fencing (went sun afternoon w/friend kevin from MC to menard's & purchased post support spikes).  also had 2 cubic yards of paver sand delivered to level the patio spot.  spent monday morning installing fencing along southern property line in backyard (adjacent to renters to the right).  mon afternoon was spent leveling the sand base & laying pavers in place.  added sand to joints & hosed down, will need to repeat the sand/joint process some until they're filled.

fencing along side is nearly complete, just one panel remains to be installed, but waiting to speak w/owner of rental unit next door to see if ok to fence across his property four feet to his garage (i currently maintain the area myself anyway & just want to keep fencing to a minimum by using the side of his garage as wall).

weekend of the 30th will be staying in chicago ... friend's wedding on the 30th in town to attend.