What He's Been Up To

Since retirement, he's turned into a craftsman. Oh, he always was doing things around the house, most of the houses we've lived in, and in this one (where we've lived longer than either of us has lived anywhere else), he's designed a new kitchen, built the deck off the kitchen, installed a laundry chute and begun construction for a room (or two) up in the attic.

Since he retired, it's been the great outdoors where he and Lizzy (and Blackberry before her) spend their time. They've improved plant beds; they've created a three-part composting system; they've laid flagstones; and they built a patio adjacent to the deck.

In the lower right corner you can see part of the arbor he made for the Japanese Hyacinth Beans to grow across. You can also see a wee bit of the wee fence he built as a Lizzy deterrent for something or another. And, of course, you can see Something Else, something that may defy explanation. Yet I shall try.

Years ago I started him on a birdhouse collection, and they were installed underneath the deck. I loved watching the occupants through the window beside my sewing machine.

Then he built a platform and some steps and put in a hot tub beneath the deck and for reasons that prolly don't need a lot of explanation, the bird houses had to relocate. The bird houses rested in the garage this summer season (and the hot tub users were appreciative). With winter coming on soon, the need for bird refuge came to mind. He'd been thinking about some kind of a new flagpole, one with a nautical theme. And he developed a yearning for nautical flags (Christmas is coming). He spent some time in the past month sketching and planning and measuring and visiting the lumber yard. He took over my garage once again. He came in with that good fresh-sawn wood fragrance for several days, Lizzy with sawdust in her hair.

A couple of days ago, they were out there for a very, very long time. I can't imagine that Lizzy was much help at all, but when I finally looked out to see what was going on, there it was! I suspect it is/will be a Conversation Piece for the neighbors who can view our back yard. And, to our delight, early this afternoon we noted a couple of sparrows inspecting the vacant abodes!