Smokey August Projects

August here was filled with smoke from the many surrounding wildfires.  We had a few days of falling ash and regularly watched the planes fill up at the lake.  Thankfully, we were never evacuated but some in nearby neighborhoods were.

Smoke from our house

Daylight?  Not for a couple of weeks.

Red sun

Despite the smoke, ash, dust and windstorms, we managed to fill August with projects.  The first weekend of the month we set off for Montana and my brother & sister-in-law's new house!  While the weekend was shadowed by the recent loss of their puppy, we were so thankful to get to help them with their fence and spend time with them in their beautiful new home.

They have a wonderful view from their house

Mixing cement for the posts

Sunset from their yard

We spent some time at the lake with the family and also began another big outside project.  Expanding the deck out back.

Always love sunset at the lake

Even when the smoke rolls in

This boating adventure didn't go quite as planned and ended with a tow back in

We also harvested our first zucchini and of course more peppers! Yum

Harvest

The deck was our biggest August project and we were very lucky to have my folks home to help with this.  It turned out wonderfully and nearly doubled our deck space.  Couldn't be more pleased!

Taking off the old steps getting ready to put up the frame

Frame mostly up

Aria is inspecting the work so far

Making it so no critters (or Aria's) can crawl underneath

Starting to put the top on.  Love the camo fastener system that has hidden screws.

Almost there

All the boards on

And the steps on

Just need to paint the trim now!

Thrilled to have so much deck space now!

It's all finished now other than painting the trim which we'll finish soon!  Hopefully we'll get lots of enjoyment out of it this fall before the snow comes.  This also freed up the second cement pad so we put it in front of the shed so we have a nice landing there now.

Both cement pads in

All finished in front of the shed

Our local library moved locations so we had a delightful quick date morning with coffee and a book sale where we acquired quite a few titles for our new home library.

Love book sales

And coffee

Our haul

Even got a bag out of the deal

We also had a visit from my dear friend Courtney which as usual was wonderful.  Took some time downtown shopping, had a delightful meal at Rock City Grill, and then a trek to Greenbluff for peaches and lots of cider tasting as well as a late lunch at Twigs.  The time flew too quickly but we are so grateful she came up for a visit.

Tasting at Twilight Cider Works

Martinis at Twigs

New favorite local cider!

The month ended with an exciting craigslist score, Kayaks!  A matched set, one for us & one for my folks.  Excited about the new adventuring this will bring our way!  Now we just need to round up one more...

New kayaks! 

Sunset test paddle

We're all excited!

In non August, but recent news, we also just opened an etsy shop.  We are hoping to continue expanding on here as we create things!  Check it out here.


Next up: Library, Library!