Multiple fronts

Future screen porch takes shape.

While Chris tackles the massive bathroom tiling job and the scores of new chores I throw his way, we’ve brought in a couple of local craftsmen to tackle work on the future porch. And my, oh my, it’s looking great.

They installed a corrugated metal roof and underdeck drainage system this summer, and completed this lovely cedar-deck floor a few days before the Alaskan blast from Typhoon Nuri slung us into an early arctic winter.

After four years of tromping through sand, mud and snow to get to our sleeping quarters, this project felt like a huge step toward adulthood and eventual functionality at Loveless.

As our friend Kay said when she saw the new floor: “It’s like you brought the upstairs space downstairs.” Yep, she nailed it. Ah, potential, you pull at my heart and imagination.

Meantime, just to keep things “interesting,” I introduced a shed project into the mix, using the very practical reasoning that it’s high time we stopped tripping over tools and other sundries as we work on drywall in the bedrooms and try to complete the bathroom.

That little pre-fab shed project has turned into a much bigger deal. More on that later. But so far, Chris and I are still on speaking terms.

Way before. Mosh pit in the making.

A reminder of how far we have come.

The underdeck ceiling/gutter project this summer.

Underdeck ceiling complete.