New Door

Hello Everyone!!!!

We brought a solid 6-panel door at the Habitat for Humanity Re-store in Houghton Lake. It has become our favorite place to shop. We have also donated several items to them. The door cost us $20.00.

We bought it to replace the hollow core door that was hung between the main cabin and the utility room. This door never really fit in with the cabin.

I had to cut 2 inches off each side of the door to fit into 32 inch opening. I also use the old door as a template for the hardware. I than took the door home, cut out for the hardware and sanded the door.



Here I am cleaning up the hinge mortises before we stain the door.



Dee took some molding to the hardware store to try to match the stain. They told her to use shellac. This was difinately the right choice. Here I am staining the door. Dee helped but she didn't want her picture taken, besides someone has to take the pictures.



Here the door is almost done. It started to rain so we had to move inside to finish the last coat.



Here is the finished product. It looks like its been there since the cabin was built. A great way to spend twenty dollars.

Take care everyone.

New planting bed with bird feeder

This weekend Bill and I created this new planting bed in an area that, at one time, housed a propane pig. Today, it isn't legal to put anything greater than 100lb. tanks next to a house. This area has been an eyesore for me. So, we have created a planting bed with a bird feeder. I'll be able to see the bird feeder from bed when I wake up. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

I can't believe that it only took Bill and I about 10 minutes to clean this area out! He did all the hard work - moving the stones out of the area, then back in. I raked and he used a flat shovel to get rid of the grass. The ground was so soft in this area, it just took a couple of minutes!

I can't wait for real spring weather so that I can start putting plants in this bed. Here are some before and after pics.

This is a before shot. The windows on the left go to the utility room. The windows on the right go to the bedroom.

After, facing the bedroom.

After with all the debris removed and the rocks put into place. We were careful about not interfering with the gas line to the furnace and the electrical to the shed. I'll also be careful about putting short rooted plants in those areas. Any recomendations for plants in this area? It gets morning sun only, so probably along the lines of hosta and heuchera and other shade lovers.