Random Ruminations . . .

I've been following Pinterest for quite a while and I seem to constantly return to the same photo. It is a picture of a pergola and a privacy wall covering a nice patio. That privacy wall is built out of two-by-fours forming a grid and there are random glass blocks in some of the grid openings. I wanted very badly to use that idea.

We recently installed some fence panels on our lot line to give us some privacy. In the process of doing that project, we had our fence post hole guy dig two extra holes next to our hot tub. So here was my chance to use that Pinterest inspired idea.

My husband and I installed the 4x4x10-feet long posts into the ground next to the tub. After a few days to ensure the cement footings were firm, we filled the dirt back in and cleaned up the rest of the piles of dirt left over from the dig. From there I got out my graph paper and measured and re-measured the opening. I drew out the plan down to every little detail. On Friday morning I went shopping for glass block.

On Saturday morning, he went shopping for the lumber and we started to build the grid that would hold the glass block. Between the shopping and laying out the grid and the frame, we used up most of the day. On Sunday morning, we installed the grid-frame structure to the fence posts. It went up quickly and easily, thank goodness. Then we spent the day cutting the boards to fill in the bottom half of the fence. On Monday I installed the glass block permanently by using silicone caulk to hold them in place.

I am so excited to see this project completed. We discovered together that we can do our own thing without worrying too much about having an expert draw up a plan - we can do it all ourselves! This was one of the most rewarding projects I have ever completed!

Thank you, Jeff for your fantastic woodworking skills, we make a great team.

Today was Chloe's first day of school. So I rode along with her mother to pick her up. We didn't do all the hoopla most moms do on the first day, after all, it's preschool. Besides, the photos of graduation day in about 14 years will be much more important. She was waiting on a bench with the other kids and didn't even notice when I walked up. I think she was looking for her mother. She was excited when she noticed me.

Chloe's First Day

We drove from school over to the zoo. The Racine Zoo is rated as one of the top 10 small zoos in the country. I can see why. Everyone there is very personable and it feels cozy enough that it seems like we are closer to the animals than we really are. There aren't many moats or boundaries and the amount of walking distance between exhibits isn't terribly far. Obviously there aren't as many animals there as the Milwaukee County Zoo, but this quaint little place is truly wonderful.

While we were there we fed the giraffes. That was a fabulous experience and I am glad I got the opportunity to do it. Chloe loved the tigers as well as the giraffes. Funny thing though, her very favorite thing is the play area. There are slides and a huge jungle gym for play. She loves it there and she's there often enough that she has a favorite tiger that she sits on. I had to take Avery down the slide a few times. She's too little to figure out how to do it herself so I rode with her. Her sister wasn't crazy about hogging grandma so we all had to go down the slide together. What a great time!