Beautiful day here - the sun comes out then suddenly som dark clouds. My jacket has been on and off a dozen times today. Later!

This is the view from the outside. Does it look too busy? (Off to Easter dinner now... more later!)

This is the rail design I want to use and this (small) section wil help me visualize. The horizontal board halfway up is to simulate the bench seat to be implemented elsewhere.

I am glad I went with the cedar 4x4s. The deck sure looks solid now...

I got the top-facing rail up but not the cap... I ran out of wood. It is not easy finding wood on Easter Sunday!

Tomorrow I will start the horizontal boards... See ya

Today I started the deck railing by using cedar 4x4.

Finally, here are our newest trees - these beauties were found at Costco for $32 each. I think one may go in front and the other in back. More later!

Another angle.....

Today I planned to start with the railing for the upper deck and quickly learned how expensive it is going to be.

The decking is now complete but the railing and stairs are next.

Today I cut into my water main to insert a valve for my sprinkler system. This was a successful operation thanks to my neighbor Brian. The large pipe is my access to the valve 3.5' feet below. The other two pipes are for the sprinkler system - one is to go to the sprinkler system valves and the other is used to blow out the system each fall.

Morning view of the Stuart Range - picture taken earlier this week.

Nice sunset tonight.. More later!

The remaining boards on the left are there just to see how many more I need.

It looks like I have about 4.5 boards left to go. The last row will have to be ripped so they do not overhang too much. We'll see...

Almost there... I ran out of screws today. Ugh..

Here are the propane lines under the house..

We have LOTS of projects going on right now..ugh. It will sure be nice this summer when we are chillin out back. Later!

This weekend I also trenched my future sprinkler system lines.

Just before sunset

Another view....

Here I installed all of my 100 cedar boards...

Up close view....

From the back door....

Today I completed the stair section of the block wall.

The blocks I am using are 8"W x 4"H Roman Stack (Cascade) block. I like them much better than the rest offered at Depot or Lowes. I hope to finish it up in the next few days... Later!

Getting there...

Here are 100 blocks installed...

Here is another view. The rock wall will go where the orange string line is on the left. Sweet. More later!

In front of the deck there will be some areas for plants, a walkway and a rock wall.

In this picture (and the picture below) you can see the two weeping Cherry trees we purchased at Costco for $15 each. What a deal!

Sunday - Today I finished with joists and have begun some simple landscaping planning.

A look down from the existing deck...

Now, just the other section of joists to do...

Hopefully tomorrow evening I can begin on the next section. See ya!

Getting there...

This evening I finished installing the joints in the first segment. Yeah!

Its hard to believe that this wood cost nearly $200. Not bad I guess... I expect the total project cost to reach $1,000. The good news is that we will have a nice big deck for evening parties.. and you are all welcome to join us.

This piece shows where the decking will come underneath the slider door. There is a small gap but it should be fine.

In this picture, you can see the orange paint in front of the existing deck. This area has been identified as the newest expansion to the current project. Now the deck will be expand an additonal 12' to a total of 36'.

Today I put the ledger up. As you can see, I had to skip over the dryer vent and water faucet. This not be a problem - I hope.

The original plan was to build a 14' x 21' lower level that connects with the smaller upper deck.

This weekend my folks visited and helped get the new deck project off the ground.