59 and light rain in the Rio Grande Valley at La Feria

We saw the sun couple days ago, but it disappeared again.

Since I have been spending a lot of time on our new patio area the last few weeks, will show some of the progress.  At right is how we found the storage shed covered up by the growth of the "little" palm tree on October 22nd when we arrived at our winter home.

The next day I cut all the fronds away from the tree.

 We had a crew come in and remove the old storage shed and put down new cement matching the level of the cement under the raised deck.

View of the forms and re-bar from the deck.

Cement still wet.

        Cement poured and dried enough to walk on.

  

Started to set up work area and chop saw.

First studs up

Studs on both sides and plates along top with couple of rafters up.

Since we had all the "stuff" that had been stored in the old storage shed to keep working around it was continually moving things.  Tearing up the raised deck and using the 2" x 6" flooring for studs.  Maybe a little over-kill, but must recycle the wood rather than buy new 2" x 4".

Put flashing on the bottom of the outside panels, with a little slope to help keep moisture moving away from the wall.

Siding on the west side, though don't have the last 9" or so on the top above the 8' panels, and will put a window in the last panel near where the ladder is sitting.

4 panels up.  Far right panel will have a 6' tall by 3' wide window cut in to it.  There will also be a 2' square window cut in the center of the west wall which will give some light and ventilation to the storage/shop area.

From inside -- panels up to where door will be on north end.  Window between door and house (5' x 3') already in.

Area at left of panels shows 5' x 3' space for window.  We took window back and traded for 6' x 3' window so when installed it will go close to top plate.

Looking south towards raised deck.

When cold - windy - wet weather moved in I covered the door area with scrap plywood panels and also above and below the window.  Some weather still came through the area at top, but was able to work in 40 degree area for several days.

All of raised deck is removed except the bit at the left which will keep out the weather (and neighbor's eyes) until we start putting the wall, with windows, down that side.

Shows the opening into what was the raised deck area.

Photo at right is from the step in front of front door to house, looking north.  Work benches and chop saw moved into the larger area so can start enclosing the 7' x 14' storage area at the northwest corner.


Since we are leaving the 26th for 17 days on a bus excursion I am trying to get the storage area enclosed so can lock up all the items from the weather and others while we are gone.  Hope to get the west wall with four 6' x 3' windows in it up during February and March before we head north.

Might mention that our son, wife and family seem to be having things happen to them and their relatives.  Their dog was killed by deer a week or so ago.  Yesterday her father was taken by ambulance to Omaha from Clarinda, IA with an aneurism on his heart.  Granddaughter's father-in-law checks in on his mother each day in Marengo, IA and found her dead yesterday.  Life has some lows and hope they bear up under the stress they are enduring at this time.

Later, Lynn