Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Busy Beavers

Ray was very busy this past Saturday making a shelf that I've wanted for the back room. I wanted shelves to go across the top of three walls, but seeing all the work it entails for him, I'm thinking maybe two walls will do!
I want to move all the tchochkes on these open shelves in the picture below to the new shelves that Ray is making, and then I'll use these shelves elsewhere in the house.




We are still debating about the ceiling in this room, I have decided I want it painted white with the rafters exposed, and Ray wants to cover the rafters with vinyl soffit beadboard on the ceiling and also put it on the walls behind the shelves he is making.


Anyway, on this very hot and humid Saturday Ray worked outside painting and sawing, and there was lots of hammering and climbing up and down the ladder inside the house, and finally one shelf across the top of one wall got done. Ray, being a perfectionist, was not one hundred percent happy with the results. I am one hundred percent happy though!





I tried to get a close up of the trim that Ray used, but the floral detail doesn't show in the photos.





At first I wasn't crazy about the metal brackets that Ray had picked out, I wanted something wooden with some detail work on it, but the more I looked at these, the more they grew on me, plus they are very handy for hanging my vintage baby outfits!






There was one little guy who was very eager to help 'Paw'!



But, much to Jayden's disappointment, Paw was not so eager to have a little helper this time!






Ray did take a break to watch another guy who was also very busy, this guy was taking down a cherry tree in the yard behind us. Half of this tree has been dead for a year or two and we were always afraid it might fall. Our neighbor knocked on the door last week to tell us the tree was being trimmed, we figured they might take down the half that was dead and trim back the rest, but they did much more than that!
Ray was engrossed with this guy's system of tree-trimming, and I think he was a little jealous of the guy climbing high atop the tree (about thirty feet). I couldn't watch!










All that is left of the tree is what looks like a telephone pole with a vine wrapped around it! Sad. (Although Ray is happy that there will be no more cherries dropping into the pool and clogging the filter!)





10 comments:

  1. You had quite a weekend...Nice shelves and what pictures you took of the tree trimming...VERY TALL Tree!!! Have a grand day! Cathy

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  2. Your shelves turned out really lovely, Eileen, with all your favorite keepsakes in sight! I can understand Ray not needing Jayden's help, ladders can be a little dangerous, BUT not near as dangerous as that 'pole sitter' there cutting the cherry tree. He is brave!

    Would you believe, at this very moment men are here cutting a dangerously splitting tree by the drive! It's a very tall ash tree that stands next to a wild cherry tree! It's too close to electric wires to attempt ourselves. The electric company is having it done, they are using a truck with a bucket that lifts the man into place. Thankfully, at no cost to us!

    ...Wanda♥

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  3. I absolutely adore Ray's handiwork. What a great idea to get the tchochkes (a brand-new term to me, by the way) up there! I'd vote with you on keeping the rafters exposed and painting ceiling white - but you'd better keep your carpenter happy!

    I got dizzy looking at that last picture! I can't imagine being in that position!

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  4. I vote for keeping the rafters and painting them white. That is such a unique look, I wouldn't want to get rid of them. Isn't it wonderful to have a loving husband who is willing to make you those shelves? As I read your post I thought what a good blend it is...men are the builders, and women are the decorators.

    As for that man trimming the cherry tree...was it really necessary to take THAT much off? I do not like it when Den goes out to trim like he did last weekend. He sees trees and bushes as things to conquer. The more he takes off the more successful he thinks he is. :)

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  5. I don't care of trees being cut down but if they must be I do enjoy watching. It's quite interesting really.
    I think the shelves came out beautifully Eileen. Jake has made similar shelves for me in the past. I am going to have him make me two shelves to go over the small windows on either side of the fireplace. Maybe more, we'll see!
    I like the idea of the beadboard on the ceiling and walls, I think it would look great! Although I do like the rafters showing too! Love Di ♥

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  6. I like the shelves very much, so nice to have your own handy man.....found cutting the tree down fascinating. Big hugs to Jayden and Mia,
    .......:-) hugs

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  7. The shelves are really nice ... you have a wonderful handy DH.

    Have a great day!
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  8. I wonder where my comments are going?

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  9. Eileen! Can you loan Ray to me for a few days??? LOL! Oh, how I wish Mr. Magpie could do projects like that! Shhhh... don't tell him I said that. LOL!

    Looks like you're getting a lot done. I took a loooooong break, and I'm still not through. But I am able to blog today (or part of it till I have to leave and go home... am out of town).

    Sending you warm hugs across the miles. Have missed you!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  10. We watched some men at the house across the street doing that same thing all afternoon yesterday. The tree in their front yard had broken off in the last storm a couple weeks ago and barely missed their front porch. It was interesting to see how well they worked together and removed the tree and trimmed some others and cleaned up everything. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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