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Porch remodel begins

Posted on by Dave

We have begun our Porch remodel by building a 5 tiered retaining wall. The wall will help with the steep grade of the yard. Knock-out roses and Shasta daisy's are planted in front and on top are lovely begonias and some tall grasses. Tips from Lowes.com The blocks for this project have a locking flange — which makes the installation easy. The interlocking blocks can be used to build walls up to 28 inches high. Follow the block manufacturer's instructions concerning wall height limits. Plan your layout. Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and, if it's against the house, keep soil and mulch well below the siding. Your retaining wall design will determine how you mark the area. To mark a freeform layout, use a rope or hose to outline the shape. Then use a shovel to mark the outline. For straight lines, mark the entire bed area with stakes, string and marking paint. Mark curved corners by tying a string to a stake that's equidistant to the edge — creating a compass — and spraying the curves with marking paint. To determine how many blocks you'll need per row, divide the total length of the wall by the...Read More

Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac

Posted on by Dave

[caption id="attachment_5500" align="aligncenter" width="493"] Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac[/caption] Everything you would ever want to know about these plants is here. Important Information Toxicodendron radicans, commonly known as eastern poison ivy or poison ivy, is a poisonous Asian and North American flowering plant that is well-known for causing Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, an itchy, irritating, and sometimes painful rash in most people who touch it. It is caused by urushiol, a clear liquid compound in the plant's sap. The species is variable in its appearance and habit, and despite its common name it is not a true ivy (Hedera), but rather a member of the cashew and almond family. Toxicodendron radicans is commonly eaten by many animals, and the seeds are consumed by birds, but poison ivy is most often thought of as an unwelcome weed. Three "almond" shaped leaves The deciduous leaves of T. radicans are trifoliate with three almond-shaped leaflets. Leaf color ranges from light green (usually the younger leaves) to dark green (mature leaves), turning bright red in fall; though other sources say leaves are reddish when expanding, turn green through maturity, then back to red, orange, or yellow in the fall. The leaflets of mature leaves are somewhat...Read More

Matthew Bible Study Guide

Posted on by Dave

[caption id="attachment_5282" align="alignnone" width="802"] Matthew Bible Study Guide[/caption] Click here to get a free copy of the Matthew Bible Study Guide I have just completed with the Adult Sunday School class. Feel free to distribute as you deem necessary. Here is the introductory text. INTRODUCTION Written in a polished Semitic "synagogue Greek", the author draws on three main sources: 1. the Gospel of Mark, 2. the hypothetical collection of sayings known as the “Q source”, and 3. the material unique to his own community, called the “M source” or "Special Matthew". The divine nature of Jesus was a major issue for the Matthaean community in the early Christian community. It is the crucial component in distinguishing them from their Jewish neighbors. While Mark begins with baptism and transfiguration, Matthew goes back further, showing Jesus as the Son of God from his birth, and emphasizing the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecies (1:22; 2:15,23; 4:14;5:17; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14,35; 21:4; 27:9). The title, Son of David, identifies Jesus as the healing and miracle-working Messiah of Israel (it is used exclusively in relation to miracles). As Son of Man he will return to judge the world, a fact his disciples recognize but of which...Read More

Floor Refinishing

Posted on by Dave

After three days of sanding, staining, and buffing, our floors came out great. [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="5" gal_title="Floor Refinishing"] Ever think you'd find buried treasure in your own home? Years ago, homeowners decided to go for a more "modern" look and covered their hardwood floors with vinyl or carpet. These days, with hardwood back in style, it might be worthwhile to look into Floor Refinishing. If it turns out that your floor was among those treasures that were buried, we can help you put it back on display. Be warned, though: this project takes a lot of time, patience and elbow grease. Before You Start: 1.Check the gaps between the floor planks. If they're widening and you can see the nails that hold the floor down, don't bother trying to refinish the floor. 2.Some newer hardwood floors are only 1/4 inch thick with a laminate coating on top. These floors can't be sanded and refinished. If you try, you're likely to wear away the entire floor! 3.Some floors are easier to refinish than others. Pine and oak, the most common, are fairly easy to work with. Harder woods such as maple, mahogany and walnut take more time. Materials: pry bar pliers stiff, wide-blade...Read More