A Good Start

As promised, here is a little more detail on the craft nook planning process. I sat down Saturday with a tape measure and graph paper and made a rough sketch of what I wanted in my craft nook. After going over the plans with M and discussing their feasibility, we headed out to Menards and Lowes to see and price materials.

M then sat down and used a computer program to take the "rough" out of my sketches. This is what he came up with:

I am a visual person and love the fact that M has the talent and knowledge to sit down and draw up such great plans. It really helps me to see any changes that I might want to make and how this project will turn out.

The laminate shelving is on sale at Menards through the end of the month, so that may help give us the kick in the pants we need to actually get this project off of paper and into our lower level.

My Husband (aka "The Ox")

With a title like that, you may think that I am getting ready to brag-up my husband. But one look at the pictures will show you otherwise. (Don't worry, I love my husband dearly and will proudly brag him up on many occasions.) And now for an explanation. When we bought our home, the final cost did not include grading the yard. Since M has landscaping experience, we figured we could do it ourselves and save some money. One day M was talking to a friend at church and the friend brought up the fact that he graded his own yard with a contraption made up of a couple of landscape timbers that were lashed together. Our friend would drag the timbers around his yard with a long rope attached to the front. The farm boy in M thought that this was a great idea. And so we went and picked up our friend's contraption and M began dragging it around the yard. I do have to admit that the yard is starting to look really good. I told M that it was his project and therefore he could do it whatever way he wanted to. I did warn him that he may forever be known as Ox-Boy in the neighborhood, though. If you look at the pictures you can see the neighbors and some of their friends at a recent party looking out at M. (You will have to determine what it is they are thinking.)
The engineer in M thought that a few modifications were in order. At first he looked at attaching rake heads to the timbers but settled for sinking some screws in. Later he found a scrap piece of wood the builders has left behind. You can see him attaching it in the pictures. As he was out working last night I heard one neighbor offer him the use of his riding mower to drag it, but M declined. He figures this way he is also getting a work out. :o)