Week 310 - Life in Paradise - 07-22-2012

Life in Paradise

While we waited for our renters to move out, we headed to our daughter's house. We spent three weeks with Emily, Chad and Micah at their new home in Paradise. They now reside on three acres on a year-round creek and have a variety of trees including some very lovely and tall redwoods. Our stay was a combination of great fellowship, bonding with our granddaughter Micah and helping with a number of projects.

Alongside their home they put in full hookups for the Mothership. 50 amps, water and sewer, nice! Ellen took time everyday to get to know our granddaughter Micah.

First project: Move In. Chad's mom Esther, an old man, Chad, Ellen and Chad's brother-in-law Joey.

Micah quickly bonded with Mandy.

Project Two: Front room bookshelf. Inspired by Uncle Frank. Chad, Emily and Pete built this heavy duty bookshelf in their huge garage. There is no doubt that it will be strong enough to hold their books.

Chad and Pete install the shelves. Emily was a little leery about whether the bookshelf was securely attached to the wall, so she put a "little weight" on it for a test.

The new homeowners stand proudly by their creation and as you can see they built a window seat in the same motif (Project Three).

4th of July and time for some fellowship. We were joined by Chad's parents, Esther and Steve and close friends, Angie and Jason. As much as possible everyone's potluck entrees were red, white or blue.

Why stop a good thing when you are on a roll. Project Four: Emily and Chad built more matching furniture, this time an entertainment center.

Project Five: The trampoline.

Chad and Emily wanted to bury their trampoline in the ground: easy to get on and you are less likely to get hurt falling only six inches to the ground. Luckily Matt, the home builder, had his backhoe at the property. He graciously agreed to dig the pit. But, here's the dilly. The trampoline is 14 feet in diameter and the outside rim needs to set on the ground. But, the hole ended up as 16 feet wide. Ooops! What to do now?

After a few dozen ideas, the best thought was to build a wire "cone" to set into the hole and back fill dirt outside the cone. Pete's sister Donnalee came over from Redding on this day to help. After cutting 12 wire trapezoids, they were lashed together with bailing wire and the whole cone covered in plastic.

Nice breakfast bowl eh? Now, just set the bowl in the ground and back fill.

Oh no, the bowl is way too tall. While Chad dug deeper, Pete, like a good barber, took a foot "off the top".

Now, that's more like it. Now just shovel dirt around the bottom, inside and out to hold the cone in place.

Next, back fill with loose dirt and water it down to compact it. Hey, look, it's working! Joey came over to cut a dozen railroad ties to make a do-decagon (12 sided polygon).

Each tie was carefully leveled as we moved around the circumference. Chad and Pete placed the "golden tie".

With a level railroad tie base, it is time to anchor the trampoline. Chad cuts 12 two inch holes as Emily uses the high speed wire brush to clean up the ties.

Yes, it looks exactly like your plans. The final product is low, safe and a great playground for Micah and her Grandmother Esther.

Ellen got this photo in a tree near the trampoline.

Mandy with a bad hair day!

With these projects done and just a few weeks until we need to be home to rent our house, we will head off on a Kamikaze trip to Denver and back. Ellen's Aunt Glo lives in Aurora, Colorado and wants to visit California. So, we volunteered to be her taxi.

Until next week, be safe and blessed, love Pete, Ellen and Mandy (woof!).
By Pete . Ellen Mattson