Daniel has completed the deck. The Trex is laid, the trim is finished, the furniture is back, and we are enjoying outdoor dining again. The old wood planks (some still with nails jutting out) are stacked on the side patio. Considering my propensity for tripping and falling, this is an accident waiting to happen. But hopefully, they won't be there long; there are projects in the near future.

Daniel has a list of uses to recycle most, if not all, the planks. Of course, first, it will require multiple trips to Home Depot. The first project is a new dining table for the outdoor pergola area. We intend to exchange the mismatched slabs that are currently our pergola table for perfectly attached planks that will create a stable and level eating surface. Thus, we can avoid wobbly plates and glasses, making for a less dangerous dining experience.

This project required purchasing a planer, replacement blades (which seem to get used up every hour), a special wrench to change the blades, folding stands to hold the twelve-foot planks, and other tools I couldn't identify.

I hadn't expected the need for noise-cancelling ear pods not just for us, but for all of Waitsburg. The sound from the planer reverberated all over the town. Even the turkeys have been avoiding our yard.

When the table is complete, it's on to a smaller project. We need to replace many of the weather-worn planks in our backyard path. They are worn out, with nails protruding and split to allow weeds to push through. Naturally, I trip on them.

I am sure more tools will be necessary; blades must be replaced and updated. There will be a trip or two to Home Depot.

The next major project is to disassemble the Rubbermaid Garden shed. When Daniel initially assembled it, he used old doors for a makeshift foundation. The shed is now sinking in the center, which has thrown the entire "structure" out of alignment.

His solution: disassemble the shed, use some of the planks from the deck for the floor, and reassemble the shed. I have much more confidence in his ability than I do in the integrity of the Rubbermaid shed. It was inexpensive and not the sturdiest to begin with. Like Ikea furniture, it's good for a single assembly, not a repeat.

I learned that lesson when I moved here. In my naivety, I paid to move several Ikea pieces. I use them, but they are held together with duct tape, glue, extra nails, a wish, and a prayer. I can't help but think that will be the fate of our garden shed. A result of the shed's dubious integrity will be Daniel's patience, which I am sure, will run thin. Mugsy and I will hide, but not in the shed.

And just to make all this more interesting, cooler, wetter weather has arrived. So, my guess is that this will be a race against time and weather. Anyone want to give odds on the winner?