Sunday, April 24, 2011

Cutoffgeco

We seem to have found our phone and Internet sliced through by what I
can only assume was a backhoe exception as it seems Milton, Halton
Hills and Georgetown are all affected.

If you need us today call my cell.

G

sent on behalf of Geoffrey Peart by the Modrons who plumb the tubes of
the interwebosphere..

http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=439756&supId=178485907&msource=boundlessbadge

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Garage Super Shelf Phase 1

In the background of the last post you can see the ubër shelf I've been building in the garage.  You can see it in full (all be it messy) here:

That span is about 4 m and it is pretty solid.  The point was to be able to get the car nose under without worrying and I think I can.  I will probably add one asymmetric support pillar.
I will build on the left two more shelves, I really like on the left most side I have my tire rack, where the tires (all four) just slot down in.

Raising the Garden

Been working on some garden beds for our veggies this year, wanted to try something a little different, a little more instant construction.  So I'm going with the Lee Valley Raised Bed kit which uses pre-cast concrete instead of wood to form the bed sides.  What I didn't realize is pre cast concrete slabs weight 90 pounds a pop. So I'm exhausted from just hauling them into the yard.


Here are half the stones, and the limestone I need for the base
The first of the frames assembled with the
brackets installed.



I've put together the first frame in the garage, and I will do the second tomorrow, I used cedar instead of pressure treated because I wanted the to not worry about the chemicals leaching into the veggies.  Hopefully I can't get everything put together on Friday as I have a few cubic yards of soil coming to fill the bed.  I just have to remember no planting until May.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Heart and Stroke Ride For Heart


For the fifth year in a row my wife and I will be riding in the Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart raising funds to support the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  This cause has always been particularly close to my heart (if you will excuse the pun) my family has been touched the technologies and therapies made possible through research dollars donated through the Heart and Stoke Foundation.  From the pace maker that keeps my grandfather moving at the spry young age of 89, or the heart valve surgery my brother had before he was one year old.  These are just two of the many examples within my own family, and when I think on it, I can come up with a dozen more amongst my close friends, and colleagues over the years.
 
This is why my wife and I ride, and why I'm asking each of you to consider the importance of heart health, even if just reading this reminds you to watch out for your own, if you can donate, it would mean a lot to me.  The donation link
 
Thanks for your time and consideration, I promise not to abuse the broadcast address again (this year.)  You can  find the donation link in the footer of any email from me, or right here:
 
For those still reading at this point I'm going to put my money where my mouth is with this special offer, from anyone who donates $50 dollars or more to my wife or I, I (or a suitably neutral party) will draw a random donor who will take home a pair of Leaf's tickets for next season (Upper bowl, in the curve, second row, aisle seats.)
 

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Cortland planted

What an amazing day, it started out grey and blah, so we all slept in a bit.  To try and do something today instead of just putter around inside we would head out to Terra and just walk around the garden centre and enjoy all the indoor planters that they have blooming at this time of year.

We decided while we were there that we would, mostly to show bryan growing things, but maybe if we are lucky actually be successful, we would get some seeds and seed trays and grow our veggies from seed.

On a lark we visited the tree's, and I finally found my coveted Cortland apple tree, so one van full of apple tree, soil, seeds, planting tray and misc later we were on our way home (much later then we hoped.)

After feeding and chasing all the kids to bed, I looked out side to start some hole digging for my tree expecting some chilly rain, when I found out that the chill morning had been replaced by the balm practically summer day.  I had my sweater off before I even started digging, and before long I had a big jug of water, and my Tilly to keep me from getting sun stroke.

By the time Bryan was up and ready to help me plant my tree (he was very explicit on the point of tears that he was going to help daddy, (he was also very tired from a late late nap)) I had dug the hole, prepped my tomato bed, prepped my shade bed, erin seeded the grass, got my tree stakes in, reinforced the tree stakes on last years new trees, and generally got my garden in order.

Bryan and I got my cortland planted, with much mud and ado, then set about planting our seeds.  I think I may have accidentally planted lettuce on my cucumbers while I wasn't looking and Bryan's planting style is kind of scatter shot.

This is our first go at plants from seeds, so we will see how it turns out.

Anyways, busy, beautiful sunny day here in Miltonia, parents and kids are now zonked

>blogged from bed :)<