While staining the deck yesterday I kept looking at the wooden lattice erected around and under the perimeter of the raised deck. Ashley had explained that it was to keep Lucy and Maggie, those lovable labs, from crawling under the deck and getting into mischief there.
So I had an idea....to trim that lattice which was extending above the deck floor and blocking the deck from being easily cleaned. So we experimented with a piece and I tried cutting it to size...and the lattice wasn't able to handle a saw blade without splitting. So I suggested that we replace the lattice with a vinyl lattice which not only looks nice but is durable, cleans easily, and is pre colored in a similar color to the redwood stain we used on the deck.
So early this morning Ashley and I left Eric sleeping soundly and we drove up to Home Depot to make some purchases. We returned with vinyl lattice and a 4 x 4 and some brackets. Oh, I almost forgot about the pecan laced coffee cake that Eric called and requested that we pick up at Evelyn's bakery on the return trip to the house.
I jumped right into the lattice project. First I ripped down the existing wooden lattice. Then I put Ashley to work washing and cleaning the wooden exterior sides below the deck floor. Meanwhile I followed behind her with a fresh coat of stain around the exterior sides of the deck.
Once completely stained, I began measuring and cutting the 4 x 8 lattice pieces to size to fit under the decking. I also cut a 4 x 4 into three columns and bracketed and nailed them for additional support for the lattice beneath the deck. It took me the balance of the afternoon to get all lattice cut to size and I tested each piece by fitting it into position. By the time it was all ready to be drilled and screwed into the decking, it was time to call it another day...another 9 hour work day in project mode.
Eric and Ashley and I returned to one of their favorite haunts...Pizza Schmizza, for some pizza and a brew. After dinner we returned to the homestead for another round of cake dish sundae desserts and another evening of our favorite series, 24.
The foot was able to withstand two days of walking and lots of standing. It isn't yet closed up though and certainly isn't ready for 20 to 30 mile days of hiking. Time will tell when it will be ready to go.
