Whew! Well, we made it to the airport and eventually to Berlin after a crazy week toting around a to do list that you wouldn’t believe. I’m sure I looked like I’d lost my mind, clutching my paper full of scribbles and crossed off items, but without my list I definitely would’ve forgotten something major. I think we did it— the dog sitter is all set, the bags got packed, the grass is cut— you get the idea:)
One thing I’ve been meaning to get around to is planting these little boxwood bushes that we’ve had sitting around for months in pots leftover from a planting project in the front yard last fall. I can’t believe they survived this winter of constant polar vortex temperatures, but they’re putting out new growth and looking as healthy as can be, so I felt like I had to give these little fighters a chance somewhere in the yard. Since we won’t be there to water for a while, and spring is a great time to plant anything, I wanted to get them in the ground before we left town.
Along the side of our house in the back yard, there’s a whole bare patch that I have plans to fill in eventually, so I figured these boxwoods would make a good start. Once the winter set in, my progress on the deck railings and lattice skirting ground to a halt, and there is still a whole side section waiting for me to finish it. Before planting the boxwoods I decided to break out the saw again and inaugurate a new project season by building my next-to-last section of lattice.
Here’s how it’s supposed to look...
And here’s what’s been staring at me all winter… It’s definitely time to do something about this gaping hole, don’t you think?
To support the lattice frame I measured and built, I used scrap pressure treated 2x4s screwed into the deck posts about an inch and a half back from the front edge, so that the lattice would be flush with the posts. (For the full how-to, check out this post.) Once these supports are in place, I just screw the lattice frame straight into the scrap 2x4s for a clean look. And then I could finally plant my patient boxwoods.
I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to finish the one small lattice frame or the final two sections of deck railing before we left. But I had to cut myself some slack, since our last three days before leaving for Germany were spent at a conference in DC and at the wedding of some good friends. So I guess I’ll keep things in perspective this time:)
xo
Liza
