What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[Luke]

I like the shed you have. Was that done by the company that built the house?

Same company.

The feeder replenishing is in full swing for us too. The finches drain the nyjer feeders in a matter of a few days in my backyard.

I forget how sandy the soil in NC is. Do you mulch with tan bark? We have some friends in the Wilmington area that use that needle much for their landscaping. I think it adds an interesting texture to the yard. The only way to get it here in the NE is shipping, which is expensive, obviously, and not very practical.

We have a family of bluebirds in the birdhouse, and regular visitors to our feeders. There is also a lone Bluejay, who I shit you not, is larger than a red-crested wood pecker and almost rivals the size of an African Grey.

This BlueJay is 100% aggressive and squirrels won't get within ten feet of the guy. Wouldn't be surprised if the Jay could take down a cat.

_____


The soil here is awful. The Piedmont area excluded, you either have clay or dry dirt in NC.

I use hardwood mulch. I have the option to purchase dyed mulch, but either way I'm going to have to mulch every other year so why spend the extra cash?

Protip: When mulching use snow shovels.

[elmagicochrisg]

Then he pulled me aside and asked if I could "score him a bag". He is awesome indeed.

All of a sudden an old man asking you if you could score him a bag is awesome?...

What hypocrisy is this?...

[o.pwuaioc]

Is Argentina getting full of themselves again? I guess their humiliation in the Falklands war has worn off.

Nationalizing oil companies is hardly associated with "getting full of themselves".

They think they're big enough stuff to steal a foreign oil company.

Politics fail.

[the King]

Nice place, for sure.

But how much work can that deck be? In my experience, a patio is going to be more work than a deck - I've had both. Deck, next to zero maintenance where as the patio was constant trouble w/subtle shifting or weeds still managing to penetrate the weed-guard and grout. Additionally, to replace a cracked decking board is easy - replacing a cracked brick is much more intensive...assuming you can find a matching color years later.

With that said, juding by size and height of that deck, it's possible they didn't even use a ledger board - so that should come down in a couple hours. Can re-use the wood to build a skywalk to Mr. Awesomes place.

Really? A deck needs to be stained every 2 years or so. If a patio is installed correctly(like anything) there is no maintenance involved.

[Opa Opa]

Somewhat ticked: Sonic (the drive-in; not the game character) no longer carries the peanut butter shake...

[mjmjr25]

Well, disagree.

A deck sealed should last 5-10 years. Both of mine have. That's a couple hours maintenance every 5+ years. Guys who seal every 2 years have stock in Thompson's, imo.

Whereas, both patios (i've installed correctly) suffer from cracks in the grout lines overtime and weeds coming up. And when our last patio suffered gouges from the grill having been drug across it - the old patio block was no longer made, so the options to replace were to find a close match, or live w/the gouges. With a deck, that isn't the case.

To each his own.

[Flake]

Frown: Best friend at work has moved on to bigger and better things. Wish him the best of luck but today was flipping boring.

Smile: Dsheinem is such a dick.

[mjmjr25]

Smile: Dsheinem is such a dick.

This.

[the King]

Well, disagree.

A deck sealed should last 5-10 years. Both of mine have. That's a couple hours maintenance every 5+ years. Guys who seal every 2 years have stock in Thompson's, imo.

Whereas, both patios (i've installed correctly) suffer from cracks in the grout lines overtime and weeds coming up. And when our last patio suffered gouges from the grill having been drug across it - the old patio block was no longer made, so the options to replace were to find a close match, or live w/the gouges. With a deck, that isn't the case.

To each his own.

You put grout in between the blocks? I might of read that wrong.

I have no idea how if you put down the proper base and compacted it before installing the block/pavers how weeds or any other plant material would grow in there. It's essentially crushed concrete compacted on more crushed concrete.

If the block/pavers got gouges or cracks that easily or at all then the product was either defective or cheap material.

[mjmjr25]

Well, not much in the mood to describe the entire process - suffice to say, I know the traditionally correct process to lay a patio.

Moisture will penetrate grout, brick, concrete and just about every other material. This is why basements leak, sidewalks crack, and streets get potholes. Moisture. I'm not inventing the wheel here.

As for weeds, they do not penetrate from the ground up necessarily (so your weed guard, sand and gravel base have done nothing beyond a level base), if you live in an area full of different grasses, trees, and flowers, as I do - they will settle into the finest of holes in the finest of cracks, then moisture/sun do their thing.