Fireworks and Fireflies: social distancing {week twelve ~ the week we built a bike shed }

Historically our house has easily been recognized as "the one with all the bikes." They lined the very top of our driveway and could easily be seen by folks walking on the sidewalk or driving down the street. For a long time the bikes were all hand-me-downs or purchased on consignment, so it wasn't such a big deal for them to be out in the weather and we weren't extremely worried about them being stolen. But as the kids have started asking for "real bikes" for birthdays and Christmas, we began investing better quality bikes for them to ride and wanted to protect our investments. We needed a shed.

It took us twelve weeks, but we finally got around to drawing blueprints, ordering materials and getting started on our big "covid project."

Saturday morning I headed off for the weekly grocery run and by the time I got back (buying all the food a family of eight needs for seven days isn't exactly a fast task) work was underway.

For the most part this ended up being an "all hands on deck" kind of thing.

While Ian and I did the biggest share, often there was at least one kid involved, digging, mixing, measuring, cutting or nailing.

There also was some relief from the heat sought out.

This week's non food splurge? An $8 kiddie pool from Aldi. Who knew you could get three tweens into one small area with so many smiles?

The natural beauty around us continues to make me smile each day.

Other ones of the kids floated in and out, but Daniel was the most consistent of helpers. He did a good deal of measuring and pretty much all of the cutting for the framework of our shed.

We insisted that everyone come out to get some fresh air and natural vitamin D. Daniel worked,

Caleb, Nat & Nicholas began working on a creative "project" of their own,

(I present Concrete Form Tube Man!)

and surprise of all surprises...Ky & DQ brought books to the party.

We got a good bit done over the weekend, but didn't finish. Imagine that, M8 project taking "a bit longer" than anticipated...

Ian had a significant amount of flex time built up and need to use some vacation days before the end of June per company request. With nowhere to go, taking some concentrated time to work on the shed was the plan. Nicholas honed his math fraction skills as he marked where to put the studs for a wall section.

What, doesn't your bike shed include five kids and a mjolnir wielding Concrete Form Tube Man?

Sometimes I almost think that Ian creates projects in order to add to his tool collection. This one called for a pneumatic nailer extension to go with his air compressor. Good thing we've got his "cute cottage on the outside/woodworkers dream Mancave on the inside" in the backyard to hold his toys!

By Monday afternoon we were most the way there.

Front yard visits continue to be a way for the kids to stay connected withe their friends. This has become especially important as school begins to wind down for the summer. In case you haven't listened in lately, 11 year old boy talk is random and humorous.

After catching up with his buddy, Daniel was back at work helping Daddy build doors to the shed.

A quick trim of jagged edges...

...and a reappearance of Concrete Form Tube Man, this time with a freshly forged sword.

(sword compliments of the efforts of his crafty "blacksmith" siblings)

By the end of the day we were closing in on completion!

The message board continues to give glimpses into the thoughts and personalities in the house. I find more and more that smells take me back to places. A Dijon vinaigrette is the kitchen of Dad's business acquaintance in the Brittany region of France the summer our family "house-sat" for A mix of Pond's cold cream and Jean Nate bath splash has me standing in my Grandmother's upstairs hallway in Frostburg, MD. The blend of aftershave and Ivory soap puts me in close proximity to my Grandfather on the farm in Arcanum, OH. And plumeria will always be the breeze blowing through the church windows in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. Curious to see if any of the crew makes such connections, I posted the following.