Topping Out

So apparently I have not alienated all of the neighbors with my Shed4Ed construction project. A couple of nights ago, just after dinner while I was trying to wrangle the girls into getting ready for bed, I was surprised by a rapping on the sliding door to the deck. Thinking the neighbors had finally organized a posse to bring me in, I jumped 3 feet in the air, just about pissed my pants and let out a startled yell. (More like a high pitched scream if you ask Alex). It was our neighbor Mike bearing not arms, but a 3 foot cedar tree. After I stopped hyperventilating and he stopped laughing, Mike explained that had brought the tree over to help "top out" the shed.

I know that technically it's supposed to go on top of the structure, but it was too late, dark and cold to dig out the ladder and rig up the tree on the roof. I also figured just pitching it up onto the roof would be in poor taste. So in a quick, impromptu ceremony I laid the tree up against the shed for luck. Maybe I should have invited all the other neighbors, too.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Lots of good progress this weekend. I got all of the latch and locking mechanism installed on the doors. No more propping it closed with a couple of cinder blocks. And while initially I was planning on waiting until the spring to install the window, in a fit of productivity, I decided to take the circular saw to the front of the shed. Four quick cuts and a handful of screws later, the window was in place. Now I'm saving up my energy for the final pieces that will bring it all together.... the WINDOW BOX and SHUTTERS.

When a hammer meets a thumb...

...the safe money is on the hammer. While nailing up the trim around the window I caught the tip of my thumb with the hammer. I think I was distracted by the glares I was getting from the neighbors. Neither really bothered me, so I just kept on working. It wasn't until I felt something wet on my wrist that I thought to look at my thumb again. Yikes! Not to be deterred, I finished the window.

It all ended well as the girls took great care to get just the right band-aid for my owie. And I think the neighborhood punks are going to think twice about breaking in to the shed once they notice the bloody fingerprints and splatters on the window trim.