Project: Backyard II

Yesterday paint crew came and finally stained the fence. Some cleaning was done and another crew filled in the back side with top soil and the bed with potting soil. Storm damage claim has not been settled with the insurance, the tree and other debris can not be removed till the time. Fallen tree will kill most of the grass under it by the time all is said and done, will have to re-sod the east side of the yard.

The oven structure got some aging overnight, thanks to some faux finishing, mother nature will do the rest. It is raining and it is very wet today, no work.

Fence is finally stained

Some faux finish added some patina of age, mother nature
will do more. Ledge will get acid stain

pictures: paisley curtain, google

Project Backyard

one of the Inspiration picture

I apologize for the lack of posts this summer. May has been a busy month with too much going on from business and social events to cars shows and natural disasters.

Some good things happened and some not so good. My 1976 Mercedes 450SL won the best in it’s class on the annual Mercedes/Jaguar Concours d Elegance, here in May. I got some good news on my health front and got some property damage, courtesy mother nature. However I am hopeful will be more regular on the blog front now.

2 years back one afternoon it rained at the rate of 3 inches an hour, followed by flood from the adjacent golf course that took most of our landscaping in the backyard. The bushes and plants the raised beds all washed away.

Since then we have been thinking what to do. Finally we decided to extend the patio, add a wood burning pizza oven a privacy fence to make a courtyard kind of feel. The project started in the end of April and is still going on because the general contractor has too many projects on his hands and delays caused by weather. Last week’s hailstorm and windstorm have put further brakes as we have roof damage caused by hail, wind and a fallen tree. 

So far we have gone through this:

Unfortunately a tree had to go to keep everything centered

Form for the extension of the concrete patio

After the concrete is poured

6x6 posts were fixed in concrete for the 10ft tall custom fence

Pizza oven is finished by the masonry crew

Small fire just to check everything works, fence is up trees
are trimmed bringing in more light and sun

Wind and hail storm, tree split and damaged the roof

Oven is painted, stain on the fence in progress

The oven will get antiqued finish and an antiqued copper cap

For the sake of fun painted my family coat of arms on the front
it is a work in progress

Stain on the fence will be finished today (hopefully), then concrete will get acid stain and the plants and honey suckle wines will go in along with other final touches. Heavy digging equipment has damaged the grass that will need some attention too along with some plants and bushes that got killed or damaged.

Will keep you posted on the progress.

Pictures: paisleycurtain

A random post

Lately I have been confined to a "resting state" by the doctor's orders. Since did not have many options, have been browsing around the blog and tumblr worlds to keep myself entertained. Here are a few random things to share, please excuse the foul language in some but that is part of the charm.

Have a nice weekend.

My dad told me that when I was 13 but
his language was not that interesting 

Is it about my neighbor's cat is ?

Driving a BMW takes my calm away

As an artist I find it very interesting

 Love Devil Wears Prada. Some time back, I was Andy Sachs
and my boss Miranda Priestly. The same ending :) 

Credits: blogspot, tumblr etc

McPherson College Car Show

Last Saturday some friends and two of us drove two hundred miles to represent Mercedes Benz Club of America at the McPherson College 13^th annual Car Show, in McPherson, Kansas. McPherson College has world’s only 4 year accredited Bachelors degree program in auto restoration. (Will do a post some time later on our visit to the facilities of McPherson College auto restoration program). The college organizes this car show every year and is very well attended. Most of the emphasis is on Classic American automobiles but foreign classics are also well represented especially Mercedes Benz. Though it was a warm balmy 90 F day, we enjoyed it thoroughly here are some pictures to share the event with you.

Horseless carrige

Fords in a line

1935 Auburn

Most mouth watering Chevy van

Stanley Steamer, the steam car gave rides 

A pink hotrod was not to be missed 

Patina of use and age on the International pickup

Credits: Paisleycurtain. 

Dead Poet's Society

1989 movie Dead Poet’s Society was directed by Peter Weir, starring Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen, Norman Lloyd. Though Roger Ebert gave it only 2 stars, the movie won Academy award for Best Original Screenplay (Tom Schulman) as well as nominations for Best Actor in a leading role (Robin Williams), Best Director and best picture. The movie also won BAFTA for Best Film and Best Original Film Score. Made on a budget of $16.4 million it grossed $235.8 million.

Based on Tom Schulman’s life at the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, the story is about an English teacher (Robin Williams) at a Vermont Prep School, Welton Academy, who inspires his students through poetry.

I have always enjoyed this movie; if you have not seen it and get a chance do watch it.

Credits: Google etc.