Dan Antion

Keep My Visions to Myself – #SoCS

She found her lime

We are back at the bar, hoping to have some pleasant conversation, an adult beverage and maybe a bite to eat. While we’re at it, we’ll try to work around Linda G. Hill’s world-famous Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. I wonder what Linda gave us this week:

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘dream.’ Use it as a noun or a verb; use any way you’d like. Enjoy!”

I think we can work with this.

If we were having a beer, you’d be ranting a bit.

“Oh good, you’re already here. Have you ordered?”

“Not yet, David. What’s your rush?”

“I need to relax.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place. How much relaxing do you need – a wine amount or a bourb…”

“Bourbon, Cheryl. John Howell’s. Three fingers. Neat.”

“Oooh, John Howell’s bourbon, John Howell style. I like that. I’m assuming you want all that other junk.”

“If by ‘junk’ you mean a snifter of seltzer, a glass of ice and a couple of cherries, then yes, Cheryl include the other junk. In fact, include a Corona for Dan.”

“Wow, this is like a dream come true. Quick, Cheryl bring those drinks before one of us wakes up.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“This is not a dream, Dan. You know what would be a dream? A time when evil, lying people were not calling me at all hours, trying to get me to change my electric supplier, my Medicare supplemental insurance or trying to sell me a warranty for a car I no longer even own.”

“Here’s your bourbon, David, take a sip and calm yourself down. Dan, your Corona has found her lime, enjoy. And, for the record, if you’re looking for dreams, remember a certain bartender’s blog is called ‘Dreaming Reality’ – you know, in case you’re interested.”

“Always, Cheryl Loved the ducks.”

“What about you, Dan? What are you dreaming about?”

“Fifty degrees, David, fifty degrees.”

“Pardon me for saying, but that’s a lame dream.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, but a couple more fifty-degree days, and I could finish all my fall projects without looking like the Michelin Man when I go outside.”

“I hate to burst your innertube, Dan, but there aren’t going to be many more fifty-degree days…at least not until April.”

“I know, but you asked me about dreams.”

“You boys want something from out of our chef’s dreams?”

“What do you have for us Cheryl?”

“Brisket eggrolls.”

“Brisket?”

“Yep. With gravy, or Ranch dressing as a dipping sauce.”

“Could I…”

“…get ParmPep, of course you can, Dan.”

“So, Dan, you had a couple fifty-degree days this week, did you finish those steps?”

“I made some progress. I got the Trex down on the bottom step and the second step.”

“Those were the big ones?”

“Big and complicated.”

“Complicated? How so?”

“Each of those levels has a step above it. The Trex has to be notched so that a thin strip goes across the front of the upper step, but a full board continues to the side.”

“How big a notch are we talking about?”

“On the bottom step, the thin portion had to go a little over seven feet.”

“Seven feet? How did you cut that?”

“With a saw.”

“You know, you’re annoying.”

“He is, but we love him, David. You boys want another round? You don’t seem very relaxed yet.”

“I’ll take another Corona, Cheryl, and give David another splash.”

“I’d thank you, Dan, but your generosity is coming at my expense. Now, back to the ‘saw,’ what kind of saw?”

“I used a small circular saw for the long cut, and a hand saw for the cuts in from the edge.”

“A hand saw? You? I’m surprised you even own one, Dan.”

“Sometimes it’s the easiest way to do the job.”

“You said ‘long cut,’ you mean long cuts, right? Two steps, two cuts.”

“Actually, I cut both notched boards from the same piece of Trex.”

“How did you do that – and don’t say ‘with a saw’ unless you want to buy your own beer.”

“Hmm, OK, but…You see, I plunged the small circular saw through the middle of a piece of Trex and cut one long cut down the center. I cut in at both ends of that cut to create the two notched pieces.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’ve got pictures.”

“Here you go, boys, brisket eggrolls, a fresh Corona and a splash of John Howell’s Bourbon.”

“Thanks Cheryl. Are you sticking around for the show?”

“You know, David, all day long, people are showing me pictures of kids, cats, dogs and babies. Dan is the only one showing boards and power tools.”

“In other words, you’re staying.”

“Absolutely!”

You can check out Cheryl’s post from Wednesday at that link above. Below the gallery is the song that inspired the title – “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac.

Let’s get started.
Following a line for 7′ (2.1m) wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
Yes, I do know how to use this tool.
A complicated cut, but it made it possible to get both notched pieces out of one board.
I put the plywood down in sections so I could stop at almost any point and still have functional steps.
The first board is down on the second step.
The notch lines up well. but the strip along the front has to be trimmed to about 1/3 of its width.
For the short sections (with only one rail) the support poles get installed first. On the longer section (lowest step) I’ll drill the holes first and set the poles through those holes.
The rail from the firewood rack requires a 1 3/8″ (2.5cm) hole. We can make those.
The hole in the Trex is big enough for the firewood rail to slip in. This will provide support and hide the conduit.
Those poles are electrical conduit. They fit nicely inside the firewood racks we’re using for handrails. These are bolted into the structure of the steps. The rails will slip over them.
This bending jig is designed to bend small objects 90°, but I used it to add a bit of a curve to the large nuts for the rails.
The head has been given a slight curve. This should fit a little better.
The rails fit pretty tight over the support poles. One bolt through each leg and they’re good for many years.
Two steps and one handrail have been installed.
Brisket eggrolls.
MiMi can’t be bothered with all the noise. She’d prefer to sleep.
For the moment, Maddie prefers the “old” step.

65 comments

  1. The work looks so precise! I would have messed up that piece with the two holes for the railing so many times!

    This is one of my all-time favorite songs and ensemble rock bands. I don’t mind having this song running in my head all day. 😍

    So, how were those Brisket eggrolls? Sounds weird.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • I have to say, given the price of Trex, I took very careful measurements before drilling those holes. That was the first set. The next sets get harder. The bottom step has two sets of rails.

      The eggrolls were really good. This place makes a wide variety of eggrolls, and they are all really good. The Reuben eggrolls are the best, and they’re regular items on the menu.

      I’m glad you like the song. That’s an all time favorite band, for me. Our daughter also loves them.

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  3. The steps look great. The craftsman working on the trex steps here got finished yesterday. Long haul with so many stops because of weather. Up here, Tuesday would be your day – no rain and temps in the upper 40’s. That’s as close as we’re getting. :-) I worked at a garden to gather some seeds this weed and had so many layers on I could hardly move. But, one day at 4 p.m., I had to meet with an Eagle Scout at a garden regarding his project, and he planned on doing a slide show outside on the tailgate of his truck. The temps had already dropped below 20, and I had to kindly explain that I thought we should move inside the building there otherwise this woman was going to turn into an icicle. Here’s hoping you can get that last step done before it is covered in white stuff. :-)

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    • Thanks Judy. Standing outside, watching a slideshow in 20-degree temps? Yeah, not for me either. It was 55° on Monday. The it stayed below freezing for most of the next three days. Back up to 50° yesterday. It’s supposed to get to 37° today. Warm enough, if I wait and start once the sun is on the steps.

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  7. Dan – nice work. So is that piece of wood with the two holes drilled a test board for the handrail ? And while I am looking forward to a short break from the outside gardening I tpp am dreaming of the return of 55 degree days.

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  10. Such impressive use of a variety of tools to get the work done! And you’re your own whip-cracker too! I’m with you on dreaming for more 50 degree days. I don’t know if our dreams will come true. :-) Happy Saturday, Dan!!!

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  11. What a beautiful job, Dan. I can’t imagine how you figured all this out. You blew me away with the bolt head bending. That is detail to the finest level. Thanks for sharing the pictures and of course, the brisket.

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  15. Dan, I am so impressed by these steps and the fact that you don’t cut corners because it’s “good enough”. I sure hope it warms up enough in your area so you can finish this project. If not, that snowblower will be doing more than pointing out the door of the shed! 🤗

    Getting both your cars back in the garage will be a treat. At least that will eliminate the sometimes overwhelming job of cleaning them off after a storm, especially if they’re covered in ice. 😡

    MiMi looks like she’s reaching out in preparation for her manicure!! Lol. And sweet Maddie is just in her glory with all these steps/decks to lounge on. Gotta love it!

    Retirement definitely agrees with you, my friend!!
    🐾Ginger 🐾

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    • Thanks Ginger. I finished the top step today. I still have to put the handrails on the bottom step, but that should be fairly easy. I should be able to get the cars in the garage this week. I have several winter-prep tasks remaining, including the gutters and the last of the leaves (which are still falling from our neighbor’s oak tree) and rearranging the shed for winter.

      MiMi stretches and contorts herself in that cradle. I’m not sure if she’s pointing to the door or just getting comfy. Maddie dragged me over to her deck, yesterday and again today. She seems to still prefer sitting there.

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    • Parmesan and peppercorn salad dressing, I substitute it for almost every dipping sauce. I particularly like it on their wings.

      The egg rolls were very good. I’m not sure what else they can think of to stick in those things, but they’ve all been pretty tasty.

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  17. Akkk! I love that song, yet I was racking my brain and couldn’t remember what song had those words. That doesn’t bode well for this as a writing day… But thanks for the song. Still love it.
    I always enjoy your step-by-step project photos, Dan. These are impressive. I really like the play of light in the header photo of the bar, and I’m still smiling from MiMi’s pose. Hugs on the wing!

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    • Thanks Teagan. I was going to write around that song at first, but it didn’t seem to work out that way. The no editing rule changes the story from time to time. I know that some people don’t like the DIY posts, but some do, and I like telling the stores. I’m getting close to the end of this project. A couple more handrails and one tiny little step. Then the rest of winter-prep. I still don’t think MiMi will be interested.

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  18. While you’re dreaming about a 50 degree day, I am in sunshine-y, upper 30’s weather. After the last few weeks of cold and snow, it feels like spring. I’ll take it and dream for a temperate winter and more sunshine.

    Have a wonderful Saturday, McGyver, and I hope you get those stairs finished.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks Mary. We hit 38 today, and that was warm enough in the sun to finish the steps. I still have a couple of handrails to install, but the construction is done. Time to find a place in the garage for cars.

      I hope you’re having a nice weekend and I hope the good weather holds.

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  20. I am in awe. I’m like, plan 15 times, screw up 15 times, bung it together any old way and nail it ’til it sticks. Oh, are we talking about building? I thought we were talking about writing.

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  21. Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions (too). :-) I’m completely distracted by the song, even though it’s great to see your progress. I’m with David about the calls, although having only a cell phone and only answering if I know the person calling cuts down on those.

    Hope you’ve had a great Saturday!

    janet

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  22. Congrats on the progress Dan! Our temps have dipped to the mid fifties today. I’m ready to see the sun again. Thanks so much for the shout out. I’m told by the illustrious Homeowner’s Ass that feeding the ducks is not permitted due to them ripping up the shoreline. I don’t always feed wildlife anyway but the occasional cracker was fun. Lord knows I don’t want to break the rules. I hope they will still pose for me. 😉Have a great Sunday. I dream of being finished unpacking….

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    • Do the rules say that you can’t eat crackers in the yard? Do they further say that you can’t be messy? I’m pretty sure I’d be thrown out of any place with an HOA.

      I couldn’t work with ‘Dream’ without mentioning your place. I hope you get unpacked, and I hope yo have a great week! The steps are done. I just have to put the final two handrails in place on the big bottom step.

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      • It’s okay to go the gazebo and feed them just not on the grassy edges of the pond. It’s the Muskovee that are problematic. I get it but it is caused by too many people over feeding rather than the occasional treat. There are a few ‘offenders’ that apparently feed them every day. I can go to any park and share with the critters there. You know there are birds of every variety on any corner here. Thanks again for reminding folks of my little dreamscape of a blog. 😊

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  24. This project is incredibly complicated. The railing had me in awe of all that’s entailed. Well done, Dan. A few more days in the fifties should do it for the final step. And, the bar banter this week was some of your best!

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  25. You’ve always got something going, Dan. Projects galore. Good to see you still have NO snow. We do and it just is not going away. Don’t fight what you can’t fight. So with that thought, snow is here and it is what it is. Send some of that 50 degree weather our way. I’ll take it!!

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  27. Either my hand saw needs sharpened, or I have gotten much, much older since last fall…
    Anyway, well done.
    And I love that tune — can’t stop singing it now “Now here I go again…” :)

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