Category Archives: Uncategorized

Adirondack

May 16, 2022UncategorizedDeckbkrijger

One thing missing at Ozuye Lodge was comfy deck chairs. So I built an Adirondack chair. The name refers to the place this concept was originally designed. Mine are constructed from (left over) 2×4 pine. I’m writing this post sitting in it without cushions on it, and it’s not uncomfortable at all, so with a cushion they will be quite comfortable.

To do is filling some screw holes and applying paint. As it’s quite heavy, the back legs will get wheels, so when you lift the front, it can roll over the deck.

I’ve been Boot Whispered

December 30, 2021Uncategorizedbkrijger

As most of you will know, I love wearing my cowboy boots that I bought now 5 or 6 years ago. But those are really worn, so I promised myself I would get new boots. As it happens, Wimberley, one of the nearest towns, is also the home of the Texas Boot Whisperer.

By appointment only, the Boot Whisperer ( A lady of German origin) will take a look at your feet, and then come up with a pair of boots that will fit like they were custom made for you. They’re all vintage boots, some quite old, but all in new or almost new condition and hand made to order at the time. I ended up getting the first pair she picked out. I tried on 8 different other pairs, but she was right on her choice being best. She’s not called the boot whisperer for no reason.

Here they are on my coffee table and with pants over them they are understated;

They’re from Tony Lana from El Paso Texas. Those should get me through the next winters.

It’s all about choices

December 27, 2021Uncategorizedbathroombkrijger

Now I could have gone for the easy option, and after clearing what will be the upstairs bathroom, simply put all the stuff that was in there back in in a more organized manor.

But instead of lifting those stone tiles for the zillionth time, I decided that if I put the tiles in with mortar, I would not have lift them ever again. So that’s what I did and the grouts were just finished.

I also put in what I had in terms of insulation and drywall, so next time I will only need 1 board.

On the right hand side will be a shower, and on the log walls I will place a hanging toilet. A small sink will go on the wall on the left.

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2021Uncategorizedhot tubbkrijger

I just could not resist 🤠

Eternal Tulips

December 24, 2021Uncategorizedbkrijger

Two and a half years ago, I brought these fresh Tulips from Holland. They are not plastic, but “embalmed” with something magical. The stem is reinforced with a steel wire ( I noticed that when I tried to cut them )

They look as good as then and did not get any water. So if you’re ever at Schiphol AirPort and want to take some really long lasting flowers, get these. Paulette has had them a year (or maybe even two) longer and they survived a move and still look as they were just cut.

Hot Tub almost ready for use

December 24, 2021Uncategorizedhot tubbkrijger

The Hot Tub is in place and I’m filling it with some water, to make sure it stays there. I made an extra outdoor outlet for the tub and for now used the hot water faucet that was already in place on the other side of the house. I will get an extra piece of PEC tube and run a cold water line to the west side, so that it’s easier to refill the tub with cold water.

As you can see, the deck leaves space to have chairs around the tub, and you’d still be able to easily walk around it.

Hot Tub Deck Stained

December 24, 2021UncategorizedDeck, hot tubbkrijger

The Hot Tub deck is now stained in Federal Blue. I remember that color from childhood as I was playing with those 1:72 toy soldiers; In the civil war, the south had uniforms in this color.

Deck boards in

December 23, 2021Uncategorizedhot tubbkrijger

It’s always surprising how many screws go into a project. The Hot Tub Deck took almost 300 screws, just for the top boards.

The sisal ropes are also in place.

Each post has its own solar cap light;

The wood (pressure treated pine) is still greenish,but today I bought a gallon of Federal Blue stain, to make it the same color as the rest of the deck.

I will do that tomorrow, after which the deck will be ready to get the Hot Tub installed.

As I was in Wimberley anyway, I did my groceries and checked out the PCR test facility. They have a 24 to 48 hour free test, so if I time it right, I can use that to fly back to Amsterdam. The result is emailed, so if I schedule my test 48 hrs before departure, I should be good. Luckily the 24hr rule only applies to flights into the US.

Running

December 19, 2021Uncategorizedbkrijger

Not that I don’t get enough exercise here digging trenches and such, I try to keep up my running too. The easiest loop I can do is this one;

https://strava.app.link/kBm8JczQ7lb

Due to lower temperatures, this is my fastest time on this loop.

Hot Tub Deck

December 18, 2021Uncategorizedhot tubbkrijger

Today I started on the deck for the hot tub. It’s on the west side of the lodge, as that’s a spot with a little privacy. Theoretically the hot tub could go on the main deck, but this seemed like a better spot.

From upstairs you see the layout. You may be able to spot some lines, and the concrete base with rebar reinforcements. The forming tubes will be used to create a base on which the 9 4×4″ posts will go. Once the bases have dried, I can put the 4×4’s in place and using a laser, cut them to form a perfectly horizontal support. On those 4×4’s there will be 2×6″ joist every 16 inch. That should make it strong enough to carry the weight of a filled hot tub with 4 people in it. The deck is larger than the tub; for now I will start with an inflatable 70″ hot tub. If at some point in time I want to place a nicer one, I can use the same deck.