The Pizza Oven Chronicles - Part III

Although the second edition of our pizza oven looked great when we left it 2 weeks ago, it had several major cracks upon our latest visit. Apparently, the PNW climate is not the best for clay ovens (duh). I suggested removing the damaged clay dome and replace it with a brick structure, but Steve decided to give it one last attempt. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Steve borrowed Bill's tractor and most of the weekend was devoted to grading/leveling certain areas, and making a spot for the future hot tub and guest cabin. He really got a lot done - thanks, Bill!

The boys biked, swam, hiked and read. Mom went on some gnarly trails, and even saw a bear (6th one this season!) All in all, a great weekend.

Memorial Day Weekend

It was wet and soggy. The pizza oven suffered rain damage, and will have to be redone, which is a bummer.

Nevertheless, we had a fun time...mountain biking, motorcycles, board games, time away from the computer and video games is always good.

Lurkers, please leave a comment...it would be great to know that someone (other than Megan and Karin) actually read this drivel.

Another layer on the pizza oven

The weather was great this weekend! Uncle Dennis came out on Saturday to help with the earth oven...he and Steve repaired cracks from earlier drying, and added an insulating layer of "cobb" (clay + hay = cobb).

The boys put in plenty of miles on thier motorcyle and quad, and Rex went innertubing on the river. Mom blew a fork seal out on the trails, but had a couple of great rides (even though my new "Panaracer Rampage" tires suck...will be switching back to the tried and true "Kenda Nevegals.") Look for more mt. biking references in the future.

Fun with clay...or not!

Another fun and busy weekend at the cabin. Last week, mom welded up a metal frame for the fire brick cooking surface on the pizza oven. Steve slid it into place, and placed the fire brick tiles to form a perfect fit. He then began construction of the dome: forming a sand pile roughly the size of the oven interior, covered with a 3-inch thick clay layer (done in two stages). Once this dries (who knows when, in our NW climate) another clay layer mixed with hay will form an insulating layer.

The boys enjoyed playing with the clay, digging holes, bike riding and a campfire.

Pizza oven is coming along

Rainy weather on Saturday did not deter Steve from continuing to work on the pizza oven. He was able to work under a tarp most of the day, and finished the brick base, which will allow for wood storage underneath. The next step will be for Michelle to dust off her welding torch and create a metal framework for the firebrick to sit upon. Stay tuned!

Rex's Victory Garden

Rex has planted and maintained his own garden for the last 4 years (well, 5 years, if you count the first 2 blueberry bushes that Uncle Dennis gave him in Kindergarten). Yes, it started with 2 blueberry plants which he lovingly cared for and harvested. The next year he added pumpkins, and a sunflower plant Max had brought home from preschool. Grandma got on board, and gave him seed packets which were planted and cared for in the following seasons. Last year he had about a dozen or so different veggies and berries in his ever-growing plot.

This year, Steve removed the boys' play structure. He and Rex shovelled out all of the bark chips. Uncle Dennis brought over a load of compost and tiller, and soon Rex's garden was ready for action!

Grandma had already dropped off some seed packets, but we all went down to McLendon's and picked out more, as well as a new pair of gardening gloves and a hoe. Steve and Rex went to work, and got it about halfway planted. Hopefully they can finish up this week.

Merry...er...Easter?

We had some unusual weather out at the cabin during our long Easter weekend. After arriving on Thursday to partly sunny skies, Steve and Rex finished the last two sections of fence. The weather report warned that a very strong storm would be moving in on Friday, bringing heavy rain and high winds. I planned on getting out for a mt. bike ride early, before the winds picked up.

Mother nature had something else in store for us, however...we awoke Friday morning to see fat snowflakes falling. Assuming it would be short-lived, we went about our usual morning routine, only to see it snowing harder, and sticking! The boys suited up and went out for some snowballs, etc., while Steve turned on the weather radio...apparenly, we were the only folks getting snow, because there was no mention of it during the forecast. By mid-day, it was steady, heavy rain, and strong winds, as promised. No bike ride for mom!

Despite being stuck indoors all day, we still had fun...Monopoly, Sorry, Mad Magazines and Peanuts. Something about the cozy cabin makes those simple things something special.

We had an Easter egg hunt during a break in the weather on Saturday, and the boys enjoyed their Easter baskets filled with candy and a stuffed creature for each.

All in all, another memorable, long weekend to conclude the boys' spring break.