When we bought our house, the deck was already beyond saving. Some people, who knew enough to build a deck, but not enough to really do it right, built this one. I don't think they used treated wood, they painted it at least once, but never touched it again. It even made Hank sad.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6gf1Sy_bfh5vKTxnHaO73hvCotb2v1j7L-m3wL7dMt2aO91Dy7mms2KNW8uy7jTZQt3l781Y9BFte9lT62c3rkiOjQrcXWydAWBvyTH4QH9rFU844hgcoATpHd63zwOEw0Kj6HTsbBE/s400/DSC02544.JPG)
The previous owners were nice enough to leave us their really sweet picnic table, which Hank claimed as his own.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1NXVa3s3RFFjC9CzcJXYDNoqoTxQILExii3cVyfxBihNS8olp4TPTVgyfqWAj3gbeIpCvMxf-fqajP-vU_aoaUk_ySxzrZfVxfdpcvwPIZnWAn4PZ5pX8Z2lfwDxiqb901cPI17M1SI/s400/DSC02537.JPG)
We used this shot for a Christmas card. It said "From our happy home to yours, Merry
F'n Christmas." My mother didn't really approve, but I got some serious raves from others I sent it to. As soon as we moved in, Hank was up on that table, checking things out. He is only allowed on our couch - no bed, and obviously, he isn't allowed up on our kitchen table. I think he knew that the table was too crappy to be considered furniture.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2l6l3ncM68-xnLEPQs3_y8FzolMfhWkkjyeLShVJG0WfevmzFIliOweBVhUEeVEtfGRKJZAsaIvloqg6DZhZZJtcYKshahWnGWw1gVCYggk_qgm24ON4dc8V_6zJCF8rPxRswG8LIz0/s400/DSC01505.JPG)
Seriously, Why didn't that tree land on the damn deck? I can't complain too much, though, because the resulting repairs fixed a lot of things inside the house that we might not have ever touched.
But, back to the table. Even though Hank found value, it wasn't really usable. They left it, I think, because there is virtually no way to get rid of it. Even though garbage will pick up one large piece of furniture a week, they will not take a picnic table. We had some other work done in our yard, and we asked them to take the table. They said they would. They didn't. So, here it sat.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPcKKPKLlsnY7nOk8hKjWqCHjwITJEM2D4pGlmxFtSxPGwAJdwTN3CdsARHYQwICWi-TJZbAVLoL_ZG5o1HlQUOKwa2hRpjMM3jKhjvLS-L9DfamgOdIICHl5wdiOouk5GfuALWbrKxQ/s400/DSC02538.JPG)
See the lovely deck? The quality craftsmanship? I know, I'm crazy for hating it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcBkkHCVIp9kSynt-wUwudZjD1VJfJxGkJSTx56i_ClBL8GhI5W8ONyYC3oZdy7cPfUyNrRN2Zoyo2llx5khI8ysBVoGV5tQ9URPnkHvF4YXM-xm5xMJ54ezz6Y1XzcqwGD_YmBHwKKE/s400/DSC02536.JPG)
I love this. I have no idea why this little square is cut-out and lowered. It just adds to the character of the deck. Yeah. "Character."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79_wBTB4BZGLBmtaQeNxhKTew9HERh9Ep5nG8pPMGBqdHEs7y69DSpr5j0sgP9iLFa7Ojgnt06u5YpQ8RCdCry0WH9pGndZfvnwz_SvKza0yxwncE5zbqOYS4wWB8w6rx9oEgxRX0M7o/s400/DSC02548.JPG)
Lovely stairs. Ugh.
But, now, we have this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ3I_HEi-koZXnpGrVCDRSY91yg-2jT9PoA8psVRVVeYr-tAumy_Bjdl0hV2shccRGFpqhulOJuOsoYABIORWbxQb224i2WKn-BQWSn1DuUSwDIwhtlJ1viTZ4v1won4D96r_gDOTjLc/s400/DSC02571.JPG)
Ah. It's like a breath of fresh air. No table. No rotting deck. Of course, we also can't use the door, but
whatevs. It isn't exactly clean, but it is better than what was there. Although, I always thought the house looked kind of big from this angle, and now it looks so tiny. Our big, lovely sliding doors now look so small and lonely.
Today, they're pouring concrete and putting in the posts. They told me they'll start framing on Monday. Woo! Soon, it will be AWESOME. Then, I have to start working on Mr to let me get a new kitchen.