Phil Down Under

We have a huge crawl space under our house. It is about 700 square feet and is about to get a makeover. Most Oregonians don't use their garages because they use them for storage as there are very few basements - it is just too wet in the winter months. But we like to use our garage and want it clutter free - especially since we didn't have one for over 18 years. Thus the makeover of the crawl space.
So, this is the entry way to the "down under" area. Right now you have to use a step ladder to get in and out as it is a pretty big drop once you open the door.

Phil is working on putting headers around the cement part so that we can build a "deck" there to store our stuff.

He is trying to explain to me what is going on. As you can see, it is pretty deep, long and wide.

This is some of the boards that we recently got at an estate sale. They were selling things pretty cheap but we went during the half off sale and got it at a steal. Some nice long boards, 4x4's and lots of shelving..

There are about 16 - 8' x 16" x 3/4" boards that Phil has his stuff on top of, that we will use for flooring of the deck as well as shelves of what is left over. Will make a pretty nice size for all the stuff we don't use but once in a while. We now have my Escape in the garage and Phil's Honda stays outside, but maybe we can fit both in during the winter months. We will see once the storage gets built. Stay tuned for updates. BTW - yes, that is one of Phil's home brews (St. Kev #2) on the boards.

Blueberry picking

It was a beautiful day in Sandy, normal temps, sunny, not a cloud in the crystal clear blue sky. A fine day to go blueberry picking. I didn't have the camera for pics of the bushes - but bushes are bushes. I headed to the bluest of bushes and began picking. They were little but plentiful, oh so very yummy and 7 pounds later I headed for home.
Doesn't look like much but there is actually 7 pounds here. I am just glad that I didn't have to get weighed - I had to check out each of the bushes to make sure that the berries were good. Some had tough skins on them so we didn't want too many of those. So, yes, I got the best ones. :-)

Like I said, they were small. But sweet - better than the ones I bought at the market yesterday.

So I washed them, laid them out on a towel covered cookie sheet and put them in the freezer to freeze as individual fruits. Then I packaged them into freezer bags to stack once they are completely frozen. I will end up with 5 full quart bags and will enjoy them in the winter when fresh blueberries are $5 per 1/2 pint. Of course I will need to stop eating them now or I won't have 5 full quart bags. :-) I just may have to go get some vanilla ice cream and have a treat tonight. ummmmm.