Predictable Results

Last night we took a walk down Victoria Drive to  view the wonderful St. Joseph Sound at sunset.  The views did not disappoint.  We also checked on the artificial turf that the owners of one of the mansions installed in their front yards.  I have to admit, Steve and Chris, that you may find that in our back yard yet.  It looked pretty darn good!

On our return to the Marina, we took a short walk out onto the Pier.  A few boats actually have started to use the day docks, but the boaters were not the only ones who have taken possession of one of the docks. Note the inhabitant below:

This pelican stakes his claim on one of the Day Docks.

He was going to make sure that boaters knew that the dock was subject not only to sea conditions, but also to his whims and avian attitude de jour.  We know from experience that this particular pelican has a mean streak to him, and if he does not like what you are doing, he will let you know.  Apparently, that post belongs to him and you need his permission to use that particular boat slip.

As predicted in last night's blog, my antsy husband this morning was like a kid with a new tinker toy set.  He just could not wait to put it together -- the shed, that is.  Before I had finished getting ready this morning, he was outside and had the shed box pulled apart.  As I showered, dressed, brushed my teeth, and dried my hair, he had the floor dug out of the box and put down, the left-hand wall and both back pieces up, and the right-hand wall firmly in place.

We wanted to assemble the shed on the slab where we wanted it to stay for two reasons: first, we could not fit it assembled through the gate in the fence, and secondly, it weighs 140 pounds empty when it is fully completed.

So we spent the entire morning putting the rest of the shed together.  As I also could have predicted, since it is not made out of 2 x 6 lumber, 3/4 inch sheathing, and roofing materials with a 25-year-guarantee, Rick grumbled about what "cheap $#!*" the whole shed was. However, while it is made of heavy-duty molded plastic, it does have metal rails and braces, metal latches, and metal gas pistons which help to raise the rather large roof.  The shed stands as high as my shoulders, and without those pistons, I would not be able to open the roof to see what is inside.

The shed fits nicely on the extended slab.,
still leaving room for the garbage and recycling.

The shed it low enough to not be visible behind the fence
and to not block the light to the garage window.

Would the shed survive a hurricane?  Maybe, since it is within the fence, next to our bolted-down HVAC unit, nestled on the north side next to our block house.   Would it survive if it were in the middle of our west-facing front yard?  Heck, no.

But it does have an overhanging roofline and plastic construction that is supposed to make it water-tight.  Since it is made of plastic, it also will not rot or rust, and being located on the shaded north side, it also will not fade or quickly decompose in the hot Florida sun.

Rick filled it with large items from our garage, so the storage capacity has greatly increased within the garage, and this summer when we head north for a few months, we will have much less than we usually have to bring into the house.