The Next Step

The next step in the shade house project actually is the first step. I had to go to Lano's Hardware to get the flanges, nipples, and screws to mount the flanges on the low wall.

Installing the Flanges

That part is done. I did that yesterday. This morning, Denis rode with me while we went into town to see if the muffler shop was open. They were. You're probably asking what that has to do with making a shade house. It's fairly important in a way, as they're my best hope at getting some 1 3/8" fence tubing bent in a gentle curve to cover the twelve-foot span from the existing fence to where the flanges are.

From the muffler shop we went to Lano's again to buy one length of tubing, getting it cut to fourteen-feet, with the extra six-feet becoming an upright and fitted into a flange. Denis and I took the long piece back to the muffler shop, where we met with the first disappointment of the project.

The owner told me his bending machines were 'angle-benders' and couldn't make a gentle curve like I wanted. Bummer. His assistant had thought the other day that they could do that. Shows why he's the assistant. Anyway, the owner did say that a couple of the shops making burglar bars may be able to jury-rig something and accomplish what I wanted. He suggested we start with Botes' Metal Fabrication, or Vasco Doors and Windows.

After wandering around a bit, we finally located Botes', but they were closed. So, it was off to Vasco. We're in luck - maybe. They think they can do what I want. Anyway, the fabrication 'Maestro' was pretty sure he could. They said to come back around 4:00 PM today to pick it up. I probably won't make that time as I'll be thick into things as the Men's Group meeting. So, I'll probably check on it Monday morning.

See, that's why things never get done on time here. One party or the other always gets waylaid and delayed for some reason or the other and no one worries about it. No one calls to say I can't make at the specified time, they just show up whenever. I've slipped into the same mode. Ain't it grand?

That's the end of the project work for today. More updates to come, I'm sure.