SURPRISE GARAGE!

So it took a lot of planning and logistics.  I knew it would be raining today, but I DID NOT know that a wide load could not traverse the tunnels when it was raining.

So I was called this morning and told---I might not get my shed.

I was on the verge of a panic attack.  Because J was arriving home tomorrow evening.  This is his Christmas present surprise.  (As is the fence)
The movers were scheduled to arrive at 1 pm, and the PACKRAT container folks were scheduled to pick up an EMPTY container.

I had to threaten the garage folks, but I FINALLY got them to take the bridge and not the tunnels,  and get it to me.
I had to call the movers and stall for an hour.......


That was BATTLE number ONE.

Battle number 2.   They needed 11 ft of clearance to get in the driveway.  There is  11 feet of clearance.

But there were tree limbs that were not allowing clearance.

So in the POURING---and I mean POURING, pelting rain.

We had to get a ladder and saw off 4 different limbs from my poor surviving front yard trees.  

I ached as we cut off each limb.

But finally he made enough space...this is AFTER he tried 5 times to back this HUGE truck with the garage on the bed, into our yard, blocking traffic each time.

We live on a very busy road, 4 lanes and a center median with no ability to take a different route, so motorists can get pretty angry.  AND it was POURING rain and COLD.  Like 38 degrees.

I was wearing my Antartica parka, and it was still pretty miserable.

getting into position

Anyway, that drama was over, they pulled it in the yard, then it took about another 40 minutes to set it up and level it.
The ramp is WAY too high for a car to get in, but J can work on it, and in all likelihood, it will be moved, possibly 90 degrees and perhaps a bit closer to the road, but that will depend on the eventual plans of our architect and access to the property.

pouring rain

In case anyone is wondering: as long as it is under 200 sq feet, no permit is needed, it is 10 x 18 so under 200!

So then these two nice guys, who I hired from Craig's list, were here to move everything OUT of the pack rat and into the new garage. I also had them take the cabinets off the front porch  and place them into the new garage/shed.

It continued to rain---it was a mess and cold.
But they got it all in--even the super heavy: LISTA tool cabinet.  J will be most pleased he does NOT have to move that again!

Honestly-I'm not sure what he is going to be most pleased about...
the new fence, the new garage, the absence of the PACK RAT container that has been there for 6 months, or just everything.

I am exhausted.   and sore.

Tomorrow, it is supposed to be rain free. I am attempting to paint it blue to match the house.  Im struggling with the idea of painting the garage door orange, like the front door of the house---that will be a lot of orange.
I KNOW it's insane to pain in December. With it scheduled to rain the day after--but Im gonna give it a shot anyway.

so far--her are the pix:

ramp up

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