Random pix

Those pix were from end of Nov, middle of Dec.
After the deck was removed, the excavation began. That retaining wall was pressure-treated, but it gets pretty rotten after 30 years or so. The clay soil here is expansive; each wet/dry cycle increased the stress on the retaining wall.

The new deck will be smaller, so some of the columns & footings had to go.
Excavation begins.jpg

When the house was added onto in the early 70's, the builder backfilled with a few yards of sand to aid the drainage.
Excavation 02.jpg
 
BBQ!!!

This started out as a 2" bone-in Ribeye steak. I cut off the rib bone with a generous portion of meat attached, then cut the rest into two 1" steaks and one 2" steak. Wifey prefers the bone. [Don't, just don't.]

Oh, and some of the trimmings ended up in a skillet with bunch of Swiss chard.

ribeye BBQ.jpg
 
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V5qdaEC.jpg
 
What's better than Homemade Beef Stew?

It might just be homemade Thai Beef Curry made from leftover homemade Beef Stew.

Thai Beef Curry.jpg

I am proud to report that it is neither vegan nor gluten-free.

In other news, a pair of Hooded Orioles have built a nest in our mulberry tree and it's a full-time job for them keeping their two chicks fed. They must be doing a good job because the chicks barely fit in the nest any more.
 
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