This last week we began the process of building a deck. This first entailed taking down the scaffolding from inside the house and using the materials to build more batter boards.

Inside the house without scaffolding

Building the deck batterboards

Next was to mark and dig the footers and then to pour them.

Hello down below! Getting ready to dig the footers for the posts

And then they worked to fill the footers and then the mini-columns that will hold the deck posts.

Footers/mini columns

Next up will be to put up the actual posts, headers and ledgers and then the supports.

In the meantime, the gardens are growing really good. Check out these pitangas we have been gathering!

Pitanga aka Surinam cherry

And these interesting ornamental ginger flowers on curving spiral stalks.

Unique ginger flower