And now for something... cooler?

Weather has been too warm here the last couple weeks to even think about filling the rink. Hopefully after we get back from the Twin Cities this weekend (we're going to watch the Minnesota Wild play the Vancouver Canucks) things will change for the better and we'll get some colder nights.

I still have that liner issue to deal with as well... *sigh*

Home Ice - 2007/2008

Home Ice - 2007/2008
Originally uploaded by Big Swede Guy

There we go, the frame is up, the soccer netting has come down. I just have to pound a few more 2x4 stakes in and she's set.

I did cut back the hedge on the left hand side about a foot, but I'm thinking of trimming it a bit farther. I had to replace a few screws that pulled out over the summer, but other than that, the boards held up admirably.

I'm a bit concerned over a liner though. I bought mine last year from Home Depot, and it was a 40x60. A bit of overkill on the 25' side, but I needed the 60' on the length. To my dismay, Home Depot is carrying a different liner this year, and it only measures 40x50.

I picked it up anyways, just in case I can't get my hands on another bigger liner. If need be, I'll use the 10' I end up cutting off the sides and some how glue/caulk it to make the full tarp long enough.

Now just waiting on the cold weather... it was 9C today and overcast.

First things first...

So I recently purchases a "new" truck. New to me. Its a 2000 Chevy LS Z71 extended cab 4x4. And its in mint condition. It has high miles, but the guy I bought it from (a friend) babies his vehicles like you wouldn't believe.

And less than 24 hrs after I bought it, someone keyed the drivers side door. Asshats.

So anyways, I headed out to my dads place and picked up all the boards/wood for the rink, and transported them to town. Now they sit in my back yard, waiting to be assembled. The weather forecast looks favourable tomorrow, so thats what I'm leaning towards.

I've got to visit Home Depot again to see if their rink liners have come in yet... Should be any time now. If I don't get my hands on one, I might be in for some trouble. I'm contemplating buying TWO liners this year, to make sure I have a spare for next year so my anxiety doesn't sky rocket again.

Yehaw!

October rolls around...

The chilly winds of October are on the horizon... in fact it has fallen below 0C a few times at night lately... It's only a matter of time now.

So, that being said, I think it's time to go out to dad's place and pick up all the boards for the rink and bring them back into town.

I would like to do a bit more preparation painting on them. I'm going to paint the bottom 12" yellow to simulate the kickplates in real arenas... And I'd love to paint some logos on the boards as well.

I am also planning on putting up 2' side boards this year as well...

and maybe some more lighting...

and some more netting...

and maybe some lines...

and...


and...


This year, I anticipate that the rink is going to get a lot more use... You see, my girlfriend Laura and her almsot 4 yr old son, Parker moved into my home in August... And he's starting his skating lessons today, actually, at a local rink. So, ya, exciting :)

The off-season...

Board Work
Originally uploaded by Big Swede Guy

I had procrastinated enough... time to get some work done on the boards. Laura and I went out to Pearl and each board received a frontal white coat, or a back coat of green preservative. I'll be going out in another week to do the other side of the boards... and I'm also going to paint the bottom 8"'s of the boards a nice bright yellow... the same as the "kick plates" on NHL boards.

See, who says you can't do anything in the summer?

Soccer goal!

Soccer goal
Originally uploaded by Big Swede Guy

With hockey season now caput for a few more months, I finally got around to erecting the soccer goal for Hannah... I did it though, with consideration of the hockey rink.

the 4x4's (10') are sunk exactly 16' feet apart. While a tad smaller than the regulation goal for her age group, the 16' works perfectly with the hockey rink in the fall. 16' just happens to be the exact width of the end boards. So these 4x4's will anchor the ends of those boards into place... AND, I'm going to put halogen lights on the top as well.

Yay. So even in the "heat' of the spring, we can still look forward to our hockey rink this winter!

Deconstruction!

Deconstruciton
Originally uploaded by Big Swede Guy.

It's neat how something that took you 4 to 6 hours to assemble and put up can be taken down in under half an hour.

But there we were... Jay and I and my trusty drill... and *POOF*

All the boards were down. I did number them to hopefully make reassembly a breeze next fall. Of course, we know that won't really go as planned...