DIY: DogHouse + PlayHouse (part 2)

The next day, I woke up and began hammering the walls onto the frames. My 2nd sis dropped by and she helped me to hammer some on while I saw the woods. But after sometimes I asked her to stop cos the structure is still very flimsy and since its heavier at the sides, the entire structure shakes more. :(

Another worry is that my dog refused to go into the structure. So my kids tried to persuade him and went in with him. The next day (how many days already? I lost count!) I removed the entire structure and redo them again. I KID YOU NOT. I removed the entire structure and started to hammer the walls onto the frame and then rejoined them back again with L-brackets and screws. This time the structure was much better than before. And the best part was when we found out that my dog started to rest in the half done structure.

After that, I abandoned my project for a week cos I was rushing my design project for my customer. Everyday I just walk pass my half done dog house and I get very stressed with it. First the house was half finished. I don't even know if I can finish it or it will last or not. Second, my front porch was in a mess with tools everywhere and I was worried that my dog will swallow some nails or screws. So as soon as I was done with my designing project, I went and sat in my structure and I thought this place need more ventilation.

 So the next day I removed the top part of the wall panel and exchange them with smaller wood for better ventilation. And again I went to the hardware shop and asked for roof pricing. The lady boss was abit pissed with me , with my questions and she asked me "you got big dog meh? you build the doghouse yourself ah? can meh?" So I showed her the half done structure and she laughed. And then she began to talk to me. Weird right? probably she thought that I'm a woman and I can't do serious carpentering.

So when the roof came (yeah delivered by lorry together with my other bricks for my garden) I began to put the pieces together. So happened that my SIL came so together, she + my hub + I carried the structure (heavy!!!!) to my veg patch and then I started to hammer the roof on.

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When JD came out he said "WOW! MAMI! YOU'RE A GENIUS!!!"

Cos to him, anyone that can build or create something, is a genius.

My hub came out and just looked at the doghouse and gave me a hug and said "i'm proud of you".

So why is the title called DogHouse + PlayHouse?

I was thinking, if my dog were to reject the house, then probably my kids can use it as playhouse. But since my dog accepted the house and my kids are small enough to go in and play, so it serves as 2 purpose . 

Before I started, I received many negative comments and I was in doubt "can i do it with no help?"I have always told my sons that no matter what, whether you are a boy or a girl, a person with disability, with no knowledge of something (google is always around), we cannot give up. We just got to try hard and persevere and even if we fail, at least we tried. And so I tried, and there were so many times that I wanted to give up and just take down the entire structure and make a shelf or something else with the wood. But I thought, Dang! my son saw me started the sketch, then started the frame and then built it half way. If I did not finish the project, what will they think about their mom? So, I kept going on and on and finally I did it. And I'm glad I didn't give up.

People who are good in carpentering might think that my doghouse is crappy and might not last. Hey, I agree. It sucks but at least my son thinks that I'm a genius. *LOL*

DIY: DogHouse + PlayHouse (part 1)

I went around hunting for a dog house for my dog, and my jaws dropped. Rm1.4k for a doghouse.

Although it's high quality and can last for 10years, its rather small for just one dog. I'm planning to have 2 dogs so if I were to order a house that fits 2 dogs, it's gonna cost me a BOMB.

Initially I wanted to recycle the woods from our renovation to build a doghouse. But after I tried to saw one pc of it, I gave up. It's too thick and at the end we called our construction worker to come over and help us build raised bed for my veg patch. I thought I'm just gonna scrap the doghouse idea off until one night at11pm, I found my dog wet. He saw me working at my kitchen and he accompanied me and he was soaking wet cos my kitchen door doesn't have a proper awning to block the rain. So I decided, I'm gonna build a dog house for him, myself!

So I began sourcing for wood sizes and prices on my birthday, 12th November. To start things off, i bought myself a hammer on that day. *lol*

I tell you, the people at the hardware store is pissed with me. They must be thinking this crazy woman is wasting our time. If 8ft how much? if 10 ft leh? if 12 ft leh?

After I got the measurement of the woods and the prices, I went home and began sketching the house plan. My son call it the "blue print".

And I calculated the $ involved, and again I was stunned. My initial costing came up to rm700. I was upset and was about to give up. My husband asked "Rm700, how many days to make? Is it better to just buy?"

The next day, I began sketching again. And I modified the plan and recalculated. Ah.. This time is within my budget

So the next day I went to the hardware shop and ordered the wood. It came in 8ft, 10ft and 12ft. You need to calculate the measurement and tell them exactly where to cut. I measured the wood myself (yes, cos they are not gonna be responsible if they cut it wrongly and you will waste your wood) and monitored them while they cut the wood shorter so that I can transport them home in my sedan car.

I went home and my husband was surprised that I'm serious about it. But he left me alone cos he knows that when I'm doing a project it means DND mode.(do not disturb)

I started to saw, joined and hammer the frames together. My JD came and asked "are you a Handy mummy? (after handy manny cartoon) and I said I guess so? "Can I help you mami?" Of course!

When I was done with the frame, I was quite dissappointed with it cos the frame looks flimsy.

*sigh* I thought about it that night and I thought "worst come to worst, I can reuse the wood and make something else", right?

To be continued...