Lie Like a Rug

You know, that saying makes it sound so easy. Like rugs just lie around, all on their own. Well the truth is, you gotta force them to lie flat and even. Especially when you've got a funny bay window like this to trim around:

So to make our terrace usable, we got our outdoor carpet, unrolled it, and got to cutting. At this point:

the undertaking seemed impossible. Something we didn't think about; how do you pull and flatten a carpet on a second floor, where the only place to stand is ON the carpet? But, we managed to get it pretty much where we needed it...

...and got to it. It was a slow-but-sure process; pull, cut, and readjust... pull, cut, and readjust... 

And the more excess that got cut off, the flatter it got...

Until finally the last bit of cutting was the far edge from where we started... a feat Nick took on... at about high noon, in 90° weather... and at this point we were pretty punchy...

"Rug, I'mma cut chu!"

So finally, it was all flat and trimmed... next stop, stapling it down! Why not glue, you ask? I was worried that the rug may not last (probably won't last) as long as our brand new terrace would, and I didn't want to risk pulling up a worn glued-down carpet in 3 or 4 years, just to also pull up the actual roof with it. So, we figured with the heat, the tar would seal around the staples, and would also keep the rug down nicely. Problem: no staples for the staple-gun. 

So the stapling got pushed to the next day... (since we couldn't get to the hardware store until about 8pm) But luckily my brother came over for a visit, found my camera, and took some pictures of himself...

If you've been to my house, I know what you're wondering, and yes, he's sitting on the toilet while taking these pictures. (Let ye who mess with my camera be warned - the pictures WILL find their way to the blog! MUAHAHAHA!)

SO next day - stapler in hand - we nail the sucker down and set up the awesome patio set I got from my sister, Kelly! And finally I have what I've wanted since my days of living in a basement apartment in Queens... 

From this:

to this:

Be still my heart.