3.10.2026

Jim wanted to use the bandsaw to cut the glued board, but when he went to use it, it didn't work.  So plans had to change and he had to troubleshoot that...

Using the table saw instead...

Jim did a lot of investigating, getting out his manual and taking out one of the electric panels.  He finally realized that it's the foot pedal that was stuck and not working.  So - whew - he won't need to troubleshoot further and it works!  He still will probably oil this part and it may have some sawdust blockage that he'll investigate.

High 69.1/Low 33.7

3.9.2026

 

Raise your hand if you're running low on energy today!  Definitely me.  🙋

Jim was back in the wood shop this afternoon, straightening wood...

Continuing to glue more wood together for the side blocking...

Clamping...

Even though we still have probably a foot of snow on the ground, it got to over 60° today, so Jim sprayed off my crunchy car...

Then cleaning the gunk off my parking space...

High 64.1/Low 29.1

3.8.2026

One of those fun jobs of the time change is changing the clocks.  We have a couple difficult ones - this one above the hutch and the grandfather clock.  Thankfully, Jim does both! 

In the afternoon, Jim was back in the wood shop.  These are pieces of cherry that he bought over 30 years ago in Ohio and we moved here.  He's gluing pieces together to make blocking pieces for the cabinet...

Putting them in the clamps for drying...

Planing pieces...

Before he headed down to the metal shop to work out on the elliptical, he did more painting of the steel frame...

High 49.2/Low 37.6

3.7.2026

You know that extra hour we were gifted on November 2? Bad new - time to give it back. Ugh - we were hoping that the powers that be would have fixed this issue and we could just settle on one time.  But here we are again.  

In the shop today, Jim showed me the template of the countertop sitting on top of the frame - going to be amazing!  I'm planning on storing some bigger kitchen appliances inside this cabinet.

Jim got his work table all cleared off so that he can begin the painting process on the cabinet frame.  

He's painting this in stages - base painted...

Continuing to work on wood prep...

Time to get ready for church.

High 39.6/Low 32.8

3.6.2026

We probably got 2-3" of snow overnight, but warmer temperatures today has things kind of wet and squishy - definitely a good stay home day!

Jim was back in the wood shop this afternoon, gluing more pieces...

Straightening wood on the planer...

More wood ready for next steps...

We also brought up the cabinet frame to the wood shop...

Jim showing me how the stile will attach to the frame...

High 35.9/Low 30.4 - 2" of snow overnight

3.5.2026

 It's been a few days of being busy, but with non-blog worthy things for the most part.  Jim and I have both had doctor appointments this week too.  Thanks to those of you who checked in to make sure we were okay!

Jim did some tweaking to the cabinet frame and we'll bring it up into the workshop tomorrow.  I picked up some paint while I was running errands today that he'll use just to keep it from corroding.

This afternoon, Jim dusted off his wood working tools to start making pieces for the island cabinets!  He cut some pieces and then started the gluing process...

Adding another piece...

Drying...

The weather has been up and down - I guess that means we're heading into spring.  We had 3-4" of new snow on Wednesday, and are expected to some snow/sleet this evening into tomorrow.  We had planned to go to The Local tonight, but decided to just stay put!

3.2 - High 30.2/2.1
3.3 - High 27.8/Low 7.1
3.4 - High 49.5/Low 25.5 - 3" of snow
3.5 - High 42.2/Low 25.9

3.1.2026

 The last day of February brought us our first 50° degree day, but as the old saying goes, it was a little more lion-like today.  We had snow all morning, maybe an inch, and the temperatures were cooler.  We're not in any hurry for warm weather so all is well!

Yesterday, Jim worked in the metal shop on the base for the island cabinet, getting ready for welding...

Jim showing me how it will work - this is upside down but the bottom base will allow for the toe boards underneath the cabinet...

He'll use these spacers for the right height...

Spacers welded on...

Today, Jim was back to assembling the base...

The base is assembled!

The cabinet is all assembled!  

Jim knows that building the cabinet this way is overkill, but he's having fun.  Plus, because it's not a big cabinet and it will stand alone, making it like this out of steel will ensure its strength.  Jim's testing it out...

2.28 - High 50.7/Low 27.1
3.1 - High 36.1/Low 22.1