4.19.2026

 It was the perfect rainy day today - steady light rain all day.  Always good in the spring, especially when you read that so much of the country is in a drought.

Also a good day to do some painting - starting to paint the gray on the cabinet pieces.  The inside of the side pieces...

Door frame pieces drying...

Lots of pieces drying!

High 56.6/Low 36.6 - rainy

4.18.2026

 The temperatures are getting warmer, so Jim wanted to get our bathroom fan working again.  If you remember, we had some issues with temperature changes causing condensation.  Jim took the fan down and cleaned it well and we just blocked it off during the winter.  Today, he sprayed cleaner on the flapper valve, because he thinks that was the issue...

Let the cleaner sit for a bit and then wiped it off...

Putting the fan assembly back together...

Then putting the cover on...

Cross that project off the to-do list!!

Off to church!

High 74.9/Low 47.1

4.17.2026

Jim was back working in the shop this morning - doing some sanding on the front and back frames... 

Doing the priming...

Lots of parts and pieces primed and drying...

High 70.9/Low 55.5

4.16.2026

Jim did a lot of sanding today and then started priming...

Lots of pieces primed and drying...

More hand sanding of the inner parts of the door frames for priming...

Priming the last door frame sections...

Inside frame primed...

Although we felt disloyal to The Local, we tried a brew pub near our ophthalmologist's office that also has a burger and beer special on Thursday night.  We felt like we had much to celebrate again, but we just affirmed that The Local is still our favorite!

High 81.3/Low 58.9

4.15.2026

 Jim had his one-day following up yesterday with the ophthalmologist after his cataract surgery on Monday.  The doctor put a dye drop in so that he could check the stitches.  Everything looked good.  Jim was a bit discouraged yesterday because while colors are much brighter now with the corrected eye and near vision is improved, his far vision was still quite blurry.

Today, although Jim's eye was quite red from the broken blood vessel during surgery, he felt like his far vision was less blurry.  Plus, the scratchiness from the first day was gone.  He goes back in one week for another follow up.  

This afternoon, Jim did some work in the shop.  He now has a 25-pound lifting restriction but he's being cautious and certainly doesn't want to do anything that could cause problems.  Working on the panels of the cabinet, drilling pocket screw holes...

Just a little size tweaking on the planer...

Sanding...

Both side panels are done and ready for priming!

On our afternoon walk, Jim picked up our snow sticks - hopefully we won't be needing those any longer!

I'm now officially in my sourdough era!  Over a year ago, I took part in a crowd funding collaboration with King Arthur Flour.  They created the Sourdough Sidekick which automatically feeds your starter at the appropriate times so that it's ready whenever you want to bake, reducing the amount of discard you have as well.  I've never done sourdough baking, so I'm very excited.  My starter just arrived in the mail today - it's recharging which will take a few days - and then I can start preparing it to make bread!  Stay tuned!

4.14 - High 79.5/Low 52.7
4.15 - High 77.6/Low 47.1

4.13.2026

Jim had surgery this morning to remove the cataract on his left eye.  His vision has really deteriorated in that eye over the last year, so while he was nervous, he's really hoping that his vision will improve in that eye.

The eye surgery center is quite close to us and we had to be there at 8:00 this morning.  They have things down to a science, and it all went well.  Of course, his vision is still blurry right now but will improve.  He sees the doctor in the morning for a follow up.

This doctor uses a dropless surgery procedure, so that month-long, multiple prescription regime is just one drop per day for three weeks.  My mom had one cataract removed in Ohio with the many drops and one done here with the same doctor.  It was so much easier and was very successful.  

Jim does have to wear these flexible goggles for 5 nights just to allow the eye to heal without getting rubbed or scratched while sleeping.  He tried them on and looks very cool...

 So another big step in our month of surgery and recovery!  We are very grateful that all went well.

High 63.2/Low 42.2

4.12.2026

 The last couple of days, Jim's been able to do a few things in the wood shop.  Today, we moved the cabinet frame off the work bench and onto the floor...

Jim next glued the side piece onto the wood frame...

All clamped and drying.  When it's dry, he made it so he can take the side piece off and prime and paint it.  Then we can move the frame upstairs and he can assemble it in place.

After getting approval from the doctor, Jim has gotten on the elliptical the last two evenings, which he's happy about.

4.11 - High 53.2/Low 36.7
4.12 - High 49.6/Low 27.8