5.10.2026

 

Happy Mother's Day to all - hope everyone had a wonderful day!  It's the first one without Mom here, but we're focusing on all the time we were able to spend with her while she was here.  

Freezer update - After Jim put the new control board in, the freezer is back in business!  In fact, it gets colder than its zero setting.  Jim is keeping the sensor inside to keep an eye on it, but we're so happy that we don't have to buy a new freezer!

Yesterday, Jim sanded the other cabinet doors...

 Then he did the millwork for the hinges...

Today, Jim started attaching the Formica to the other shelf...

Done and drying under lots of weight...

Starting to prime the backs of all the doors...

Finishing up...

I like how Jim comes up with ways to use things as long as possible - he can keep brushes in good shape for months by wrapping them...

Rolling it up onto the plastic wrap...

Wrapping the other way to completely seal...

5.9 - High 50.3/Low 34
5.10 - High 64.6/Low 49.5

5.8.2026

After a coat of polyurethane yesterday, Jim sanded the shelf... 

Jim found the right hinges to order more this morning, and then doublechecked the fit with his mockup board...

Then he used the ShopSmith to drill the holes...

First door in progress...

Trying it out...

Perfection!

Both of these doors have hinges on...

Then another coat of polyurethane on the upper shelf...

The new control board came in the mail today, so Jim took the old one out and opened up the new one...

Getting ready to install...

Installed and turned back on.  As I write this, I'm not sure if it's working properly or not - still TBD!

High 57.5/Low 34.8

5.7.2026

 Jim was back in the shop today - using the belt sander on the shelf...

Then final straightening on the planer...

We've been waiting for a call from the granite company; they had told us they would send a couple of guys out to bring up our countertop.  We finally got the call this afternoon with no lead time - they said they would be at our house in five minutes!  He had to quickly bring the 4Runner around to the stairwell doors and then moved the shelf from the top and put it in its spot, so we were all ready...

Two really nice young men came and carried it up the stairs and placed it on top of the counter...

It looks so beautiful!  We love the leathered granite and the color is just perfect.  

After all that excitement, Jim was back in the shop, using the band saw to cut the corners of the middle shelf...

Testing the fit - this shelf will be movable, which will be nice...

Perfect!

Now onto finishing work - sanding...

Then a coat of polyurethane....

Drying...

Jim did a little grass cutting to finish off the day.

High 53.5/Low 38.8

5.6.2026

It was an all-day, very light rain day, so perfect for working inside.  Jim got the other maple edge ready to be glued onto the shelf... 

Setting in place...

Clamping down to pull the edges tight...

The shelf is drying in the background while Jim starts working on the doors...

Sanding is his favorite - or not...

Upstairs, he was able to use the holes he put in the frame when making it to attach the hinges...

You can see these hinges in place.  He didn't want to do the other side to ensure that he can get the bottom shelf in place later...

There is 1/8" offset around all the edges of the doors, so Jim is doublechecking measurements...

Trying it out...

Using his sample board to figure out placement of the hinges on the doors...

High 61/Low 47 - rainy

5.5.2026

Yesterday, Jim continued refurbishing my vacuum - I think these new brushes will be a lot more effective!   

Planing wood in the shop for the next island shelf...

Love the colors of spring - doing some lawn mowing...

And some trimming...

Today, we started the day with another follow-up appointment with the ophthalmologist.  Once we got home and had a late breakfast, Jim started doing some millwork on the shelf pieces...

Planing...

Using the jointer to cut the tongue...

The result...

Testing the fit.  Jim uses maple on the outer edge of the shelf that will be seen...

Gluing...

Doing some measurements on the door openings...

5.4 - High 71.3/Low 42.3
5.5 - High 81.2/Low 51.6 - some rain in PM