3.24.2026

Jim started priming the door panels today... 

Gluing a side panel together...

Both side panels gluing...

Making the back cuts on the panels for the doors...

Cuts made...

Cleaning out the joint before a test fit...

Looks amazing!

High 45.9/Low 25.2

3.23.2026

This afternoon, we headed out to pick up our granite!  They have a cool crane system to move the granite around... 

Once they got it loaded up in the back of the 4Runner, we then headed to Lowe's to get plywood so that Jim can make the panels for the cabinet.  It's nice because they will cut it in half according to the measurements Jim gives them.  It's free and then it fits in the back of the car...

Loading up the plywood...

Bringing it inside once we got home...

The granite needs cleaned but it is SO beautiful!  We're leaving it in the car for the moment until we can move it upstairs.

Jim measuring for the panel cuts...

The two panels for the sides are cut...

This is the blade Jim will use to make the back cuts...

Cut made...

Fitting it into the frame...

The turkeys looking for food where there's no snow!

High 35.9/Low 28.6

3.22.2026

I just love the way Jim is so exact in everything he does.  We got new hooks for the shower - our old ones would randomly fall in the night and scare us, even when we figured what it was.  So time for new ones.  Jim measured and leveled tape... 

Starting to put the hooks up...

Perfectly level...

Perfection!

Rounding over the edges on the plywood bottom of the cabinet...

Jim put a new knife in the molder to make a rounded over edge for the face frames and then put the frame through...

Testing it out - going to look fabulous!

High 42.2/Low 31.2 - rainy

3.21.2026

 We woke up to a dusting of new snow on the ground and trees - it looked so pretty.  Winter is not over yet!

Jim was doing more wood prep today - using the planer...

We still have to make a trip to Lowe's for plywood, but Jim had enough to make the bottom of the cabinet.  I'm already planning how I want to fill it up!

An early day to stop and get ready for church.

High 39.6/Low 31.1

3.20.2026

Happy Spring!  We still have snow on the ground and it's raining, so I guess that's typical spring in Upstate New York!

Jim worked in the shop again - one set of doors made as well as the side pieces...

Using the jointer...

All the millwork is done for the second set of cabinet doors...

One door in the gluing process...

The other one gluing, as well as gluing up more wood for pieces...

The animals are slowing appearing on the property - today we saw our first deer of the season...

High 43/Low 27.6 - rain in PM

 

3.19.2026

Shopping for wood on the racks...

Door pieces gluing...

Gluing more wood for door pieces...

More gluing...

Jim did schlepping for me in between shop work, as I took down snowmen (even though we still have snow on the ground!) and St. Patrick's Day decorations, and brought up Easter tubs so I could switch things in the house.  At the end of the work day, Jim took the trash down and then headed into town to get more diesel fuel.

High 35.6/Low 26.1

 

3.18.2026

In the wood shop today, Jim has all four face frames done...

Cutting pieces for the doors...

Lots of pieces cut!

Next Jim had to size all the pieces, use both the jointer and planer to get them to the right thickness, and then he started the millworker.  Cutting the grooves...

Grooves cut!

Cutting the tongues now...

Tongues cut in this piece...

First door piece fit tested - Jim makes these tongue and groove cuts so precisely, that they all come out perfectly!

A test fit in the cabinet - gorgeous!

High 34/Low 16