10.1.2015

We had kind of a sobering morning.  Poor Jim didn't sleep well last night worrying about all that needs to be done before winter.  That's not like him at all.  But there are so many balls up in the air right now and nothing seems to be real easy.  Even things that should be - for example, Jim wanted to order more scaffolding and he has spent hours working with this company and still doesn't have an order in. 

We also are rethinking our metal roof decision.  While that's what we really wanted, it sounds like it's impossible for one person to do it.  The pieces are up to 25' long and very flexible.  If they get bent, they are ruined.  Plus there is a lot of fabrication for all of the different hips and valleys - it would take a very long time to install.  One person told him that it would cost approximately $20,000 to have one put on - that's how difficult they are!  So we are going to do some more exploring of options.

The weather for the last couple days caused everything to be soaked - which is kind of depressing in itself.  I spent time today bailing out the upper shop floor.  However, the ground slab really dried up pretty well - last night we were splashing in water and today was much better.  By the end of the day, the water was pretty much gone. 

In typical Jim fashion, he rebounded well after a tough morning and pressed on to the day's tasks.  He really wanted to get the planer off the truck, put back together and aligned, and see if he could get it running after two years of barn storage.  He managed to "walk" the planer out of the truck and onto the lift, where he was able to get it on the floor. 

Then he got it assembled and cleaned up - and it started!  Since we don't have the option of another man around to help Jim move it, he used his engine lift to do the job!

The first real woodworking tool is now operational in the carriage house!

Unfortunately, all of Jim's cool sawdust collectors aren't available now so there's a little clean up involved!  But he got all the wood planed to the right thickness for the garage door frames.

Cutting them to size....

Then I put a coat of primer on all of the pieces just to keep them protected.

Time for attaching them to the openings...

Making sure everything is square and plumb...

Marking where he will fasten the frame to the wall.  He got some special deck screws that worked really well for this job and will need to get some longer ones to go through the door jamb.

Working on the next door opening...

Time for the top piece...

...and on the other side.

Jim also took a load up to the shed and brought the chipper on his way back.

It now has a nice spot inside.

We did some more organizing too - took out one of the cabinets that has been on the truck forever and brought it into the shop.  It's nice to see our things back in our own place - even if that place is temporary.

On a lighter note, we seem to have two different broods of turkeys on the property - this one has much bigger turkeys than the mom and babies.  We see them quite often and they're kind of fun to watch.

 

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