1.31.2020

Wow - seems like it was just time to turn the calendar to a new year and now we're ready to turn to a new month!

Jim worked on sanding the cabinet doors this morning...

All sanded and ready to do the millwork for the hinges...

Jim uses the Shopsmith that he got from Uncle Jerry, fixed up with parts that my Dad helped him get (he used to work for Shopsmith).  So nice to think of both of them and their contribution to our project while Jim is boring the holes for the hinges...

He's able to set it precisely to make the perfect size and depth of hole needed...

Hinges on...

Jim wanted to try out the door to see how it fits before he does any painting.  Looks so good!

Now comes the fun part - to attach the hinges.  This first cabinet will probably be the toughest - it's high but Jim also has to work over the stove...

Hmm...I think I'll be cleaning footprints off my counters - ha!

First door in place - fits perfectly and looks great!

 Time to work on the other side...

They're both up and in place!  Jim even put the knob on.  We have to order more but we want the same kind so he'll just switch them out later.

I didn't get to look at and enjoy them for very long - Jim had to take them off to finish them.

Putting on the primer...

High 31/Low 25

1.30.2020

Jim finished reassembling the drawers this morning and then brought them up into the kitchen to install.  There's no wiggle room in these drawer glides so he had to do some adjusting...

But they are all done and look fabulous!  And Jim is much happier.

While he was in the kitchen, he hung up a sign I found for the banquette area...

Growing up, we said this prayer for grace before every meal so I love it!  A perfect reminder in the eating nook to always be grateful.

 Back down in the shop, Jim got the panels put into the door frame and then got the doors glued...

Now that he had the relief cut in all the pieces and the knives switched, Jim started putting the pieces for the window molding through the molder...

Working on getting the new engine mounted in the snow blower.  He has it in place and tomorrow will work on hooking everything back up.  The bad part of this is that it probably won't solve the problem with the chute but one step at a time!

Jim knocked off a few minutes early and headed to Lowe's to pick up some plywood while the roads were dry.

High 28/Low 10

1.29.2020

I had my annual physical today (all was well!) and then ran errands afterwards, so I wasn't around much to take a lot of pictures today!

Jim was able to finish up the drawer modification.  He got the new back piece all rounded over and, after spending almost an hour cleaning out his gun, he was able to get a coat of polyurethane on.  You would never know he did anything - they look perfect!  He got the bottoms sized now too so they'll be ready to put together!

He also put just a very light coat of gray paint on the panels for the cabinet doors.  This is just so that once the doors are assembled and painted, in case of expansion/contraction, there will be no white edges showing.

Jim got the old engine all cleaned up and the cover transferred from the new to the old one.  He'll be able to get it listed now.

Jim also took an excursion this afternoon - heading up a little north to the Lake George area to visit what he thought was another lumberyard.  It turned out to be more of a retail hardwood store and although they had some nice wood, it wasn't really what he was looking for.  Jim was so impressed at how neat everything was - every kind of wood and molding was marked and stacked neatly in its own little bin!  But always good to know what places have plus it was a beautiful day for errands - the sky was bright blue without a cloud in sight!

High 31/Low 5

1.28.2020

Jim took apart the other kitchen drawer this morning - again, he was able to get the front off and reworked without causing any damage.

Redoing the dovetail work...

Although they looked good to me, once Jim made the inside front and back just a tad shorter, he wasn't happy with the way the back looked.  So he made two new back pieces!  They are all glued together now - tomorrow, he will be able to round over the tops and put some polyurethane on them.

The cabinet door assemblies came out great - time to make the inside panels...

Using the router to do the millwork...

Both pieces are done now...

Time to get a coat of primer on...

Once that was dry, time to do the other side!

With these projects both on hold now, Jim worked on cutting the moldings.  Once he was done, he had to take the molder apart and reset it with new knives for the next cut.

With just a little time left at the end of the day, Jim brought up both snowblower motors.  He needs to take some of the parts on the old one and use on the new one.  Plus, he wants to get the old motor cleaned up and ready to sell.

High 33/Low 15

1.27.2020

Today is another important holiday to celebrate - Chocolate Cake Day!  Jim and I definitely celebrated with baby chocolate cakes!

But to get to today's progress, Jim did the millwork on the cabinet door pieces...

All done...

Starting to glue them...

Like I said yesterday, Jim was not completely satisfied with the two drawers he just installed yesterday.  These glides are different and there he felt like the drawers were just a tad too big.  Which meant that he had to try and take the first drawer apart without totally destroying it!  He was able to do that and then cut just a small amount of the pieces.

Then he had to totally redo the dovetailing without marring the paint!  But he did it - he hand painted the back edges and is letting it dry...

Then it was back to the metal shop to tackle getting the engine out - and success - it's all out!  A look at the new and old...

High 38/Low 25

1.26.2020

I think Jim and I try and celebrate each other and our marriage every day, but a dedicated day is a wonderful time to reaffirm it!  Love you, dear!

My wonderful spouse continued working in my kitchen today, getting the next two drawers in place...

First one in place...

Both in place and look beautiful!  I'm so happy we decided to switch to the finger pulls on these drawers - it just ties everything together and looks great!  However...Jim isn't completely happy with these drawers.  He makes everything so precise and with this different glide mechanism, the drawers are probably 1/32" too tight so they don't work quite as well as he wants.  I'm sure they will be some work on them in the future.  I'm just enjoying them right now!

Down in the workshop, Jim continued on getting wood ready to make the first cabinet doors...

Pieces are all shaped and sized now...

He also went downstairs to continue working on the snowblower.  He had tried to get the hub off yesterday with just his wheel puller but it wouldn't budge.  He had to use a combination of his wheel puller and heating it up with his torch and he finally got it off.

After the fan and hub are off, he has to get at the engine from the front.  It looks like he may need a special wrench to get at some of these screws but he's still investigating.

High 35/Low 29