3.31.2023

 Jim had some computer work to do on/off during the day.  In the shop, he started gluing up the panels for underneath the seat fronts...

He fastened one of the face frames to the seat frame...

Since he'll be priming and painting the wood frame for the seats soon, he wanted to start working on another painting project - the man door for the pole barn lean to.  He found the old hinges we had on our little shed at our first house together in Ohio.  He modified them by making them shorter and drilling another hole...

High 39.5/Low 21.4

3.30.2023

 Mom and I were gone most of the day today.  We started by heading to the printer to pick up some fire school flyers and then headed to her doctor appointment.  That stretched past lunchtime, so we ate at Panera's and then did some grocery shopping.

With all the woodworking Jim has been doing in the shop, he has amassed a lot of man glitter - 5 big bags worth to be exact.  Thankfully, his sawdust friend still wants it and arranged to pick it up today over his lunch hour.   Jim drove on the upper driveway for the first time in months and loaded the bags up and took them down to the end of the driveway.  

Jim had been busy in the shop - he cut and sized all the pieces for the other front panel...

Then he made the plywood deck pieces for the seats from the plywood he picked up at Lowe's yesterday.  Mom had to try it out!

He also made the other front face piece.  The seats sure are looking great!

High 37.6/Low 23.8

3.29.2023

Jim always has to keep his tools and equipment in good shape - cleaning a saw blade here...

Doing the millwork for the rails and stiles on the front panel...

Making pocket screw holes for the drawer face frame...

Face frame pieces...

The face frame fits perfectly on the front - this is where our long drawer will go...

High 50.9/Low 24.2

3.28.2023

 Jim was busy in the shop this morning - planing and sizing the wood he glued together yesterday...

Drilling attachment holes...

These pieces will be used to attach the seat back to the seat...

The seats are positioned the way they will be up in the kitchen nook!

Jim is starting to make the rails and stiles for the panels that will cover the front of the steel frame...

Jim called his day short and headed to Lowe's - he had to return some of the tile trim that wasn't the right color as well as pick up some plywood.  This job required taking out the front seat in the 4Runner so that he could make it all fit.

High 46/Low 31.6

3.27.2023

In addition to everything else he's got on his plate, Jim has been working steadily on our taxes.  They are complicated due to my at-home business, but he got everything filed today so that job is officially done!

Jim never knows where or when I'll appear to take his picture - way more often than he would like, to be sure!  I try to sneak in sometimes so I don't disturb him, but today he caught me and I got a cute smile and wave while he was drilling holes...

Using the jointer...

Bottom piece is done on the other bench so they are both at the same stage now!

Gluing together wood to start making the panels that will go on the steel frame underneath the seat...

More pieces gluing...

When we got the 2-1/2' of snow last week, the gravel drive was soft and the snow was so deep that it was difficult to not pull up gravel along with the snow.  Jim went out late this afternoon to do a little shoveling of the gravel before the snow melts, trying to get it back on the driveway and off the grass.  He said a lot of it is more gravel dust, but we'll still have some cleanup this spring!

High 47/Low 26.2

3.26.2023

 Jim was working on the computer this morning and showed Mom how he "built up" the bench seats on his design program.  He was able to show her each stage that she's seen downstairs up through the final look.  

In the real life world, Jim continued working on the second seat back - he has the blind dado top done and attached 

Then he made the top piece and got it attached...

Gluing wood together for the next piece...

High 49.3/Low 32.9

3.25.2023

Jim worked on the computer this morning - he showed me the 3D design of the entire bench seats, including the blocking in the wall space where he will attach everything.  Amazing!  In the shop, he continued building the next seat back... 

Top millwork done...

Next is gluing together the blind dado...

Mom and I did some baking today - we had tried a new recipe for fruitcake and today we tried her old recipe.  It was delicious!  We also had snow for a good part of the day - it was really pretty but eventually turned into more rain and never accumulated.

Time to get ready for church!

High 36.2/Low 27.1

3.24.2023

 Jim put sealant on this portion of tile today...

Putting the new top with the blind dado on the seat back...

Planing wood for the next seat back...

Using the ShopSmith to drill attachment holes...

Starting to assemble the other seat back...

High 48.5/Low 33.9

3.23.2023

 Jim made a Craigslist sale and left late morning to make the exchange.  One more thing gone!

In the shop, he continued working on the bench seats and wood prep...

Now that both steel frames are painted, Jim was able to take the plastic off the floor and we moved both frames over to that space...

Doing the routing of the edges on the seat back...

Look how good the back looks on the seat! 

Gluing up more wood to make parts for the other seat back...

More pieces gluing...

High 47.4/Low 39.4