3.31.2024

 

Hope everyone had a very blessed Easter!  Jim and I feel so fortunate and have so much to be grateful for.  

Jim glued up one side panel today for the laundry room cabinet...

Then we went down to the respite facility and spent a couple hours with Mom.  She seems to be doing well there - another thing to be grateful for!

High 52.5/Low 36.7

3.30.2024 - Update!

 

First, thanks to everyone for their prayers and support as Jim and I have been dealing with my health issues.  It means the world to both of us, and we appreciate all the texts, calls, flowers, and gifts - but mostly the prayers!  I had surgery on Monday to remove the large pelvis mass that was suspected to be ovarian cancer.  The surgery went well and the best part was that the mass was benign from the sample taken during surgery!  There were some atypical cells present and they will analyze the entire mass, but he is confident that it will remain benign.  It's a large incision, but recovery has gone well - in fact, I was able to be released the next afternoon, which he says he never does.  Home is the best place to heal, and I'm happy and grateful to be here.  I have to take it easy especially the next couple of weeks, and Jim isn't letting me do anything, but I'm on the mend!

Obviously, Jim's time and thoughts have been focused elsewhere, but he has been able to start getting a few shop things done, so time for a catch up.

He cut, sized and did the millwork for the panels...

Test fit inside the frame...

The panels are now primed...

The bottom panel is all glued and sanded...

Putting in the pocket screw holes...

Using the drum sander on drawer pieces...

And the planer...

Getting drawer pieces ready for tongue and groove molding...

Jim primed the bottom panel and painted the panels their final color...

High 53.8/Low 33.7

3.24.2024

Today was the clean up after the snow storm that dumped at least 22" yesterday.  This was the view from the man door in the auto bay... 

Snow is still up on the roof and check out that blue sky with the white snow and green trees!

Starting to plow...

Can you spot the mailbox?  But the roads are perfect - they do an amazing job here.

In the afternoon, we decided to make a trip down to see Mom in her new space.  Jim was showing her a few things on her iPad...

Mom and I...

Her facility is about 40 minutes south of us, east of Albany.  They probably had 8" of snow but they also got really thick ice that just coated the trees.  It was gorgeous, but I'm glad we didn't have that near us!

My surgery is tomorrow, so I'll post when I can.  Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support!

High 38.3/Low 13.1

3.23.2024

As forecast, it snowed all night - by noon this is what it looked like! 

Jim worked in the shop this morning, using the drum sander...

And the planer...

The bottom panel for the drawer cabinet - Jim made a tongue and groove connection to a solid maple front piece...

By the afternoon, the snow continued to pile up...

The view from the man door in the auto bay...

The generator was totally under snow, so Jim went out to clear it, just in case we need it...

You can see the snow on the ground is up to Jim's knees - we probably have at least 20" and it's still lightly snowing...

High 28.5/Low 23.2 - 20+" of snow!

3.22.2024

We texted and got to talk to Mom on the phone today; she's starting to settle in her new space, which makes us very happy and relieved.

As things sometimes seem to go, we had very little snowfall this winter, relatively speaking.  However, we are now under a winter storm warning and have seen anywhere from 6-17" of snow from tonight through late tomorrow night.  We had arranged for our priest to give me the anointing of the sick blessing after Mass tomorrow, but we didn't want to take the chance of not being able to get out tomorrow because of the weather.  Instead, he met us at the church this afternoon.  It was a very special blessing and Jim and I feel spiritually nourished going into surgery.

When we got home, Jim had to get the Bobcat ready for plowing.  He moved it into position and greased up the snow blower. 

Doing some shop work...

High 29.6/Low 17.1 - starting to snow

3.21.2024

Today was the day we took Mom to the respite center for a short stay while I have my surgery and recover a bit.  We finished packing this morning and Jim loaded up the car.  We stopped at Cracker Barrel for a leisurely lunch before heading to the respite center.  We had lots of paperwork to do, we met with the nurse to go over medications, and then we got to get her settled in her apartment.  We have been impressed with the facility and staff, and it's comforting to know that she will be safe and cared for during this period.  

 

High 32.9/Low 21

3.20.2024

First full day of spring picture!  This was from overnight and it mostly went away by the afternoon.  However, as I write this, it's snowing again and the ground is white.  And the forecast for Friday night is 4-8" of snow!

Jim was back at the planer today, working on drawer parts...

More pieces gluing...

And the stack of finished pieces waiting for next steps keeps growing...

High 47.6/Low 30.9 - 1" of snow

3.19.2024

 

Happy First Day of Spring!  But just like this picture, we had some flurries in the air today and 1-3" is actually in the forecast for tomorrow!  It's beautiful out no matter the weather though.

Jim continued working in the shop on drawer pieces...

More pieces gluing - this will be the panel on one of the cabinet sides...

Lots of pieces stacking up!  Jim may need to make a trip to Northern Hardwoods to get a little more maple.

High 40.7/Low 29.2

3.18.2024

Jim held down the fort this morning while I headed out for my CT scan - hopefully the last test block to check before surgery.

In the shop, Jim continued working on the drawer parts - planing...

More pieces in the gluing process...

Even more...

The stack of finished pieces awaiting next steps is growing...

High 40.4/Low 30.9