4.30.2024

Jim cut and sized pieces for the bottoms of the drawers.  Then he put a coat of polyurethane on them...

Drawer glides fastened on both sides of the cabinet...

Because the top drawer will be for hanging clothes and therefore won't have a bottom, Jim had to come up with a way to strengthen the drawer so that it would hold its shape.  Here he's cutting steel pieces to use...

Testing them out...

The right one is finished, with a half circle cut out to allow for the aluminum bars...

Once both were fabricated, a coat of Rustoleum on one side...

At the end of the day, a coat of polyurethane on the other side of the drawer bottoms...

High 69.2/Low 46.1 - on/off rain

 

4.29.2024

Jim did computer work this morning, including ordering a propane delivery for this week.  Also, he completed his defensive driving course (basically for the second time!) - glad that's done for another 3 years!

Putting the bottom laundry cabinet together... 

He put the glides on one side of the cabinet...

The bottom drawer in for a test fit - it looks gorgeous!

Putting the glides in the other side...

High 63.6/Low 46.7

4.28.2024

Jim got the front on the giant drawer today... 

All three drawer frames are done and he even started putting the cabinet together...

A coat of polyurethane on the top panel.  Eventually this will have Corian on top, but for now, it will be good with polyurethane.

It was a beautiful day, so once Jim was done and cleaned up in the shop, we headed outside.  Jim brought out my summer tires (Mom was supervising)...

He brought out the Bobcat and put the bucket on - then did some driveway flattening after the winter...

Cleaning up the edges...

He got the power sprayer hooked up and cleaned the insides of the wheels...

Giving the underside of the Tiger Cub a good cleaning.  He may want to replace the belt for the hydraulic system (it's the original!) so he wanted to make sure it was clean first.

We got a little light rain as Jim was closing off outside - that will be good for our grass seed!

High 77.4/Low 44.4

4.27.2024

 Jim put the front on the first drawer today!

Working on the second drawer...

They look so good - they will be ready for drawer bottoms next...

Jim has to clean out each of the tongue and groove joints in the fronts by hand, just to clear out any paint and get a very precise fit...

He got a coat of polyurethane on the top and bottom panels...

In the afternoon, it was too nice to stay inside, so once Jim was finished spraying and cleaning up, we headed outside.  I put down the rest of our grass seed - hopefully we get a little rain tomorrow to help it on its way.

Jim put the new battery in the Tiger Cub and it started up like a champ.

We collect our coffee grounds in old coffee containers, and periodically Jim empties them into the woods...

One of his next projects, is to install the barn door on the pole barn lean to.  Unfortunately, that means breaking into the siding on the pole barn...

High 66/Low 31

4.26.2024

We did a divide-and-conquer errand approach this morning.  Jim headed down near Albany to pick up the battery for the Tiger Cub, while Mom and I headed into Lowe's to pick up more polyurethane so that Jim could continue working on the cabinet pieces.

After lunch, he lightly sanded all the pieces and got them set up and ready for spraying the second coat...

He also cut, sized and sanded the top panel for the cabinet, so it could get a coat of polyurethane as well...

Spraying...

All sprayed and drying...

High 61.2/Low 29.8 - beautiful!

 

4.25.2024

 Jim did his computer work in the morning - including ordering our new chipper!  After much research, he decided to go with a WoodMaxx chipper.  They are made in NY when you order them, so ours is anticipated to arrive in about two weeks.  Very exciting!

Then Jim spent a lot of time helping me.  I had a big mailing that had to go out and he carried the trays down into the pantry where my meter is, then he had to help troubleshoot an ink cartridge issue on the meter, then take all the trays down and loaded them into the car.   Then he drove us to the PO to drop them off.  He's so cautious about letting me lift too much which I greatly appreciate!

In the afternoon, he had to clean his other paint gun to get ready for polyurethane.  He always cleans afterwards, but it had been about 8 months since he last used this gun, so he gave it a good cleaning.  Then he put the first coat of polyurethane on the drawer assemblies and bottom piece...

After using polyurethane, he doesn't like to work in the shop, so he headed outside and got the battery out of the Tiger Cub.  He contacted a place near Albany where he has bought batteries before, and they have the one he wants.  He'll head down tomorrow to pick it up.  He also went and got gas for the mower so he'll be all set.

High 54.7/Low 25.7

4.24.2024

Jim continues to do his computer work in the mornings, including working on that defensive driver course again!  

He got everything ready and then after lunch, he sprayed the fronts of the cabinet pieces... 

They look beautiful!

Then there is an hour and a half of clean up work to do on his gun...

High 59.2/Low 31.5

4.23.2024

Mom had a doctor appointment this morning and we did some grocery pickups afterwards.  Jim schlepped all the groceries upstairs once we got home.

In the afternoon, Jim worked on the lawn mower a bit.  Even after charging the battery slowly overnight, it wouldn't start the mower, so Jim had to bring the battery charger out and charge it in the mower.  Then it started right up.  Putting some air in the tires...

First grass cutting of the season!

It was a beautiful day, so Mom and I walked down the driveway and picked up the rest of the snow sticks...

I put some grass seed down in the triangle...

Jim sprayed off the Tiger Cub...

Then he gave my car a much-needed wash.  He sprayed off the MINI as well.

High 69.6/Low 30.2 - beautiful!