9.22.2026

It's very appropriate that today is the first day of Fall, because this morning is the first day our heat came on for a bit!

Jim got the block all unwrapped this morning...

Jim has some tools that have one purpose and one purpose only.  This is one of those - a pilot bearing puller.  He's replacing this bearing so has to get the old one out...

Success!  Now the tool can go back in the tool chest until it's needed again!

Time to get the block on the engine stand.  He used the engine hoist to lift it up...

Then connected the block to the engine stand...

All good to go!

Now comes the putting together of all these million parts.  Plus, he'll discover which new parts he needs.  He ordered a specific o-ring from a Toyota dealer and thought it was going to be shipped, but we have to pick it up.  So while he could use it now, it will wait until we're down in that area on Friday for his eye doctor appointment.  

Rear seal housing on...

High 64.6/Low 45.7

 

9.21.2026

 

Can't believe it's the last day of summer, although fall is definitely in the air around here, from the temperatures to the changing leaves.

It's also World Peace Day, which definitely deserves a mention and prayer.

Jim's been busy still working on getting things ready for putting the car back together when the block gets here.  He headed out after lunch to go to the engine shop to pay the bill and set up delivery.  Once he got home, he decided to clean the wheels on the 4Runner.  The right is before, the left after...

The inside difference is even more amazing...

Spraying the cleaner...

The guy at the engine shop said he would bring the block, which was so wonderful.  He had it all tied down in the back of his truck, and then Jim brought the Bobcat bucket over...

This guy was really impressed with the house and the auto bay, especially the car lift.  Once he left, Jim brought the Bobcat into the auto bay...

Moving it out of the bucket...

Taking a peek...looks amazing!  Tomorrow he'll get it on the engine stand.  So nice that it's back home!

9.19 - High 62.3/Low 45.3
9.20 - High 56.3/Low 46.3
9.21 - High 60.2/Low 48.6

9.18.2026

We headed back to the cornea specialist this morning.  Jim was so happy to get the bandage off that kept his left eye mostly closed.  The doctor removed the contact bandage but put another one on just for protection.  We have another appointment next week to see if they can remove that contact.  The films just dissolve, usually within 2-5 days.  She stressed that his vision will still be blurry - it takes 6 weeks for complete healing.  But Jim's vision, even with the blurriness seems somewhat improved, so we are cautiously optimistic!

He got cleared for most activities, although he still has to keep water away from his eye when showering.  All of the drops continue as well, but now Jim can put them in himself.

Goggles on, he did some grass cutting this afternoon...

 

High 71.9/Low 61.7

9.17.2026

Jim had his eye procedure done yesterday.  I got to sit in the office and watch and - whew - nothing like clamping your eye open and scraping it with a metal file.  Jim was a tough soldier though.  After the scraping, the doctor put multiple layers of film over the eye and then a contact lens bandage, all followed by the bandage on the eye lid to keep the eye closed as much as possible.  

The doctor warned him that after the numbing drops wore off, it would probably be painful.  He prescribed pain meds and told him to be sure and take them round the clock for the 24 hours to stay on top of it.  In addition, he was prescribed two eye drops - one a steroid and the other an antibiotic.  

Jim has tolerated everything really well and isn't in much pain.  It's more the feeling of strain and something in your eye as opposed to the pain they warned us about.  He wasn't supposed to do much at all for the first couple days, trying to limit eye movement as much as possible.  Getting drops in the eye when it's mostly shut is not the easiest, but we've managed to get them in.

We go back to the doctor tomorrow.  Complete healing and surface regeneration takes about 6 weeks.  They've said his vision will be very blurry while he has the protective films on.  

We're very glad it's over and are praying that it works to eliminate the ghost images that have really affected his vision. 

As these things go, Jim got a call this afternoon that the engine shop has the block all done!  Unfortunately, it's going to have to wait until next week but it's nice that it's all ready to go.

9.15 - High 67.8/Low 43.9
9.16 - High 71.2/Low 55.2
9.17 - High 67.2/Low 59.5

9.14.2026

 Jim continues to work on parts - he's refurbishing the old hand plane he got from my printer who was retiring and going through her things.  This looks amazing - he's getting ready to paint it.

High 66.5/Low 55.4

9.13.2026

Jim has continued to work on cleaning and painting parts...

 In addition, he has done some lawn mowing and trimming.

9.12 - High 73.9/Low 46.7
9.13 - High 75.1/Low 60.7

9.11.2026

Hard to believe it's been 25 years.  It's always a day to remember the lives lost, the heroes who stepped forward, and the families forever changed.  

Today was more of an administrative day around here.  I had post office and errand duties this morning while Jim did computer work.  In the afternoon, he went to check on the engine.  He got to see the block and said it looks great.  However, the guy broke a rod bolt and had to order them.  Hopefully they'll come in soon and he can get it finished.  After that, Jim stopped at the insurance agent to go over a few things before heading home and hopping on the elliptical.

High 72.6/Low 53.7

 

9.10.2026

Back in the auto bay, Jim attached the throw-out bearing in the transmission...

Showing me how it works...

Continuing to clean parts...

Here's a before picture...

And an after - amazing!

Cleaned part ready for painting...

Painting more pieces...

Lots of pieces drying...

Jim used a different blasting material - this is just cleaned, not painted.  Amazing...

Jim cut grass after finishing up, and then we headed to The Local for dinner tonight.  I may have mentioned that we are in our sourdough era here, and I make multiple loaves a week.  It was just happenstance that the burger special tonight was grilled cheese burger on sourdough - Jim was in heaven!

High 77.7/Low 64.7

 

9.9.2026

Jim and I spent all morning trying to work things out with doctors for next steps to see if his vision can be improved after his cataract surgery.  Lots and lots of phone calls, but I think we have a plan going forward and he's scheduled for another procedure next week.

In the afternoon, Jim continued to clean up engine parts...

Where he can, he is putting things together, like this clutch fork boot on the side of the transmission...

High 70/Low 57.6 - rain in PM

9.8.2026

Anyone who knows us, knows that Star Trek was a quasi-religion in our house when the boys were growing up.  We've watched the originals and movies over and over, and watched all the spin-offs.  Jim and I are currently watching Strange New Worlds.  Hard to believe the first Star Trek episode aired 60 years ago today - Jim watched it when it aired!

Back on this planet, Jim continued working on cleaning parts.  He switched to walnut shells for this piece...

It really does a nice job getting all the rust off...

A coat of paint on his latest cleaned pieces...

Jim said this piece that covers some cables was completely black.  I told him we needed a before picture!  But afterwards it looked like new...

High 75.5/Low 54

9.7.2026

Hope everyone had a nice, long Labor Day weekend!

Jim worked on attaching his Soda Master to the side of the blasting cabinet.  He figured out where he wanted it and used his step bit to drill a hole for the tube and drilled the first small attachment hole as well...

Then he could put the attachment up and mark the other attachment holes...

Punching the location...

Drilling...

Putting it in place...

Attachment in place, everything put back in its right location.  He tried it out on a piece of tubing at it worked great.  The soda cleans without etching the metal.

He had to do more grass cutting at the end of the day.

High 74.1/Low 53.3