2.7.2023

Jim started working on the Corian top for the bathroom cabinet today, first using his trim router to smooth off all the glue that squeezed out from the joints...

But he had to take a break and go out and work on the driveway.  We are in one of those weather situations where it was frigid, then warmed up with lots of sun, then we are expecting snow and ice tonight.  Jim wanted to plow a path on the grass in case the drive itself gets too icy.  I was able to get down and back up with no problem and got a few necessities at the store to tide us over.  Mom and I had haircuts scheduled for tomorrow - I rescheduled until next week so we didn't have to worry about going out.

Once he got the equipment tucked back away, he went back to work on the top.  He has to very slowly cut the shape in layers.  He kept coming upstairs to measure so he got everything perfect...

It's all done!  He has to do the finish sanding and polishing tomorrow but it sure looks fabulous!

You can see from some of the above pictures how much of a mess routing the Corian makes.  It's very fine and full of static, so it covers everything in site.  Jim pretty much filled the trash can cleaning up!

High 36.1/Low 7.3

2.6.2023

Jim took a road trip today - he found a tailgate assembly for his 4Runner online at a junk yard near Cooperstown... 

He was extremely happy with the condition and it's even the same color as ours.  He's going to use the best parts and then try and sell some of the others.  Buying this whole assembly was less than half the price of buying just the license plate assembly!

Reminiscent of all the time we spent in Ohio's Amish country, Jim passed a horse and buggy on his way home...

High 36.1/Low 16.4

2.5.2023

 

Yesterday it was -19° and today's high was 37° - almost a 60° swing!

Jim started sizing the edge pieces for the Corian top for the bathroom cabinet today...

Then started gluing with the special two-part epoxy...

Both layers glued and clamped...

Scraping the excess glue off the inside once it dried.  Jim will keep it in the clamps for probably at least a day before starting to cut the edge design.

One of Jim's big goals this year is to do some preventative maintenance and replacement of parts on the furnace.  He has been looking for a gas mixture analyzer and found one that is almost brand new on eBay.  

High 37.2/Low 6.9

2.4.2023

It was an unbelievably scary cold night and morning - our outdoor sensor showed we got to -19!  But thankfully, all the hard work Jim put into the furnace system and house construction paid off because we had no issues and were nice and warm.  We didn't lose power either, so we're grateful for that.

Jim did more computer work this morning while things were so bitter cold.  Once in the shop, he trimmed the door sides...

The man door has to have an angle at the top to fit under the roofline of the pole barn lean to, so Jim cut that today...

Then did sanding...

And caulking around the inside edges...

He did some initial planing of the wood he picked up at the sawmill before loading it onto the wood rack...

High 4.6/Low -19

2.3.2023

 

We're in the midst of our deep freeze - the temperatures have been going down steadily since the morning.  As I write this, we are at -6° with strong winds, and the forecast is to be -21 before the wind chill is factored in.  So very scary cold.  Jim always worries about the house and all its components during this type of weather, but so far so good.  In addition, we can't help but worry about all those people who may not have a warm house.  A good reminder to be thankful every day for our blessings!

Obviously, it was an inside work day today.  Jim did a lot of computer work this morning - he's continuing to work on the design for the banquette.  In the shop, he trimmed the door...

All done - ready for millwork...

Jim started cutting Corian for the top of the bathroom cabinet...

Trying it out - going to look fabulous!  As an aside, I spent a chunk of the afternoon organizing the drawers with containers and going through things we want to keep in here.  

Jim has the pieces cut for the edging as well...

When Jim ordered the edging pieces for the tile, there were two options we were deciding between - light gray and classic gray.  The pictures on line were exactly the same.  We went with classic gray.  It's probably a tad more beige than we would like but it's not bad.  However, we did decide on the profile we like.  Jim is going to reorder in light gray and we'll just take back what we don't want.

High 29.1/Low -15 - frigid, wind chill warnings

2.2.2023

 

Happy Groundhog's Day!  Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today so 6 more weeks of winter.  And he'll definitely be right tomorrow - we are headed into the deep freeze for the next two days.  Perfect timing because my mom had a very early doctor's appointment today when the weather was nice.  This isn't the best of pictures but we saw the most amazing sunrise over the Vermont mountains on our way!

After her appointment and breakfast at Panera's, we did some grocery pickups and even headed out to a nearby city to pick up the remaining kitchen tiles we need.  Jim ordered the trim pieces last night so that project is definitely getting close!

Jim glued the new stile onto the door today...

Attaching it...

All glued and drying...

Since the weather was nice and the roads dry, Jim decided to head to Northern Hardwoods to pick up some more wood for upcoming projects.  He got it unloaded and up in the shop...

High 32.8/Low 16.6

2.1.2023

Jim trial assembled the pole barn lean to man door today... 

However, the stile has a twist to it and Jim wasn't happy.  So time to make another one...

You can see the bend and the new straight one...

Primer on the edges before putting it together again...

High 28.1/6.1