10.24.2019

This was a picture perfect fall day - perfect temperature to just throw on a sweater and sweatshirt, bright blue sky and it just smells like fall!  I ran into Saratoga to pick up a few things for Jim at Lowe's and to go to the grocery stores - it was so pretty there too!

Jim is rearranging some of his big tools in the workshop to get a better working arrangement.  This is a picture of a work in progress - he moved his ultra-heavy radial arm saw table over by jacking it up and putting a dolly underneath.  While that helps a bit, it's still a lot of work to move.  Jim made this cabinet probably 30 years ago!

Since it was nice out and still warm in the attic, Jim wanted to get the attic door frame painted.   Looks so nice to see it painted!

After everything was dry, Jim put the door back on the hinges.  

Jim's load of eco-rubble came this afternoon.  Jim had him back up into the turn around and dump half the load there...

And then back up the upper driveway and drop the rest of the load there...

 Then Jim got the Bobcat out and went to work!

He wanted to have a base of gravel on the area next to the pole barn where the excavator will be parked...

Then he worked on getting the turn around in better shape...

He also wanted to do a little work on the inside corner of the driveway where the upper driveway branches off...

 He didn't have much time left in the day but he did a little spreading of the gravel on the top of the upper driveway...

 

High 62/Low 40 - beautiful!

10.23.2019

Jim got final measurements for the remaining windows in the house that need blinds - the 3 in the wood shop and the dormer window.  There was a good sale on them so I went ahead and ordered cellular shades for them.  That may not be the best choice for the wood shop but Jim can use the air compressor to blow off the dust - we are mostly wanting them for their wonderful insulation properties.  They should be here before Thanksgiving so that's exciting.

Jim did more work on the relief cuts on the back of the pieces for the door frame moldings...these pieces are all done now.

A close up of the cut - this requires two passes through the molder.

All that woodworking creates a lot of man glitter so it was time to empty the vacuum bag.  It's so nice that Jim has someone who will come and pick this up too.

This afternoon, Jim worked on the gas connection for the generator.  He first connected the black pipe to the inside of the generator...

Then put the flexible hose on...

Next, he had to figure out where he needed the gas line cut to make the connection.  He allowed extra when made the first cut - it would be a huge issue if it was too short!

Carefully stripping the outside insulation off...

Then he figured out exactly where he needed to make the final cut...

Using a tool to clean off any burrs...

 Then he put the fitting on...

And used his flaring tool to make the compression fitting...

All done...

A close up of how the flared pipe fits inside the connection...

 Then it was time to connect everything together...

More connections to make...

I told Jim he gets an A+ for pretty connections; he said he'll only get an A if it doesn't leak!  Which is the next step - to call the gas company.

 But the generator is now all buttoned up for now...

Jim continued his before-winter checklist - he drained the outside hose reel and blew air through to get out any water before storing it away in the pole barn.

Jim called for another load of eco-rubble - it will be delivered tomorrow.  So he did a little Bobcat work in preparation...

High 56/Low 34

10.22.2019

Jim started the day by taking my car to Tubbs to get its yearly safety inspection.  Unfortunately, they were busy this morning and couldn't do it then, so he had to take it back this afternoon.  But that chore is crossed off the list now.

Jim got the valve in the mail that he has been waiting for to finish up the generator gas connection so he was able to get all that put together.  He thought he would get it hooked up to the generator this afternoon but there was a chance of rain so he decided to wait.

Jim has been busy prepping the wood for door and window moldings...

Just a few more pieces of wood all planed!

He started making some of the back relief cuts today...

Time to get the machines ready for winter - the excavator cab is all covered now.

This afternoon, Jim worked on putting a shelf in the pole barn attic.  He first attached steel ties between the rafters...

The he used some leftover OSB for a shelf...

Starting to get more organized...

Jim did go over and talk to the tree butcher again this morning.  He felt a little better afterwards - the guy is about done timbering in the area near us and he says he's been cognizant about not cutting trees down to expose the view of our house.  He also told us that he gets orders from Mead Lumber on what size trees to cut down - that's where Jim has been buying the pine from so we can tell ourselves that we are using our woods' lumber!  The guy also told Jim that he's going to start doing some timbering on the very corner of our street.  That won't affect us because we are far enough down from the corner but I doubt our neighbor across the street will be very happy.

High 54/Low 47

10.21.2019

Jim worked on finishing up the attic access door today.  He has door seals on two sides and wanted to make sure it worked and sealed correctly in the opening.  Then he attached the latch and marked location where he needed to make the hole on the frame.

Then he took the piece of foam that we have been using for the door and cut it to fit inside the new door...

 He cleaned up all the edges of the door frame and started to give it a coat of primer...

All primed now...

Look how tight the foam fits inside the door - no cold air will be infiltrating our bedroom this winter!

Jim salvaged a piece of wood that was used for the packaging of the drill press when it was delivered to make the back panel of the door.  Then he primed and painted it and attached it to the back of the door, sandwiching all that foam.

He has door seal on 3 sides now - he needs to get another piece but he can add that seal when the door is in place.  So time to get it installed!

 Looks so pretty!

The tree butcher has been taking advantage of our nice day so we walked over at the end of the day to see all the devastation.  Look how much of the mountains you can see now that they cut this big swatch of trees down.

So sad...

This big oak on the ground is especially bothersome because it's right next to the stone wall which is our property boundary.  We are thinking of going and talking to the city just to make sure everything is legal.

However, at the end of the day, we come back to our house and besides seeing a bit more of the mountains, they are still timbering downhill from us and it isn't affecting our gorgeous property too much.  But still...

High 60/Low 39