Thanksgiving weekend

Greetings!  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  We sure did.  It was great spending the day with Kyle and Liz, along with my Mom and Pat.

Anyway...back to the project.  While Gene didn't make the progress he had dreamed, we still got a lot done.  First, the back door.  Hoping it would only take 1/2 day, with one annoying issue after another we managed to spend the entire day on the installation.  At least it fits well and all issues could be dealt with.  Not the least of which was fixing several factory mistakes, but we managed and really like the finished product!...beats the plastic sheeting!

Gene's enjoying a well deserved rest.
Of course this was taken the morning after...it was dark by time we finished on Friday.

The next project was the last piece of plywood on the North end.  It was a bugger to get in, but, again, he did it.  And now the shop stays much warmer with the warm air not just blowing out through the hole!  We actually got the shop up to 61º today!  A 15º difference from outside!  YAY!

And then onto the stairs.  He was hoping to get it done this weekend, but with the door and plywood taking longer than anticipated...as well as the obligatory trip to Jerry's for more nails.  God, for what we've spent on nail and screws Gene could pay for 1/2 a new table saw!

The landing in place just time to practice  modeling...my next career.
This he actually got done yesterday.

Notice the paint ont he block...primer.  We're just going to primer it to brighten it up a little.

And here it is with the first flight done.  Pretty exciting!
He does good work!  He learned from his Dad, what else would you expect?!

We'll be working on the last part of the stairs over the week.  Lay out a stringer one night; cut it out the next and then 2 more stringers on the subsequent nights, by the weekend, it'll be ready to install.  Can't wait to just run up the stairs to get up to the attic.

Ok, that was it for our weekend.  Wish we had the whole next week.  But, life as it is there's something called 'work' that's always getting in the way of our fun!  Paa-shaw!

Party on!

Coleen

Ps...oh, yeh, with all the mess, does it look like a shop yet?  He'll clean it up (organize) eventually...

We can see the light!

Need I say more?  Complete with a kitchen in the back.  (Refer and microwave)  Obviously, Gene even got some of equipment moved in.  Still have the door in back to do.  We wanted to do it this last weekend, but it was too stinkin' cold!

But, we did get the 'front' door in...

Complete with my stacks of 2x10's to create a stoop...works great!
The back door(s) is a double door set of this door style. 

Anyway, that's it for now.  Although the electrical inspector just showed up and informed us that we HAVE to get sheetrock or 1/2" wood equivalent on the short side walls upstairs to get the electrical approval.  Ugggg...that's not on our building permit.  Oh, well, we get to insulate sooner than expected.  Gee, too bad.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  May your day be filled with blessings and lots of fat calories.

Party on!

Coleen

Upstairs

We not only got the floor down in the shop, but thanks to Dee and Chuck, the upstairs floor went down Sunday.  We haven't posted a pic of the upstairs attic storage yet.

Is that an amazing space or what!?  I'm going to do a white paint primer on the floor.  So, it will have a white-washed effect.  There are also 2 more skylights that don't show in this pic.  They're toward the camera.  I'm up on a ladder in the stair well taking this at floor level.

The electricians are here.  Right now, I have to run out and tell them to forget what I just said about the height of the outlets up there.

I'm back.  but, seriously, is this room too cool?!  Wait until you see how I'm going to finish the stairs....

Oh, and thanks to Dee for coming over yesterday and helping me sweep the shop floor.  Well, here's the story...the finish we put down is an oil base.  The directions have you putting down a small dose, leaving it for 30 min. then wiping the excess off.  Labor intensive...yes.  But, what I discovered by accident is that if you then put a light coating of sawdust on it and let it sit for a while and then work it with a broom and sweep it off, the sawdust absorbs even more excess oil.  And it makes for a wonderful satin finish.  (If you don't get the excess oil up, it will coagulate and leave a tacking film that will be there forever.)  Anyway, yesterday was the last push to get it done before the cold weather hits (it has to be 45º or over for the finish) and I was exhausted with my arm, shoulder, hand, etc. in pain.  So, knowing Dee likes to sweep, she came over and swept to her hearts content.

Hopefully, the next entry will show working lights!  YAY!

Party on!

Coleen

Is that a floor, or am I dreaming?

Yes! Toto, it's a floor!

Kyle came down and helped on Sunday.  With the 3 of us, we got it half done.  And were exhausted.  But, we also moved a pile of 3/4" plywood for the upstairs floor and the other half of this plywood, 1 1/8", inside out of the weather.  Then Gene and I worked at it a few sheets at a time every evening this week, until finishing it last night...after Gene took 1/2 the day off.

We couldn't have done it without you, Kyle!  Thank you!

I'm now waiting for the weather to warm, just a little, so, the finish can go on.  A few sheets at the far end have some finish, but it requires 45º and well, it's not!

So, Chuck and Dee said they'd come over this Sunday and help get plywood upstairs.  That's gunna be fun!  or not.  Maybe Chuck and Gene can get the doors in, too.  Or maybe Gene and I can do the single door tomorrow.  The double door in the back is way too heavy for just the 2 of us!

And Monday...P O W E R!  The electricians come.  I picture them swooping in putting up some fixtures, snapping their fingers and voila', light and power!  No more cords getting in the way every time you move!  Ok, reality...maybe it will take a day or two.

Whatever, Gene's starting to dream about getting his table saw dug out and set up, while I'm fancying a small kiln in the top right corner.  Hey, I could take up ceramics!  Or he could get a new table saw....

But, for the rest of the afternoon, I get to go out and sweep/vacuum the sawdust on the new floor.  Then if it gets warm enough...throw some finish down.

Party on!

Coleen

Joists!

Well,  here it is...the completed floor joists...

The bright light in the far openings are from the plastic sheeting over the end.

Gene and I started on Sunday by putting in the posts and beam.  That beam is a 6x10, in (2) 15' sections.  It was all we could do to manage them.  But with the use of a Farmer Jack, ingenuity and team work, we got them up.  Then on to fitting/hanging the joists.  We planned on it taking a full week, but it really only took 3 evenings...and we only worked a couple hours a night.  So, tonight we finish nailing, tomorrow it's inspected and Sunday we start laying decking.  Then the electricians come in and wire the joint! 

So, there you have it.

Party on!

Coleen