Disapointment

The weather was not cooperating this weekend, with 90% humidity, i was afraid that if i cut dovetails into my next box, when it dried out the joints would be to loose... so I'm waiting for things to stabilize a bit.

How to Build a Box

Start out with a board

cut it into pieces

cut some dovetails and sand untill board

glue it all together and apply a finish of your choice

add hardware and vola! you are done!

nice job, can we do it again?

Complete the Deck..... Check!

ok is a project ever really finished? i still have a couple of lights to install and to tear down the brown fence. and i might tweak the post heights to give it more flair, and im thinking a step might be important.... but other than that.... im done!

Time to Play

This summer the main objective was to fix or replace about 10 siding boards on the house. We have some rotting going on in a couple of places and we need to plug the holes. So as long as we are doing that, we might as well put a fresh coat of paint on as well. And you know if you are going to paint the walls you should paint the soffits, and a couple of the fascia boards need to be replaced. That, of course, leads into the leaking gutters that should be taken down and repaired/replaced and painted as needed. In order to get the scaffolding to sit level around the front entry area, we have to build the deck that we have purchased the material for last year. Just the plain deck isn't good enough without a fancy hand rail, that we can install and then, tear down the fence that blocks all of the snow in front of the door every winter.

I think I'm going to pick up a 12 pack of Linnies and go fishing!

Summer Time

Summer is here and the projects are coming fast and furious. i had to rebuild my sheep trailer, chop up a tree that fell down in the yard, started painting the house, new deck going in. a couple of projects for a couple of friends, and then through in a vacation and camping weekends.... whew it might be winter by the time i get back in the shop!

Shop Time

the wife and kid are off playing for the weekend and have left me to my own devices.. woo hoo! so im firing up the shop, packing some sandwiches and no one will see me until sunday night! i have some fence orders to fill and perhaps i can spend a little time on the kayak.... have a good weekend, i know i will!

Maintance

being a happy home owner there have been a few things i have had to take care of, i know its just life, but it sure keeps me from playing with some fun stuff... shower head needs repair, snow blower needs gear replaced, scout wouldn't start, gotta hang curtain rods. gotta make more kindling and haul firewood. everything is starting to melt so we have water issues everywhere. gotta start plans for 3 different projects... good thing daylight savings time starts soon, im gunna need all i can get...

Slow Day

not much going on in the shop for now, we are setting up for 4-H lambs and the wife is working on a new piority list for me. somehow i dont think that the kayak will make it to the top of that list.

Feburary

Its farm show time again and i think im going to submit this box in the adult division. bman has been to busy to put anything together so im going to give it a shot. the etsy shop has been pretty slow after christmas, but i am enjoying the break. i need to finish some work items for the booth my office mans during the farm show week. not much else going on, we are working on an built in entertainment center plans.. we will see how that turns out..

January 2010

what a lovely time of year, as the temperature plummets into the ludicrous zone, i am planning on revamping the ETSY shop with new products and hopefully new techniques that should sell a little better. i still have a few custom projects to do for friends and relatics, and i swear on a stack of bibles that I'm going to finish the kayak this year!

Custom Request

this is one project i found in an wood toys book, and have been wanting to build it for a couple of years now. just by chance a lady from way down south had a custom request for her son who loves to play knight... how could i refuse? a simple plan with simple construction with stunning results. with any luck, i made a 4 yr old kids Christmas one to remember...

Alas fair knight! Fear no dragon or bed time monster! For thy sword and shield shall defend thee as long as ye stand for the good of all. Go forth and defend the defenceless, right many wrongs and always come home by dinner time!

How many days till xmas?

My experiment with selling toys on the Internet has been very educational. I have learned that while Canada is not very far away, it takes twice as long to send a package. Are they still using dog sleds? And i took a package to the post office for an estimate for shipping, came back two hours later after filling out the forms and the price went up 2.50, what is up with that?
All in all, i have been doing really good. even though it sets the honey due list back a bit.
Over the past two weeks i have shipped out 14 cars, 2 paddle boats, 8 fences, 3 gates, 2 water tanks, 2 quilt racks and a Knights sword and shield.

November Update

wow, where did the month go? been really busy, the etsy shop is picking up and i have been filling orders for xmas. if you are one who has purchased from me, thank you for supporting my habit, i mean hobby.
the doors are on the chicken coop, but not fast enough, i have suffered some predation and am down to one chicken. i do have traps set now and hopefully i can catch the critter that has been having chicken pot pie for supper.

Fall Chores

As the weather turns from nice to soggy, I've been trying to finish the chicken coop for the last week. i started it in may and of course got distracted with a dozen other things... but now the chickens are laying eggs and if i don't want them to freeze i need to finish the dam thing. we would have had it painted last night but it started to rain and hasn't quit yet. so during this next wet spell i should build the doors and mount them... ill post pictures when i get there...

weekend update

hahaah... busted tail and got 75% of tasks complete! woo hoo!

Weekend Hunny Do List

this is what im going to try to accomplish this weekend...... wish me luck
sharpen chains
cut 1 pickup load of firewood
split and stack firewood
winterize camper
take sheep to breeders farm
clean chimney
fix sewer vent
take out air conditioners
clean out sheep barn
clean out calf hut
clean out chicken coop
mow lawn last time
put away garden stuff
work on scout

im betting on 10%

Been Busy

this week has been pretty good. i talked myself into getting a table at the local farm toy and doll show. i think i can put together an inventory quick enough to look respectable. ill be selling fence sections, gate sections, some cute water tanks the same scale as the fences. i want to have 10 rubber band paddle boats and i need to put the finishing touches on about 10 cars yet... and just for fun i am doing 5 magic wands... and oh yea, its firewood season again. we have about a quarter put away but a lot of work to do yet.

one forward two back...

seems to be the theme of the weekend. we cut a couple of loads of fire wood, but then broke a fitting on the splitter.... never seen the wife covered in oil before, she was lookin kind of hot.
still need three more trips for firewood, need to finish the chicken coop and i need to finish the entry deck before the snow flies.... how much time have i got? .... not enough im sure...

a couple of new projects i cant seem to say no to.... built-in bookshelf for a friends music room and crown molding in another friends bathroom...

Proud Mary? not quite...

The latest in an intriguing series of toys and things of a not so serious nature is the mighty river boat "Owen". Constructed with the 4 year old in mind, shove off with your imagination on the mighty Mississippi or take a cruse around the bathtub...

Playing Around

Here is the purple ribbon winner from the 4-H achievement days, the B-man did a real nice job on it.

the next photo is of some cars I've been playing with... what a great stress reliever... gunna sell some and give a lot more away...