Finger Engines

Busy Sunday

After a leisurely breakfast Sunday morning at the country kitchen (they were very busy), Dad and I loaded up the desk unit we finished in the rain and drove to the customers house to install them. We had three hours to complete the job before we had to go to the Kenna family party at 3:30.

The customer had refinished the room the desk unit was to go in, new floor, paint and moulding. We had to take the moulding off because the desk unit was designed to be flush mounted. As usual for any house, one corner was 3/8" wider in one corner and more than 1/2" higher left to right. We just made adjustments and assembled things working around the uneven dimensions. Cutting the desktop to the finished size, and making a sawdusty mess, we finished the job just in time. The customer showed up partway through the job and approved the installation. Check in hand, we drove back in the rain.

The rosenbergs had arrived at home, along with shelia and mike. No time to unload the truck with the tools, we changed and went to the Kenna party where I saw my first and second cousins.

Workshop day

Got my hands dirty today helping Dad around the shop. Changed the drive belt and auger belts on the snowblower, and the sparkplug. It should be good for a couple more years. I think Dad got his money's worth from this 1972 Toro.

While riding with Steve along Oatka Trail we passed three teenagers carrying fishing poles - and the third boy had a nice fat rainbow trout in his hand. Boy did that look good.

Dad and I spend the afternoon finishing up the cabinet project, mounting the drawer slides, drawers and doors. Took us about five hours to ready the cabinets for tomorrows install.

Wrap It Up!

Waffles for breakfast and the basement to myself for a wrap session. Mom & Dad ran errends, Dad gave blood at the town blood drive and we put a front and back finish coat of varnish on the desk project he is working on. Then it was back to running around returning and finding things at stores - I remembered I needed to get something and on the off chance asked the checkout clerk if they had it - They did! And this is not a store you would figure carried these things. One more item off the list.

Steve made jelly this evening; I tried to get the speakers in the kitchen to work, without success.

Travels, and more shopping

Wednesday we traveled back from Albany and delivered the T.V. stand to Steve and Danielle. I caught up with Steve that afternoon and we tooled around the stores to finish up (I hope) my shopping. Thought we might cook some strawberry jelly, but we got to talking and then it was late.

Holiday business

Travels on Monday went well, clear skies and cool and in Baltimore and Buffalo. I arrived on time got home late.
Tuesday I helped Dad spray finish on several dozen cabinet parts. Dad would spray and I would bring the next part in and carry the freshly covered part out to dry. Spraying finish was a quick way to cover a lot of boards.

Then it was off to Albany 4 hours later to attend Jakes coral concert that evening.

Winter weather

It snowed, and snowed some more Saturday (8-10" I think) turning St. Louis into a Marshmallow World. By Sunday morning the storm moved through leaving blue skies and sunshine. Max hardly noticed it, but he did seem to 'bounce' through the back yard instead of dragging his feet.

After he had a brief nap, I packed Max up and dropped him off at his former owners for a holiday stay. 'He looks good' was the complement, along with 'I forgot how big he is!'. I'm gonna miss him.

Lots of Shop work

Lots of activity in the workshop recently - Saturdays along with Wednesday nights. The big lathe has been making cast iron chips turning the wheels for the Mikado locomotive. Here's a video of it in service:

I don't have another SLLS meeting until after the new year, so this Saturday Bill and I will put some more time in the shop.