The Box, The Box

Significant progress has been made on the secret box this weekend. I did run into a little hitch this afternoon in that the _____ seems to be a little warped and may reveal the _____ if not corrected. I cut new braces for it after supper but will wait until tomorrow to try them. I hope that is the problem. Wood is such a pain these days. It doesn't seem to matter what you buy or how long you dry it, it's always the devil to get everything to fit right. I am encouraged that, so far, except for the problem with the _____, everything has gone well. However, as more pieces are added, this box is taking on such weight that I may not be able to manhandle it around the workshop by myself any longer. I may have to seek assistance from a nearby housemate.

The Box - Part 2

I made some progress on Harry's box today. It was a nice day and I felt like being outside, but I really wanted to get something done on this project, so I spent most of the day in the cellar until we went in the pool, then the spa, then back in the pool (me). I can't believe I did that. Anyway, the box is coming along. I put together the ___ and now I have to fit the ____to it. Then I need to complete the ___ and the ___. After that, it's just a matter of making and fitting on the top.

 I'm sorry I had to leave blanks in the narrative above, but it is a secret box, after all. If I revealed how I made it, it wouldn't have any secrets to it.

Harry's Box

Now that the porch project is underway, not finished but underway, it is time to turn my attention once again to Harry's Box. You may recall that this is a secret box, so I can't really say anything about it. I can say that I went to Lowes today to get some 6 x 1" drywall screws, which would be just perfect for some parts of it. However, it appears that they don't carry the 1" size. I have a partial box of them purchased not that long ago, so I know someone had them. Tomorrow I will try my luck at Home Depot. Lest I raise concern that the box cannot be completed without the screws, readers should have no fear. I have enough screws, I just wanted to get more.

I think that I mentioned in a previous post that I usually don't draw up plans for something like this, but just kind of build it as I go. Still, when building a box with special features, one does have to draw up some kind of plan and think very carefully before proceeding and messing everything up. The past two evenings I cut some wood and did a lot of thinking. I think I'm ready to get going.

The Porch and Me. Hanna's Gone

So I keep working on this railing. I think I need a right angle drill. How do they expect you to drill holes and screw screws when you have a half a millimeter of space? The railings are finally cut correctly and the holes patched with wood putty, but I had to work on the bat cave too and I have to figure out how to work in a very limited space. Maybe Anne posted more pictures. I'll have to look. I can't forget to check my own blog too, for comments. Someone may say something important again.

Soon I may get to comment on kayaking. My friend Ray called and asked if I wanted to go kayaking on the Delaware in two weekends. If my back (side) is ok, it sounds like it would be fun.

The Porch, Hanna and Me

If you read Anne's blog you know I have been working on the back porch. She even has pictures. Well, I can't very easily take pictures of myself while I'm working now, can I? In one of her pictures you see me leaning on a post which I was very proud to have erected. After I got it there, I realized that it was probably going to be too short at 42" for the new railing. The old post had been 42" so I went with that and the post sleeves that you buy are 42". Not being a builder of porches, I didn't consider that the post sleeve goes above the step while the post continues on below. Also, step railings on 1911 built houses were shorter than they are today. Anyway, I didn't expect to get much work done today because of tropical storm Hanna. I was surprised that I was able to get about four hours of work done, cutting a new 48" post, cutting a new 2x10 piece to mate it to, getting everything as plumb as possible. [Why is it that everything can line up perfectly when held together and clamped, but the second you drill a whole, things get out of whack?] Oh well, I got all the steps in and a composite sleeve and cap on the post. I still have to putty the screw wholes, touch up the paint on the risers, sand and paint the stringers and, of course, put in the railing. That will require some angle cuts, so I had better be wide awake.

She Who Must be Obeyed is anxious for me to start on power washing the porch so that she can start painting the railing that she has been diligently working on. That means cleaning the soffits, pillars, and, oh the window frames need painting. (Please refer to "Baby Blues" in today's comic section of your local newspaper.)

It is certainly a full time job taking care of Morning Glory Alley. I'd better retire so I have the time.

As for tropical storm Hanna, it soaked us with a couple of inches of rain and we had some light wind, but nothing as of 10:00 pm that would seem like a tropical storm/former hurricane. That's ok with me. I wanted there to be a couple of inches more water in the pool and I think we needed the rain, although not all at once.

Adirondack Park - 2008

We went camping at Eighth Lake and to best describe the weather, there is a poem in a book that I gave to Leo, Travels With a Kayak, by Whit Deschner, that describes it perfectly. Thanks to Leo for copying it. We had a good time in spite of the weather.

It rained and rained and rained,

The average fall was well maintained,

And when the tracks were simply bogs,

It started raining cats and dogs.

After a drought of half an hour,

We had the most refreshing shower;

And then, most curious thing of all,

A gentle rain began to fall.

Next day was one but fairly dry,

Save for one deluge from the sky,

Which wetted the party to the skin,

And then at last - the rain set in.

One of the sight seeing highlights for me was a trip to the Adirondack Museum in Blue

Mountain. We visited this museum many years ago and I was impressed with it then when

it was much smaller. I was no less impressed with it this time.

It was nice to see some folks who we had not seen in a while, like Caroline and Jeremy and

Chris T. We had never met Jeremy's children, nor Chris's girlfriend, Lauren.

We brought the Folbot with us and since it has been a while since I assembled it, it took

about 50 minutes to get it together. As always, Anne and I found it a bit sluggish as a

two person boat, so I decided to rig it for solo use. That really made a big difference. It

seemed to glide along much easier and faster. I really brought it because I was reluctant

to put the Tsunamis on top of the car, but after seeing so many kayaks transported that

way, I think we may try that next year.

We also drove into Inlet and Old Forge and visited Old Forge Hardware, which is

something of a local tourist attraction. You get the idea of what the area is like when

the big whoop is visiting the hardware store. Anne bought a canning kit and sourdough

starter and Greg found a walking stick that helped him hobble along on his sprained

ankle.

Chris T. recommended his favorite Scotch, Ardberg, so when we got home I went out

and bought a bottle. It is very nice; smoky, as I like it, but light and refined.

As for wildlife, we heard bard owls and loons and we did see a bear on the road, not

too far from the camp ground.

Anne and I were very pleased with our tent which kept us perfectly dry despite some

horrendous downpours during a couple of the nights. We were actually quite

comfortable with our regular sleeping bags and an air mattress that Anne got before the trip.

Most meals were shared with Art, Marian, Andy and various others, which worked out well,

I thought. Unfortunately, we had to pack our tent, canopy and boat still wet in the car.

When we got home, we put everything out in the yard and it dried quickly.

It's hard to imagine how much stuff you have to pack along for a week in the woods.

We think we did pretty well in our planning and would make very few changes on

future trips. We might save some weight if we had a parawing tarp instead of our

canopy, but the canopy worked well.

Most of all it was the people that made the trip a success. It's nice to have a nice family

and I'm glad I'm a part of it.

Hopefully, this link will take you to our photos.

 

Off to the Adirondacks

Today we put the final touches on our packing preparations for our camping trip to Eighth Lake at Inlet, NY. We have everything we hope we will need including tent, canopy, kitchen table/box, stove and a 17 foot boat in our minivan. Most of the stuff is already in the car. We are looking forward to a week in the woods with Anne's family with no internet or cell phone connections. I'm sure there will be adventures and photos to share on our retuen.