This is a hodge-podge from the past week's events. School finally ended on the 25th, about two weeks later than appropriate. The kids were absolutely bonkers by the end of it. Last Monday my truck broke down on the way to school. Fortunately, Sarah had already gotten to work (her care was in the shop for new brakes), but that left me stranded on a school day. Erik, being the chivalrous young man that he is, came to my aid and we got to work in time to take the kids to Taughannock park for a field day. AAA towed my truck to Erik's so that we could work on it later.
Wednesday was a half day. We spent the first part of the day dealing with chaos at school and the second half dealing with the truck.
Oops. New alternator had to be snaked down through all kinds of crap. We had to remove a bunch of hoses, which went find, but when we reattached them, this one got tightened too much. The plastic on the top of the radiator cracked right off like it was designed that way.
New radiator: $135. Plastic pipe and epoxy: :$10. Will it hold? Time will tell.
While Erik and I worked on the car and made some grappa, Vinnie dug the dead woodchuck out from under Erik's stoop. Truly yeoman work. I was very impressed... also gagging.
So, for some time, I've wanted to have a way to carry my axe and saw and coffee all at the same time. Obviously, that is one more tool than I have hands. As usual, google had the answer. And, as usual, someone else had already done something cool. Ray Mears sells something like this on his website, but after looking at it, I figured with Sarah's help, this wouldn't be an impossible project. After making a guard and a mask for the axe, the only thing left to do was to make a backpack.
Fine sewing and carpentry by Keith.
Looks good, but it's supposed to rain all week and rusty tools are no good.
Beeswax from the Farmer's Market. Next year we'll just go to the back yard and harvest our own.
Mix linseed oil and beeswax, melt and paint on. Use a hairdryer to melt it into the fabric, and let it dry.
Hands free axe carry.
Oil cloth will keep it all dry.
That's 50' of paracord woven into a strap.
Happy guy. New toy. Home made.
Another happy guy with his tools. This is Erik's kid, the Bandit, with his new hammer and apron.
Vinnie and I are heading out on a canoeing trip tomorrow, so I took the canoe down to the swamp this morning to make sure it floated.
Jonas came along, too.
It was rainy, but beautiful, anyway.
The swamp looks like a rice paddy and reminds me of images of Vietnam.
Just a couple days too early for this flower.
Self portrait.
All packed up and ready to go.
Sit vis vobiscum.
Wednesday was a half day. We spent the first part of the day dealing with chaos at school and the second half dealing with the truck.
The good old Hayne's book.
Oops. New alternator had to be snaked down through all kinds of crap. We had to remove a bunch of hoses, which went find, but when we reattached them, this one got tightened too much. The plastic on the top of the radiator cracked right off like it was designed that way.
New radiator: $135. Plastic pipe and epoxy: :$10. Will it hold? Time will tell.
While Erik and I worked on the car and made some grappa, Vinnie dug the dead woodchuck out from under Erik's stoop. Truly yeoman work. I was very impressed... also gagging.
So, for some time, I've wanted to have a way to carry my axe and saw and coffee all at the same time. Obviously, that is one more tool than I have hands. As usual, google had the answer. And, as usual, someone else had already done something cool. Ray Mears sells something like this on his website, but after looking at it, I figured with Sarah's help, this wouldn't be an impossible project. After making a guard and a mask for the axe, the only thing left to do was to make a backpack.
Fine sewing and carpentry by Keith.
Looks good, but it's supposed to rain all week and rusty tools are no good.
Beeswax from the Farmer's Market. Next year we'll just go to the back yard and harvest our own.
Mix linseed oil and beeswax, melt and paint on. Use a hairdryer to melt it into the fabric, and let it dry.
Hands free axe carry.
Oil cloth will keep it all dry.
That's 50' of paracord woven into a strap.
Happy guy. New toy. Home made.
Another happy guy with his tools. This is Erik's kid, the Bandit, with his new hammer and apron.
Vinnie and I are heading out on a canoeing trip tomorrow, so I took the canoe down to the swamp this morning to make sure it floated.
Jonas came along, too.
It was rainy, but beautiful, anyway.
The swamp looks like a rice paddy and reminds me of images of Vietnam.
Just a couple days too early for this flower.
Self portrait.
Sit vis vobiscum.
