Project Prep

 I was just reminded by my "this time last year" photos that it has been a while since I've really travelled, and even longer since I shared a post! I've been dealing with the dearth of travel excitement by creating my own adventure... with hand tools, a new bench, building a few things. 

The view from here isn't bad!

The first project up was prepping the shop for a winter of construction. The bench was set up, but we still needed to install the fireplace for coziness and a tea/whiskey shelf for further coziness! Smalls had a set of oak pallet boards that gave me practice with planing, basic joinery, and making useful things. I took a week off work in November and got the bulk of the fireplace installation finished, and we hung the tea/whiskey shelf shortly thereafter.  I think it all turned out rather cozy! 

 

The next week off was a different construction project, this time a hay barn for horse feed. Smalls found plans online for a post and beam style barn. We lap jointed the main beams, recruited cousins to lift the king posts and ridge pole into place, and then I spent a week cutting double birdsmouths and putting the rafters up a few at a time. There was one night with high winds where I was a little nervous, but it was still standing in the morning! 

 

My part of the project essentially ended when the structure was up. Smalls car-decked the walls, then put metal sheeting on the roof. It is now stacked full of hay, the horse blanket is out of the "she shop," and the grain is only steps away from Ru's breakfast bucket. 
Concurrent with all these projects, we did all of the ground work for the "real" projects... that next!