December

Finally . . . .

We are having a baby!

Well actually Sally and Dan are having a baby.  Trent's going to be a big brother.

Hip Hip Hooray!!

So that means back to the crib making business for Papa Jim's Workshop.  As usual everyone but Papa Jim was stewing and fretting over when he would get started on the crib and dresser.  His usual reply  "no problem".

Sally and Dan chose white oak for "Baby Glaenzer's" crib.  Quite fitting I think since Papa Jim's Workshop is on White Oak Road.

Let's review past projects.

Trent's crib and dresser were made from maple with a natural finish.

Leah's was cherry wood with a tinted stain. (can't remember what color it was)

Jim made a nice little template of colors for the finish of the white oak.  Which one did they choose?
Stay tuned.

November

OK, November is here, weather getting a little cooler so ready to move inside to start a new project........Nope - shop needed to be spiffy clean before this major project.

Actually, this is something Jim has been meaning to do for two years but something always came along that needed to be done. 

Shop assistant helped with some screws and bolts sorting.

A place for everything and everything in it's place!

As they say on HGTV, a little re-purposing on this cabinet from the house.  Old bathroom cabinet - new paint and supplies cabinet.

Wait a minute - under all those clamps I think I see something familiar.
Folks, I think Project Babies has begun!

October

Well, October arrives and a perfect time to start this major project..............Nope.

After spending the summer running outside instead of inside at the fitness center Jim decided he did not want to keep his membership that he had had for over 20 years and was still paying a rock bottom monthly fee.  He decided to turn half the garage into his own fitness center.

Did some major research and found the treadmill of his liking.  It is pretty neat.  You can   design a map anywhere in the world and if the Google map car has been there you have a pretty scenic morning run.  He seem to spend a lot of mornings running in Hawaii.  Has visited places we have been and places he would like to go.  It sure beat the Fitness Center.

Put down a nice cushy floor.  It is really awesome.  I really like it because  I can go to the garage with out shoes and it is like walking in the house, of course the heated garage makes it all perfect.  The dogs really like it, too.

Perfect for all ages.

October also included Leah's 2nd birthday.
 Happy Birthday Leah!

We finished up the Cardinal regular season with a win.

Unfortunately (or maybe is was fortunate) the Cardinals post season run did not last long enough.
This rain delay seemed to last forever.

Also in October finishing touches on the deck were proceeding.

On to November . . . . . . . . 

September

Got some really, really exciting news in August so figured all projects would come to a screeching stop, but,

Deck needed to be finished.  Had to get all these railings out of the shop anyway.  Might as well but them on.

Finally cool enough at some point in the day we were able to finish the deck top.

Finishing touch with new vinyl skirting.

Sorry to say I do not have a picture yet of the finished product, but it is done.  Did not put the top flat boards back on but they are finished and being stored for the winter in the shed.

As usual I will admit that Jim was right.  The color combo looks awesome.  What do you think?

Mawmaw's Job

I actually did help some on the deck.  I put the primer on all the railings and then I just got too busy....

New liner for the pool.

Cherry picking time.

Leah spent some time with us while Tim & Jody where in NYC.

Trent spent some time vacationing with us in July.

Jim and I went to the Olympic trials in Eugene, OR.

These two needed a break from helping Papa.

Went to Pittsburgh and Washington DC to watch the Cardinals play.

August

Still too stinking hot to paint the deck, but Jim has been working on the railings inside the workshop.

Preparing the top for tiles.

Tile work in progress

Just about got it.

Got it!

Nice looking grill.

Ready for some ribeyes.

Jim did have help from time to time.

Seems like some people like the new deck set up.

July

A little behind on blog updates so I'll give a month by month to present.  Of course we never just have one project going at once, so the second big project for the summer was the deck.  Usually this requires pressure washing, a little sanding and staining.  But not this year.  Jim took every banister and railing board off the deck, ran it through the planner, primed and painted.  Jim came up with  this grand plan of going dark deck and white banisters. I will have to say, was not on board for this.  Will let you be the judge.

All rails & banister removed.

Priming & painting

Used a product called "Restore" on the deck flat boards.  It could not be applied  unless tempature was under 90 degrees.  Needless to say we did this coat in June and it was a long, long time before we could finish.

Of course, work continued on the grill.

Making an addition for seating around the counter.

Stone going on the grill and counter.  Bricks went on one at a time.  Each evening Jim could put about 22 on.  Yep, took a while.