Author: peterb51

16th October 2017

I have been struck down. After being smug and thinking I was immune from catching Kelli’s cold, around 3.00am it hit me.

I felt my throat become sore and uncomfortable . I remembered my father’s advice “Sweat it out”. He was of the generation that believed that a good sweat, a glass of water and a copy of “The News of the World” would cure everything. It must have worked, because I cannot remember him being ill, I remember him being angry when the Sunday newspaper was not delivered. 

Normally I carry a supply of Lemsips whenever I travel, but not this time. So I am putting my faith in the “medicine man” remedies over here.

There is no short isles of cold cures in the pharmacies here, they stretch for miles, by the time you find some that won’t kill you, you’re cured.

However, I dragged my weary bones to help get the freebie to Hudsonville. It was a heavy beast, but Kelli did a great job on the finishing.

I managed to do a little sanding on a dresser that we picked up at the weekend. 

To commemorate the fact that I was feeling crap, I was rewarded with a Star Wars evening. We watched Return of the Jedi, and sometime during the film I referred to Han Solo as Hans. That was the opening to the sluice gates of hysterical laughter. I had invented a new Star Wars hero “Hans Olo” and nobody was going to let me forget it.

15th October 2017

I looked over what we bought yesterday, one was a narrow seat and shoe storage, the other was a four drawer dresser.

The shoe storage had a broken dowel and a heart-shaped cutout that had to be filled in. “No one wants heart cut-outs these days” Kelli stated. There were many screw head caps that had to be removed and filled, so mixed up the “Bondo” and got to work.

The weather was a bit grim for most of the day, but there was plenty of things to do.

The dresser unit was in a bit of a state. I never understand how drawers get damaged, they look like they’ve been attacked with an axe.

The paint has a texture that cannot be sanded, it melts, and bubbles up, then the option is to scrape it off, ugh! more work.

Since I’ve been here, I have been busy everyday, but it’s been great, I might moan at filling holes, but I’ve chosen to do it.

This evening Kelli made a fantastic vegan Lasagne, plus some savoury spinach and artichoke rolls as a sample run for Thanksgiving. Although she still has a cold, she still managed to produce this fantastic food.

14th October 2017

It’s a grey and rainy day, I have finished everything I can without going out in it. Amazon delivered my dowels, but I need material to use them on. The Moody Blues are playing continually on the CD player, that is an improvement on just hearing Justin Hayward.

We bought two project pieces that require a small amount of work to get them saleable.

We met this young guy at a personal storage complex, when he opened up the door it was full floor to ceiling with stuff. Fortunately the items Kelli wanted were at the front. These storage rooms are quite popular as a way of hiding away the things you will never use again. It has replaced the basement or the attic for things that belonged to mum and dad, or the children’s cot, or toys. We can’t let go of some things, but others are put in a place out it sight and stored for fifty bucks a month.

13th October 2017

I think I looked a bit of a mess today. I hadn’t shaved for a couple of days, and my hair was a little wild, I wasn’t bothered even though it was Friday the thirteenth. I had plenty on my plate, and today was hopefully the completion of a few jobs. First order of the day was drilling the hinge holes for Fido’s coffin door. I had a brand new forstner bit in the chuck ready. The holes were cut perfectly, no ragged edges ready to accept the hinges. Now something in the world of Pete went a little off course as the diameter of the forstner bit was thirty-two millimetres, but the hinge was thirty-six??. Have I been away from the industry that long that I had forgotten the sizes?

 Needless to say that job didn’t happen, but I managed to complete other stuff ready for Kelli to paint.

Speaking of whom, there was a cloud of doom hanging over her head, as a cold took hold over her. However despite her ailments, she still managed to prepare some great food to keep my engine turning.

12th October 2017

I feel cold. It came on today, but I’m not sure if it’s a “cold” or just cold from standing in a cold place.

Kelli’s dad, Dave took me to meet “Smurf” his friend who milled lumber. Why do you call him Smurf? Partially expecting a reply ” because he’s blue” but no, ” he has very large feet”

We drove for miles, or maybe it just seemed like it. Dave drives to the speed limits, whether they exist or not. Insects hitting his windscreen do not die, they just get a slight concussion.

Smurf’s place is close to Spring Lake in the wilderness. There are so many places like this, miles from anywhere, no good if you’re frightened of the dark.

When we got there he was cutting up some tiger maple into two inch thick planks.

He had a good business sawing up trees using a rig he had built himself using an old chassis from a school bus. He is able to take his rig to places to cut on site, or for demonstrations. He used to work at Herman Miller as a Millwright in the early days, keeping the factory going.

I enjoy being around people who can build amazing bits of machinery, even the device he made to sharpen his blades was ingenious. His barn is a wonderland of stuff, shelves laden with tins and tools, I think his bench still had the same things on it from the last time.

It was a good day out, and a rest from furniture.

Oh, by the way, his feet weren’t that big.

On the way back Dave had to stop off at a meat factory to collect some pork, not the place I felt comfortable at, so I waited outside freezing my ass off, so it’s a hot toddy tonight.

11th October 2017

The chairs were delivered to Lakeshore, and placed around the round dining table.

Whilst we were out Kelli had arranged a collection of a wooden cabinet far north of Holland. It was priced at $25, which for a re-paint was reasonably. Kelli intended to offer $20 (everything is negotiable) and I had three ones which she put in her pocket.

When we arrived, we were shown the unit in the garage. Kelli made her bid, which was dimly refused, she increase the offer to $23, which was accepted. Wow! I thought for something they wanted to get rid of, three dollars made the difference, still, with an evenings work there should be a good profit in it.

The garage has five jobs in progress, so plenty still to do.

10th October 2017

The message came through that the wine rack unit was sold, the rumbles of panic were there, but as the chairs were nearly ready, it didn’t break out.

I needed to get to work on the sewing cabinet conversation. I already had the top made, but it needed a shelf inside. Some of the wood from Fido’s coffin came in useful, so that was laid-up.

I started to oil up the dining table top, this is a deep red mahogany colour, and should look great.

Of course the temperature outside has dropped, so the oil is taking an age to dry, damn it.

9th October 2017

I have done some dumb things in my time, but this one scales new heights. I needed a piece of batten to fix to the top of Fido’s coffin, I attempted to use a piece that had a split in it. So instead of cutting a new piece, I glued and clamped the split!!!

I progressed Fido’s coffin by fixing a new base and cut the top, progress has been slow because of other priorities, but I’m waiting for Kelli to say that I have taken it from being a crap piece to being a very different crap piece. However we always need storage, now whoever said that? Mmm something from my past.

We started work on the chairs, one looked like it had been used in a fight, so I repaired it as best as I could. They would compliment the round dining table at Lakeshore, so these should be ready for tomorrow.

I spent a lot of time trying to fit a drawer into the returned unit. I had salvaged runners from an old tv cabinet. The end result was awful. It was rougher than a badgers ass, so they were consigned to the scrap bin.

At that point of the day, I gave up, and poured a glass of red.

8th October 2017
It was a perfect day for a walk on the beach. It was warm, sunny, and a deep blue sky.

The lake was choppy, and the waves were breaking on the pier. Boats of all sizes were attempting to tackle the waves, and many just turned round and came back. What a bunch of weedy, fine-weather sailors they were. There was no sense of adventure, they were not the calibre of sailors who took part in the Dunkirk evacuation.

For the past thirty days I have been taking in a yoga class on YouTube. Now I know what comments I can expect, but this is something new.

Kelli has been practising it for a number of years, and has been trying to get me to take it up for a while. I have tried a number of DVD’s teaching the basics with a little success. My favourite position is laying flat on the floor, and I have been known to fall asleep and miss the entire session.

This time I had no excuse, I could start the day energised and dynamic, well that’s what the intension was.

It came as quite a shock when I realised how stiff I was. I felt like an old Twig that would snap with all the bending I was trying to do. I set myself a goal of just being able to touch my toes, and at the end of this course I was close. 

It certainly gives Kelli something to laugh at, as the sound of falling timber hits the ground when my sense of balance failed me.

My favourite position still hasn’t changed, and I may not be able to achieve some of the more complex positions, but I don’t care. If I can become more flexible, and it improves the quality of my life, then it is perfect. I also will be able to pick up any loose change from the floor without sounding like a creaking door.

7th October 2017

It’s Saturday, a rest day, a day when I can’t even get into the garage for stuff. Just turning the lights on is like a scene from Indiana Jones, where one thing falls, hitting something else that causes a cascade of thing crashing all around me. I must either finish something or tidy the place.

We drove to Grand Rapids for lunch with friends Steve and Cathy Love. These are two people I have always held in high regards. Their stories have lifted, and inspired me. 

On the way back, Kelli couldn’t help herself, and visited ” Goodwill” to see what was available.

She found four solid wooden chairs that could go with the table I am working on. “Where are we going to store them? we have no room.”

“We’ll keep them in the truck” she said ” 

I know this is true, and as the four blue chairs had just sold, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. Guess I’ll be working in the garage tomorrow then.