The outer wall of the shop was built and put into place on Wednesday

August 20, 2015 - Thursday

55 degrees/rainy/breezy

Pentoga Road

It was a mere two weeks ago that we were begging for rain, precipitation, moisture... even a heavy dew. Another half-an-inch fell last night and according to my calculations, we've received over four inches so far in August. Drought is not a problem we're grappling with in this area.

Speaking of rain, I'm sure many are aware of the catastrophic landslides that happened in Sitka. Three lives were lost, all buried under the moving debris. I've been in touch with several people who live in Sitka and it seems, in typical Alaskan style, folks are mourning, but getting back to living their daily lives. 

Here's the most current article from the Alaska Dispatch.

The window on the south wall of the new shop was framed on Wednesday. What should have been a quickie job turned into more of a project than I really expected. The window was originally installed crooked and didn't fit into my straight and level calculations. Adding to those problems with the slope in the floor caused me to think deep thoughts, something I wasn't prepared to do.

To make a long story short, I had to dig the band saw out from storage and purposely rip a two by four crooked to make everything fit. In the end, it worked.

I was ready to move onto the next stage, moving stuff out of the way so I could build the outer wall.

Considering the slope, not being level, and definitely crooked, the window was finally framed. At least it looks level.

Where does a person put stuff while he's building? I moved and I stacked. A few things were put in the storage shed, but in the end, room was made to build the outer wall.

Time to lay it out. For a while, it looked like I was playing Pick Up Sticks rather than building a wall.

I measured, measured again, then measured one more time. Knock on wood, I didn't waste one stick of lumber on Wednesday.

And the building began...

It's difficult to know if the wall was in line when judging from a beam overhead. I solved that problem by hanging a plumb line, a piece of garden twine wrapped around the broken head of a ball peen hammer.

And finally, the wall was tacked into place. It needs to be adjusted here and there, but that will come when the final wall is built and attached.

I took a stroll through the garden late in the afternoon and it appears the giant pumpkin days are all but finished. The stem has ripped even further from the vine and looks to have quit growing. My only hope now is that the fruit can be salvaged to last until Halloween, something I'm not too optimistic about. Yes, I'm in mourning, but laughing at the same time. It's been quite a ride this summer, obsessing over the pumpkin, and plans for next year's pumpkin patch are already in the works.

A few zucchini squash I picked and took into town for Sheri

Sargie was home fairly early last night and we made a quick jaunt to pick up her car. It was gone over from bumper to bumper and the pint-sized Kia should be good to go for the winter ahead.

As usual, I think we're the last gardeners in the world to pick our first ripe tomato. These black cherry tomatoes are getting close.

Sargie closes tonight making this a long day for her. I'm going to continue working in the shop and am planning to purchase more needed lumber later today. As usual, my superior mathematic calculations caused me to come up short in the 2x4 department. It's also time to buy electrical wire and boxes for outlets and junctions. 

Meanwhile, I think I'll pour another cup of coffee and work on next season's giant pumpkin strategies. 

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...