After driving to Iron Mountain Wednesday afternoon, I found Sargie hard at work in the Vision Center.

September 6, 2017 - Thursday

45 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

My fingers need to fly over the keyboard this morning as I'll be leaving soon with Sargie to ride back to Iron Mountain. She closed last night and I drove over so I could keep her company on the late drive home.

Wednesday morning started in the garden where I harvested the first head of cauliflower for the year.

We should end up with ten to twelve heads. What isn't eaten fresh will be blanched and frozen. Other than enjoying it cooked, we add quite a bit of broccoli and cauliflower to our soups and stews throughout the winter months.

George H. Bush definitely wouldn't want me for his chef.

I'm not certain that I'm going to build the addition to the shop this fall. Simply speaking, I'm tired. It's been a busy busy summer and I'm ready to take my foot off the throttle and coast a bit, at least for now.

That being said, I decided to make some major changes in my favorite workplace.

Ninety-nine percent of what I do in the shop is craft oriented, not construction, so the table saw was moved into the barn. The miter/chop saw or the fourteen inch band saw suffices for most of my cutting needs. If I need to rip (saw lengthwise) a longer piece of lumber, I can cut what is needed outside the shop.

The next chore was to move the vacuum that serves as a dust collector outside the shop.

That necessitated cutting a hole in the door through which to run the hose.

Until I'm absolutely certain that's where I want the hose, I'll use tin foil to keep mice from entering. In the end, spray foam will be utilized around the hose making a tight seal.

With the vacuum out of arm's reach, I wired a simple one-way switch with which to turn it off and on.

The large band saw was moved over by the wall beside the lathe. I think it will work just fine there.

I plan to purchase some hinges today and make a table that will mount between the doors in a Murphy bed style. When needed, it can be lowered, yet if not in use, will be folded and hooked against the wall.

The best part of all this rearranging is that I'll have more room to work with the area much easier to sweep and clean. I'm also happy to take the vacuum out of the shop. It will be significantly quieter when I'm working at the lathe.

So the shop's not as large going into the winter months as I hoped, but it will suffice, at least for now. If I get a second wind, it's not inconceivable that I might build the addition before snow flies, but for now, I'm happy.  

It's time to get today's writing and pictures uploaded and hop in the car with Sargie. Once in town, I have several errands to run then it will be back home to build the folding table. Maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to turn a new bowl or sit at the scroll saw sometime soon. Christmas is coming and most of this year's presents are still in the firewood pile.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

You KNOW it's wet when I have to pick a slug off the storm door.