The first bowl was finally turned on the new lathe Sunday

May 17, 2020 - Sunday evening

53 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

There's not a lot to talk about this evening as Sargie and I made the conscious decision to relax today. Other than scattering a bit of grass seed, the yard, garden, and woods, were largely ignored.

We did take a ride early in the afternoon, not going anywhere in particular, just cruising around the countryside.

We weren't the only ones that suffered damage this past winter. Check out this antenna tower.

We were out in the middle of the boonies when we came across a small shed on stilts along with a cute homemade bench. 

Overcome with curiosity, I turned the car around for a second look.

It's a book exchange. The plaque over the double doors says, "Take a book. Share a book."

I think it's admirable to encourage reading, but we certainly didn't expect to find something like it miles from town on a very remote road.

Back home, I decided it was time to try out the new lathe. I'd turned a bit previously on the machine, but it was nothing serious. Mostly, I had been trying different speeds, adjustments, and chisels, and getting acquainted with the lathe, not shape the wood.

It was time to do some serious turning Sunday afternoon.

First came splitting a piece of birch down the middle. My band saw doesn't have a wide enough mouth to saw the wood so I used a hatchet pounded by a hammer.

Since this was my first venture with the lathe, I purposely chose a smaller piece of wood to work with. Still, it's larger than anything I've been able to turn with my previous machine.

Next came rounding the piece on the band saw then mounting it.

 A bowl slowly began to form from a piece of fire wood that had previously been destined for the wood stove.

 There's still a bit more sanding to be done before the first of several layers of finish can be applied and I can call my first Powermatic bowl finished. 

The last activity of the day was to scrub the flue on the wood stove. We've noticed it hasn't been drawing very well lately and though we're almost finished with the burning season, I decided it's better to be safe than sorry.

The entire process takes about twenty minutes.

 I'm not certain what's on the agenda for Monday. We've talked of taking a road trip for household and garden supplies, but it all depends on the weather. As of tonight, there's a 50/50 chance of rain.

No doubt, whatever happens, tomorrow will be a full one. This time of the year, they usually are.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Today's random Alaska picture: Inupiaq elder, Brother Elmer, is cutting muktuk, a combination of raw frozen whale blubber and skin, for supper. Tasting somewhat like almonds, muktuk is one of my favorite native foods.