October 29, 2020 - Thursday morning

33 degrees/snow flurries/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's an early one this morning as Sargie has an 8 o'clock dentist's appointment for a cleaning and check up. 

Wednesday was a typical, cloudy, windy, blah, type of day. Most of it was spent in the shop making puzzles, working on bowls, or... hmm, I may have plopped in my recliner for a minute or two and "relaxed" just a bit.

I did take a mid morning break to enjoy a brunch of fried carrots from this summer's garden, cottage cheese with frozen garden blueberries, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Sargie and I got into the habit earlier this summer that rather than three meals a day, we'd have a large, late breakfast, then enjoy supper in the evening. I'm a very early morning person and usually have a banana or other fruit in the predawn hours. Sargie sleeps later and I'm often out the door walking or in the middle of a project before she's up for the day. By the time she's out of the shower and ready for the day ahead, or I am able to quit what I'm working on, it's mid morning or later.

No doubt, we'll go back to our three meal a day regimen at some point, but for now, we enjoy a large brunch.

Moving on, I've been asked several times how I make picture puzzles. Really, it's quite simple, but here's how I do it. I'm sure there are other methods that are better and more efficient, but hey, if it ain't broke, why fix it?

I begin by printing the picture. We have an Epson laser color printer, but a jet printer will work as well.

I use laminate flooring as a backer. New will work, but why waste all that money for something that will be covered in the end? Mine came out of a house in Crystal Falls several years ago.

I've found laminate flooring is much stronger than conventional lumber, something that's important when little hands are pushing on a mismatched piece in an attempt to make it fit.

Next comes applying spray adhesive. I let it dry for a bit before CAREFULLY pressing on the picture.

I don't use a pattern to cut the pieces and choose to randomly saw interlocking sections as I go. You don't ruin too many before you learn what NOT to do. It's just common sense.

Finally, the puzzle is assembled with a coat of poly sprayed over the top.

So there you have it. I'm finding blade selection on the scroll saw is important to alleviate burring the sides of the pieces and a poly finish is important to protect the glued paper. Hodge Podge can be applied but will pucker the paper if used before the poly is sprayed. 

I forgot about the "puckering effect" and messed up a couple of puzzles yesterday so will be redoing those in the days to come. With (around) fifteen to twenty more to make before Christmas, plus several bowls and other items, you know what my days will be like.

The last job yesterday was to clean out the trap under the bathroom sink. For anyone who's never done it, it's a thrill that words can't describe. Thankfully, that job is over for another year, give or take a month or two.

I'm going to have Sargie drop me off a few miles down the road on her way to the dentist this morning. Otherwise, it will be back to the shop, playing Santa's helper. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

 The washer went out of balance, so with level in hand, I tilted one side off the floor while Sargie adjusted the leg underneath.