Must be fall

I'm splitting firewood.

My corner solutions

With posts attached on the outside of the rim joists the railing presented a challenge.

Of course the two were not the same.

Deck and house progress

The deck railing and house painting continue to progress. I have only one more piece of railing cap to cut, fit and install,then I'll start working on the stair railings. For the balusters I'm going to have to rip 2x4s in half.
Jo has one coat of paint on all of the siding and two on some. She's taking a break to get the garden in.

Lunch

Heatin' up some chicken for lunch.

Deck update

From April 9, 2014

So, I've started working on the deck again (as of 4/9). Here is an in process photo of the first set of steps. Note that I am using a cantilever system rather than the more common notched stringer.

Spring?

For those loyal and regular readers (all 4 of you - you know who you are), welcome back to the HoLmestead News.

It has been a long and hard winter, combined with cataract surgeries in both eyes spread out over almost 2 months and, as I posted earlier, almost all projects came to a halt and I had very little to say.

Now we are into spring, right? Ignoring the sub-freezing temps last night and the dusting of snow, the crocuses and lilies are blooming and the grass is greening up. I even saw one of the first signs of spring the other day: a motorcycle. Not just parked, either.

So, this past week we were able to get back to one of the major projects we were working on last fall: the new deck. I got one set of steps built and we were able to start laying out and screwing down decking and attaching some of the railing posts. We learn on the job, as usual. We had decided to put the posts on the outside of the deck so it is most convenient if they go on before the decking so I can reach inside to tighten the nuts onto the bolts. But we really wanted to get some of the decking down so I decided to put as much decking on as I could between putting up each post.

In other news, I was able to get started on preparing the wood for Amelia's treasure box. She wants to build one with my help. Of course she can't do the work on the saws and other big power tools yet. Maybe in a couple of years. I planed some oak to 1/2" and cut them to length and width and started mitering the corners.

Motorizing and test driving the scaffold

Sometimes my wife thinks I'm crazy. I've got to show her this!
In truth, I'm really impressed with what Matthias can do -- or is willing to try :-)

I had embedded the video here, but it insisted on playing every time I loaded the page which was annoying, so instead you have to click on the following link:

www.youtube.com/embed/rBmnQN78aZU

Weather and surgery put a damper on projects

Progress on most projects has slowed way down since late December. This is partly due to the holidays, and partly due to the extreme cold weather. Not only can we not do much outdoors in sub-zero weather, I can't really heat the workshop effectively either. Besides, it would take a huge amount of LP gas and there seems to be a shortage of that fuel for some reason.

We have been able to minimize our use of LP for heating the house by burning wood. As of today I'd estimate that we probably only have a week or so of firewood left so we are starting to conserve. For the first time in several years I'm going to have to spend time cutting and splitting wood to stock up for next year!

The other reason projects are not getting the normal amount of attention is that I've had cataract surgery. I had the left eye done on January 14 and the right one done on February 11. The surgery is no problem and the restrictions only last for a week for the most part (lifting, bending, etc.), but with my vision not back to normal even after that week, doing things like cutting wood on a table saw is a little scary. The plan is for me to get my new right side prescription lens about March 18. I got the prescription lens for my left eye last Monday and it has made a huge difference. Once my right eye heals I should be able to do more even before getting the new prescription.

Jo is pushing forward on some of her projects, though. I think it's a surprise for someone so, just in case all I can say is she is not just sitting around and waiting on me!

I did get some time to help Amelia finish her toolbox. It's a small box with a dowel handle of the classic type. I don't have a picture of the finished project or I would put it here.

Of course the choir is ramping up for Holy Week and Easter. We have a very ambitious cantata to get ready.

Everyone have a safe winter and spring.

Cocoa diary update

I've been remiss in not keeping you up to date on Cocoa's diary. This is from January. I don't believe there have been any entries since this one. I'll have to check with her :-).

Cocoa's Diary
 

January 7, 2014

Jo says she has another day off with nowhere to go!  The wind isn’t blowing as bad as yesterday, but my paws still hurt if I stay out too much!

Byron came to plow and he brought Kinsey.  Yeah! 

She really wanted to come inside the yard and play, but Jo says I am playing too rough with her.  I know I sound pretty gruff with all the growling and snapping that I do, but I wouldn’t hurt Kinsey, really.   Byron put her back in his truck, but she jumped out and was trying desperately to get in to play with me!  See, she doesn’t mind playing rough!

Jo insists I can’t get near Kinsey.  She doesn’t understand dog play, I guess.  I can tell she really likes Kinsey, and I have to admit, I’m a bit jealous!  I can’t stop barking, I’m so jealous.

Jo says she is glad I am gentle with the little kids.  Well, of course I wouldn’t dog wrestle with the little kids!  That is silly!  I’d rather they scratch behind my ears and pat my back, and grab my tail. When they put their little arms around my neck, I just melt.  They are so cute.

January 8, 2014

Well today is different.  Jo went back to work and Steve shut me up in the laundry room.  He usually lets me hang out with him now that he is retired.

I just had to let him know I couldn’t bear to be shut in one more day! 

I scratched at the kitchen door, but he didn’t come to get me.

I stopped for a bit and I didn’t hear anything…not the radio, not the water running, not even Steve snoring. 

Oh, no! I think he is gone too!

I panicked.  Maybe they wouldn’t come back. Maybe I would be stuck inside forever!

I gnawed at the doorknob but couldn’t get it to open.

I scratched and gnawed at the trim and it splintered into a million pieces, but the door still held.

I tried the back door.  I scratched and gnawed, but nothing.   I’m stuck for good!

It’s been forever…they have forgotten me…

…But wait I hear Steve walking in.  He’s home…UH OH…he’s home…I’m in trouble!

I can tell they are not happy with me, but so far they haven’t taken me away.   I don’t want to live in a cage at the dog shelter!  I hope they keep me.

The phone rang.  I heard Jo say, “Byron, you wouldn’t believe what Cocoa did today…” there she goes telling him all the bad things I did. 

She likes Kinsey better… Kinsey is always so good…Kinsey is so sweet…Kinsey…

But wait, I hear her say, “what, Kinsey did that?  Wow, that sweet dog gnawed at your woodwork and scratched your front door? I’ll be darn!”

Oh, maybe they will keep me!

January 11, 2014

Yesterday was pretty ordinary, but today Jo and Steve took off for a while and left me outside even though it was raining…Jo said she didn’t want any more dented doorknobs!  She did fuss about having a dry spot for me to get in out of the rain…she fussed like she still loves me…

I felt the panic again…maybe they won’t come back…I’m always afraid they won’t come back…

They came back!  And Jo says Amelia and Elliot are going to visit tomorrow.  She says Elliot misses me…ME!

They have to keep me for Elliot!

January 22, 2014

It’s really, really cold outside.  Steve and Jo left me alone in the house again.  But this time I have the whole house to myself—the wood burning stove is nice and warm, they gave me my treat ball and they even left the radio on for me.  I better be good this time!

Postscript: Cocoa has been good since that day. We have been leaving her loose in the house. She would still prefer to be outside, but with the cold temperatures that we have been having lately we don't want to leave her out. This week and next will be warm enough for her to spend more time outside. Of course it will be muddy and she loves to dig so she will need to be cleaned up before coming inside.

 

Holiday/New Year Update – with the first ever Cocoa Diary

January 6, 2014                                                                                                                                News from the HoLmestead

The tree has been undecorated and removed. Furniture is in the process of being rearranged, but I'm off the hook at the moment so decided it might be time for an update.

[Warning: this is long.]
 
We had a very busy and very good holiday season here at the HoLmestead. Before getting into the details we want to wish you all a safe, happy, and blessed 2014.

Thanksgiving etc.
 
The whole family was here for Thanksgiving on the day before (Wednesday) so everyone could get to their other commitments on Thursday. We gave thanks, feasted, and enjoyed having everyone at home for the day. That evening Mary Jane, Jo and I had our traditional viewing of Miracle on 34th Street. On Thursday the three of us had a very nice, quiet Thanksgiving day.

On Friday, however, we picked up Ben, Amelia and Elliot and traveled to Chicagoland to Jo's brother's house (Danny and Robin) for the traditional feast after the feast called "Mambo Italiano."  Danny's thinking is that after all the American food (Turkey, etc) you need a fix of massive amounts of strictly Italian food. And he and Robin lay it on proper, including several kinds of meat, pasta, desert, wine, etc., etc. This feast goes late into the night. Some of us take time to go downtown in Glen Ellyn for the Christmas Walk and lighting of the big Christmas tree on the square by Santa Clause. Amelia and Elliot particularly enjoy this walk. Stores are open and there's free hot cider and other goodies.

On Saturday we were blessed and privileged to attend a Mass at St. Catherine's which was 'intentioned' for Aunt Rose who had died a few weeks earlier.

Of course, being Italian, after the Mass there was a meal at Paulette and Vic's. Again there was a bunch of really great food.  Many of us pledged that we were going to eat nothing but veggies and water for the next week!

Thanksmas

Ben, Amelia, Elliot, Jo and I traveled to the Holmes 'Thanksmas' (a blend of Thanksgiving and Christmas) in Veedersburg on the 14th. Another large (although not Italian :-) meal and gift exchanges and visiting. It's great to get together with my side of the family whenever we can.

The day's weather was a harbinger of things to come. It had snowed the night before and we had some trouble getting to Veedersburg due to the slick roads. There were several slide offs (others, not us), but we made it there and back again ok.

 Christmas
We spent the week before Christmas preparing for Christmas Eve and Christmas. I was involved in getting things ready for the Grace Church Christmas Eve services. There was an extra choir rehearsal and several work sessions to prepare the 'Christmas in Your Car' service (which would take too long to explain here). At home we had a bunch of cleaning, wrapping, cooking, etc. to do. Also, we were in the process of building three small treasure boxes to give to each of our three grandsons (see below).

 Christmas Eve services were fun and uplifting, but kept us up late. The 7:00 traditional service was great with music from the choir and others, communion, and candle lighting. After the 9:00 Christmas in Your Car service, for which we were outside in very cold (but thankfully dry) weather singing carols, we went home, finished up a few preparations, and then watched A Christmas Carol. We didn't get to bed until after 1:30 AM on Christmas day.

Jo and I had a quiet Christmas morning (after sleeping in - something we had not been able to do on Christmas for about 34 years :-) and exchanged stockings, then we visited Ben, Kat, Amelia and Elliot to see what Santa had brought. After that we went directly to Byron and Jenelle's to visit. That afternoon and evening we had a lot of finishing up to do to prepare for our family Christmas the next day. That included finishing the treasure boxes. An earlier post showed the boxes being clamped. By Christmas Eve Jo was putting on the last coat of paint, and on Christmas day I put the finishing touches on them.

One Treasure Box

All three Treasure Boxes

The next day we had the whole family, including Danny and Robin and Mary Jane, at home for our family Christmas. Many blessings. The Knipps stayed for two nights! It was a little crowded (15 people all together), but warm and happy (most of the time), joyful, fun, and with plenty of food (especially desert :-).

New Years Eve

Our New Year's Eve party was small and quiet. Dorothy and David came for another great meal (prepared by Jo and augmented by Dorothy), and some nice visiting.

And now for the winter weather event of 2014 (so far):

Between Jan 1 and Jan 5 we learned that we were in for a record setting weather event comprising snow, wind, and arctic temperatures. Today (Jan 6) it was -13 here when we got up! It hasn't got above -10 all day. Fortunately we have a wood-burning stove so we don't have to worry too much about keeping warm. We had time to prepare and had a bunch of food (mostly snacks) left over from the parties. We have both been sick with sinus infections and bronchitis for several days. We were able to get medication on our trip to town on Saturday before the snow came.

I moved some extra firewood to the house. Note: we already had several inches of snow on the ground before the snow arrived on Sunday.

And we hunkered down for the duration.

And now, for the first time ever we present an entry from Cocoa's Diary. This one centered around the winter storm of January 2014:

Cocoa’s Storm Diary

January 4, 2014

Well, my people, Steve and Jo, are bustling around again.  They left today and were gone for a really long time, and instead of leaving me outside to play, I was stuck in the laundry room again “just in case,” Jo said.  Just in case of what?

Well, when they returned they unloaded a bunch of stuff from the van, and put things away in the kitchen.  Last time they did this a bunch of cute little kids came over and everyone was saying “Merry Christmas” and I got a new Nyla Bone.  But there was no new Nyla Bone today and no little kids.

Luckily, it was a great day to be outside, but they kept “checking” on me, as if I don’t know what to do…gotta keep those birds from eating that seed too fast.  And that squirrel just doesn’t seem to understand that this is not his yard!  I kept looking for mice and moles, but none were out and about…and such a nice day too!

It is nice to come in and get warmed up by the wood stove—my people have been keeping it going most of the time these days.

January 5, 2014

I had so much fun today!  It’s snowing and Steve keeps going in and out getting more wood.  I keep trying to grab some and play keep away, but he is too busy to play.  Jo is really busy in the kitchen and it smells so good…I hope she drops something for me.

That squirrel keeps annoying me…he chatters at me and then hides in the tree house—doesn’t he know that it’s for the kids!

I thought maybe all the little kids would come over today—just their boy Byron came, and he left Kinsey at home, says her fur isn’t as thick as mine.  Jo says my fur is so thick she can’t even see my skin, that I was made for the cold.  It made me feel so proud.

Well, maybe Byron will bring Kinsey tomorrow.

I guess Amelia and Elliot played in the snow today.  I miss them, wish they would come play with me today.  Jo keeps saying the roads are blowing shut...can't figure that out...

Steve went outside the fence tonight to clean off that funny looking round thing…says he hopes we get reception for Downton Abby…oh yeah…I remember that.  Those two sit in front of the TV for a very long time and don’t pay any attention to me.  I was pretty tired, though, after playing all day in the snow and didn’t mind curling up for a nap.

January 6, 2014

Well, it’s sunny today, I think it’s time to go outside.  But something strange happened…Steve opened the door to let me out and this really cold blast hit me and, boy I just wanted to stay in!  Well maybe later things will change.  Maybe Kinsey will come over to play while Byron plows the snow.

I keep asking my people to let me out, but when they open the door, that blast of cold comes again.  One time Jo pushed me out “to do my business” she never does that!  Well, I tried to chase birds and squirrels, but my paws were hurting.  I was really glad that she let me back in right away when I came back to the door!

The phone just rang and I heard Jo say, “ Don’t worry about us, we are fine, just stay home and keep warm!” 

I guess Kinsey won’t be coming over today.  I’ll bet the little kids won’t come either.  That squirrel isn’t even out today!

Oh well, Steve is napping and I’ll just have to nap, too.

Cocoa enjoying the warmth of the wood stove

Below are some pictures of the snow that I took just yesterday. We had over 9" of new snow and it was a wet heavy snow.

Things haven't changed much today except for the frigid temperatures. It was above 30 degrees yesterday morning and just plummeted throughout the afternoon and evening. Then it just stayed there all day today. It looks like tomorrow will be the same as today. I'm hoping we will be able to get to town on Wednesday!

Cocoa surveying the snow. Heavy snow on the tree branches.

Snow weighing down the branches of the evergreens.

 The snow is beautiful, but I worry about what damage it may do to the trees.

A pretty view to the South

Cocoa in the back yard. Snow, snow, snow.

Cocoa often lays on the picnic table – even in this cold weather. In this picture she is watching a couple of deer in the trees in the distant background. She can't get to them, but would really like to.