Workin' It Out

     Turned out the photos I shot caused no more than a minor inconvenience for 'Emil's Cabin'.  Also figured it'd be much easier for the two of us if Emil bought a small generator to run power tools.  Why not?  Given the chance and a pocket full of cash, that's what a man of his generation would do.  So that's what I'm doing, re-read and edit number three.  Doesn't matter I'm not interested in publishing.  Does matter I want the story to read well.

Paddles I (have we done this before?)

     Read recently at sawdustfactory.net that the first paddle is nothing more than a prototype.  How about the second and third?  Hopefully not the fourth or the fifth.
     Seems like most of the amateur made paddles I've read about were made of cedar.  Pish-posh, I don't need no stinkin' cedar.  Too weak.  Too light.  Too unmanly.  My first was made of laminated ash.  I fear weighing it and have contented myself with using it to lever boulders and drive garden posts.  Not a dent in the blade or anywhere.  Yah, she's a club even though she's pretty.
     The two I'm now carving are a combination of douglas fir, white cedar, ash and yellow poplar.  Altogether lighter than just ash but still more work and weight than I'd like.  When will I learn?  Gluing and trimming the blank was no problem (truth is, everything's a problem when I set to doing something).  Now comes the shaping and thinning to size.  Had the loom (that's a fancy word for the shaft.  Hadn't heard of it till I read the above website.  Thought I'd throw it in to make me sound like I know what I'm doing) been made of cedar I'd of pulled out the old spoke shave (after ordering one on line) and shaved 'er to shape.  Instead, I did what I always do, grab a tool I do have, in this case a random orbital sander, slap on a forty grit disc and grind away.  It works.  More or less.  Woulda been a whole lot easier if the loom had not been laminated douglas fir.  Sawdust up the hose and in the ears.  Life is good and my snot, varying shades of white, red and brown.

Emil's Nothin' But Trouble

     The photo I shot at Portage Brook told me "Emil's Cabin" needed a serious rework right from the word one.  Don't know that I'm up to the task.  It's not like I know what I'm doing with the written word.  My blogs are done about the same way I built the cabin, educated guess work.
     Anyhow, that's what I'm doing at the moment.  Don't have anything else to write about at the moment so I may as well let the old guy run me ragged.

Paddles (again)

     Three grandsons and one on the way.  That's four paddles right there.  Oh yeah, there's Mollie.  Better make that five.  Then there's me.  And maybe Allan.  And if Allan, better do one for Ryan.  'Spose I could do Ryan's dad and his Uncle Eldon.  'Spose I could add my daughter and daughter-in-law in the mix.  That's a dozen.  Sounds like fun and a lot of glue.