Long, Slow Burn

This is the first post of the blog about building our new shed even though this is the second day.

On day 0 (zero) the kids helped me cut down a large sweetgum tree. Sweetgum trees are the weeds of trees. They drop pointy sweetgum balls all over the yard that fly about when you mow over them and are a general nuicanse. We’ll be planting some evergreen shrubs between us and our neighbors to help soften the edges of our shed.

Here is what the shed is supposed to look like:

On day 1, my neighbor Tom came over and helped me start framing the deck of the shed. The nail gun helped us get that done is short fashion. The only thing that threw me is that the deck of the 8′x12′ shed is really just 7′5″. I thought we got shorted on some of the timbers but it was just me mis-reading the plans. Tom had to leave for a conference call so I used Kim’s parents post hole digger to dig up holes where the posts were supposed to go. By the time I got that finished, it was close to being dark.

On day 2, Tom came back over in the morning and we shimmed up the platform, and used the nail gun again to tack in the 4×4 posts in the holes. We then started mixing cement and filled in the holes with the 4×4s in place. There it must stay for 24 hours while it cures.

Later today, we’ll be framing the walls. My wife will be painting the exterior walls.

I’m really feeling it in my muscles after digging those holes but overall I’m really happy with how the shed is coming along.

We had a great time on the beach, even though the weather was a bit colder than normal. Good times.

Everything went right today. The preparation last night made this morning much easier in that I put out the ladder, heat gun, extension cords, shut off the water so it didn’t freeze in the spigot. I also got all of my hoses in the house so they’d be nice and warm before going out into the freezing cold.

Here are the results. Now, we just need some kids to go out and do some sledding!

So I bought the Hoyt Nexus riser and the Chekit Sight off of EBay. Dan Murphy stepped in and is loaning me a good bit of hardware to complete the bow until I can get the parts ordered from my archery shop.

Wow. First let me say that learning to shoot left handed was rough. What was worse is that I was exhausted from a tennis match that morning and pressure washing the house. My arms were shaking all over the place. I got some shots in from 30M but it wasn’t pretty.

Today I got in about 5 ends of 6 arrows but only from about 15M. It was amazing to me how tight my groupings became over time. I think the combination of practice with the sight, and muscles getting used to the strain of the bow is helping me get better. I’m going to really try to shoot every day this week and see how good I can get.

I’m loving the new bow. I’m going to order the rest of the parts tomorrow! Can’t wait to get them.

Kleenex alert on this one for sure. HBO is going to be showing this film on Feb 21st at 8pm. I like Kevin Bacon too, even though he’s 8 degrees of separation away from me.

Taking Chance

How cool is it to be able to say that? “Here is my son sledding on the snow I made.” Many years of dreams come true. My dog Gala likes it too.

22F, 53% humidity. Started making snow at 6:35am. Success. Science works!

While we’ve got temps in the 60s, I figure it’s a really good time to test out the snow gun. At 6am and 20F is not a good time to experiment with snow gun adjustments. My neighbor, Steve Bishop, was nice enough to contribute to my cause with a gas powered pressure washer and what a difference it makes! I should be able to make twice as much snow as I could with the electric powered pressure washer. Excited. Now I just need to get some temps in the low 20s or lower.

One more note, with the gas powered pressure washer, the noise is *MUCH* louder. I’m definitely going to have to talk to the neighbors and get their blessing. Who doesn’t want a white blanket of fresh powder?!? Yikes!