The Tunnel Has Gotten Very Short

Right.  So I wrote the last post several weeks ago and intended to add photos to it thus it didn’t get published right away.  Then I didn’t take the photos… and so we come to this new post shortly on the heels of “Dust Everywhere”.  Oh, and the dog ate my homework, really, Miss.

Since the last post we have been working constantly it seems to finish and go on our trip.  We have in fact installed the floor and slapped two coats of urethane on it.  I have built and installed the cabinets and Darcie has plied them with two coats of urethane.  Darcie has sanded and urethaned the windows and the door.  And praise be, we have a working washing machine again – substantially quieter than in its previous location thanks to a solid floor and a level installation.

Darcie has been the sanding/oil/urethane queen these last two months:  she has sanded and oiled two outdoor tables, 13 outdoor chairs five of which are really more than simple chairs, 10 windows have been sanded and urethaned, as have one door, one floor and 17 lineal feet of cabinets.  Somehow she also got time to help paint the laundry room and did a bang up job with the faux finish – it looks great (photos to follow).

I installed the outdoor lights, built and installed the door into the crawl space under the house, and today I made seven light bases on which to mount the puck lights we are using for the room.  Puck lights are not supposed to be used in the way that we are using them since in theory they can get quite hot (read fire hazard) so to help them keep cool and provide some buffer between the lights and the insulation I have made these neat tapered triangular bases from solid maple (photo next time). 

I also installed one of the two gutters yesterday just in time for the first storm to come slamming into the Bay Area.  I am happy to say that there appears to be no leaks and the outdoor lights still work (grin).  Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to putty up and prime the outside so the wood around all the nail holes is sucking up the rain and swelling in weird and randomish ways.  Can’t say I am too happy about this but it is out of my control at this point.  Hopefully it will dry out flat before it actually does get puttied and painted.

On a final note we have booked our tickets for the first leg of our trip, Mexico City, and made a hotel reservation. Mexico here we come.

Nick