Happy Moonday!

Musical Interlude

Can't help but hear Robin Williams announcing this song using his Lawrence Welk voice....

(cropped because the imagery is ... very 70s and all that goes with that)

New Desk Done

So I'm back from my border run, and have got my new desk all set up.  See previous post for photos of the creation of the new desk.  I was able, before heading to Nicaragua, to get a good finish of polyurethane on the desk, and then to allow it to dry thoroughly for three days, so this morning I got busy (with Jen's help) making the switchover.

Before (actually a few months ago)

After

 

 

The shelf unit is the same, so you can see how much more space I have on the desktop.  Not only is the new one deeper, but it is also wider.

Umm, that's it.

On a (Building) Tear

For Christmas this year, Jen's folks gave us cash, with which to do nice things for ourselves.  Jen used her bit as a lion's portion of the price of a "like new" netbook computer, and I decided I would use mine to buy materials for a larger computer desk, as the one I built when I first arrived in Costa Rica is small, because I had a small space in which to put it.

The first step was to go to the neighborhood lumber yard and get some planking for the top.  I wanted to go as wide as possible (and here in CR it's easier to get really wide boards), but I ended up getting 1"x10"s, as they were the most reasonably priced.  I also went with pine, although I did think about using the laurel (accent on second syllable, please) like I used for the folding tables last time.

I already had some 2"x3"s, that Jen's former boss gave me (along with some other lumber) when they closed down shop, so I decided to use them for the under-top frame and legs.

Top planks 'joined' using cleats and screws, and under-top frame assembled and temporarily in place.

Legs and low back brace added, pondering computer shelf placement.

Same thing, viewed from the other end (note the 'park' bench I made in the background).

The top with a nice coat of poly on it.

Close shot of the wet-polyed top, showing the dowel peg anchors.

Not a whole lot left to do before bringing this one into the house... decide final placement of the shelf for the CPU, more poly on the top (and legs and shelf) and attaching the upper shelf unit that is on the old desk, but all that will have to wait until I return from my quarterly trip across the border to get my visa re-stamped.  I leave in the morning, and will return on Thursday.

Pictures to follow!

Buildering Stuff

I decided to make some folding TV tables, now that I have all the tools. I began by looking online for free plans, but the hundreds of "leads" all led to the same page, which was just written instructions which were difficult to follow. So, of course, I just started making....

First, I cut the pieces for the top (1"x4" ripped [using my new table saw!] on the small dimension to get ½"x4" pieces), the frame (1"x2" ripped to 1"x1") and legs (1"x2").  The legs have the angle cut so they'll sit flat on the floor when the table is in use, and the frame pieces are mitred so no end grain will show (which is why I wanted a frame in the first place, to hide the end grain of the top pieces).

After cutting a rabbet for the top pieces to lay into, I put the frame pieces together with glue and brads and had this.

I then started work on the underside,... the cross supports for the top (to which the outer legs would be attached) and to which the top pieces were glued.  This took some time, because I had to reconfigure the pieces a couple of times to make sure everything would be strong enough in the end.

And then the inner legs, with braces and ½" dowel hinge pins (and a stop board I had to add so the legs wouldn't splay all the way to the top frame).

And VIOLA!!! One folding TV tray.

I still have to put a finish on it (polyurethane varnish), and build another one, but at least I finished this much by Christmas morning for an 'official' unveiling.

The End.

Christmas Song

No, not Mel Torme's classic, but a classic in its own right....

"Dear Nuala" (12 Days of Christmas).

Conversational Scottish, Lesson 10

One of my favorite comedy bits of all time:

From the old SCTV.

I Haven't Forgotten About You, I Promise

Hello, my dear blog.  How've you been lately?  I miss you sometimes, and I hope to get back to posting on you, but you know how it is.  There's this other site that's so much more 'in the moment' and, frankly, more responsive, but it has its problems, so....


Anyway, just wanted to say hi.

Loves me some Phydeaux. :)

Beauty Full

The haunting harmonies.... (posting mainly so I'll have it in an easily accessed location)

Not An Abject Failure

One day last week I wanted to make a chocolate pie with a pastry crust.  It had been a very long time since I made one, and I forgot that when baking an empty pie crust, one needs something to hold down said crust so it doesn't puff up, burn to a crisp, fall over and then sink into the swamp.

So guess what happened.

Today, I tried again:

Golden Flaky pie crust!

The edge isn't all purty and stuff, because a) I didn't know if what I tried would work (I used rice to fill the pan, after lining it with aluminium foil ) and b), I ain't sellin' it, I'm makin' it fer to eat!!

Chocolate Pie!!!.

I suspect that even Emerson Cod would enjoy this pie, but we won't know for sure until after dinner tonight -- because this pie is for dessert. :)