About 275 hours worth!

Memories-old gas cans, tonka truck-growlers from near and far-things from the kids and more



view of painted panels including hub caps from Grandma Lee's car




the covered tablesaw, the pillar of the shop




band saw-jig saw-and new cabinet which houses ALL the small tools




some past projects mounted on cedar behind plexaglass on the wall




I often wonder what Jesus made




clock from family, Ford emblem from Grandma Lee's car and a toe of the Jayhawk hay stacker




all the electrical tucked safely away



an open ceiling gives character to the shop-new 8 foot lights hang high



most wood is on the rack--notice the clean windows Travis worked on

So after countless hours, literally blood, sweat and headaches the clean up and redo is finished.  MUCH remains to be done in terms of order, putting away etc. but from now on I will put hours into projects and work on order on a daily bases.  I am so thankful to Terry, who was so much help and such an encourager and Travis who put in many hours and gave so many great ideas.  I also got much help from friend John and Joe who gave ideas on the elecrical. I am also thankful for the ability to put time and a small amount of money into the redo.  I remember my dreams in about 1981 or so.  I wanted a wood shop which was nice and orderly but family was growing and active and I made the decision to shut it down for the years ahead.  Then word came in 2003 that our first grand child was on the way and I offered to make a crib knowing I would need a nice saw if John and Mary said yes.  At that point the dream started to take shape and now it is a reality ten years later.  Some highlights:

• I actually finished something in a good way--I know I have many many downfalls :(
• I finished the electrical by reading and following a Home Depot book
• Working with Travis has been great
• Being encouraged by Terry has been a life saver
• Putting my ideas into reality and then seeing the results has been super.  Even son-in-law Mike said he liked the colors.  I know Mike has an eye for color and I do not.  Either he was being nice or I actually did a good job.  I prefer to believe both!

 The best is yet to come.  I can now embark on projects in the confines of a clean, orderly, pleasant wood shop--can't get any better than that.  I may need to christen it with a Surly Beer and cigar but then maybe I need to consult Terry about the cigar thing!!  I did have my first cigar in a long time, one that I took from sister Helen's place in February.  It was one of Mike's and I used the excuse that Mike would not have wanted it to dry out and go to waste. 
Well the FP is finished, my wood shop is waiting and I need to get to work.  As I say that I am not sure if the wood shop is 100% good but then again how can one use the word "work" when it comes to wood?