Rainy Days

I flew to Orlando last Sunday to work a trade show.  The weather was awesome and each day I got out and walked my miles.   I was staying at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center. The hotel was pretty nice.  On Tuesday afternoon I was able to hang out by the pool and get a little sun.

For our give-away item at the booth we were giving out selfie sticks.  I took this photo of myself while testing them out.

My walking, plus working the show floor, I was able to really rack up some steps.  I flew home on Wednesday and when I come out of the airport in Denver it is 39 degrees and drizzling.

Since being home I have been active to get some distance in.  Most of it has been on the treadmill as it has been raining daily.  Since mid-April we have received 14 inches of rain. 

I started a new little project this Memorial Day weekend.   I had seen on Pinterest where someone had covered a bowling ball in pennies.   It just so happened that I had all the things I needed to do the same.  I bought the stand on e-bay for 5.99 and free shipping.   The bowling ball was Candy’s moms.  I had pennies and the glue was 4.99.  I will be working to finish it up tomorrow.

What I have been up to.

We are so busy at work.  I think it is a good busy, but sometimes I wonder.  Spend cycles on things we shouldn't, but they are necessary evils so we have to.  Blessed and thankful to be busy!

The weather has been crazy around here this last week.   We have had Hail, Rain, Sleet and Snow. On the North end of town, we received up to 9 inches of penny sized hail.  Glad I missed that!  The hail caused the highway to close as they needed to bring in the snow plows to clear it.  On the news this evening they reported that we live in what is called hail alley.  It runs from Cheyenne WY to Pueblo CO, so all along the Front Range.  We get more hail storms than any other state, but not the most damaging.  So there you go!

I also see that tornado alley is also in full swing.  Tornados are touching down in OK and TX over the last few days.  Been there done that when I lived in KS.  I think I will stick with the hail.

The Lilacs are in full bloom.  We were lucky that the hail didn't destroy them.   In addition to the big bush, I have also transplanted a few starters and they are taking off.   

Robinson Lilac Bush

Robinson Lilac Bush

I Have already written about my Horse Haim Wheelbarrows.   I have finished two of them and they look great.    Looking forward to building a few more.  Well I have two wheels left, so I guess two more.

Horse Haim Wheelbarrow

Horse Haim Wheelbarrow

Candy asked to make her a shelf for the laundry room.  She wanted something Steampunk, well I came home with the picture below.   This is an old wrench, a steel gear and an oil filter cover.   This is what I had lying around, so this is what I ended up with.   She really liked it, and I do to.

Steampunk Wall Vase

Hames

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  Busy around here mowing and cleaning up the yard.   The Lilac tree is days away from being in full bloom.  I can hardly wait!  My transplants are also in bloom.  I will get some pictures shortly.

The humming birds are here.  We have had one feeder up for them, today we cleaned up the other two and filled and hung them.   Saturday I mowed and turned the sprinklers on.  I had two heads that I had to replace but doesn't look like I have any broken lines.

I am in the process of making more wheelbarrows.  I found 5 sets of Hames on Ebay and they arrived last week.   I took the wire brush to them and then gave them a quick blast in the blast cabinet.   Cleaned them up, then primed and painted them.   The balls are brass and not painted.   I was surprised how well they cleaned up.   They came out looking great, and will make great handles.

I had some green paint, so I painted the outside of the wheelbarrow green and then sprayed sealer on the inside of the box.   I cleaned up the wheel I am using and painted the rim and spokes.    I should be able get it finished up next weekend.

Just to cool

I am pretty excited about this up-coming project.   I have searched the web trying to find something similar but haven't yet.   This piece doesn't have any name or markings on it and I wonder if it might have been hand built.  It looks to me like something you would find in gas station/mechanics garage back in the day.

It is all metal and the glass globes are pretty cool.    Not sure where we will put it yet, but looking forward to giving this piece an overhaul and bringing it back to life.   

Yard Art

It was raining on Sunday so I couldn't work in the yard.  So instead I decided to try my hand at some yard art.  This also gave me a chance to play/practice my wire feed welder.  

The base is made from an old screw jack, that I bought at a flea market.   The stalk and limbs are old s wrenches and the flower head is two motorcycle gears that I picked up.

I have to say, this came out pretty nice.   I have enough stuff laying around to make more, but will have to figure out something new for the base as I don't have anything else to use.

I have some other ideas for projects and can use the practice welding.

I brought it home and put it in the backyard.   Candy seems happy with it, so I guess it will stay.

General Store Hardware Cabinet

I mentioned that I had picked up a new toolbox.   It appears that this piece was probably a parts drawer in a general store. I snagged this at the auction a couple of weeks back and have been migrating my tools over.

I took some liquid gold to it, and cut felt for the bottom of the drawers.  I think this is going to work out awesome for what I want to use it for.  It fits great and so far most of my tools fit.

From what I can tell it was made by  Riverside Hardware Cabinet Farwell Ozum Kirk & Co. St. Paul Minn. I have only found one other like this on the web, except it was bigger with 220 drawers.

In the picture the white tabs are labels, these are the only drawers I have used so far.  I will have lots of room to grow.

In the picture below, if you look to the right middle you will see some gas masks hanging on a hook.  I have plans to make up some steampunk masks.  

Come on Spring!

I have been working over at the shop the last couple of days.  Can't say that I have gotten much done, other than clean.   I seem to do a lot of cleaning.....  So several projects are in the works.   I am trying to get another wheelbarrow made.  I have the box built, I just need to put it all together.  This one is a little different from the first.  I will be using some old Williams S Wrenches for the handles.  Should look pretty cool.

I got side tracked this weekend as I ended up buying an old apothecary cabinet at the auction on Saturday.  With a little help I got it loaded into the truck and unloaded at the shop.  I am going to be using it as my new tool box.   It has 44 drawers of various sizes so it should work well.  I cleaned it up and put felt in the bottom of the drawers.   I have been sorting tools and loading and labeling each box.   Funny I had two tool boxes full of tools and I haven't even used half the drawers in the cabinet yet.   I will get you some pictures.

I worked at the shop tonight, but again I just cleaned.   Ended up getting a full bag of weeds pulled and then with the spreader put weed & feed on the yard.   Man there is just so much to do.

I packed clothes tonight into my backpack.   Going to try to get up and walk to work in the morning.

Little late for April's fools day, but you can try this next year.

Wheelbarrow

Candy had shown me a couple small garden wheelbarrow planters on Pintrist.   She was hinting that she wanted one.  When I was in Wichita I picked up some old wheels from my Dad.   When I asked him for them, this was one of the projects I planned on using them on.

I had bought some old horse tack at the auction a few weeks back and knew I could do something with it.   Well it worked out well as the handles for the wheelbarrow.  The most expensive part of this project was the 1x10x8 cedar plank that I used to build it.  It is glued and screwed so it should hold up for several years.

Bugs

On Saturday afternoon we were invited to a Craw-fish Boil.  Had a great time hanging out with friends drinking beer and eating some great food.   Along with the Craw-fish we had red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese and much more.

Candy Robinson

Nick Nelson

Ranchero Update

Work continues on the Ranchero.   I was out to check it out just before leaving for India.  It has been primed and is being blocked.   Then it will be primed and blocked again, then just about ready for paint.   The dash will need to be scuffed and several inside trim pieces.   I am guessing it will be a while before we are done.