Thursday, January 30, 2014

Cabin Project ~ Walls Perfect


Perfection is a gift. Some times this gift comes easy and naturally and other times it is work, work, work to achieve. Sheet rock seams are work and since we are not able to open the door or windows we are trying the wet sanding technique using sponges to get ready for the second coat of mud. I have been assured by the job foreman that the texture will cover a multitude of imperfections, but I do aim for prefect.



Nice new phone that actually gets reception on this side of the hill. It will be great when they, by they I mean any phone company in general, puts a cell tower on our side of the ridge.





Job foreman say's "get back to work you slackers".


Can you spot the place where I touched the loft corner with my shoe? Just after this corner had been freshly mudded.


Fun day working together. 
So is anyone taking bets on when we will finish?
If so I want in on that action.  

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Monday, January 27, 2014

Grandma's Eskimos


In the mid 1970's my Grandma and Grandpa took a trip from Iowa to Alaska and these bobble head kissing Eskimo dolls were one of the souvenirs she brought home. They were made in Korea and did not resemble any Eskimos that I know.  When my Grandma passed away and Grandpa was moving to the local spa (code word for nursing home) I was the proud recipient of their gift.  It is time that my Grandma's Eskimos had a change of clothes so I got out my paints and set to work.



Kiss me babe!


New faces and the first coat of new clothes.








It was a great day spent remembering my Grandma and hoping she would like their new outfits. Happy Birthday to my Grandma!  Love and miss you! A million tons!

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Friday, January 24, 2014

High Five Friday for Sunny Afternoons


High five Friday for sunny afternoons and a bit of gain each day!

Sunrise today 10:01 am
Sunset this afternoon 4:07 pm

Each day is one more day stepping back into the light and summer will be here before you know it!  Which by the way makes me very happy!

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

More than Chump Change


When I was a kid and hanging out with my Dad while he was doing house remodel projects or building something new, I liked to collect the punch-outs from the electrical boxes and pretend they were coins. To this day I think that these are cool and my dear husband saved some for me. One day at the property he paid me for all the hard work I had put into our cabin project.

It is more than just chump change to me, these are treasures that surely hold magical powers.

What are your favorite treasures from you childhood?  Happy Wednesday! Rock on!

Monday, January 20, 2014

Beach Glass

When you enjoy combing the beaches for treasures that have washed ashore but there is not a beach to be found.  Anywhere! Then what do good Alaskans do? Make their own.


Step one ~ find glass in the desired color.  Blue = pretty!



Wrapping the bottle in a plastic bag and putting it inside a paper bag worked great. Then I gave it one smack with a hammer. Just once will do the trick to break the bottle into workable pieces.



Oh yeah do not forget the PPE (personal protective equipment)! Eyes are too important to take for granted!







Load the barrel with your prepared pieces following the directions for the rock tumbler. 







Once the barrel is loaded with the glass, the grinding medium and water it is now what they call charged and ready to be placed on the tumbler.



Glass takes about two days for the edges to be smoothed down.


The glass on the left is dry and was tumbled for two days, the glass in the middle is what it looks like when it is wet and the glass on the right is the new un-tumbled batch. What a fun project for a cold winter weekend.

Have you ever made your own beach glass or tumbled polished rocks?

Happy Monday and a great week ahead and daydream of warm sandy beaches!


Friday, January 17, 2014

Warm Winter Day

A Chinook wind has moved in and once again our temperatures are warmer than the home state of good ol' MN.

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Mukluk and Honisukle


Just a bit of good ol' Alaska humor!  Funny but the ouch it hurts kind of funny for all the moose and familys in the vehicles.  

Here is to safe driving and moose that like to be in the woods more than they want to cross the road.  Any fun weekend plans?

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Golden Snow Globe Award

We might not be in the running for the Golden Snow Globe Award but we do receive our fair share.





Hope everyone is enjoying their winter wonderland day! Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Cabin Project ~ More Mud & Tape

We have finished the first round of the mud and tape process.  By we I mean Brett as he has completed the bulk of this task.  Now for some sanding and another round.




Hello Mr. Inspector







Look'in good kid! One more day closer to done.  We sure could use a cheer-leading section to keep us going.  Any volunteers?