Janet's Little Free Library - experiment with 3/4" diameter logs.
The experimental logs were way to small. These blanks will make logs with a 1.5" diameter. I'm going to need more blanks.
We decided it would be easier to use a Scandinavian Saddle Notch.
Routing square logs into round logs. We're leaving it flat on the inside.
Here's the first two courses.
We needed to install a hold-down clamp because the square block would move a bit in the direction of the rotating drill bit.
That's just 4 courses so far. This thing is going to be really heavy.
This is almost as tall as it's going to get, just two more rows. The door is going to cut out most of this side.
Drilling a 1/4" hole through the middle of each saddle.
We string the logs onto a 1/4" threaded rod to keep them aligned. We also turned the logs so that the saddle is down, hopefully to keep water from pooling.
This is the full height. A door goes on the long side. There are going to be three standalone units: this main body, the roof and the base.
We tore it down so we could put it back together with caulk between the logs.
Back together. And this is the opening for the double doors.
The vertical door jamb is not wide enough for the hinges. Yes, that was a mistake. We decided to route a pocket for a filler.
This is just wide enough for the hinge screws.
This is a rough fit of one door. There needs to be some fine tuning.
This is the start of the roof. Logs will be attached to the triangler backer.
It finally stopped snowing for a day so we could get back to work on the LFL. We're about a day away from finishing construction on the roof section.
The doors are almost done. The roof just needs to be nailed on and then I need to make a decision about what to use for shingles.
The roof is all glued up as a single unit (it can be lifted off). The doors are done. I may want to do something where they meet to make it more water proof.
I will want to make the shelf at least minimally adjustable - up or down by a few inches. Soon paint.
A coat of paint on the inside and outside.
We put a ridge cap on and we are applying as many coats of polyurethane as we can. Note that we're doing this outside!
This is the underside of the base. When this gets planted into the ground the PT 4x4 post will fit into this socket and be bolted in.
These 3 components (along with the 4x4 post) make up the LFL.
This about finishes it. Maybe a little tweaking on the doors.
I'm back at the lake for the summer. The lake is free of ice but there are still some patches of snow around.
The log cabin is open for business. This is earlier than usual but there's new stuff this year, like the outside pump.
Also the water softener is new. I'm always a little anxious in the spring to see if I got all the water out.
Another sign of spring: the first hummingbird.
Barb and Burney came by in their boat and had no dock to tie up to. This inspired (shamed) me into putting it out.
I also set the ducks free. One antisocial mallard drifted way north. When the boat's in I'll bring him in closer.
And there's the boat in the water. Coincidentally today is the fishing opener.
First fishing trip with Burney and he takes an early lead.
This medium sized bass is just to show that I can catch fish too.
I'm getting close to planting the Little Free Library. This is just left of the Dixon's driveway.
No reservations needed.
I think (hope) it's safe to leave my jade plant out overnight now.
Janet's Little Free Library is in place ready for the grand opening
Breakfast at La Pasta with the guys.
A lot of people showed up for the inauguration of the Little Free Library. it is full of books.
Flowers in the barrel and on the deck too.
New shingles on the log cabin today.
And here we have new shingles on the log cabin. This will be the last time I have these replaced.
Big Mantrap Lake Association meeting.
I have some Baltic birch plywood I've been holding on to for years - back when you could still buy this stuff.
I'll see if I can use this to finally make some pull out shelves for the log cabin kitchen.
I've never used undermount drawer slides before so I just built one to see if I could do it. I can, so I'll install this one and make two more.
This is the existing lower cabinet. Things in the back are pretty much lost.
The shelves are gone as well as some of the old stuff in the back. No one will ever miss them.
It took a couple of trips back to the garage for some adjustments but I eventually got this right.
There. That was easy.
Rob, Terri, Brandon, Kaitlin and young Rhys have arrived. They are climate refugees from Denver and Houton.
This the biggest bass I've seen this year - caught by Burney on a scum frog in the lily pads. 4.2 lbs.
I finally sanded and painted the deck railing. You can see the difference, right? One of the top railings is rotted and will need to be replaced. Did you hear that Dorothy?
This is Rob who volunteered to go up on the hill house roof and blow out the gutters.
And Brandon, not wanting to be outdone, volunteered to fix a leak in the gutter here at the corner: Flex Seal.
I'm trying to keep up the momentum. Here is the panhandle of the deck sanded and stained.
Rob, Terri and Riley (the dog) are on their way back to Denver. Rhys (the child) is staying.
Kaitlin, Rhys and Roxie in Bemidji.
Brandon, Kaitlin, Rhys and Roxie preparing for a 2 AM departure back to Houston.
Dorothy arrived. I believe I still have some projects to do.
There! The deck is stained and we have a new porch tree.
Blowing off the pine needles from the boathouse roof. As long as I'm up here I'll trim the low overhanging branches and spay some moss remover over everything.
Dorothy flies back to Detroit. We always have a good time when she's here. And thanks for the Omaha steaks.
All summer I've had just 2 hummingbirds. Now, all of a sudden, I have at least 7.
In Park Rapids for The Northern Lights Opera presentation of Little Shop of Horrors. Nicely done.
When this cabin was built I'm sure the thinking was that two outlets here was probably one more than was necessary
That was before Alexa and phone chargers.
Over here by the fireplace can use an upgrade too.
I finally got a magnetic sweeper. The number is 89.
The window sill off the deck has a rotten section. I've been reluctant to tackle this because I was affraid of how big a project it might be.
It's not good but I suppose it could be worse.
I don't know if Bondo is the right stuff to use on wood but it's what i've got. A little sanding and some paint and we'll see how this holds up.
This looks OK. Time will tell if this stops the rot. Now that I've painted the lower portion of the window am I now obligated to paint the rest of the window?
And here we have the lower part of the right-hand shed door. I think I see pattern emerging.
This door is in really bad shape. I'm going to replace as many bad boards as I can. Maybe I can get another couple of years out of this.
The original door was built using V-groove 1x6 boards. What I have is 1x8 drop siding. I thought I could live with this but evidently not so I need to go to town and get the right boards.
That looks better. Nice new V-groove boards that match up with the ones in the top panel.
I needed to use my planer to make the 3 1/2" x 3/8" trim for the inside of the door. The trim covers up the awful joinery. It stopped working so now I need to fix this.
The refurbished door is back on the shed. I'll install the inside trim after I fix the planer. There is still a lot wrong with these doors.
This is wrong. There is suppose to be a spring here . I think there is more going on than just a missing tensioner spring.
That's the Starlink dish up there on the old DirecTV mount. That tree on the right partially obstructs the signl causing occasional interruptions.
That's me stranded on the roof after a gust of wind blew the ladder over. Burney and Bill Mills came to rescue (and laugh at) me. I always have my phone with me.
The dish is farther west and hopefully far enough away from that tree to get a clean signal.
Andrew and Crystal arrived in the middle of the night.
Alright, the planer is working again. I have a couple of parts on order but I rigged it to work without them for now. The trim is done and ready to go.
This took a minute didn't it? I finally have the trim for the inside of the door. A little brown paint and the shed should be good for a couple of years.
This is the first tree across the road this year. How does that lyric go: "I can't complaint but sometimes I still do".
Rob and Terri arrive.
Andrew and Rob have a project. We're replacing that gigantic metal gate at the head of the road with a more modest wooden barrier arm gate. Two of these will make a much wider entrenance. (16')
Here is a nostalgic look at the gate before the big blowdown and before a tree fell on it.
Andrew's truck was able to pluck the gate posts out by the roots - concrete and all.
The gate is gone. RIP.
Andrew and Crystal head back to Houston.
Fabricating the two gate halves.
That's a big gate. Next is planting the 4x4 posts out at the start of the road but that will wait until it's not 95°.
First new gate post. Below is a 3' x 12" Sonotube filler with pea gavel holding the post in place.
There's the new gate. Just a few ancillary touches but it is done. Great design and work by Rob and Andrew.
When Crystal was here with Andrew last week she rehabilitated this moss covered 60 year old sign that's out by the gate. It's goog for another 60 years.
Raccoons were back last night digging for grubs. I suppose I'll need to do somwthing about this.
Rob, Terri and Riley head back to Denver. Thanks for all you guys do up here.
Chris arrived.
Regarding my lawn being distroyed - it appears that I owe an apology to raccoons. Trail cam video correctly identifies the culprits as a traveling troop of skunks.
Fish tacos with Barb and Burney. Burney and I had our last fishing excursion for the year.
I can now lock the new gate. The cabin is an inpenetrable fortress.
I haven't seen a hummingbird in three days. Time to take down the feeder. Sad, sad.
I need to rebuild boat seat #2. I'm going for a beefer design with PT 2x4 and 3/4" plywood.
I'm using marine paint instead of stain. We'll see how this holds up.
I think it looks good - matches the aluminium color of the boat,
Matt and Marilynn's wedding in Fort Collins CO. Nicely done to all involved. Hell yeah!
Bass over 1 pound
Total number: 68
Total pounds: 141.8
Biggest: 4.6
Bill (10) 22.2
Chris (8) 18.3
It's a bit early to bring in the boat but it's cold and windy and Chris is here to help
Pressure washing the boat - topside and bottom.
As long the pressure washer is here we might as well clean up the dock too. It was really pretty scummy.
Almost ready to lock up the boat house. Mantrap bass are safe until Burney and I get back in the spring.
The bird bath was frozen over this morning. Chris flies back to Florida this morning. Coincidence?
I drained the oil, changed the oil filter (not as easy as it sounds) and put in new spark plugs. I guess it's ready for next spring.
So, put the ducks to bed and lock the door. I think I'm done down here.
A visitor checking out the sunflower seed feeder.
The log cabin is closed up for the year.
One last look around before I leave.
The new security system has been activated. I'm outta here.