Saturday, January 23, 2021

Thank You!

 Thanks to everyone who sent their condolences on last weeks post regarding Daisy. We especially loved the ones that included your pictures and memories of her. She was a great dog with a big personality. We are slowly adjusting to life without Daisy. Everyday gets better. Dakota was lost for the first day or two but then she seemed better but the days after that, even to today, she regressed. As many of you know she was a rescue dog with some social issues. She was scared of everything, Barb and I included. She made great progress over the last couple of years and was a lot better than she was when we got her. What we did not realize was what a huge role Daisy played in that improvement. Now that Daisy is gone Dakota is a lot more withdrawn and is very skittish of even the smallest things; like us just walking across the room. Hopefully this will improve again over time.

One positive thing has come out of Daisy’s passing. That is it has revived our faith in humanity. Watching the news, one cannot help but lose that faith as the news sensationalizes everything by focusing on the radicals on both the left and the right. We received so many responses both on the blog and Facebook.  What Daisy’s passing and all the comments showed to us is that the news is focusing on the minority and that the majority of the population is in the middle and are really, really good people. So for that, we thank you also.

This past week was my week to try and injure myself. With the lower stair section finished it was time to tackle the upper stair section. I removed every other stair tread so Barb could stain and varnish them. While she was doing that I worked on the upper rail post. I am countersinking them below the floor and making them as tight we possible as we have had houses with wobbly stair posts and it is really frustrating!

My nemesis, the missing stair tread!

So there I am measuring, cutting the post, cutting the floor, doing a little notching to get the post to fit just right when I step backward on the stairs to come at the post from a different angle. Guess what? There was no stair tread there and down I go! My right leg was on the upper stair tread while my left leg went through the open space causing me to bend in way a body is not supposed to bend as I fell backwards. Luckily (I guess) my leg wedged in that opening preventing me from falling any further. Barb was not home at the time so I extricated myself and just kinda sat there for a few minutes. Sore and bruised I was able to get back at it but I sure felt it for a few days!

I am happy to report that all the stair treads are done and back in place, the posts are in and waiting for railings and spindles which we are supposed to get next week.

Kevin and Cheryl came over last Saturday for a few hours to watch football and help with a couple of things above my pay grade.  But first Barb took advantage of her new island to bake Kevin a pecan pie!

Our first job that day was scribing and fitting the vanity in the downstairs bath. You only get one chance at it and Kevin has years of experience doing things like that so I was happy he was willing to help.

Main bath vanity in place!

The other thing was putting a 45 on the live edge slab to go above our wood storage area. Barb had found a place that sells live edge blue pine slabs that would be perfect for the mantle. She bought one that was 18” wide about 10’ and 2” thick. Since we wanted a live edge on the front and one end it meant that we had to 45 one end and then splice in a piece on the end to create a live edge on the side. Again, above my paygrade. Kevin made the cut, glued and used a Krieg jig to countersink some screws attaching the two pieces. It turned out great!

Mantle under the TV and above the wood storage

We also went over to Dan and Bonnie's two days to help them with their new house. Yes, they too are building a new house! They got the best contractor in the area (Kevin) who started framing on Monday and by Thursday afternoon we had the trusses all up! 
Kevin getting ready to lift a wall
The first truss going up!

Last but certainly not least we celebrated Kevin's birthday at the Pringle bar on Wednesday night. It was not his actual birthday but it was close enough to celebrate it. They even decorated our table and provided Kevin with his own bucket of beer, tiara and a magic wand! 
The deer are enjoying the alfalfa bale we bought them, a 750# bale lasts 2-3 weeks depending on the weather. But it appears this guy found a way to get the whole top layer to itself!


24 comments:

  1. Yikes...it’s a good thing you weren’t hanging upside down like a bat until Barb got home. Glad you didn’t break anything. The place is looking great!

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    1. Thanks, afterwards I was wondering what I would have done had I really got hurt as we only have one phone and she usually has it.

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  2. So glad to hear you are all right after your misstep. That could have been a disaster especially since you were alone. A big wow on the mantle. That live edge is so beuatiful. Great idea, Barb. Sure hope Dakota perks up. It's so hard not being able to explain to an animal. Maybe she needs a new friend!?

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    1. At first we were like no way, we are not getting another dog but then after everything settled down we realized that there is a hole in our lives and that of Dakota's so it just might be a possibility someday.

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  3. Amen to the 'noise' coming out of the news. We don't even watch local news anymore...just read it where it is easy to skip to the next piece of junk they are writing about. Sure glad you didn't get hurt too much with that stairway, that could have been very disastrous. I sure hope Dakota gets over this...perhaps another little dog would help. (lol)

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    1. Watching the news is painful. We will watch the local morning news which is not too bad. The Rapid City news is so small time they in the field anchor has to act as anchor and camera person, it is hilarious!

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  4. I think it might be time to get an extra phone, Jim. Not for your safety, but so you can catch some awesome selfies of you hanging upside down from some high spot on the barndominium. 🙃

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  5. As you and Barb plow through each injury, the results of your work efforts look terrific. We found that God sends a new pet to rescue us when the time is right, so we, too see a new companion for Dakota in the future.

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    1. Who knows what the future holds but that is a distinct possibility!

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  6. Glad you did not hurt yourself too badly. Ray usually does his mishaps when I'm not home too. Now we have rules about using anything that cuts if no one is home. lol

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    1. We would never get anything done if that rule applied in our house!

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  7. See, Daisy is still bringing smiles to people weeks later. As visitors to the US we know that there are so many great people everywhere. Radicals are everywhere, we have them in Canada too.Try to tune them out and find what is similar in us all....beer tasting ???
    Be careful while you're working on stuff, you both have done some amazing work and blood stains won't match all that beautiful wood! Cheers :)

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    1. We don't get a lot of Canadian news but we have enough FB friends who are from Canada to see that there are a few radicals up there as well. Make us down here feel a little better!

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  8. Don't you just love it when you find out just how uncoordinated you can be? OUCH!! Lucky you didn't break your leg. Glad you are okay and will live another day!! That's rather important!! Your stairs, counter and mantle work are gorgeous!!!

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    1. There used to be a day when I would just bounce up and brush it off but lately things are taking a little longer to heal!

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  9. So what I learned about your injury is that it was Barbs fault and you now sing soprano. I need to get my hand operational or you and Barb are going to out injury me. Everything looks great. But you don't need me to tell you that, or do you? Have Barb send some pie our way.

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    1. Apparently Barb and I have to combine our efforts to match you on the injury list!

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  10. You may have to get another Rescue to help Dakota's ability to cope. Having a buddy will help her get her confidence back.
    Any injury big or small is something you should avoid.
    Nice seeing the finishing touches coming along on the house.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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    1. With the kitchen cabinets and counters now in it is really looking like it is getting close be being done!

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  11. Glad you didn't brake anything. Be careful and take care my friend.

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  12. Sorry about Daisey, we can relate to a great traveling partner that we had in Maggie.
    They really get into your heart. She will be waiting for you when it is your time. For sure the toughest part of having a pal like that is the goodbye.
    After 2 years we finally got another buddy Josie a small Rat Terrier but she hasn't replaced Maggie or her memories but we are building new ones.
    Bob

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    1. Thanks Bob! Hope things are well on the lake and you have been catching lots of fish!

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