counter productive

got the basic support in for the counters today (after tonging them for the last four to five days everynight....kinda sexy, no!? ;-) )

A PERFECT fit! Finally, something worked right!

 I plan to use bigger support brackets underneath to assist the 2x4's and help secure the middle of the wide span....they will be able to support upto 300 lbs or so....perfect as I may use them to climb up to the shelve overhead! ;-)

How it would eventually work

Except this view tells me I need bigger ones...
back to buy the right size!

some flower power

I bought some LED colored lights that I love...they have a remote control and make it so nice being able to change colors according to my mood or needs. However I didn't want to just mount them as is on the wall....I wanted to be able to bend them down for reading or up for dancing!

So I started to think about it as I walked the isles of Home Depot and talked to associates to get ideas. Then BINGO it hit me! I used conduit with wires in it that was wide enough to accept the plug end of the light into the transformer.... It bends great and was easy to cut with hedge clippers!

cutting the chords

cool! everything fits like planned

Sketching out with proper tools ;-)

The goal would then be to use blocks of wood to create flower heads (I'm trying to bring nature indoors).... then I could mount the light on the wood and use the wood to conceal the tubing with the wires. I might do the same thing at the other end to mount it on the wall near the transformer and the remote sensor. Can't believe I'm making my own lamp fixtures! Wow! this is so fun!

     

just need to cut it out and I've got me some flowers!

Tung it baby!

Taking my time trying to do it "right" I have sanded my countertops and previously applied a coat of tung oil and gave it 24 hours to cure.

Tonight I applied a second coat and am so happy with the natural beauty that is being exposed from the process...

below...rough cut lumber natural
above...treated with two coats of tung oil!

It's been fun, on this journey, to build things from scratch getting as close to nature as I can...
I'm learning more about the natural nature of things, how much I can do on my own, as well as how to bring out my own natural state in the process.

Going back to the basics, simplifying my life and the things in it, reducing, reusing and finding renewed enthusiasm each day in learning from nature has guided me in this journey....it's brought a youthful joy back into my life...and like the wood...the before and after images show a huge and beautiful change!

sand storm

Trying to fit in working on all the components for getting afloat this summer wherever I can...and tonight was simply sanding.

I had a nice time just feeling the wood get smoother and smoother with each pass....if only I had a  tool so effective for my own life! ;-) WAIT....I do actually, and it's been really fun implementing them all....just waiting to see the shiny smooth results! And like everything, it takes patience and time...which, right now, I have a ton of!

books have a home and continuing trimming out the place

This weekend I couldn't start the priming on the siding because of all the rain....my contact from the paint store was adamant about letting the surface dry for a week in between painting and rain! DAMN that doesn't help me getting into the water any time soon!

Oh, well, now I'm really learning to juggle...and fit things in where they can when they can. So, with rain stopping outside work, I focused on some fun inside stuff...

Got some bookshelves installed and I'm loving them! Customizing them to the books I love most!

first iteration

had a better idea when integrating
in my thrift store cabinet!
LOVE IT!

i also managed to finish out some trim work that I needed to get done as well. I stained everything last night to prep for today and tried to do most of the installing today. Like everything...I seemed to have greatly underestimated how much trim I needed and will have to do another round to finish it all up.

before

after

before

after

before

after

even found a transition threshold for the two floors.

At least it is coming along....and I'm happy.

And check out this cool tool the paint-advice guy told me was indispensable!  (Yeah, I'm a sucker and bought one!)

10 tools in one
i'm pulling out the hidden screwdriver!

cushioning the blow

well, tonight was a tiny itsy bitsy baby step....
Right along with the actual tiny baby steps, I'm physically taking due to a skiing injury yesterday.

Which is fine, perhaps its just time for me to slow down a bit and remember to really enjoy this spring...I have no pressure to finish anything, so I will just go with the flow of life right now.

I wanted to soften the place up now that all walls ceilings and floors are done...almost like a mini move-in day. So, I tidied up some of the wires for the lighting and put the futon mattress in place with a few pillows for the couch. Now if I have visitors we will have somewhere cozy to sit! Also, a good place to ice and elevate my leg!

I also got the final approval from the marina to finish building my float frame according to a new design that will restore the two rows I took out for the trailer and protect the barrels from debris and moving on the truck. I can see her floating now....it's all going to work out just fine, I can feel it. (Plus there is high confidence from my carpenter friend Dave!)

A place to sit

I felt really strongly today to put together my futon sleeper couch so I could have a place to sit and be. I knew I needed to put in the floor before I did this but had resisted putting in the same floor that I used earlier in the bathroom closet area. I wasn't thrilled with the feel of the laminate or entirely happy with the over all look. It's not bad.... It's just my vision was natural wood or bamboo or even cork. However, sometimes we have to look at our dreams and reassess them in order to realize them. Sometimes holding on to exacting minute details can stop or progress or even stop an intuitive flow. Often it's really about the big picture, the end feeling the project gives versus the exacting execution of the ideas. I've maintained my overall vision for this entire process and am thirties with the outcome to up to now. And I have realized that many of the decisions I have made that seem like a sort of compromise, really turned out to be the best way to learn what I needed to learn at that phase of the project.

These floors are the perfect example... This material really is the most practical material for the location. I feel strongly in the long run, this material will withstand the humid conditions, the any accidents with too much water coming in from swimming in the river (also a clear vision I have for the goal of this floating home), or even to protect against possible water infiltration when the whole structure is moved down the boat ramp into the water for the first time! Also with the amount of possible movement of this structure and the possibility of an undulating floor due to the surface of the water or the transition from the jack stands to the water. Not to mention the absolute rear of installation!

Suddenly I began to love all that this material would offer and support. It may seem man made and less "green" of a material, however, all material originated from the earth. This still has the life force of that original material it was within it... It is "green" pulsing with life... If I only choose to sit and feel it.

But I need a place to sit!

Back to the original desire. So I quickly and spontaneously decided to continue on with the same material, happy and invigorated with this choice once again, and took the creative freedom to simply change the color and the style to better suit the room. I chose a darker color too compliment the darker wood as well as not detract from all the lightness and color I plan to flood the room with layer.  I'm an designing this place with much light dark contrast to have a continual reminder around me of the light we need to have accompanied by the shadow... Both are a natural post of life and necessary to live and feel fully.

I got boards this time that week all the same width as the variable width was more labor intensive. I also decided to orient then in the other direction so the would extend along the long wall. It was great knowing either side would match up at the threshold of the first floor. It was a bit tricky to get the first row started, but because I've worked with this before I was determined to n name sure it was installed tight. It took a few tries of doing and undoing, but I finally got it where I wanted it and started the second row. As soon as I made it past my half wall I stopped work on the floor and started work on the futon. It cloud bite me in the ass later.... But I felt I could have it as getting this first piece of furniture in today was a goal I knew I could accomplish and very much needed.

I had most of  the boards laid out and strained ready to assemble so it went pretty quickly. I had taken pictures earlier when i planned the whole thing, so I just made sure I followed along before screwing it all together. It was hugely satisfying watching this thing come together and using the trees as legs. I love how it all came out and am so excited that I will have a nice place to sit and relax!

Starting off the new floor

The frame all out together!

Platform is on...Ready for the mattress!
 It's looking more livable now!

I really love how things are turning out and am excited to continue plugging away. I still have a ton to do before it is even close to being water ready, but I'm no longer anxious or pressure by it. I'm thoroughly enjoying this crazy ride and feel it's opened even more does than I imagined when u began this process. Not to mention the incredible amount of exclusive and skills I have accumulated during the process... Hugely contributing to my self reliance and confidence!

Action is everything! 

Stained....Leaving a mark

Today I wanted to finish staining the loft trim to get it out of my way. And I need to start making room to do my ceiling project. I'll need all my floor space back for that beast! My canvas is in...Ten feet by about 18 feet big! And I have my mandala stencil....7 feet wide will he the final dimensions! It's gonna look spectacular!

 I also had to finish off Cambyrs project and installed the rest of the barn board so I could get my storage loft back.

I put together the futon legs ....Thank goodness I had access to the impact driver! That was harder than I imagined it would be.

My cuts were good...It's pretty damn level!

The bench legs...Thank you Mary for the tree you contributed to my little home!

The basic layout for the frame of the futon bench.

The loft trim before...

And after.

The big let down for my push today was that when I came back tonight down for my weekend away skiing I found a huge leak! At least this time it was isolated enough that I knew exactly where it was coming from. I put buckets underneath and desperately silicon caulked the while Ares knowing but wouldn't do much while wet....But at least I can redo it wen things dry out . I can't wait to get the rubber roof on and secure my house from these damaging threats!

.

Finishing another wall and making furniture

I try to get in s few hours of work most days during the week and then more on Fridays to make up for time away on weekends.  Gotta keep pushing if I'm gonna have this thing in the water in April and mostly done by March!

This week's pecking away focused on finishing covering the bow wall and getting the futon platform ready for assembly.

I decided to do the lower part of the wall in the 1/4 inch plywood that I did the loft walls in. It's inexpensive , lightweight and fast! And since the counter will be there and it will be storage under the counter... No sense in wasting money on more expensive barnboard that won't be seen.

I stained it after I installed it this time so I could get some working space back.

I also strained my boards for the futon couch and got the legs ready for assembly.

stairs, walls, and bench bed

 Lot's to do today...trying to push to take advantage of being home this weekend and be ready for spring in the water!

yeah...all the stairs are in place and temp treads too.
It's really shaping up!

finished off another wall and I am so loving it!

This is so cool, love this spot.

Out to get legs for the futon bench

It took just over twenty minutes but she did it all on her own!
I'm so proud of her!

my favorite "Farm-girl" workout!

Flying trough to make a proper selection!

OMG this place is so fun!

Got Cambyr into it too!

You go mini-me!

What an awesome addition this will be! $12 for a $100 slide!
YEAH!

Cambyr wanted her own project, so I let her barnboard the loft wall
Looking good too!

The basic layout to my futon frame!