Thursday, July 14, 2022

Gates Are Finished, And More "Small Steps"

 The gates have been completed, and we've already used the new gate on the North side several times.

Makes it MUCH easier to access the backyard when you're in the front.

 

The small shed will go back here late Fall, early Spring.

I'll get one big enough to hold the garden tools and some other items, but small enough to allow easy access to the gate.

The next project will be to get this basement egress window well squared away.

It's been like this since we bought the house almost five years ago, and we're thankful it hasn't gotten any worse.

The aluminum tower is my antenna mount for my satellite antennas. Still not sure what I'll do with it.

And over on the South side of the house, we have the replacement gates.

From the back:

And from the front: 

These should be strong enough to withstand the storms we get here, but I'm still going to use a ratchet strap in the Winter.

Both Little Guys were over for their visit today, and the littlest one is right on the edge of full-fledged walking. He can take three or four steps before he goes down on his rear end, but if he can have one hand on something, it's off to the races!

Just about finished rebuilding the transport mechanism for the Pioneer cassette deck I've been working on. It was dirtier than first examination revealed, so *everything* had to be taken apart, cleaned of old grease and grunge, and put back together. 

And it almost takes a Watchmaker's skill to do so! Many small plastic washers *of various thicknesses* that have to go back where they came from to keep the clearances In Spec, tiny springs and screws, and .....GASP! Numerous "E-Clips" to hold things together.

These things:

One trick I've learned over the years is to have a small, powerful magnet in your hand when you pop them off the shaft. They have a tendency to go sailing across the room, and they're a PITA to find teen-tiny ones in the carpet! The magnet keeps them from getting away, and is a good 'storage space' for them.

My son signed the lease on an apartment today, so he'll be moving out. Living here, he's 30some miles away from where he works. His new place is TWO MILES from his shop. He'll be driving far less, and burning much less fuel. He also won't need to continue renting his storage space, so that's another savings.

I'll sure miss having him around, though.

Y'all have a great weekend, and Be Safe Out There....





16 comments:

  1. Glad your son got his place. It is a good neighborhood for a young man.

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    Replies
    1. He's pretty quiet, and keeps a low profile. But it looks like there's a lot of places that cater to young 'uns in the area.

      Delete
  2. The upgrades in your fence & surrounds look great - congrats!

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    Replies
    1. Well worth the cost to get it done right.

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  3. The gate looks good. I'm sure that you've sealed the wood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope, and probably won't. The pickets are easily replaceable, the frames are steel, and the new posts are pressure-treated.

      Delete
  4. Great news on the progress and the gates look GOOD!

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  5. Good to see the results of your projects. Everything looks like it should.

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  6. " small enough to allow easy access to the gate." Just put a door at each end. E-clips and springs and thing-go to a tire store and get some tire storage bags to work inside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The shed will be a prefab unit. Our handyman says you simply can't build one from scratch for what they sell the kits for.

      Delete
    2. Check your zoning codes. Putting a shed there may violate "setback" or fence line type rules. Sometimes you can skirt them by having the shed on runners, so it isn't a fixed location per se.

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    3. Not a problem here. They're everywhere. We have NO HOA, and zoning allows it.

      Delete
  7. The dreaded flying e-clip. I'll have to remember the magnet trick. I have been known to place a cardboard box on its side with the equipment inside it to contain flying parts going any direction except toward me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've done the same thing, or taken stuff apart inside a gallon size Zip-Loc bag. As Ritchie mentioned above, you can get huge plastic "Tire Bags" at local tire stores, like I keep the wife's snow tires in during off season.

      Delete

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Gloomy, Gritty, Grey Day

 At 1700 local it's as described in the headline; 30*F, 88% RH, completely overcast, snowing like crazy (small flakes, but lots of them)...