Sorry

I apologize for the lack of new content. Work has been more than steady and we are still adjusting to some of our life changes.

If we haven't mentioned it yet, we are now down to two chickens. One is Baldy and the other is a Red Star. They seem to be getting along like the best of buds. Both are molting though so we currently have no egg supply. Unfortunately the three other chickens we had with Baldy got picked off one by one by a hawk so we had to find some company for her quickly. Livestock tends to not do well when isolated. Due to the threat of the hawk we kept Baldy in the coop 24/7. She wasn't used to this and it's actually still the case till we can come up with a solution that works for us.

I'd really like to elaborate about what's going on in my woodworking world but really don't feel like I can do it justice till I am home all the time. My tool collection is steadily increasing as is my library. What is deeply lacking is me getting the experience I need and that will only come with me leaving truck driving permanently.

Today I was able to visit a Woodcraft store. I was pleased to see how inexpensive some lumber is, though I still think that I would feel compelled to order what I wanted instead of purchasing what's in-stock. I looked around at the tools they had for sale and it really made me comfortable with the selection I have.

My next two greatest priorities with woodworking involve a new bench and a milling machine. More will be sure to come after that like a table saw and perhaps a band saw. My choices will really be determined by how much work I have of what types.

Once my bench has been made or ordered my next focus will shift to making a Trying plane. Once I have made it I will have all the planes I need to thickness stock. My focus will then promptly shift to a need for a moving fillister. I'll need it for when I make boxes. It helps in making a rabbet around the bottom to raise the interior into the box. It all helps with the gluing surface as well. Depending on how lids are made a moving fillister can help with them as well. Usually the moving fillister will remove the bulk of the material and a rabbet or shoulder plane will come in and more accurately remove the rest. These tools are a real treasure to use.

I've got alot of experience that I need. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm only 29, so many times I think I'm 59 and the clock is ticking. Truth is I'm fine and have plenty of time ahead of me. Of course at this point having sufficient time to read the quantity of material I would like, would also help alot in advancing my "career". I'm not sure what my future holds, only what I would like to do.

Lord bless you in your path

Michael