The Workshop: Busy times in the shed

Before leaving on a motorcycle trip in early June, I participated - as a short, good-looking vendor - in Gathering on the Green in Wortley Village.

And while selling birdhouses and 'memory boxes' (enough to pay for gas and a down-payment on a special souvenir) I was approached by three separate individuals and asked to take part in upcoming events as 'the birdhouse guy.'

When asked I thought, the birdhouse guy? Do I want to be the birdhouse guy? Do I want 'the birdhouse guy' written on my gravestone? Would it overshadow my planned epitaph - "See? I told you I was sick."


["Two-offs from rescued lumber.": phptos GH]

After much thought I said 'yes' to 66.6 per cent of the invitations.


["More two-offs from easy-to-reach lumber"]

So, though now back from Halifax and primed to write about my adventures, I've been busy in The Shed or workshop.


["Rescued plywood and an old birdhouse. What to do?"]

In order to reach some superb lumber that is hidden in the far corner of The Annex I've been turning easy-to-reach scraps into one-offs. Or two-offs.


["I made four new-and-modified versions of the same thing"]

Nothing is safe from the saw, or from becoming trim.


["I now feel compelled to add trim to every birdhouse. It must be the heat."]

By mid-August, in time for the next sale, I should have more new houses than I can shake a stick at.

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