favourite cabin

When I one day build my cabin in the woods (or under the blue spruce in my backyard), I'll use western cedar.

["If you see smoke curling from the chimney, pop by"]

The cabin will smell delicious and be slightly bigger than the one above.

Photo by GH

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Please click here to view Birdhouses: Favourite Photos

dressed up, someplace to go

Seven birdhouses are going on a trip. Now that they've been all dressed up...

["Two-tiered rooves looks AOK"]

["Three-tiered rooves look AOK"]

["Western cedar cabins smell AOK"]

I'll collect them into my arms - I'm quite the juggler - and carry them to a shelf in the basement.

'Cause I need room in the shop for my next project.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to view 'second coat of lime green?'

job wanted

London's unemployment will likely be at 10% by mid-spring.

One reason:

Doctored photo from yachtown.com by GH

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Please click here to read '10% unemployment is coming'

10% unemployment is coming

The Corporation of the City of London is not the only center of a depressed region in Ontario but it is the one closet to my front porch. 9.6% unemployment figures in March may be telling us that political and business priorities may not be working, may not be healthy for a growing number of London's citizens (and likewise in other faltering regions).

[Photo of London Free Press, April 6, 2013] 

A few thoughts cross my mind:

London may break the 10% unemployment line by mid-spring. Action is required before more families suffer degradation.

Mayor Fontana's election of 10,000 new jobs sounds so far-fetched, rooted in nothing resembling reality. Did anyone actually believe him?

Many job creators are not using their low corporate tax rate to create new jobs. Some record high profits and then hire off-shore staff.

If the job-creators do not create jobs, government should do so. Higher corporate tax rates may be in order to stimulate the economy before more families fail.

["Why high unemployment?" London Free Press, April 6]

More people now graduate from school to face the bleakest of prospects. If big business (Harper's job-creators) and governments don't create jobs soon, 11% unemployment is next.

What thoughts cross your mind?

Photos by GH

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Please click here to read about 'Thing$ going North$$'

cold fact

The day came together in a synchronized manner. New project. New tunes.

The bee houses were easy to assemble. 'Cold Fact' by Sixto Rodriguez was easy to listen to as the dust flew.

I think his second CD is around here somewhere too. Perfect for another afternoon in the workshop.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to read 'totally synchronized'

birdhouse hits a home run

I've had some practice building log cabins, so when I felt my first triplex for a local ballpark was too small, I knew how to bump up the size - in more ways than one. A full page of new plans came together almost faster than one can say 'Jackie Robinson' three times.

I expanded the dimensions of the base, and added two more tiers of logs to the height, of the central duplex. The two small attached apartments are larger than before as a result. I say, the bases are loaded.

["Two rooves have dark cedar highlights. Base hit."]

There is now ample blank space on the walls for bits of trim related to the historic game of baseball. I guess I'd better get back to work.

["What will look good on that big blank wall?"]

Photos by GH 

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Please click here to view 'Birdhouses: Favourite Photos'

eyeball to eyeball

When I put plastic pop bottles on my clotheslines, on both sides of a pair of bird feeders, three things happen:

My wife wonders what I'll do next

Local squirrels are stymied in their attempts to get a free lunch

I get the evil eye from one of them

But I don't feel sorry. A third feeder is easy to get to - for the most agile.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to view 'bird watching bird'

smile. you're on candid oatmeal

Why is it that people who love their oatmeal really love their oatmeal?

As my friend Rob says, "Any day is oatmeal day regardless of the weather - it's substantial & good for you"

I made extra the other day so bowl #2 is now smiling at me... but I think it has pink eye.

["Naw, it's just a cranberry"]

Photos by GH

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Please click here to read oatmeal weather

second coat of lime green?

I think it's lime green, or some kind of green at least. Something I mixed up myself using leftover bits and some of this and that. Carefully stirred.

A few easy, enjoyable steps are usually what I follow:

cut, sand, assemble a couple of birdhouses

apply a coat of primer to each

apply first coat of lime green (don't eat the paint)

next day, look around for 30 minutes for the brush, to apply the last coat

Where did I put the doggone brush!

Photos by GH

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Please click to read 'next 3 jobs'

oatmeal weather

I don't have a complete definition of 'oatmeal weather' but I think today definitely qualifies. Don't you?

I stuck my nose out the front door just for a second earlier this morning and sniffed the breeze. Cool, damp, gray, mysteriously unsettled for an April 11. I immediately thought, time for oats.

Oats and cranberries and raisins and bran. Bananas if we've got 'em.

Photos by GH

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Please click here for 'caught by surprise'

live small, eat less

We are eating too quickly.

Slow down and enjoy the view.

Toon by GH

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Please click here for more 'live small'

bird watching bird

I left my backyard shop the other day, camera in back pocket, and spotted a mourning dove sitting on a wire not far away.

Alone for the moment, like me, I thought. But our mates must be nearby because - so it seems - we both mate for life.

I heard a rustle of wings and a short cooing sound over my shoulder. I looked up and spotted the other dove on another wire. Perhaps watching its mate, and waiting in line for a spot at my busy bird feeder.

I walked into the house, Soon thereafter another matched set sat down for supper together.

Photos by GH

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Please click here for more bird watching

totally synchronized

Some days it just happens. Easy-kapeasy job, matching music.

Assemble the duplex. Easy. Turn on the air compressor, load up on nails.

Pop in a CD. Perfect. Once the job is done I'll escape.

Scott free!

Photos by GH

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Please click here to read 'next 3 jobs'

Toronto Maples Leafs

One fan of hockey in the workshop has been a long time supporter of the Maple Leafs.

And, yes, the shop does have cable. (White cable can be seen in lower left of photo below.)

I just have to clear a space on the workbench for the TV.

The playoffs are around the corner.

Photo by GH

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Please click here to read Hockey Day in Canada by G.Harrison

evening rain

Photo by GH

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Please click here to view 'right place, right time'

next 3 jobs

They're not on any list. I've been doing this long enough to know the next three jobs off by heart.

Paint 'em.

Stack 'em.

Then set aside a day this week to do the 'full on trim package.'

Maybe Friday. 'Cedar' results here.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to read 'only $3?' by G.Harrison

Birdhouses: Favourite photos

Yesterday, a bit of rain

made the sawhorse kinda slippy.

Inside, the cubbies were all dry

but the shelves were kinda tippy.

Photos by GH

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Please click here for more from the workshop

only $3?

From a small, $3 bundle of cedar slats I was able to produce three log cabin birdhouses. Two have rooves made from old pine that came off the sides of my house (during a reno 5 years ago).

There may be no such thing as a free lunch but there are still some bargains out there.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to view a contest I could win

intermission missions

I've been following some local hockey games over the last few years and during intermissions I usually do one of four things, i.e., go for coffee, chat with seatmates, stretch my legs or sketch my next plan for a birdhouse. (I know, I gotta get a life).

"How about a 'tiered roof' model?" I asked myself recently while two Zambonis made their rounds. I replied, "Draw it up." I had about 12 minutes left on the clock.

["I plan to cut the sides at 7 degrees"]

["Yup. The roof slats will be properly spaced"]

I cut, painted and assembled two birdhouses over the last two days with peaked rooves cut at a 45 degree angle. My impression is that the next pair will look better cut at a 31.5 degree angle and that contrasting colours of cedar will look better than paint.

That's just my impression but I'll likely know more by Friday, after the next hockey game.    

Photos by GH

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Please click here for more from the workshop

Beach towels from Port Bruce? Pa da bum.

My drop sheets in the shop, and elsewhere, are old beach towels and recently they helped produce a laugh.

Last week, while painting trim in a couple's kitchen in Byron - with four beach towels protecting the floor - I was asked by the home owner where I got such colourful drop clothes.

["Where did I get this towel?"]

I said, "From the beach at Port Bruce, last summer."

My comment produced a blank stare so I added, "And I had to move fast."

Finally, I got a laugh using one of my tired old lines.

I recalled my success yesterday while adding blue paint to two birdhouses and thinking up new material.

Photo by GH

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