Stealing Pictures!

So, since Pat has the camera and I won't see him for another day and a half, I have stolen these photo's from my SIL's blog! I was so glad she posted photos. I am all sappy and love to see pictures of my man! He was true to form and found a project to do while visiting family. He is a "gotta be busy" kind of guy. The fun thing, was he found a very willing little helper! It seems he and Kaylee made a utility rack for Jana & Josh's garage.

I'm a little surprised he didn't have her wearing any safety glasses: Safety is an Attitude!
As I knew he would, he won the girls' hearts. I think everyone just loves Uncle Pat! I know I do! Those are some beautiful girls. I also know they would have loved to have him longer, but I will be glad when he gets home!
Also true to form, my jovial husband was able to show the power of perspective! He often comments on the illusionary effects of hunting photos and felt the desire to demonstrate with his newest niece, Makenna! She certainly has grown! Thanks, Jana, for sharing! (For more, see Jana's blog!)

Valentines Day Gifts

For this Valentines Day, I thought I would dress up a little for Pat to go to church and actually do my hair, makeup, and I even gussied it up and wore my Grandma B's earrings! I guess it's been a while, 'cause I got a LOT of comments! I think it was the earrings, because seriously, my regrowth is becoming horrific. Unfortunately, in our NEED LESS PROJECT, touch up highlights are not on the docket. I digress. Grandma B's FABULOUS earrings:


When we got home from church and redressed in our casual clothes, Pat asked me to help him out in the shop. I thought I would continue my gifting spirit and give him a hand. He asked me to be a guinea pig and test some welding rod that he'd like to use in his upcoming welding lessons.
Oh, you didn't know? Yes, he has had the vision of giving kids an introduction to welding. He is very motivated and excited for this venture and has been working to make up a type of itinerary. He's got one boy on the list to get started this week.
I went out and let him teach me how to weld. I've never stick-welded, so this was a new one for me.

As usual, he was a great teacher! He taught me to strike an arc, how to push the rod into the weld, and coached me to take my time and make sure I penetrated both pieces of metal with the weld. He makes it look easy, and it's a little tricky, but I began to get the feel for it and didn't do too bad!
I think this actually made the better dress-up gift!

My Own Narnia Woods

OK, maybe it's not exactly Narnia, but wouldn't it be cool if it was? Or maybe I'd be able to walk out of my sister's closet?

These are the thoughts I have when I walk through the woods. Especially when I "discover" new areas to me. This is what I've dubbed "the back swamp" way back in the woods. There is a thick row of spruce before it opens up. I was a bit nervous before I made the trek through the proverbial wall of spruce. Well, it's not really proverbial, but I was a little anxious. You never know what you'll find out here. Primarily you'll find houses, but still...you never know.
This back swamp has these humongous tussocks that are now covered in snow making these funny bumps! They are fascinating, but really hard to walk through as you can't tell where the depth actually is. Makes for a funny viewing, I'm sure, but fortunately Pat hasn't gone with me carrying the camera with which to capture those moments. Shucks.
Just wanted to point out the red sided garage with the white trim that matches the house. If I remember correctly, I was returning from a snowshoe walk with the dogs and had to stop and catch my breath before my hip-flexor exploded and noticed how lovely our home looked in the fresh snow. You can hardly even see the targets!

Bumper Magic

If you haven't heard the big story, Pat was called out to a job across the inlet that was supposed to last through spring. I had worked myself up to be able to handle his absence and even went through the toughest days without him and then he called and came home after a couple nights! So much for all that drama.

On a bright note, through all that, he got a little job building a bumper for an x-ray truck! It's a trial run and he may do more, but that one bumper has been an interesting project for the last week. In case you were wondering, the x-ray truck is a mobile dark room that processes x-rays taken of pipe welds. It's fascinating, really!

Since I know you are dying to see the photos, I've got some smashing ones of the Man working in his shop! (we've decided the garage is no longer. it is now a shop.)

Simple does not always equal easy. When it's done right, it looks easy.
Perfection. The bumper looks good, too!
Rough finish. All it needs now is the step and paint!

The step is a pretty ingenious idea of...um...ask Pat about it. It's really great, I just can't explain it well. It's got to do with bolts and threads, and it was really cool to see, but don't ask me to explain it. Just believe me, it was very smart.
Painted and the step is flipped up! This is necessary to allow the step to swing while driving. It's even equipped with the license plate tag.
Installed! Yep, that's me in the green coat. I was an extraordinary helper. Actually I had no idea what to do, but I tried. I don't think I was fired, though. Now that I think about it, I may have some traits that put me on the "keeper" list! Seriously, people, it turned out really nice.