Randomness in Pictures

A couple weeks ago, Pat and I took a little overnighter to Homer.  We wanted to take a little time away and we always have such good talks when we drive!  It was a nice trip and we were able to visit a garage sale and pick up some pex tubing for our future house project!  It was evidently a great place to curl up for a nap!

Last weekend, Pat and I worked in the shop together.  He, being a gifted teacher, has been working with me on my welding.  I worked myself up to TIG welding, and I have to say I like it.  It is very clean, quiet and pretty. My only gaff was that I got the fire a bit too close to my pinky and shrunk my glove with a burn!  Oops!  I have a way to go to master it, but I'm getting the feel.

We decided we needed a couple more plant hangers for the front of the house.  We drew them out, torched them out, ground them down and had them up in no time!  It was a great project for me to practice some of the steps.  I've done some torch work on more of the Alaska to Africa crosses, and now I can grind a bit.  With my welding, I'm about set to do my own projects!  I must admit, it's kinda fun.  Plus, it's a fun way to spend time together.

Viola!

Pat's working on another project that we'll be presenting in a couple more days...this was a fun one!

These yolks were from a client who brought them from Africa.  They were teak oxen yolks that we made into plant hangers.  I'll have better pictures soon, but they are too cool not to share!  These provided the income to purchase a much needed air compressor (and more)!

I've not had a moose shot in a while!  These guys have been seen in the neighborhood quite a bit.  Cute little bugger!  I'm just not sure who it was who ate my snap peas and Ashleaf Spirea, but if it was this little cutie, I guess I can't be too mad.

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!