Latest Hobby

As mentioned some time ago, I got a new bass for my birthday in March. I wouldn't have gotten $5 for the old one so I decided a while ago to take it apart to see how the electrics worked, just for fun. Then a few days ago I got the more interesting notion to pull it completely apart and resurface it, just to see if I could. Here it is, stripped of all the hardware, before working on it. Very luckily the very day I was figuring out how to go about it, Grandma decided to clear out her basement and gave me a perfect door with two saw horses, which I am using as a really big work bench.

Today I went to Home Depot and got some tools for the trade. First, I need some screwdrivers (or one with lots of different bits) that are not all stripped and mangled.

I couldn't get the screwdriver and its bits out of the packaging before unscrewing the packaging. What if I didn't already own a screwdriver? Very weird.

I also got these devilish sand paper pads which boast this amazing new and innovative "hook and lock" technology (eliminating the need for clamps) which turns out to be velcro. It works very well.

I spent a long time looking at masks and eye protection. Apparently the resin that is used to seal up guitars is very dangerous if inhaled and can irritate asthma--all I needed to hear to motivate me to buy something. There was an amazing variety of styles to choose from: some for lead paint removal, some for asbestos removal, some for mold and mildew treatment, and this one for painting and sanding.

It seemed to take forever to get down to the wood. After grinding off plastic, paint and then more plastic, I finally started to see what was wood--which surprised me, as I thought it might be plastic all the way down.

But then I sanded more and discovered real wood with the grain going in the opposite direction. I still don't know what that first layer was. It was not a very thin layer of wood as it peels away as the resin did.

I also cleaned up the neck which because it is all curves was really tedious. Tomorrow I'll go over it with finer sand paper. And then I have to decide what I am going to do with it. I don't want to just cover it all up with black spray paint all over again. But what?

To the Manor born

 A visit to Hardwick Hall.  "Ah yes, I could get used to this!"

And what visit to a National Trust property is complete without a cream tea?

More work done, more homeless creatures

Today I decided to work on the tree rather than the compost (still waiting for Sassypants and Sassyshorts and Sassyknickers to move out). It toppled over surprisingly easily. Simon was annoyed that I did it when he wanted to. Well, he should have given it a big shove, if he wanted to so badly.After the tree fell to the side, it split and a lot of old bark dropped off. And this little guy was exposed. Another homeless creature. Sigh. Life is too difficult.

Another backyard resident

We have noticed this water balloon of meat with four hands and a face sneaking food out of the duck dish for quite a few weeks. Then yesterday I saw her go to the source: the two buckets of duck and chicken food on our porch. By the time I got out there, she had the lid off, was inside and all I could see was her ample backside hanging out over the top. Her name is Sassypants.I was doing my daily work in the back corner (clearing out finished compost, bagging up sticks and old bark and feeding the chickens unfinished compost when I noticed that the level had gone down about 6 inches on one side of the compost box. I didn't remember getting that much done, but perhaps the rains had...Ah, I see what has happened: Sassypants (along with her two babies) has moved into a small home under the compost box. And done a nice job shifting a lot of rock hard soil, by the look of it. I'm not sure how to proceed at this point. I wanted to clear out this whole back corner before the Fall semester starts, but I don't want to displace a family. Tough decisions.

Thomas's adventures in England, part 1

 Well, we've been pestering the English relatives for proof that our precious firstborn made it to England in one piece, and have finally received some.  Above is a picture taken by Karl, parent of Polly (the blond one) and Thomas, apparently on a road to nowhere.  No explanation was offered.

 Today we received this.  More striding towards the horizon.

 "What a silly horse" Thomas is no doubt thinking.  "But I admire its 'do".

 An alpaca, apparently.  Thomas maintains a cool distance.  You never can tell with camelids.

Thomas and Peter take advantage of a rare patch of sunshine to stand next to bikes and pretend that they're going to ride them.

Eggstravagance!

Today's crop: 5 eggs from 3 hens. Hypothesis, anyone?

More prezzies!

Arrived in the mail yesterday.  Thanks, Grandpa and Margaret!

Birthday Bounty!

After just talking to Granny on the phone about how my presents hadn't arrived, I went outside and found packages!  Thank you all!