Smoothing Stones: May 2009

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Good news, Bad news....

The good news is... I have been able to sleep through the night most nights for the last two weeks :)

The bad news is... this is why.

I'm going to have a thumbsucking habit to break in little James. But I guess it's worth the extra ZZZZs.

Mother's Day

I was going to do a daybook, but I don't have the time.

So I'll use this entry to honor Our Heavenly Mother, the most pure mother of Our Lord, who's month it is.

Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful: O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Happy Mother's Day!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

The door frames

Dad thought it would be cool to make a rounded door, so after some internet research, he came up with a plan.

First we needed something to form the board to in order to make it bend the right shape. This old tire bolted to this board, and straps ready to hold it in place untill it cools, will work just fine...

Now, in order for the board to bend, it must be made pliable. Steam is the fastest way to do that. So, Dad made a steambox out of 1x12 cedar (the same stuff we used for the floor) .

He inserted supports along the length of the box to keep the board from sagging inside the box. And a hole drilled in the top let us insert a meat thermometer to make sure that it reached a sufficient board bending temp. We found some usefull instructions here .

We took the side burner off of the gas grill to heat the water with. These pics are from our second attempt. The first was successful. The second try failed because the board (pictured) had a grain pattern that caused it to split instead of bend :( But the first one turned out well and here it is installed. I'll post more pics when we do the upper story door frame.

Isn't it cute!

And here's what Daniel likes to do in his spare time, build his own cars out of leftover lumber.

Who needs a Suburban!?!

To love a child

If I live in a house of spotless beautywith everything in its place,but have not love,I am a housekeeper--not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing,polishing, and decorative achievements,but have not love,my children learn cleanliness--not godliness.
Love leaves the dustin search of a child's laugh.Love smiles at the tiny fingerprintson a newly cleaned window.Love wipes away the tearsbefore it wipes up the spilled milk.Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.Love crawls with the baby,walks with the toddler, runs with the child,then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.Love is the key that openssalvation's message to a child's heart.
Before I became a motherI took glory in my house of perfection.Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.As a mother, there is much I must teach my child,but the greatest of all is Love.

-- Author Unknown

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Fort catch-up

With the floor in place, it is time to put up the pre-built wall frame. And when moving something heavy, always use something with wheels :)

The boys helped to move the wall frames...

and to hold them straight while Dad lag bolted (pre drilled of course) them to the floor. If you didn't notice, the frames are also painted (or going top be), to keep down the weather damage that they may encounter

I took alot of muscle to keep it straight sometimes. And many power tools to fasten it together :D

And here's the paint crew.

Daniel's finally able to swing a hammer. He's our natural builder. He is walling the inside of the fort with plywood so that we can paint it.

So now the fort has a foundation, floor,frame, and walls. The boys are having a-lot of fun building it, not to mention the learning that is going on :)