What a year… It has both been a long year and a short year… confusing I know, basically it seemed like a very short year work wise it just whizzed by. But on the flip side a long year that seem to drag on at home with the major project the bar. At one stage I thought I wasn’t going to get it to a usable stage for xmas and new year due to water proofing it, then other little things hampered my efforts including motivation and a little depression.

My pride and joy motorcycle (Ducati ST4s) was having Ducati issues basically Italian electrics, Xaria’s hours at her work have been reduced. Winter seemed to just drag on, all just which made things worse… Then all started to fit together, the bar is more than a usable state for New Year (while not 100% done it only has small touch ups to do, little things I can do later on. Every time I go down to the bar now I can just sit and relax, I don’t have to think how am I going to do this and finish it by … it is awesome.

I have been also doing a work in progress with the under floor insulation and that too a bit of effort to do as well but the front end of the house is done so that is good… but still have the main part of the basement to do.

So what projects have I actually done this year? Well obviously the bar which took up 90% of my time, effort and resources, the bar included the actual bar, to making the french doors etc.. been a long slow process. But there were also some smaller projects that were also thrown in the mix as well like the New Zealand 3D Flag which was a lot of fun to make as it was all from scrap wood. There was also the glass bottle holder another fun project as well as some simple toys that were simple and easy to make. I also made a couple of paper storage shelves for Xaria out of some old MDF. While I have not finished it as I have had other priorities there is the new head board made from our old bed, which I think is going to work quite well.

The other good thing for this year was the buying of my dust extractor on special though I have not even put this up yet as I have no room till I start the next stage of the basement. I also bought a new midi lathe which was cool and I have been tinkering and want to get a chuck for it.

For xmas Xaria and I made the quilt wall hanging, admittedly Xaria did all the hard work with the quilt while I just made a simple and I mean simple frame for it to be secured to.

I am hoping in the coming weeks to make some more simple projects I have a list as long as piece of string and it is very long piece of string I might add. Some medium and smaller projects which I find are fun. Still coming when budget allows is the bigger projects like our back stairs down to the deck from our upper deck. The craft room for Xaria and I still have so much more to do in the basement and am hoping to start another section soon… so keep an eye out for updates there.

So as you can see that is the long and short of it… So what have you been up to?

Regards
Nighthawk