19 June 2019

First the good news: the north wall of the barn is completely shingled.  Now for the “other” (not fake) news: I cleverly cut the wrong end off all those 10⅝″ long shingles yesterday and the NicoDerm CQ patch I put on the air compressor didn’t work… she went back to smoking and sounding very sick (the original meaning, not the new jargon) this afternoon.  And now the $100 (literally) Murphy’s Law question: when will the air compressor finally die?  Will it survive until the west (and final) wall is shingled?  Stay tuned…

 

18 June 2019

Like magic, another 19 square feet of shingles got put on the north wall of the barn today.  Two more courses to do to finish that wall!  As there is only a ⅛″ difference east to west in that wall’s height, used the radial arm saw to cut a whole bunch of previously rejected shingles (‘cause they were blemished on what would have been the exposed face) to 10⅝″ long (the length needed for the penultimate course), thereby removing said blemishes and keeping up my reputation for being miserly.

17 June 2019

Another 19 square feet of shingles miraculously became attached to the barn’s north wall.  Air compressor continued to work perfectly.  Go figure!





16 June 2019

Amazing what the prospect of being shot at dawn does for one’s motivation to stay alive.  Not me; the air compressor… which worked perfectly all day.  Another drizzly day; thank goodness for two foot overhangs on the barn roof.  Put another 22 square feet of shingles on the north wall.  What a great way to spend Father’s Day!

15 June 2019

Alas, I fear another funeral happening in our near future!  Late this afternoon the Bostitch air compressor started making a very strange and disturbing noise, then copious amounts of smoke (with a distinct aroma of burning electrical components) issued forth from the top of the beast.  These are not good portents!  Air compressor no work = pneumatic staple gun no work.  In spite of those tribulations, got another 45 square feet covered on the barn’s north side.  The lake level finally is ½″ below the top of the dock; the temperature is up to a very swimmable 67°.


14 June 2019

Spent time in the shop this morning crafting some sturdy leg extensions for my step ladder and Little Giant so that the ladders will sit fairly level on the significant side hill that exists between the barn foundation and our driveway.  Obviously, should have done that little project years ago!  Over the next week will be working high off the ground on planking running between those two ladders and the Kubota’s work platform… and have already taken one swan dive too many off a ladder this summer.  Then, using said planking, Chree helped me put up the rest of the Slicker® on the barn’s north wall.  Rain showers off and on all day.  With a two foot roof overhang, working was not too miserable except when I leaned over and stuck my rear end out past the drip line.  Now that will get your attention!  By quitting time, another 17 square feet of shingles were permanently attached to the north wall.

 

13 June 2019

Got a whopping 6.4 square feet (yes, that’s a decimal point between the six and the four) of shingles applied to the north side of the barn before the rains they come.  Early afternoon the raindrops abated, so put another 11 square feet of shingles on the north wall.  With the cold front passage, the wind got quite brisk… as did the outdoor temperature!  June in Vermont: time to break out the long underwear!

12 June 2019

With very helpful guidance from Chree, used our 1,100 pound lawn roller to flatten out the croquet court this morning; beaucoup rain this spring, tree felling discombobulations, and the agricultural tires on the Kubota all having lumped the back lawn something fierce.  Then started work shingling the north side of the barn, getting just under 22 square feet done before needing a strong G&T some La-Z-Boy® time and prescription strength Ibuprofen.




10 June 2019

The east side (garage door end) of the barn is all shingled.  Put on just under 20 square feet today… every one of which had to be custom cut for the top two courses.  Found that cutting the shingles to length right up on the staging using my battery-powered jigsaw to be much faster that schlepping the shingles down to the shop in order to cut them on the radial arm saw.  Now have used approximately 37% of the shingles and have sided approximately 40% of the barn… so looks like I bought just about the right amount.  Fingers crossed…

 

9 June 2019

Continued shingling the east side, getting another 15 square feet covered.  Sauna in the evening, per our usual Sunday routine.  Lake still is ¼″ above the top of the dock, but my, oh my, does the water feel good after spending some quality time soaking up 180° heat!

8 June 2019

Fabricated and installed the Koma® blocking for the barn’s exterior spotlights.  Also installed the 4″ round electrical junction boxes to which the spotlights will be affixed.

 

7 June 2019

Continued putting shingles on the barn’s east side, very cleverly using the work platform that fits onto the Kubota’s forks.  Got just over 20 square feet done.  Late afternoon dawn suddenly occurred over Marblehead (that would be me) when I remembered that blocking for the two exterior spotlights has to be put on the east wall before the shingles go on.  Fortunately, the two locations where Chree says would be best for the lights have (just barely) not been shingled yet.  Whew!

 

6 June 2019

Continued putting shingles on the barn’s east side, getting a tad over 24 square feet covered.

5 June 2019

Finished the last half course of shingles on the barn’s south side, then transitioned to the east side.  In addition to getting the screen and most of the yellow mesh Slicker® attached to the east side, put on one 39″ x 4⅞″ bottom course.

 

3 June 2019

Shlomo was laid to rest in our garden this morning.  Very sad!  He was a great little doggie and will be sorely missed.  In some sort of omen from on high, it hailed for a few minutes while Chree and I were in the midst of filling in Shlomo’s grave.