Test driving a swing.

I slept on the idea of surprising Janis with the porch swing and this morning decided I was going to let Janis in on her birthday surprise early. Janis has never been fond of surprises. Something as front and center as a porch swing needed her input. There were many things to sort out including exact placement as well as how it woud hang. I told her of the present and invited her out for a test drive. Once we had tested it using some temporary supports and adjusted things to perfection I welded up a sturdy frame to bolt into the trusses.

We tested the swing one more time afer it was permanently mounted just to be sure everything was right. Then I wired on the lath in preparation for the sulpting epoxy that would be the final step. The porch swing looked great in it's new home. It sure felt right too!

Peter finished welding the corner tree (the last porch post) today. That only leaves two more posts in the carport area before all the welding on this end of the house is finished. It will only be a little while longer before the lath is all in place and the sculpting will begin. I can hardly wait!

-grampa dan

Birthday bench

Janis has long wanted a porch swing and with her birthday quickly approaching I decided to forge ahead and do it sooner rather than later. Tonight I snuck out to the shop and welded up the bulk of the frame. Over the next 30 days I'll sneak in the hours needed to finish it. It'll be hanging on the porch for her birthday.

I can already hear her comment when we try it out. She'll think it just a teeny bit narrow, forcing us to sit closely together. I'll just smile.

-grampa dan

Planning to relax

Each evening Janis & I walk through the house, observing the day's progress and planning the next day's tasks. Changes and often additions are discussed. Then I sit down and do some drawing to work up what we talked about. It is a fun process.

Today as we looked over the porch with all the cool trees we thought it needed something more. After some discussion we decided a porch swing would be just the ticket. We talked of where it would hang and what it might look like. An ordinary swing wouldn't do. It had to have a heart theme of course to fit into what we were already building and it had to reflect the quality we were working into the rest of the house. Then we came into the house and I began to draw...

For now I'll do little more than beef up the ceiling structure and put the eye bolts into the soffits of the porch but the porch swing will be a cool addition when the house is done. By then we'll need a place to sit and have a little rest.

-grampa dan