YO-YO! YO-YO! A pirate's life for me!

This afternoon the post lady delivered a giant box to the shop. It was a surprise package from my good friend Doug Haffner, owner of Haffner's Fantastic Creations in Illinois. Knowing Doug and his fantastic imagination we couldn't wait to see inside...  It was a fabulous golden TREASURE!

Doug had written (on a beautiful aged scroll) a wonderful story of how a grampa and grand daughter had visited Skallywag Bay and discovered bountiful treasure. The clever gruffles had disguised the treasure as toys. The real treasure we discover is in fact the time and memories we share with those we love. Doug had exquisitely crafted a beautiful aged 'metal' strongbox full of golden yo-yos. Each yo-yo was embossed with the gruffle pirate logo complete with crossed wrenches.

As each of the crew admired the bountiful treasure I could imagine my good friend Doug singing the classic song as he labored on this gift...  YO-YO, YO-YO a pirate's life for me...  THANKS DOUG!

First day onsite

We've been working on the second phase of the Cultus Lake Adventure Park for quite some time. The shop driveway and parking lot has been quickly filling with features for this project along side all the finished pieces for Trinidad already there. Late last week Chris picked up the first fence posts. Their removal didn't make much of a dent in the crowded drive. Today, we broke out the forklift to load the trailer with four of the large barrels and then moved them up to the lake. 

As always, it was with a little trepidation that we hooked up the features and lifted them into position. Everything had been carefully measured and built accordingly but this is when theory meets reality. The barrel sleeves easily slipped over the posts.

The upper portion of the concrete posts will be painted a dark brown to help them disappear. Colored concrete will be poured around the base.

First thing tomorrow morning we load up the trailer again to take some more up to the lake. Stay tuned...

Final assembly done!

It is always fun to do the final assembly of a project. In the case of the MultiCam trade show display the work has been going on for quite some time. Although many of the crew worked on the project I have been in charge of design, making the pieces and assembly. Two trips out of country since I have started has meant the project has been in progress for quite some time. In the last while the painting crew did their magic I have been machining and assembling the final bits of the robot router and the TV stand.

My keeping busy since my return from Trinidad with design and office stuff has meant I needed to spend a little extra time during the evenings and weekend catching up in the shop. It felt like the days of old when I worked largely by myself. With no interruptions I got a lot accomplished in a short while. All the pieces are now assembled with all of the base coats of paint finished. Only the final glazes and touchups are yet to be done.