Peter skillfully applied the last coloured glaze and a few touch-ups to ready the giant shoe for its final departure from the shop. The recycled plastic planks for the upper deck and stairs are on order and will be applied in the parking lot as soon as they arrive. The feature turned out great and will be a great addition to the Storybook Land at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch in Nebraska.
Water test
I spent the morning sourcing and installing the required hoses and fittings to make the water cannon on our parade float functional. When Henry and Juniper arrived after school, they came directly out to the shop to work on the vehicle. They were delighted to see the rapid progress. They were also eager to test the water cannon. We filled the water tank, and Henry graciously allowed Juniper to do the first shot. He soaked everything in sight shortly after. The gun worked spectacularly, but will require a smaller nozzle to ensure a slightly reduced water spray. Our goal is to surprise viewers, not soak them. Over the next week, we will make some adjustments and then test again to make sure it all works perfectly. Stay tuned…
Red Jeep with a surprise
Grandma thought the idea of shooting candy with an air-powered gun could go awry. Henry and I differed, but Grandma’s argument won the day. That meant we had to come up with plan B. We went to town this morning to pick up the parts for a custom water gun we would build and then mount to the Jeep cowl. (tiny stream of water planned). Henry will be in charge of manning the water squirter during the parade. We are keeping that plan top secret until we make a pass by the house during the parade. We have no doubt grandma will be surprised! Building the swivel mount and custom gun was quick and easy, and Henry was over the moon during the testing phase.
With some time left in our work day, it was time to break out the red enamel paint and apply the first coat to the little Jeep. Now it matches the red cannon trailer we’ll tow behind. There is still plenty of work left to do, but we are confident we’ll be ready for the Yarrow Days Parade in two and a half weeks. We hope to see you there!
