Sand-tastic

The time has come to address the floor. It really contains the last of the remaining nastiness and crud from the past. Wanna help, boys?

"Pass!"    "What he said!"

That's OK. I wouldn't want a cat tail to get caught in the machinery. 

So we drove into Bad Axe to rent a couple of sanders: one big drum sander and the smaller edging sander. Neither of us had sanded a big floor before, so it was going to be an adventure. As usual!

Here it is after the first few swipes. This machine was pretty tame and easy to use. 

That's the good point.

 But it also left a lot of paint still on the wood.

That's the bad point.

So we used it in conjunction with the edger. The difference in the ease of use was like the difference between holding on to a vacuum cleaner and holding on to the Tazmanian Devil!

Hey, it's like vacuuming! Over and over...

Hey, it's like holding on to a bronco's head! A mad bronco.

Well, it was a long and arduous task, but we made progress.

It's like mowing the lawn!

Except the lawn is making an awful dust!

It's like holding a tornado!

But it turned out to be the only thing that would dig in and get the last of the ancient paint/stain out.

 hours later...

Wheels of grit

We went through some paper. We pay by the sheet, which messed with my thrifty mind. Changing the paper often makes the job much easier, but at $10 a sheet for the large sander and $4 for the small, it makes you think twice. I couldn't help imagining strapping a ten dollar bill under the sander every time we changed the paper. But then after a few shifts on the bronco head, I would have paid more just to make it easier.

Sheets o' used paper

Also, it took us awhile to remember that dust is an irritant.

That's why we bought masks!

So back and forth we went, up and down the boards. And we progressed.

Ride 'im, Cowboy Mike!

I did take turns, but Cowboy Mike forgot to record it! We both were pooped at day's end. But what a change! It was an exhausted but happy glow we had later that evening!

Ahh! Hard work pays off!

Yeah- and nothing good comes easy. And idle hands are the Devil's workshop.

But it's true...

Totally Worth It!

Worth numb hands and sore shoulders?

uh,

YEAH!

Ignore the other-worldly looks, we'll wear masks next time, promise!

Close

So...we left the story before the LAST PAGE was read!! So close, but just not done yet! Read on, to the conclusion of this epistle!

Alright let's open that book up...

Aside: a care package came in the mail. It was labelled "cure for the midwinter jickers," which technically became the spring jickers, as tenacious as the jicker was.

New gloves!! In a size medium!!

Fits like a glove!

Why oh why didn't I stop there?

Glove love!

I'm glovin' it.

Stop! In the Name of Glove...

I just glove your goatee!

What's Glove got to do with it?

Thanks Dad! I glove them!!

So, are we ready for a series of deadly pictures of the last paragraph of the last page of the book of Priming the Ceiling?

First I whipped up a little something...

It's like mixing a cake! 

I needed to make the Kilz smooth sailing for Grindstone Mike.
Go, Mike, Go!

Using an extra nappy roller.

The roller holds so much paint, it's quite heavy.

Too heavy for a girl!

It's definitely a man's job!

Take a Break, old man!!

Hydrating!

Ok, back to work!

Attacking from the other side.

Adjustments must be made. 

OK, focus. The end is near!

You can do it!

"Oops missed a spot...mmmph..."

Nice muscles!

And the exciting conclusion...

The end! for now...

Mike sometimes refers to me as his "lovely assistant" in conversation. So how did I assist? Today, it was simply by cheerleading! From a seated position.

It's Glovely! 

Cheers! Job well done!

I'm a wine glover!

Primed and ready to go!

A glovely conclusion to a glovely day! 

Men at Work!

February has fled, leaving nothing but cold and snow in its wake. March is here, bringing cold air and snow. What the what? But that doesn't slow down progress at the White Church Gallery.

That's why God made boots! 

As predicted, weekend events back home prevented my journey to the Church, but apparently my awesome husband anointed himself court photographer in my absence. He usually shuns the camera, but either he doesn't think I believe he really works when he's there alone, or he secretly enjoys taking pictures of progress! I think it's a little of both...

I do believe he works, because he is very passionate about whatever he does. And he's a very hard worker. Plus...I knew he wouldn't be alone. Thanks to "Captain" Ron Picard, the mammoth job of painting the ceiling was nearly accomplished! So let's see what the boys were up to! 

Ron Picard rolling the ceiling with Kilz!

Ahem, court photographer, is this the first one you took? Looks like you're halfway through! Ha Ha- it's looking good! 

We thought about spraying the paint on, but the first coat needs the attention hand rolling could only give. Hence the circus act these two performed on a system of scaffolding and ladders. Go boys, go! 

Check out the scaffolding-ladder system!

Is he really on his tippy toes? 

Yep, he is! He's a pro! And so it went. 

And just to prove he was rolling too, look what I found on the camera!

I recognize those paint splatters on your glasses! My hero!

And so, here are the results of their hard work. 

View to the front door

Wow. What a difference. Now the cracks look fine. When we had finished the ceiling over the "attic" I thought the cracks made it look dirty, but now it looks great! 

Nice!

Cool- the white ceiling really picks up colors! We were pondering what color we'd paint the ceiling, but we're in love with the lightness of the ceiling, so we'll go with something a shade or two creamier and less blinding softer than stark white. 

Quittin' time!

Looks like there's just a little bit left to prime. Then we can spray the color coat on. 

The next morning, Grindstone Mike went back for some daylight pix- I love it! Nice job, Reluctant Court Photographer!

Early morning light

Yay Kilz!

Oh ho- Mr. Reluctant Photographer shows his true artist colors. Look what else I found on the camera!

Port Austin, looking at the breakwall.

Port Austin, with the Lighthouse in the distance

Port Austin Lighthouse, from Bird Creek Park

Nice work, Mike. I guess someone just earned himself a new job! (As if he didn't have enough to do!)

Hopefully I can help out in the next few weeks, if I can break away from other commitments. Meanwhile, thanks Captain Ron for all your hard work, and thanks, Grindstone Mike, for being you!