Tomato Cages (White Oak)

~ Chuck ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been trying to get back into the workshop. However, it has been difficult with a 4-month old baby and two middle-school boys here half-time. So I started with simple. I have lots of lumber around and found some extra wire fencing to make some tomato cages. The cages are pretty simple, made from 1″x1″ strips I cut out of a white oak board. They are connected using exterior screws (yes they are designed for pocket-holes, but they work fine here). They are finished with one coat of spar varnish (again, something I had laying around).

I made two cages from the board I cut up, and may have enough lumber left over for a third cage.  I don’t think they turned out too bad for a couple of short evenings worth of work.  Hopefully the white oak will hold up for a few years. I’ll have to see how the L-shape works for a tomato cage.

Detail on the joinery for the tomato cage.
Detail on the joinery for the tomato cage. You can see the discoloration from only having one coat of varnish applied – but they will be outside. I’ll have to remember to recoat the cages in the fall.
In place in the garden (although the legs still need to be pushed through the weed-block fabric).
In place in the garden (although the legs still need to be pushed through the weed-block fabric).

Saturday Morning Hike

~ Chuck ~ 1 Comment

This summer, Ben is spending three days hiking in the White Mountains with my Dad. He hasn’t been too active this winter, so now the warm weather is here, he has to get back into shape for the hike.

This morning we decided to do a quick (and short) local hike up Lantern Hill (1.7 miles). It was a good climb, and a chance for him to break in his boots on a steep hill. We finished the hike in about 50 minutes with breaks and picture stops.

Ben pausing for a picture at the base of one of the rock walls on the hike.
Ben pausing for a picture at the base of one of the rock walls on the hike.
Selfie!
Selfie!
Pausing near the top of Lantern Hill.
Pausing near the top of Lantern Hill.

Dad visits

~ Chuck ~ Leave a comment

The weather this weekend was nearly perfect. Of course it wasn’t quite as nice as it was earlier in the week when I had to spend the day inside at the office (go figure). But it was nice enough to spend a lot of time outside.

My dad is visiting for the weekend – which is extra-exciting for the boys and fun for all. On Saturday we did a hike in the morning (yes, even the dogs enjoy guests). In the afternoon we went to the Preston park to watch Ben play baseball. Preston won. Ben is getting confidence to swing at the ball, even though this time he struck out (but better to swing than to not try at all).

Today we did another hike in the morning. Will joined us by biking ahead down the trail and sitting at his private spot along the stream (just downstream of a small waterfall). Ben is breaking in a new pair of hiking boots, trying to prepare for a three-day trip this summer to the White Mountains with my dad so he didn’t quite hike as far as the rest of us. And Isabella slept most of it.

This afternoon the boys and my dad biked up the hill into Norwich for a snack (donuts – go figure). And after everyone returned the family drove back to Norwich for a nice dinner at a new-ish brew pub. Will was even adventurous enough  to get onions on his hamburger. Ben will eventually get there – just not tonight.

HikingandBiking
The Curtis boys (and baby) looking good while enjoying a hike in the woods.

The two very beautiful Curtis girls dressed up for a nice dinner in town.
The two very beautiful Curtis girls dressed up for a nice dinner in town.

Baby Pictures, baseball and more…

~ Chuck ~ Leave a comment

Today is the final day that Susanna’s sister, Rebecka, is visiting. Tomorrow afternoon, Susanna and Rebecka will drive to Boston and Rebecka will fly back to Sweden.

It has been a busy couple of weeks. Well, a pretty busy 10 weeks since Isabella has been born. It has been too busy for me to post much here, so I just torture the one or two readers with pictures of Isabella. Today I’ll go crazy and add a picture of Ben at his baseball game. Maybe tomorrow I can get him to add one of his game to his own blog.

Ben at bat. I think he was 3-2 at this time and shortly made first on a walk.
Ben at bat. I think he was 3-2 at this time and shortly made first on a walk.

 

I figured I'd spice it up with a picture of Isabella and Tucker. Just like I did two posts ago.
I figured I’d spice it up with a picture of Isabella and Tucker. Just like I did two posts ago.