Yesterday was officially a vacation day in the shop, but I was itching to do at least a little - just for fun. I decided to cut the pieces and weld up a custom little table designed for the new laser engraver that is on the way. Because the laser weighs in at just under 400 lbs, I knew it had to be sturdy. Four-inch tubing for the legs was definitely overkill, but the castor wheels welded to them perfectly. Just for good measure, there’s a 2” x 2” square tube subframe under the quarter-inch-thick plate top. We are ready to set up the machine as soon as it arrives. Each evening, I am creating test drawings, and I’m studying the operating manual and watching instructional videos to help get up to speed as quickly as possible. This is going to be fun! Stay tuned…
Timber!
Today a skilled crew began the sad task of removing the giant walnut tree that has lived in our yard for almost a century. The tree was one of the wonderful things that made us fall in love with the property when we bought it almost twenty-three years ago. It was most likely one of the first trees planted when they reclaimed the land that was Sumas Lake in 1928. Our old house (gone for ten years) was one of the first constructed when this area was settled by the Mennonites. Over the last years we’ve watched as the branches of the giant gradually died off from the tips. Recent wind storms have brought down some large limbs and we, along with our arborist, in the interest of safety, felt that the inevitable could no longer be put off. In anticipation of this day we began planting new trees twenty years ago and they have gotten to be of good size. Even so, this old giant beauty will be missed.
Christmas 2025
Today was the day that Henry, Juniper, Grandma and Grampa had been waiting for. Christmas shopping and other preparations have been underway in the background for a while, but today was the time to bring out the Christmas decorations and put them on display. As has become our tradition, the kids and I assembled the tree and strung the garlands while Grandma sorted the containers of ornaments. There were plenty of ornaments to choose from, each handmade by a member of our family and each one with a unique story. The kids then got to pick out their favourites and place them on the tree. As we decorated, we talked about who made each one, remembering those now gone and fondly thinking of those far away. To keep things civil and fair, both kids shared the task of placing the angel on top. Our house is now ready for this year’s celebration! Merry Christmas, all!
