New Insulation Video!

The Blacksmith Shed was recently insulated after scoring poorly on an energy audit conducted by Building Performance Retrofitters (BPR).  What follows is a video demonstrating the methodology of making a building with a few air leaks super tight.

Wednesday Zen 5

In honor of all the tiki bar action that has taken place over the last few weeks:

"It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river, laying on our backs, looking up at stars, and we didn't even feel like talking aloud."

-Mark Twain

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Now that the tiki bar is tightened up, its time to refocus efforts on the hunting cabin.

Bar Rail Manufacture and Install

Jay suggested a bar rail on the dutch door as a place to store a cold lemonade while in the bunk room.  I manufactured a rail out of ipe (sustainably harvested brazilian hardwood) to match the dutch door dividing inlay.  The bar rail has cocentric indexes for different circumference drinks.  Below are pictures of the manufacture and install of said bar rail:

And there was a concept...

Gave 'er the ol turn and burn treatment.

A little sealer...

Clamp action for the install assist.

Didn't have a lemonade handy so I had to make do.

Finished product accomodates bottles, cans, highball glasses, and coozied beverages.

Workshop and Bunkroom Panorama

I borrowed David's newfangled camera and took this panorama of the workshop space and the bunk room:

Workshop Panorama

Bunk Room Panorama

Another Excuses, Excuses Post and Exciting Filler Material

BigTuna has been on a bit of a hiatus with Carter in final stretches of tax season so not much progress STILL on the blacksmith shed.   Luckily Carter's silly work engagements ended today and we do have the floor boards to replace some rotten areas,  the last two window sashes, and all the paint needed to finish the roof on hand.  We also expect to have a very productive weekend as we have yet another expert visiting the site and allowing us to use his expertise to make the shed more energy efficient - but that will be for next week's blog. 

For this week we have a slightly off topic, but no less exciting, TIKI BAR UPDATE!

Andy's raft project from last summer has been converted to a super sweet semipermanent fixture on the mighty Rappahannock River at Flintshire Farm. 

We did some grading to make a nice path down to the river edge for easy Tiki Bar access.  This is what it looks like after the fine grading, seeding, and straw.  Now we just need some rain. 

  We added some walking stones to make access easy for even the clumsiest of Tiki Bar attendees. 

We made a sweet ramp with steps so you can walk right on out to the party. 

 We made the ramp like a drawbridge so if the Tiki Bar needs to be removed for a flood or if you just want to unhook and float down river you can just pull the ramp up.

Natasha, Hudson, and I spent some family time on the Tiki Bar to make sure it was as nice as we hoped it would be. 

Check this blog frequently the check Tiki Bar party dates and to post drink requests. 

Till next week,
BigPerm out.

Lanterns Arrived!

The Feuerhand Lanterns arrived this week and they are everything a lantern enthusiast could hope for and more.  Allow me to let you in on some of the excitement:

Hopefully, you too felt like you just discovered the Feuerhand #276 Cold Blast Lantern for the first time.

'Merica

I felt like we were lacking in the decor department (ahem, Natasha) so I hung an American flag in the shop space.  The juxtapostion of old and new seems strangely fitting.  The Virginia flag will have to go in a truly prominent location...