For the past week, Ron and I along with our wives have been relaxing just outside Gatlinburg, Tn in the Smokie Mountains. What a relaxing time we have had. Each morning waking up to a wonderful view.

 

We also have a local Black Bear that has residence here close to the house where we are staying. He seems to pay us a visit in the mornings between 7:00 and 8:00 and we have yet to see him with our own eyes. We have gotten the pictures off the security cameras and we have been sitting only feet away in the house and didn't notice him.

 

He decided to check out my truck bed the other morning.

 

Here are his mudding paw marks and he did no damage to my vehicle.

 

Then he wonders off around the house un-noticed by us.

 

 

Ron and I took a little time the other day at the indoor shooting range here.

 

 

After I shot a couple of mags we sited in his AR-15.

 

Other than a lot of relaxing and riding through the mountains that has been about it for us. 

 

We will head out for home on Sunday so not shop time for us this weekend.

 

What about you all, what's on your agenda for this weekend?

The "boss" has not let me in on the plan this weekend - it might be another trip up north to bring more of her stuff back and a little more staging for the sale, maybe not. We bought a new stove a few weeks back and it WAS supposed to be delivered either today or tomorrow, but now they say it won't hit the store till Monday, so the stove trials will be next weekend now, not this weekend.

Today: finishing up refinishing a drawer front and adding new doors on kitchen cabinets (replacing a wine rack with doors/storage).  Going to visit daughter's family for dinner.   Putting first coat of varnish on mission-style nightstand for grand-daughter.

Tomorrow: Going to New  Life Furniture Bank to lead a group of 6+ volunteers building tables, Finishing up construction on a work table and hanging a large whiteboard / bulletin board assembly with French Cleats.

Sunday: Stripping cabinets, drawer fronts and doors on MBR bath cabinets.  People who rehabbed the house prior to purchase should have read the article on painting cabinets -- terrible job, gummy finish that peels off with a fingernail.  Will be a complete re-do.

That range at Pigeon Forge is very nice, but it is loud indoors even with protection. Got to do a little weed elimination today. Rough turning out some bradford pear. Found out last night that the demo for next weekend turning club failed so I will demo the flowers I am working on , plus will experiment on double blossum.

Been trying to get some turning time in and have managed a bit here and there.  Couldn't get the hot water to shut off properly in the shower last night.  Need to check into that today.  Did I say I hate plumbing?

Got the shower fixed without having to leave the house.  The faucet is the old replaceable washer type.  The head of the screw that holds the neoprene washer in place corroded off.  It is a good faucet and I have taken care of it over the years.  I use plumbers grease on all the threads and it came apart and went back together easily.  I didn't mind plumbing so much today!

 

 

Playing on the lathe. A friend sent me some wood and I'm trying it on the lathe. We'll see how it goes!

 

Note to self: Don't make Ron or John mad!!

5 hours ago, Gerald said:

That range at Pigeon Forge is very nice, but it is loud indoors even with protection  

 

 

You're right it is loud and a little dark when you run the target out to 25 yards. But it was fun and I always like to get in a little shooting time each week. 

 

I have a good set of ear protectors since I'm a range officer at our indoor range and am in the range for hours at a time. 

 

 

 

Did a short "Road Trip" today.....

 

Might get some Dovetails made tomorrow...

 

Yard Sale this morning  said "TOOLS".....none were what I was looking for...Bummer. 

Got off work this morning at 5AM, and just relaxing for today.  I have a beginning bowl turning class at the Woodcraft store in Tulsa tomorrow.  Hopefully, I won't get lost this time, and will make it on time.  (Read about my adventure last Saturday in the Turners forum.)  I will probably try to get there early enough to buy a EWT mid-size roughing gouge before the class, and learn with "my own tool".  I thought last Saturday for the Learn to Turn class went well, once I finally got there, so am excited to follow up with the bowl class tomorrow.  I'll post how it goes either on this forum, or on the turner's forum.

As promised above, here is the report.  Got on the road early for Tulsa. Had bad weather almost all the way.  Drove into a downpour in Tulsa while looking for my turn off, and of course I missed it.  Luckily, it wasn't too hard to turn around and get to the store, this time an hour early.  I really enjoyed the class, and since I was the only one there, besides the instructor, I  got a lot of really good instruction.  Turned  small bowl from Sycamore, finished with sanding sealer and high friction polish.

This is the bowl, coffee cup for size reference.

OK, I know it doesn't compare with what some of you guys do, but hey!  I am just learning.  More importantly, I'm having fun doing it, too.

51 minutes ago, PostalTom said:

OK, I know it doesn't compare with what some of you guys do, but hey!  I am just learning. 

Let me tell you, that's a HECK of a lot better than my first bowl!

5 hours ago, PostalTom said:

OK, I know it doesn't compare with what some of you guys do, but hey!  I am just learning.  More importantly, I'm having fun doing it, too.

 

That bowl looks nice. Possibly a good candidate for oatmeal!

 

My daughter/son-in-law lives just out of Tulsa near Owasso. We have been to that Woodcraft store also.

What a great first effort Tom!

Cal

Thanks everyone for the kind words of encouragement.

 

 

Nice looking bowl Tom.  I remember chasing my first bowl across the shop a couple times after a bad catch.  Be sure to post it in the Turning Forum.  We could use the extra traffic over there.