Rotary Issues

 The throbbing rotor has been cured. It was one of the worst yet. My usual method for stubborn rotors is to cut into the raised drum so that I can force a chisel between the hub and the rotor. In this case, I cut all around and separated the raised centre from the rotor face before I could break it free. Tommy suggests using No Seize; I've used such products before (and messed up the wheel nuts on the van with it), but perhaps the Bostik brand will yield better results. I realize that the reverse face of the disk was the problem. I think the slides seized so that the inner pad remained constantly on and built up a thick glaze on the rotor surface. When I freed the caliper and slides, the inner pad was able to press more firmly, and this cracked away part of the glaze, creating an uneven surface that throbbed like a warped rotor. Anyway, it's smooth as silk and the car is getting better gas mileage. 

Getting High

 The vent stack and chimney have been leaking and it has been getting worse. I erected this tower and built a ladder up to the peak, removing sheet metal screws from the roof and replacing them with rungs fixed by 4-inch GRKs. I installed a new metal/rubber flashing over the rather ad hoc one made by Keith's crew, and caulked them both. Then I sealed up the upper rim of the chimney, screwed a rain cap on, and bolted and caulked on a water deflector that Boris assembled while I was working. We've had heavy rains since and not a drop has crept in. Good! 

Flow Soft...

 Usually, by late July, the little crick is just a dry mud path through the property. This year, the rains came in July, not June, so it is still verdant and flowing. The same is true of the Nashwaak; it was fully enough for a good kayak with the kids earlier this month, and I think the level has actually risen, so we should be able to take the lovely North channel, if we can find some time this weekend.

Sinking Feeling

The new sink is installed! Incredibly, I had to search three hardware stores to find a simple two-bowl sink drain kit. Home Depot was a washout. I finally consulted a sales assistant, who pulled out various other kits, complained that they were in the wrong place, and finally admitted they had nothing. At Kent, a man offered me a 1.5" kit smeared with excess glue (did they put it together in the back room?) and then started gathering up a series of mismatched adapters. I piled them in his hands, said, "I don't want these," and walked out. I'm afraid I was growing irritable. Finally, at Canadian Tire I found what I needed, minus the 3/4" dishwasher nipple, which I salvaged from the old hookup. This time, the installation went very smoothly; the faucet was well-designed and easy to fit, even working under the very deep sink. 

We are creeping toward completion. We still have the tiling to do--the colourful backsplash Joanne has planned. Then we can trim the windows, with a deep sill for herbs. Finally we will add the corner shelves. Then we can turn our attention to the other half of the room, the dining area. This will be fun, because the only complication is the closet under the main stairs, currently covered by the drywall. We will make a handy storage area for the vacuum cleaner.

Last year at this time the place looked quite different. At that point, you could walk outside without bothering about a door. This is how it appeared in the middle of demolition; Joanne is tearing out the oak window frame, and then the rest of the wall will go.  We knocked it down to the sill, and then built it up again, all the way to the attic. Once you start these projects, it's hard to find an end to them!

Assembly Room

 I finally cleaned out the workshop to such an extent that we have an assembly room, here featuring the daybed frame that Jo has just finished staining and varnishing. 

It is supported by the trestles we built for the temporary sink arrangement in the kitchen. Waste not, want not!

Workshopping

 I hope we can seal up the workshop ceilings for winter. The sight upon mounting the stairs was deeply depressing, but it's getting better. Slowly.

A bit of the project room ceiling needed cutting out and patching as well. I think snow blew in through the vent over the winter--it does this in bad storms in the main house, but we then go up and clear it away. I didn't do that in the workshop. 

Kitchenation

 This is the kitchen's current state; the countertop crew will come in a few weeks to install the quartz, but we have made do with 3/4" plywood and cheap vinyl tablecloths for now. This will do for the children's visit at least.

Moving on up

 The workshop is expanding as I pack, throw away, and otherwise deal with the huge collection of debris. I moved the radial arm saw upstairs, which took some doing, but now I have a two-floor shop!