In the Meantime... IKEA HACKS!

I'd seen a variation of this done on the all-time best website EVER: IKEA Hackers (this is the post that I modified: Borrby Lantern)

To start, take the Borrby Lantern... which is a candle holder with a door and four glass walls.








Then add the Lagra Work lamp. For me the total cost was $10


Then you'll need some "Frost" spray paint. Any hobby store should have it, my cost was about $10.

STEP 1: Take the glass out of the Borrby and then drill a hole in the top. You'll need 1/2" drill bit.

STEP 2: Take the lamp part of the Lagra and hang it up in the center.

STEP 3: Spray the frosting on the glass, following the manufacturers instructions, and voila!

Floor Complete, on to the WALLS!

The Floor is Finally Finished... took forever. The next step is putting up the walls. Since the posts are so far out of true, we need to build six walls instead of four. One on each side of the posts on the left and the right. We're starting with the outside of the right wall.

First we laid out a base 2" x 4" 

Next we built up the walls. I didn't get any pictures of how we did this... I'll show those next time. This is where we stopped when we ran out of light.

Yes, that is a window! Awesome, right?

See previous post about my consistency... however, we've been working on the workshop and I have updated pictures!

One thing you might have noticed was how uneven the ground was in our shop. The closest parallel description there is about the dirt in our area is concrete. Digging by hand was not an option (DH tried and was really not into it).

We work in the construction industry so we started looking for rental options, and called the industry standards and were horrified at the price.

Then we found Almighty Rentals and this little baby for $100 for 1/2 day.

Brought it home and got to work... or rather, he did. :D

And our almost final  result in a fraction of the time it would have taken to do by hand... or more accurately, actually getting it done, because if we had to do this by hand, it would NOT have happened.

We needed to dig out the side in order to get to the post, so we've decided to do it with the machine and use the added trench with a planter box.

The next step is building the floor...

Since the posts are not true, the lines are off by almost a foot on each side, we're wrapping around them. The posts are solid (built more than 30 years ago and no wobble at all) so we just need to be more creative in getting them incorporated.

The post at the far end is touching the outside 2" x 10" as the post at the near end

Surprisingly fairly level

We're using 2" x 10" treated lumber, approximately 14" on center (we found out later that this was not the best guide, and had to adjust several for the flooring). The shop is a bit longer than 20' so we had to extend a little bit. 

Next we'll add some blocks between the outside joists and the rest of the structure to make sure the the whole thing is solid and stays true. And then putting the flooring down. We're using 3/4" Plywood tongue and groove sturdifloor. 

the floor joists had to be moved so that the edges of the floor boards could be screwed down properly

half-way there

Almost done with the floor! Finally... then we get to start with the walls. The floor was challenging because the posts were off-center... but if they've moved a little over the years off of true center, that's nothing with how the vertical angles have changed! So it's going to be interesting!

worse than my diaries as a kid

Every few years I forget that I'm really, really bad at journaling and decide that I need to create a journal. When I was a little kid I used to ask for those little diaries that had about 5 lines per date and a key that really protected nothing (it was PAPER for goodness sake!). I'd start on January 1... well, actually, I'd start on January 15 or so and make up a bunch of crap. Then I'd forget it the next day or two, fill in a bunch more made up crap, and then I'd get serious and write in it every single day for about 3 days. Forget about it until about April or so, write in it for 1 or two days and then toss the whole thing and resolve to do better next year. I have never in my life managed to succeed at doing something every day
for any extended period of time. A little too much OCD and a little too much JPL and there you go. JPL, you ask? Just Plain Lazy.

All that being said, we moved recently and the house that we're renting has an incredibly ugly carport that the owner has graciously allowed us to convert to a workshop. I'm curious to see if I can be consistent long enough to go from beginning to end and get the whole project online.

Um... don't cross your fingers.

In the picture there is my dh, next to the fancy little riding lawn mower that our son prefers to the other kind but can't quite master yet.

It's actually a dual carport, the side close to the house is high enough for a trailer, so we're leaving that side as is... maybe a little gravel or something so that walking under the roof after rain is possible (right now it's like a swamp).

So, I'm obsessed with Google Sketchup and I use it for every project that we do if I can. This is my first draft of what it will sort of look like when we complete it.

So, we're off to the big box store to see what prices we're looking at and then we can start the permit process. YAY for bureaucratic tape!

Week 3

So, today was a test. I really, really, really didn't want to go.

But I went.

FOOD: bagel with cream cheese, and Mexican Lasagna, and tea with Bailey's.

DISTANCE: 2 miles

TIME: 33 minutes

INTERVAL: 6/2

BALL TIME: 10 minutes

WEIGHT: 182

Very icky feeling today, I just wanted to curl up and sleep all day. I'd really like to be doing that right now... will soon.

Week 2 - Day 3 & 4

Well, blogging may not be my strong suit, but at least I kept up with the running and the eating. Ran Wednesday and Friday. Still 4/4 interval, and still 34 minutes. I will say that it was very cold all week, and that might have something to do with how fast I was able to move, but probably not. Regardless, I was at the park four days this week, and except for one day (homemade macaroni and cheese with regular noodles) entirely gluten free. I paid for that one day, though. I had a headache all night and most of the next day. It could have been pms, but the timing is suspect.

Anyway, next week is a new week. I change up the interval, and probably slow down my time because I still walk faster than I jog. At this point I'm doing a 17 minute mile. Yay! I get to add in some other exercise as well. Gotta get the weight down, down, down. Ideally, I'd like to lose at least (the very least) lose 20 pounds by the end of February. That should get me into a size 12 and then I can wear most of the clothes in my closet. What a novelty!

But first, I need to get through next week.

Week 2 - Day 2

So... the scale was not pleasant... but it was better than it could have been, and probably better than it would have been last week. Result: 189.

Today after I ran, it said 185... so, not really sure. But it said 189 last night and this morning.

Anyway, had oatmeal with raisins for breakfast, with some coffee.

It was f@#*$ing cold when I ran, which ended up being around 5pm. The weather and my time matched. 34 degrees, 34 minutes. I worry that I won't make my goal AGAIN this week. I was really sore when I was done, and I'm not sure if that is the jogging or the fact that it was f@#$*ing cold.

Shepherd's Pie for lunch, and a grilled cheese (gluten free) sandwich for dinner... with some hot chocolate and Bailey's.