8/26/19
(Above: Plywood cut for closing in the remainder of the soffit and the sub-subcounter shelving.)
Building Summary: Today I began Jacobhouse activities with measuring. It took me about twenty minutes to collect all measurements for the above-window areas, the sub-subcounter shelf bracing, and the sub-subcounter shelf/shelf covering. This was followed by my bringing all the required wood out to Jacobhouse via big white pickup truck, and then by my cutting that wood to the measurements I collected. That final task took the remainder of the morning due to the many odd shapes and angles I needed to fabricate, but it is all done now, and all the pieces are ready for priming.
(7:10 PM Update): I forgot to mention that Madre was in town today and visited Home Depot. While there, she asked me if I needed anything for Jacobhouse activities. I told her ‘white primer‘ because the can I’ve been using over the past month and half is becoming depleted. Now, I will most definitely have enough Kilz to coat the plywood tomorrow and anything else that happens to ‘pop up’ whilst finishing up the front of the container home.
TIL: I’ve been reading / watching the instruction manuals for applying the Omega Concrete Counter Sealer – something that the people at the Concrete Counter Institute send out with every order. Thus far, the primary theme has been: keep the surface moist with primer / sealant at all times when applying AND ensure that the containers are kept closed as often and as much as possible to disallow the sealant/primer from reacting with air moisture.
The window air conditioner is much more efficient than the portable air conditioner. The Portable A/C was using ~ 14-20 kilowatt hours on hot days. The window air conditioner has used an average of less than 5 kilowatt hours per day over the past couple ‘scorchers’. That is less than 1/3 the power for cooling that is actually much better than the prior unit’s.
Commentary: I’ve already mentioned the air-conditioner and how the current iteration is a better in every way compared to the last, and I believe it would be a redundancy to say that it was a convection oven outside today. Thus, I must find something a little bit different.
Firstly, there was the cicada-swarm. I’ve already written once before about how cicadas are attracted to the noise of a circular saw cutting wood. Well, today, I was cutting wood for what must have been between one and two hours, and in that time, I had no less than four different cicadas fly into me. I state ‘different’ here because at one point, all four were sitting on me (with one flying straight up the left sleeve of my shirt). It is fortunate they are completely harmless insects*, for if it were otherwise, I would have been concerned.
Secondly, there was the visitor who came by the farm today. His name was David, and he’s been by a couple times over the past few weeks. The fellow was of Latin-American heritage, and spoke with broken English, but he was not one to become offended at misunderstandings. Either way, it turned out that not only does he work at one of my favorite restaurants – a certain Mesa de Notte I know I’ve mentioned over the course of these blog posts – he is also one of the main chefs if not the main chef that works there. He proceeded to put forth a unique proposal. ‘Bring in a couple steaks,’ he told me, ‘And we will test.‘ Not wishing to force him to wait till we next ventured into the restaurant, I asked if he wanted some right then to test at home, but he told me no, repeating; “Bring in a couple pieces one night, and we will cook.” “Thawed?” I asked**. “Yes.”
So, it seems that there will be a steak night at Mesa De Notte sometime in the near future. I’m still not certain what it will entail, but I am certain that some form of deliciousness shall occur***.
Final Note: Tomorrow I intend to start the morning with preparing (sanding / using wood filler where needed) and priming the pieces of plywood that I could today. While the primer dries, I will fasten in the frame I cut today for the sub-subcounter shelving. Then, I will commence with the application of actual paint to the lumber I primed (black for the sub-subcounter pieces and turquoise for those pieces above the window).
*They are incapable of harm, for they have no mouthparts.
**At this point, I thought he must been thinking me a tad slow, but as stated above, he’s an understanding fellow.
*** Also, if the chef especially enjoys what he sees / tastes, perhaps there will be business opportunities in regard to Master Blend Cattle Company. In regard to this, however, I will not place business before the creation of a true experience. I’m more interested in knowing/seeing how he cooks the beef and perhaps acquiring some additional knowledge in that regard. The man has been cooking for 20 years, after all.