Doing Hard Things

The forecast for Thurs - Sat was for really nice weather, so I decided to tackle the front porch post that has been nagging at me for a year. Back in April, Ken told me it was going to cost $1000 to replace it if I didn't do something. The time for something was now. 

Thursday I started by sawing off the bottom 5 inches of the rotted casing wood, which committed me to seeing this through. I wasn't sure how to get this done, but I just decided to begin and see where it took me. I changed my plan a couple of times and ran into problems but just kept adjusting the process until it worked. 

Luckily the 4 x 4 post underneath was in fine shape so I hoped to piece in the casing with new wood and then:
"Putty and paint, to make it what it ain't".

Measuring and cutting to get it right.

Letting the caulking and wood putty dry before the first sanding.

On Friday I took a break and went biking with the hiking group. Several of us have discovered that biking is so much easier on the knees than hiking. We did 18.6 miles, then went to lunch at Swifty's.

On the way home I stopped at the hardware store to get more putty.

From the pedestrian bridge. We stopped to find Jim's brothers' memorial stone in the walkway.

Saturday

So today is the last day of painting weather so I was out front at 8 am ready to finish the post. More putty work, cutting the trim, caulking, then painting. I only have a hand saw miter box so I made dozens of trips to the basement to make each cut. I just didn't want to bring the saw outside, I guess. 

I wasn't completely happy with the putty work, but I reached the point of it being good enough.
I was heavy handed with the caulk as this is the only post of 4 that was weather damaged, so I wanted to make sure no water would seep underneath.

Et Voila!
I brought out my wireless speaker, turned on the tunes and painted the post, the railing, and the front door casings. I was interrupted by two different campaign workers, but I assured them I'd be voting and I'll also be working as a poll watcher so they were brief in their pitches.

The porch looks much better, but as with any job, I could see that I need to get out the power washer and clean the siding and the cement. But that is for another time. There is rain and cold temperatures coming and perhaps the first hard freeze. Sigh.

I also planted another 50 daffodil bulbs. They were on sale at the Depot and I couldn't say no. I keep looking forward to April or May when I'll be enjoying them and thanking myself for planting over 200 bulbs.

A stick bug came by to check out the work.

It turned into more of a stick shape when I picked it up.

These gorgeous bugs are all over the place. I love the pattern and coloration.

And now I rest with a glass of wine and a book. I just started the Extraordinary Life Of Sam Hell.

2023 Biking Challenge (1000 miles and 2+ rides per month)

Jan: 1/8 - 18 miles; 1/29 -12 mi

Feb: 2/14/- 14 mi, 2/15 - 16 mi, 2/20 - 21 mi

March: 3/21 - 14 mi, 3/31 - 11.5 mi

April: 4/4 - 20 mi, 4/27 - 15 mi

May: 5/9 - 20 mi, 5/11 - 15.1 mi, 5/14 - 19 mi, 5/21 - 30.1 mi, 5/26 - 7 mi, 5/27 - 8 mi, 5/28 - 20 mi

June: 6/3 - 20.3 mi, 6/6 - 15 mi, 6/8 - 15 mi, 6/9 - 23 mi, 6/14 - 15 mi, 6/15 - 21 mi, 6/16 - 10 mi, 

6/22 - 10 mi

July: 7/8 - 30.25 mi,  7/17 - 11 mi, 7/20 - 20.25 mi, 7/22 - 30 mi, 7/26 - 18.1 mi, 7/28 - 10 mi

August: 8/2 - 16.5 mi, 8/5 - 33.8 mi, 8/9 - 7.7 mi, 8/12 - 6 mi, 8/13 - 13.7 mi, 

8/18 - 20.1 mi, 8/20 - 34 mi, 

September: 9/8 - 26 mi, 9/12 - 17.6 mi, 9/14 - 21 mi, 9/20 - 21.4 mi,  9/21 - 26.7 mi, 

9/22 - 14.5 mi, 9/25 - 30.4 mi, 9/28 - 24 mi

October : 10/1 - 20.1mi, 10/2 - 26 mi., 10/7 - 8.5 mi, 10/11 - 23.5 mi, 10/13 - 27.3 mi, 10/17 - 14.4 mi, 10/25 - 19.3 mi, 10/27 - 18.6 mi

Total Distance: 981.7 miles