An Ant

When I first started working in the Hanger I had a few (a lot) of very small "ants" around my chair in the apartment. They had to go - a little RAID took care of the problem.

Yet, when I set up my desk in the loft, I noticed a single large red/brown "ant" roaming around on the top of the desk and over the monitor shelf. For the last few weeks the same "ant" has stayed on the desk just wandering around. Or at least, I hope there is only one because I have not killed it. I hope "they" are not many, and I am just seeing be beginnings of the main invasion.

For now, I will let the "ant" live, at least until I see another at the same time.

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Lost in the Move

During my move to the Hanger, I had saved away many small important things that I wanted to make sure were readily available upon finish.  There were several medicine bottles, old laptop disk drives, some thumb drives and many other small things.  I had all of these things in stacks in the Master Bed Room on the floor in boxes, thinking that I would move them last and therefore it would be easy to keep track of them - NOT!

We have looked for the representative Large Tylenol bottle and other things, and have not found them as of yet.

Carolyn thinks this "good stuff" may have be sent to the dump!

She cleaned up at the last minutes from the Master Bed Room and used a previously discarded "clear bedding container" as a box to collect the remaining articles from the room. I had seen and used the "bedding container" before to collect trash for the load going to the dump.

We moved that last minute things out of the house and onto the porch, I may have tossed what I thought was the trash in the "bedding container" onto the load that went to the dump!

I sure hope NOT, and I hope the items turn up SOON.

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First PlasmaCAM Parts Cut at the Hanger/Shop

Weather: Very Sunny and Mild

Chip and Carolyn came to the Shop today.

Chip wanted my help to cut some patterns on the PlasmaCAM for building an adapter for his tractor. My PlasmaCAM was not set-up for use yet (following the move). The Files that Chip needed were on my Shop Network Server - which also had not been unpacked or set-up. Some of the parts for the Server were in unknown boxes on one of many racks (large shelves).

I was hoping that the currently installed Plasma Cutter "Consumable" (cutting tips) were good enough for this project, as there is no telling where NEW replacements are located in the Shop!

The first task was locate all the Tools, network cords and Severs. Also, the PlasmaCAM Workstation also had to be located and setup. Nothing seemed to work as it should on initial "turn-on". The network IP Address had to be change to work with the LAN system supplied by the new ISP. The Router, DHCP, Samba, File Server and most things just refused to work together.  A lot of time was consumed just trying to get a minimal working configuration.

The Wireless Router Security was giving us grief, But, in the end, we set the Wireless Router (WAP) to "no security" and at least we could get the files for Chip's Project. With everything limping along, it did not take much to cut the 1/4 steel plate into the needed parts. The cutter consumables were serviceable for this task. The PlasmaCAM is a great tool for this type of task. I wish I had someone that needed a lot of parts that I could cut for profit.

While Chip and I worked on cutting parts, Carolyn wanted to help organize the pantry and food supplies.  I saw what she had done before she and Chip left for the day.  Later I took another look, and now realize the magnitude of her efforts and organization, I now can find things in the pantry MUCH better and can see what is needed for resupplies. She also did many of the house hold chores that I have thus far neglected - Thanks Carolyn.

One benefit of today effort, my Shop Network is coming together, and more of my Shop Office and HAM Shack is taking shape.

Thanks, guys!

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Desks are in the Loft

Weather has been cool, but clear and very nice.

My Desk and Radio Station Workbench and now put together and in the loft. Ready to receive the supporting materials (stuff) and ready for normal use.

The Internet, Local Lan, Power  and Antenna cables will be installed as needed.

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Carpet Installed in the Loft

A very nice day, cool in the shade, warm in the sun, with bellowing white clouds.

The carpet installers were here this AM to install the carpet in the loft. It took about 3 hours. They did a great job, it really looks good.

After the installers finished, Chip was here and helped move my Desk and the Amateur Radio Station Table to the loft.

The Desk had been taken apart several days ago and just waiting for the loft floor to be finished.

I built the Station Table many years ago but had not used it for several years - it has been in storage at the Hanger.  I thought that it would never be used again, but the loft will be the right place to reassemble and use it.

With the bright sunny day and no rain, I was able to return to the roof to install the Cell Phone Booster Antenna - it now temporary connected up and working. Soon I will be able to install the longer cable and move the amplifier to it's permeate location.

It is good to see progress in the Hanger/Shop! - Thanks to Chip.

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Shop Reorganisaton

Some Clearing and with some rain - mild temp, very little wind.

The last two day my Chip has helped reorganised the High Bay in the Hanger. We have eliminated another 9 pallets by unwrapping them and putting way (or through way) the contents. This job would have taken me several weeks without Chip's help - Thanks Chip!

With this effort the center of the High Bay is now open which allows me to turn the forklift around in the centre, with space to work and maybe put the truck inside if needed.

The Low Bay (the actual Shop) is still jammed packed with moving container and stacked tools. Several more days will be needed to start the effort on this space.

We also installed the flashing around the chimney. This task had to be done before carpets could be installed in the loft, as water was leaking (a little) into the wall and a little onto the floor of the loft. I hope it dries out without rotting or molding.

After Chip left for the day, I went back up on the roof and installed a antenna tripod for the Cell Phone Repeater - I am hoping when completely installed I will be able to get reliable Cell service inside the Hanger and Shop. The rain returned before I was able to finish the installation. The roof gets slick when it gets wet and it is about 16 feet to the eave line to the ground, which would make for a nasty fall. I will continue when the roof is dry.

The carpet sales person was supposed to be here today, but the got lost and could not find the Hanger, they have rescheduled for 8AM tomorrow. This time I will meet them at the gate.

With our progress, I am feeling much better about the prospects of have a usable Shop again.

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Storm with Falling Trees

Lots Wind and a little Rain.

Chip came up to help with the Shop Reorganisation. I was very windy with some rain.  Several time we watch and heard tree fall or break. The wind was from the West-Northwest and therefore the Hanger was not in much danger.

Before finishing for the day, Chip noticed that one of the Tree Top's was laying across the drive way. We went to check it out and found it to be much larger than expected. The Tree Top was about 12 inches at the butt and about 40 feet tall, it had broke in a couple of place as a result of the fall. Hemlocks are know for this behaviour.

Chip's truck and chains were necessary to remove the Tree Top, just so that we could leave the property.

Electricity was off for must of the afternoon, we had to use the generator to lower the Hanger Door. I left before the electricity was restored.

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Rain Today

More rain today, can not move things out of the Hanger to continue major reorganisation.

Tess and I are setting around resting and working on only some simple Shop Organisation projects.

This is a good day to work on my Blogs.

Not a Lot of Progress

Well, I am NOW completely moved into the Hanger, with lots of stuff everywhere. There is almost too much stuff to move around.  On good clear days I can move many of the pallets outside to have space to continue organising and putting things away.

Several things "To be Done" that will help the progress;

1. Installing the block-n-tackle in the rafters near the front door. Groceries would be lifted via hooks to the apartment in one simple load, instead of climbing the twenty steps with each group of sacks.
2. Have carpet installed in the loft, and move my office and desks up there and free up space on the Hanger floor. - DONE
3. Clean the south outside concrete slab and move outside things out of the Hanger.
4. Move the bigger power tools to their planned location.
5. Figure out the Electronics Shop Layout
6. Find a place for Paints, Cans and Chemicals
7. Take some trash and things to the dump -DONE
8. Replace the temporary bed with something more suitable
9. On a clear day, fix the flashing around the chimney - DONE
10. And,   .   .

This effort will continue for sometime.

UPDATE:
Things will be marked "DONE" when they are completed.

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