Liver

Guitar play 35 years, favorite pastime, own two guitars. 

First: Squier 'sposedly '51 reissue though neither Squier (not 'round back then) nor parent company Fender ever made a guitar like this in '51.  In some purge sold this guitar for $100, missed, bought another for $200 only to get it home, realize it was the original guitar - 'came back' guitar.  Cheapo knock off Indonesian made modified - plays/sounds real good.  Player.

Second: no name - 'heresy' beautiful guitar lovers say 'should be Gibson, Fender' - thrasher Floyd Rose tremolo guitar, recarved headstock, rewired, repickuped: favorite guitar ever.  Player.
    Someone said Swett Lodge'd be beautiful finished.  Comfortable, practical, user friendly - not beautiful.  Liver.
 

     Doing something wrong broke trusty kitchen knife.

Similar St. Vinnie's replacement item.  Stainless, tough to dull, readily available.

     Add bolt through shovel neck locking handle.
     Mudjacking refers to leveling cement slabs by putting mud under 'em done these days with hydraulic pump. 

Want foreground slab (breaks at yellow line at right)

between curb/front walk.  Mudjack plus.

Dig out entirely 'round slab - corner keyed into front walk slab; chisel; persuade out with 20 ton jack, break 2x4 find 4x4 levers fine.

Raise/hold slab standing on 4x4, shovel dirt under slab to jack,

finally vertical.  Couple wheelbarrows driveway gravel behind garage for new car park location - lots more later.  Fetch pneumatic two wheel hand cart from Kate's.  Won't begin to heft/move 300 pound plus slab.  Return hand cart find three cylindrical fence posts.

Flop/pry slab onto fence posts on useful salvaged luan underlayment rolling course (limed side up).

Rolls pretty good.

Walk like an Egyptian.

Slab ready to 'flip' into place,  dig its hole

find paving stone

which joins backyard garage walk's queue.

Struggle, 'flip' slab using firewood 'jacks', 4X4 - another time another approach; balance slab on curb; 4x4 lever into place.

Kate 'n fambly interrupt important earth moving work sweep off to downtown bleu cheese burger lunch - mmm! 

Dirt fill cracks, ex slab hole, salt rest 'round low driveway area.

Degarage trusty $8 mower, fire up.  First balky, adjust carb, clean gas, runs fine.  Come spring change oil: it'll mow forever.

Mown lawn, gate, front walk - looking like someone cares 'bout Swett Lodge.

Couple unwanted window sashes scrap crisscrossed 1x4 nailed to roof rafter luan underlayment, quarter round molding loaded - 'lumber yard' in session.
      Feel ahead of schedule - could start sleeping in Swett Lodge - stench departed sooner than expected.  

Luck out - procure second free futon off Craigslist.  Frame needs a little work, wash mattress cover, find bedding - can sleep in garage apartment or house, guest even!
    No question looking at some of these pics why they call Eugene 'The Emerald City' specially this time of year.  Kate says peas go in the ground Valentine's Day.  Have to get garden digging.

Put these yamsters - actually sweet potatoes (?) orange flesh notwithstanding - on front window sill today hopin' for many plantable slips.  Gettin' a farm goin' here.  Spring's 'round the corner.   Enjoy.       d