Scattered Thoughts . . .

Yesterday, Sheila helped me install the ridge cap on the play house and outdoor grill kitchen.  Once we had the roof all sealed up, we then tackled some electrical including installing the lighting.  It looks pretty good! Even though we made some noticeable progress yesterday, it was slow going.  First, I needed to remember how to join the ridge cap for intersecting ridges.  Then, I had to cut, then bend, then flash, then install.  This first piece of ridge cap was bent in a way so it could be folded over the adjoining perpendicular ridge.  I also added some flashing that was cut and bent to shape.   Installing was slow going because it was difficult to reach the area where the two ridges meet.  I had to lay across some boards on the roof while Sheila held the step ladder in place.  Plus it was hot up on that metal roof and the sun was blindingly bright reflecting off the new shiny roof! The second piece of ridge cap was also cut and bent so it could fit right on top of t

Yesterday was a busy day.  I spent the entire day, until dark, installing the new roof over the play house and the new outdoor kitchen/grilling area.  It was definitely a productive day, although, it was a bit frustrating and not necessarily a "good" day. I kept dropping things especially after climbing up a ladder.  Then I'd have to climb down, retrieve what I dropped, then climb back up.  Then I'd drop something else and have to go down and up again.  Then, I'd realize I forgot to bring a tool up with me and have to go down and up again.   The valleys were two difficult areas.  It has been a long time since I built a valley and I've never done it in metal roofing material so it was a bit of a challenge.  I couldn't really get into position well enough to get accurate measurements.  I'd end up measuring twice, sometimes three times, to see if I can get consistent results before cutting.  The angles at which I was viewing the tape measure were shal

While we were visiting Adam and Joi, we went to Old Sacramento to visit the California State Railroad Museum.  We had already been in this area of town when we arrived by train and rented a car and I found it was like any other city...  unimpressive, congested, run down, and I already knew about the crime rates for various areas of town.  However, when we pulled onto the road where the museum was located, we found an incredible, impressive and historic downtown city area.  Actually, it is registered as a National Historic Landmark District.  I don't think any of us were expecting to see what we found.  This section of the city is preserved in its circa-1850 Gold Rush days! I believe only one road through this area is still dirt and gravel.  Some roads are blacktopped to cut down on dirt and dust in the dry climate.  Other roads are cobblestone.  The sidewalks aren't actually sidewalks but wood porch type decking, all attached from one building to the next as you would typi

When the train arrived in the Sacramento area, we first picked up a rental car in downtown Sacramento and then drove to Roseville about an hour away.  After checking into our hotel, we spent time with Adam and Joi...  we visited Adam and Joi's apartment in Roseville...   went out to dinner...   then we made plans for the following day which included visiting the California State Railroad Museum in downtown Sacramento.  Picking up the rental car in Sacramento was a bit of a time-consuming fiasco that is worth mentioning here.   There was only one person working the front desk and the customer in front of us was having a very time consuming customer service problem and subsequently wanted his car for free.  I briefly contemplated just heading down the road to the next rental car place but, for some reason, decided to stay put and wait it out.  Part of me was figuring that we might not be able to get a car at the next place but something was nagging at me to be patient and stay