Tallulah Ruby: Keep on movin on

Yeehaw!! Goodness it's hot!! 100+ and we work in the direct sunlight with no breeze. Slowing down the pace just a bit today. Good timing, though, as the project for the day requires more thought than action.

Quick stop at the junk lady for goodies

I finally got to frame the back window! Looks pretty damn good compared to the before photo...

So, because the back end of the trailer (known as Benjamin's "sculpture") had been such a frustrating pain in the ass, I decided to take a different approach with the front corners. Bob used the jigsaw to cut away the side wall panels back to the support beam. We then used as a template to create a 3-layer plywood wall to give much needed strength and support.

Had to think things through a bit, which was difficult as we were both brain fried from the sun. But we decided to attach the pie shaped piece to a support piece, leaving room at the top for wires and to secure the whole piece to the existing framework (thanks, Mom! Sometimes you do have good ideas ;)


Cutting out side panel

Ready for new mini wall!

I was a tad worried about the curve being in the right place as our template was a bit rough. But after a few visits to the sander and back to the trailer and back to the sander and back to the trailer...did I mention it was over 100 degrees? I finally got it perfect. So the idea was to sandwich 2 1/2" pieces of plywood with a 3/4" to get just the right width to replace all the rotted benderboard.

I laminated the pieces together (glue it and clamp it!) Put some brads in (complete with a smiley face I forgot to take a photo of), and learned how to use the drill press to secure to plywood to the support piece. Even learned how to countersink. How ya like them apples!

Might as well make it pretty

I love having all the tools at my disposal

Yay! Worked like a charm

Looks sturdy, dontcha think?

The first side came out perfectly! For something that seemed so complicated and required so much thought, the process went surprisingly smoothly.

Just me, myself and I

I think the heat was getting to me cause I was determined to do the other side. Bob was pretty beat and I felt too guilty for asking for him to help more. So I told him to have a seat and I would do the whole piece by myself. Which I did. Without any help. Yeah, felt kinda bitchin. I think he was both impressed and a little sad that I didn't need any help. Now I just want to build and build and build things. I love it. My mom thinks it's the oddest thing in the world that I have so much fun or that I am capable (being a girl and all). I did see a free trailer today on Craigslist...hmmmm. And I did learn to keep in mind what happens to the piece of wood I am cutting when I get to the end and no one else is holding it...it fell and stabbed me in the leg. Could've been much worse, though :/