Enjoying Spring

The first couple coats of tung oil have been applied and so far so good. Only 5 more to go! It is most definitely a tedious process. You have to wait so long in between coats and there has to be 7 coats altogether. But oh my, the smell! It's delicious! The tung oil is mixed with D-limonene which is the same component used in orange cleaning products and gives them their citrus smell. It also thins the tung oil and helps it absorb into the wood better. You can start to smell it as soon as you walk up to the house. It's lovely!

The hallway looks very... shiny!

I still love how the stain soaks differently into each plank.

At this angle, you can see that the oil soaks into the edges first. Hence, why so many coats are necessary.

It won't stay this shiny though. When it reaches maximum absorption, it will get buffed for the final finish.

The eating area in the kitchen.

The stairs will get done last.

The master bedroom.

We decided to leave a couple of rooms unstained just to be able to appreciate the natural look. This is the library area.

While we are waiting for the many coats that need to be applied, there is lots of other work to be done. Phil is working on installing the soffit here.

Carefully monitered by Lydia, of course.

The garden is getting prepared for planting. 

Some things have been planted already.

Of course, the rhubarb is up already. It's always the first up.

Look how much it grew in just a week!! 

Remember this post and finding free trampoline frames? They're not only good for chicken tractors, we're making good use of them here along with some recycled sheet metal for a very inexpensive wood shed. Upcycling at it's finest. Now we have a place to store the fire wood we're  collecting for the winter. Hard to think about preparing for winter already but it has to be done.

Anyone who has ever lived on a farm, knows the amount of work there is to be done in the spring. Well, anytime really but especially in the spring. It's nice to be outside though, enjoying the warm weather and listening to the birds sing.

But sometimes, you just have to take time to play too. (And listen to a different sound that is just as enjoyable to some.) ;-) 

And eat cheesecake! There's always time to eat cheesecake.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come.

Song of Solomon 2:11-12