A Fine Batch of Cedar Houses

The Cedar from Fenelon Falls Comes in Handy

Old Cedar Even Works on Tap Handles

Today I have to sneak past The Garden Gloves to get to The Workshop

Introduction:

Though I have not been building any birdhouses or Little Free Libraries or Reitveld chairs, etc., in the shop this year, it is still no closer to being 100% tidied up in September than it was in March when COVID-19 slowed just about everything down.

I keep busy with the GREAT Canadian Comeback (training to become a steady - and svelte - running machine) and building my "1,000 Men, 1,000 Stories" blog re the role of Canadian sailors (RCNVR) in Combined Operations during WWII.

Still, I believe I will get back to The Workshop for one or two important projects someday soon, and when I do you will be the first to know. Or at least second to know, since my wife is still tuned in to what I'm doing around here 99% of the time : )

Old cedar from Fenelon Falls, Ontario (formerly Joe Flagler's old dock) makes beautiful tap handles for a local brewer's "tap room":

The handles have been varnished. Metal inserts are next, then delivery.

I don't know how many batches of cedar birdhouses I made over the years. Many, like this batch, were made from red cedar fence slats (for the body) and Joe Flagler's old western cedar, for the base and roof panels:

The sides are attached to the outside of the face to increase the size

of the interior floor space. Brilliant move : )

Red paint on red cedar puts on a good show!

More photos from The Workshop will follow.

Please link to more photos of more red cedar birdhouses by GH

Photos by G. Harrison

Go Fishing? Maybe Practice the Pole Vault?

What to do When Supplies Hit the Curb

I found three sturdy poles on the curb.

Not my curb. Somebody else's curb : )

I was out for a walk. Nothing unusual about that. I like walking.

And somewhere along my route I spotted three sturdy metal poles - free for the taking (I like that too) - light and easy to carry. They came home with me because I knew exactly what to do with them.

It helped that I had several chunks of left-over cedar fence posts (6 inches x 6 inches) and pine barn board. Why, the birdhouses almost designed themselves.

Cedar posts I had. I only needed to supply the elbow grease

A set of three birdhouses (with necessary platforms and collars) were soon underway. Paint and brushes were on a shelf in the workshop and as some like to say - the rest is history:

 I need three platforms and collars to plant the houses onto poles

 House are underway but far from finished

 Standing tall outside the workshop

 Birdhouse with trim and a bright colour combo

Don't throw out your wooden spoons. Call me!

Three on poles - all done. Now I can work with old cedar slats

Lots of cedar, from Joe Flagler's dock! He got a new dock, I got the old cedar

and the story of that lovely old western cedar continues to this day! 

Even the table these houses sit upon is from Joe's dock!

Even the cedar trim is made from the old dock boards

For a look at more birdhouses and a few "little free libraries", please link to

'Piles of Birdhouses' Continues.

Photos GH

Western Red Cedar Birdhouses for GOG2, PT.2

Nine Houses on the Market

[Photo: Easy perches - drawer pulls and wooden spoons]

August 19 is circled on my calendar. Gathering on the Green II. Set up a table at 10 AM. Open the door at 11.

I will display about three dozen birdhouses, mostly red cedar. I will have a few other items on hand as well, in an effort to clean out my workshop of 'stuff'.

Close Ups:

 The perch weighs six pounds! That's quite the drawer pull!

I collect wooden spoons. Don't throw them out! Call me : )

The workshop should be closed by mid-October after I finish two more little free libraries. Until then, I'll keep chugging along, broom at the ready.

This is - officially - the last batch of the season

Please link to Western Red Cedar Birdhouses for GOG2, PT.1

Photos GH

Western Red Cedar Birdhouses for GOG2, PT.1

Nine Players Per Team

Three cedar birdhouses just hangin' around outside the workshop.

Shortly after assembling a batch of small cedar houses for neighbourhood wrens or chickadees, and after hanging them out to dry for photographs, I started measuring and cutting more cedar stock for a team of nine larger models.

What have we got here?

 Western Cedar birdhouse faces, bases, sides and roof slats - ready for sanding.

 Sanding done. Entry holes cut, sanded. Tools assembled.

 First two are done in a matter of minutes.

Stack 'em, pack 'em, get ready for trim.

Gathering on the Green II will be held on Sunday, August 19 (11 - 6pm), one day after I return from a wee vacation. So, as they say where I grew up: "Youse gotta be ready."

More to follow.

Please link to Big Job, Little Houses 1

Photos GH

Farmhouse - Upscale Paint.

A Little Paint Goes a Long Way.

[Photo: Basic cedar house likes a splash of red.]

No doubt about it. Though I like to have a few unpainted birdhouses in my collection - some folks prefer them that way - even a wee bit of paint can sometimes catch your eye. On one basic cedar model I only painted the window ledges and wee birdhouse roof.

Looks good, in my opinion

On other models, like a sturdy farmhouse (below), formerly all unpainted white pine, I added quite a bit of paint. At a recent birdhouse sale, it was one that caught the eye of many passersby. And two like it sold before the day was done.

Z-Door is now a stand-out.

So, now I need more farmhouses, and I will repeat the 'upscale paint' idea on all future models.

Please link to Birdhouse Repair: One Old Farmhouse (3)

Photos GH

Big Job, Little Houses (1).

Work Bench, Covered with Trim.

[Photo: Lovely red cedar houses need a bit of trim, I say.]

I am now 2 - 3 months into 'birdhouse season' and it's time to go back to the beginning, and pluck cedar birdhouses off my basement shelves that still need to be dressed up for the big parade. 

What seems like a small job looks bigger when every bit of trim is spread out on my old work bench:

Piece by piece, a finished birdhouse will come together.

For my next sale (Saturday, July 8, Art in the Barn, Dorchester) is less than a week away, so I'll keep busy 'til then.

More to follow.

Please link to First Batches of the Birdhouse Season (12)

Photos GH