More bees move in

Our bee condo is filling up fast.  We also see bees going in and out.

Model trains: new setup

Everything looks very messy while I am working on changes.

Here it is finished.  I have used rubber cement to glue down the track, except for the very inside loop.  Six of the 7 switches can be changed from the new control panel, using wires that I have run under the table.  When I have two power packs and two good engines, this setup will allow me to separately control the two trains, because the outer loop can be electrically isolated.

I still get some derailments on the inside loops because they have tighter curves.

From the shop: low table for dollhouse

For Maggie and Ingrid, so their new dollhouse is easier to play with.  Out of oak.

Bee moves in

Just as Jane hoped, an Orchard Mason bee has moved in to our bee house.  Supposedly, there are eggs in the hole, which has been closed with 'mortar'.

New quilt: Forever Summer

Model trains: pulling 7 cars

I now have an 8-car train running pretty consistently.  The engine would pull more cars, but derailments increase as the length of the train increases, especially on tighter turns or at switches.

Daddy's tulips

Emily bought these tulips in 2007 when she was visiting Daddy over Valentines day.  He was in the hospital.  Afterwards, Mommy gave them to me and this is the fourth year they have bloomed in our yard.  The deer have never eaten them.

Model trains: train station

Watch the action as the freight train pulls into the station.

Here is a closeup of the station manager with his forklift.

Model trains: Two trains, double oval

Four switches allow trains to switch from one oval to another.

You might ask, when are we going to see some buildings and scenery?  First, I want to understand what I can do with the trains and tracks and make a good decision about the layout I want.

Model trains: the big bridge

I built a bridge in the figure eight layout so that trains would not crash at the intersection.

Actually, the engine will pull at least three loaded train cars over the hill.

Hail

These hailstones were only as large as small peas, but there were a lot of them.

Model trains: figure eight

Trying another track layout:

Garden projects

These are the peonies,  and day lilies coming up:

Anthony's crabapple tree starting to bloom:

Ingrid's iris garden looking good:

Jane put down some edging, ground cover, and Maggie's new coral bark Japanese maple.

Native bee home

Jane is doing a poster on bees for the Beverley Garden Club flower show in May.  It turns out that honeybees (who build hives) are European in origin.  The several species of native bees do not build hives, do not produce much honey, but are great pollinators.  One of the native species is the Orchard Mason Bee.  I built a home for them from a block of untreated wood.  The holes are 5/16" in diameter and 4" long.  Maybe some bees will move in before Jane takes it to the flower show as part of her poster display.

College stickers for van

The weather has been too cold since Christmas, but finally it is warm enough to put all the stickers on the van.  Most go on the outside, but three of the 11 go on the inside, and are less visible.

The plan:

The final product:

Two shelves for Anthony and Michael

I am making these from oak, and they will be unstained.  Here is a picture of the sides having finish applied:

And here is one completed:

Model trains: making progress

Here is the train controller. You can turn the

train off or on, adjust the speed, and change the direction.

We are now using a more powerful engine.

Also, we are pulling lots of heavy cargo (screws for now)

to minimize derailments.

I have also built a 'bridge' where the train has to go over

a little hill.

And here are two new train videos.

Model trains: changing speed

Showing the engineer, slowing down, backing up.

New quilts: "Sea Glass One" and "Sea Glass Two" plus pillows

These twin-sized quilts (and 20" pillows) were commissioned by Martee for sale at Living Artisans for Your Home (a shop in Richmond, VA). One quilt shown.

Model trains: it's running!

I built a 4'x8' train table, and am able to get a locomotive to run.  Not pulling any cars yet.  This engine does not seem to be powerful enough.  I have two more engines, but one has no couplers and the other is in pieces.

New Quilt "Rising with the Light"

Another art quilt (#294) by Jane.

Gardening: the compost pile

The bales of hay on the compost heap are turning green.

Model Trains: getting started

I got from Matthew the model train stuff he had accumulated, and I have started experimenting with it.  The first goal is to get an engine pulling some cars, and advance from there.  First, I made a circle of track (HO gauge) on the breakfast table.