Sunday

I woke up at 5:30 AM on Sunday, but refused to get out of bed until 6:00. It was my day off, dammit!

I got a cup off coffee and finished filling out the rather extensive Blog post. Then I got another cup of coffee.

I moved the magazine rack to the kitchen near the register and set it on two wood scraps, so it could dry thoroughly. I wrapped up the Visqueen, rags, gloves, and Q-tips into a bundle, stuck that in a kitchen trash bag and put it in the garbage can.

I ate breakfast, took my pills and refilled the pill box. I wound the clock and added the ice cubes to the orchid, but did not water the bay leaf tree (it was still damp). Then I shaved and showered.

I started making supper. Yes, supper! I learned a valuable lesson yesterday. You can’t concentrate on projects, then make a complicated dinner and still hope to eat at a decent time.

So, I took out a roast I bought yesterday and let it come to room temperature while I peeled carrots. I lined the bottom of my oval slow cooker with carrots, and a yellow onion, peeled and cut in half. Next came a layer of unpeeled Yukon Gold potatoes and two cloves of garlic.

Since I still had the skillet with the leftover bacon grease on the stove, I heated that up and seared the roast in it, until I had a nice crust on both sides (telling myself I was adding layers of flavor, LOL!) Then I seasoned it with lots of Kosher salt, fresh coarse ground black pepper, a little garlic powder, thyme and parsley on both sides. That went on top the potatoes. I added about a 1/4 cup of water and a good glug of Worcestershire sauce.  Finally, I laid rings of another onion on top the roast. I wished I had some mushrooms, but, oh well. I turned it on “Low” and Sunday’s supper was done.

I went out back and refilled the squirrel feeder. Since I was out there anyway, I snipped off a stalk of freeze-dried rosemary. Back inside, I put it on top of the roast.Then i realized I hadn't taken out the leftover pancakes (from last weekend) to the birds as I'd planned. So, I opened the back door and stood on the small spot that didn't have snow (not wanting to track it in the house)  and sent them like Frisbees over to the feeding area.

At about 10:00 AM, I backed the car out in the driveway again. Then I drilled a hole in the middle of top back bar of the magazine rack, so I could spray it with polyurethane and hang it up to dry. Later, I will use that same hole to attach it to the wall. I cut a piece of stiff wire and got out a can of polyurethane.

After I shook the polyurethane can the required two minutes, I took the rack out into the garage. I gave it a light coat, mostly holding it in my hand, but finally hanging it on the wire, hooked on the other end to the garage door opener.

My plan was to let it hang there in the cold (where it won’t dry well) until the vapors were gone. When I can’t smell it, I’ll take it in the house to dry thoroughly. I will crack the windows, though, still worried about explosive vapors.

Meanwhile, back inside, I laid a nice piece of leftover birch-covered plywood on the washer/dryer. I put the plotted template of the star clock (as I now think of it) on it and, working in sections (the plywood is not 30-inches wide), used a razor knife to carefully cut out the actual clock. See Photos.

[Sidebar: This was now quite worrisome as I realized just how fragile the cutout template was.]

Then I went back into the garage, brought the magazine rack in, hung it above the laundry tub and went back into the garage. I disassembled my sanding rack and then cut the four six-foot 1x8’s I bought yesterday in half. I really only needed three, but wanted to make sure if one had loose knots or was cupped or looked bad, I had spares. It was after noon by then, so I took a break and reheated some of the Knocks and Beans Supreme for lunch.

The timer went off, so I took the magazine rack back into the garage and re-sprayed it with polyurethane. I left it hanging out there and went in to call my brother Jim to wish him a belated Happy Birthday.

After that, I took a break and watched a little TV, hoping to fall asleep and take a Sunday afternoon nap. That didn’t work so, after I brought in the magazine rack and put the car back in the garage,  I watched one of my favorite movies in recent times: The Ninth Gate.

When it was over, I got my boards and my template and started playing around with various boards on the kitchen floor. I was trying to lay them all out so I didn’t hit any knots when I can finally cut out the star and wheel. When I thought I had a good mix, I numbered them and marked where the biscuits should go. I took a photo for you, but I doubt you can clearly see the star and wheel outline. I deliberately penciled it in lightly, so I don’t have to spend forever sanding it off.

I also took a picture of the magazine rack. I would just hang it on the wall but I promised I’d take it into work first.

My daughter Melissa called about 5:30 PM. She said it was very cold and snowing down in North Carolina and asked if it was warm with the grass growing up here. I told her not hardly (We had a high of 26 degrees here today and leftover snow from yesterday).

I ate dinner after making a horseradish sauce for my roast beef (two tablespoons of mayonnaise and one tablespoon of horseradish). Dinner was excellent and I ate too much because of that. The roast was especially moist and flavorful (I think searing it may have kept more juices in it, but that's just a guess). I even liked the carrots!

When everything cooled, I took out the potatoes and carrots with a slotted spoon and put them and the roast beef in my big Tupperware container. I strained the au jus and put that in a container in the fridge as well. I put the inside crock of the slow cooker in the washtub and filled it with hot soapy water to let it soak overnight.

I watched the first episode of a BBC series Jake had recommended called “Luther.” Its about a London police detective who has personal problems. It was excellent (thanks!). I watched another taped show and then went to bed at 10:00 PM.