4/4-6/06 I went up to the property for 3 days: Tuesday through Thursday.

I arrived at 12:45. It was 50 degrees and a beautiful sunny spring day. The driveway was all melted off halfway to the trailer where it had been cleared for the scouts, but there was still way too much snow to drive any further.

After moving in and having lunch, I sanded the window and the four logs that were due for another coat of varnish. I was still feeling pretty crummy from being sick so I didn't have the energy to work very hard or very fast. I spent the rest of the day measuring and scoping out the possibility of a spiral staircase to the loft. I am not happy with any of the alternatives for that staircase that I have considered yet, so I am still hoping for a moment of inspiration when a really good idea will occur to me. I hope it happens pretty soon.

Just as I was finishing dinner, John called. We had a wonderful conversation that lasted for about an hour and a half. It was really great talking to him. I should do it more often.

On Wednesday I still felt crummy. My head was all stuffed up and I woke up early in the morning with a headache. I took two aspirins which pretty much fixed the headache by the time I got up.

I set up tarps and lights so I could work on the logs between the loft windows. Then I went to work planing and scraping. I got the top two logs planed, but I only got the top log ready for varnish by the end of the day. I just wasn't up to working very hard but I figured one log is better than none. Another benefit of working so slowly is that my hands are beginning to heal somewhat from the repetitive stress that has been accumulating. They still hurt, but not nearly as bad.

On Thursday morning, I varnished five logs and the window in the loft. I left for home at 12:30 so that I would be there when Andrew got off school.