Fireworks and Finishes

After our morning picking blueberries and making blueberry cobbler (recipe soon to be on the sidebar), I did more sanding on the dresser. After that, we all trooped down to Rockville for a wonderful concert and fireworks.


We staked out a spot close to the bandshell.

That was wonderful for watching and listening to the Fugitive Brass quintet and the Rockville Concert Band (above), but awfully loud when they blasted more music through the speakers near us during the fireworks (as if they weren't loud enough already!). The boys surprised us by not freaking out during the fireworks. David did get scared and buried his face in my chest the entire time after watching for about 2 minutes, but Joshua watched with his ears covered for almost the whole show.


Update on the refinishing project:


Today, I put the stain on the dresser. I am getting excited because I'm so close to finishing this project, and also because, somewhat to my surprise, it looks amazing! The Lord has blessed this project from first to last, from providing the dresser, to giving me strength to work on it even when I'm tempted to be lazy, and finally to keeping the weather almost perfect. My goal has been to finish it before we leave for vacation on Thursday, and by God's grace it will be done!

A few more pics

This is the freecycled dresser I am currently refinishing by hand. Today I went out for my usual sanding during the boys' nap and no sooner had I undone the tarp than it started to rain. All the finish is off the top, front, and left side by this time, so once I get the right side done then I can apply the wood filler where needed and then sand again with a finer grit sandpaper. Then finally I can stain! And then varnish varnish varnish. I only hope the rain didn't do any damage I can't sand away. I haven't sanded down the wood that goes behind the mirror yet. Maybe I can do that now that the rain has stopped.

This was our preferred way of traveling to and from the Apple Ridge pool for swimming lessons.

And one more water shot, just because I like it. Hope you enjoy it too!