Staying cool, finishing up the lawn bench and weekend chores
Posted By RichC on July 29, 2025
This past weekend was the last weekend of July 2025 (yikes!) and I tried to stay cool by jumping in and out of the pool during the 90+ degree summer heatwave that has been for the most part enjoyed for a 
few weeks now. I do prefer the heat of summer to the cold of winter … and know, “it is summer in Cincinnati, so what do you expect?”
For the most part, I was still able to accomplish a few chores around the house — cutting a fallen tree and finishing the lawn bench project. I know most people enjoy summer with activities and events “away from home” … but like my youngest granddaughter, “I would like to stay at home” (at least that’s what she told us last week).
Speaking of cutting and hauling the dead tree (above), it was much larger than the photo suggests since much of it was still in the woods. After cutting and hauling the part you can see, I chained the rest to the John Deere 330 and was not able to pull it out of the woods (to avoid the poison ivy). So decided to see if the 2010 BMW X5 35d was up to the task — gently, I was able to pull it out of the woods without a problem. Whew!
Instead of starting up and using my 40 year old heavy-duty McCulloch chainsaw, I opted to give my “modified” Ridgid electric “trimming” chainsaw a true test. I put in my largest 9Ah battery and slowly it was able to cut the tree into pieces I could haul in my recently revitalized Bame trailer to the fire pile. We’re going to have a big bonfire … 
but on a reasonably damp day. 😉
Back to staying cool: Instead of working outside on the Lawn Bench project that was started on the previous weekend, I opted to move it all into the basement workshop. It was definitely much more comfortable (my liking hot weather aside). The two coats of polyurethane was dry, but I had yet to dry-fit the new oversized Oostra Oak slates and pieces. It was much tighter than I expected — who knew the difference between .067 and .075 would make that much of a difference – BUT it all worked out perfectly. It is almost too nice to put outside. Then I added a final heavier coat of polyurethane that unfortunately ran a little as I attempted to filling in the area around each stainless steel bolt and screw to protect the wood from absorbing any water and degrading prematurely. So with those drip/runs … it will be much easier to leave outside in the weather. HA!
EDIT Add: Spotted a leftover “pool temperature” photo that is about as warm at I’ve ever seen it.
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