Today: pulling nails on salvaged, century-old 2x4s and listening to Colter Wall’s new album Little Songs.

Attempting pickled kale, using this recipe. I added two cloves of garlic and a jalapeño. Now it sits in the refrigerator for two days.

Make your own toothpaste: 4 tbsp melted coconut oil, 3 tbsp baking soda, 3 tbsp bentonite clay, 10-20 drops peppermint essential oil. Reduces plastic use when compared to standard toothpaste. And fewer chemicals, if that’s a concern.

Plans for my next woodworking project:

• Get one of my hand planes in working order
• Build Rex Krueger’s low workbench out of salvaged 2x4 studs.
• Build a desk. I plan to make the top from the lovely old trim I salvaged recently, which I’ll then attach to some black metal legs.

Inspired by this video from Rex Krueger, I decided my best way into hand planing would be to go cheap and put some work into making them better. Coincidentally, I won a Target gift card in a contest at work, which I used on the two inexpensive Stanley planes on the ends. Then I went to an auction and got the three in the middle for a few dollars. So now I’ll be following Rex’s instructions on getting them set up and sharpened.

Using apocalyptic sunbeams to make tea.

I had a four day weekend due to Independence Day and I spent it closing in about half of the open stud walls in my garage. It was about a million degrees so I got impatient a few times and made some obvious mistakes, but I also learned a bit and now have wall space to build cabinets and hang tools.

Today’s smoothie consists of greens and mint from the garden (left) and raspberries and chicory flowers gathered from the trail near my house (right). Turns out not too pretty, but tasty!

One of my favorite tools: my dad’s Petersen Manufacturing (Dewitt, Nebraska) Vise Grips, complete with his initials etched into it. He worked as a signal maintainer for the railroad in my early childhood—a job he was always proud of. His work there ended when he seriously injured his back.

The previous owner of my house left behind some heavy duty Lyon shelving in the garage. It is a heap of trouble to disassemble and reconfigure but I’m going to hold onto it because it’s older than me and will probably outlast me.