Day 4 - Sanding

I was pretty proud of what I had going and I was liking what I was making. I felt good about myself being productive while I was stuck here in the chair most of my day with very little to do.

Today's goal was sanding my two projects and putting a base paint. I got my sandpaper out, 220 grit, and cut a few small pieces off and gathered myself in my recliner and placed a plastic shopping bag on my lap, at this point I was making major messes that I had to vacuum up. I started in on my task at hand. I was still pretty hung up on my coat of arms and dug in on that first. I cleaned and sharpened its edges and it seemed like it was coming to life once again as if I had just got done carving it. I slaughtered the hangers that just wouldn't let go of its home and blew off the dust and just couldn't help but do that smile again.

I went for the gingerbread man next. Rubbing its edges with my sandpaper to make that soft smooth edge. I found myself sanding the left foot of the gingerbread man when all the sudden his little foot just popped off and landed 3 feet in front of me. Without moving a hand I looked with eyes wide in horror at the tiny foot laying there alone in the middle of the living room. Thoughts raced through my mind as to how I was supposed to get that foot back on my gingerbread man. Little time went by when I noticed my cats had caught eye of the abandoned foot and I quickly leaned forward and gathered it up.

I quickly remembered reading through my books that elmer's glue was actually a good cheap glue that was made with wood fibers and dried quickly. I had some in the girls' art box. I sent Neal after my needs and he delivered as always. I took my gingerbread man in one hand, glue in the other, and debated the amount I should put on. I remembered reading that beads of glue were easy to pluck off after drying and it was also a sign that enough glue was used to seal the deal. So I lathered it on with what I thought to be enough, put the bottle of glue to the side, and grabbed the little foot. I carefully smashed the ends together and held it while blowing on it to speed the process up. When I thought time was done I took my hand away and continued to sand the gingerbread man. Shortly after, his tiny foot fell again. Apparently I had not let it set long enough. So I applied another application of glue, held it for a few minutes, and set him down on side table. I got myself situated in my wheelchair and looked at him once more before I headed off to bed. My amputated ginger was back in action.