DUST AND MORE DUST

Monday began with a visit to the contractor’s office. As the business of renovation winds down, he provided documents for our records. We mentioned a few needed finishing touches and a few things we can’t find, like the toaster.

Back at the farmhouse, Farmer Kyle’s operation was just finishing in the north field. Mike was right, of course – we missed a lot of dust. On the other hand, a smaller tractor is going over the ground again, so we’re still getting plenty of dust.

Once we were settled, the next order of business was to look after the needs of the hummingbirds. We had many here last week, but we apparently lost momentum when we left. We were gone less than 48 hours, but we see only a hummer or two now and then. The new feeder we brought with us didn’t seem to appeal to the hummers, but more to the point, we questioned its design, so we rehung the old one, which is a little small. We still need a larger feeder.

As we walked to the mailbox late in the afternoon, we found Farmer Kyle’s operation at a standstill. He said a deer antler had punctured one of those gigantic tractor tires. A service tech from Les Schwab Tire was there to install a new one. A neighbor wondered if Les Schwab would have changed the tire for free if Farmer Kyle’s wife had been driving.

We’re still putting things away, and as I continued to consider how I could conserve space, I was startled to realize that everything is pretty much put away. I can now reassess and rearrange as needed, but I’m not challenged to find more room.

Mike and I have been hanging pictures, etc. – basically trying to put them back where they were before. I was so pleased to see that this little shelf, purchased some years ago at Pier 1, blends so well with the new kitchen colors. The old color scheme – red, green, white and brown – were fun for a while but limiting in the long run. I’m loving the change.

Mike said he saw bear scat down by the pond. I questioned his identification, but he was certain. After our walk Wednesday evening, as he was playing fetch with Bess, the bear appeared, heading toward the yard. Mike called me and I ran to the front porch with the camera. I managed to just catch the bear as he/she was loping away. If you look closely, perhaps you can make out the cinnamon fur of its face and shoulders. KW

FINISHING THE WORK WEEK

Taken Monday, May 13

Remember Mother’s funnel cake pan that I discarded the other day? I couldn’t do it. I removed it from the donation pile and put it back in the cupboard where it belongs.

Hallie planned to leave at 9:30 Friday morning but just kept working and working, cleaning the living room floor on her hands and knees. I came up with a set of glass casters, now collector items, and we positioned the dining room table and set those casters under the rollers. I like it!

The pear tree in spring finery

Hallie left before 11:00, and then Mike went to the attic. He vacuumed up a year’s accumulation of the awful stuff that gathers there. Then he pushed the old Xmas tree out and handed down his Dracula Halloween costume. “Do we have to do this now,” I screeched. I guess there’s something to be said for getting rid of stuff while we’re making trips to the transfer station and other donation centers. He says we need the space.

One tired puppy

Mike did all he could to eliminate boxes in the den, most stuff going back into the closet. Now we will have to deal with the big box of pictures removed from the walls. We have no place to store them, so we will have to re-hang them soon. The sun porch is now his priority, and before Hallie left, he had her help him move the bookcase into the den. He has questions as he goes along, which means he needs me in close proximity. Late in the afternoon, I finally replaced the books on the upstairs bookcase, emptying three big boxes. As I worked, I eliminated a dozen books and will probably eliminate more.

In the evening, Hallie sent a message that she was home and that it was 80 degrees in Seattle. That may mean that we’re in for some hot days here.

Saturday, we again discussed the fact that the key is missing from the master bedroom door. You see, the doors here are the original solid wood with brass knobs. Each door has its own key. Also, the knob on the stairwell door had corroded, so Mike replaced it with an extra.

The goal today was to empty as many boxes as we could. I finally tackled those in the master bath, sorting and putting away toiletries and linens. Mike has the sun porch in pretty good shape now, and he worked along at various chores until late morning when he began to collapse boxes and load them into the Dakota. He crammed a lot in there, including most of the trash. Then he and Bess made a trip to the transfer station. She made a bid for the driver’s seat, but Mike insisted on driving.

Hallie sent a message that Primo’s spots are not ringworm but a bacterial infection for which the vet prescribed a shampoo. We are relieved.

The scene as we left on Saturday

After lunch, Mike packed more cardboard, trash, and the old Christmas tree into the Dakota along with a few things for our brief stay in town. As we left, Farmer Kyle’s equipment was parked on June’s place at the top of Plank’s Pitch. I was disappointed that he will likely plant our fields while we’re gone, but Mike was more philosophical. “We’ll miss a lot of dust,” he said. “Except for that which settles in the house,” I said to myself.

We stopped at the transfer station in Orofino and dropped off the old Christmas tree and the remains of our trash. We arrived in town about 3:00, and it was 91 degrees. I exchanged my winter pajamas for a lighter set. But – this is Idaho. It could be cool again. In fact, it’s predicted. KW

MORE WORK (Thursday, May 9)

I was up at 5:00, dressed, and ready for the day.  Hallie was up and around by 6:30. The dogs are excited and impatient in the morning because Hallie gives each one a pig ear, her signature treats. It was breezy (10 mph) and cool (47).

After breakfast we were back at work. I broke my own rule and put away the contents of the kitchen drawers without cleaning to get it out of the way. I’ll have to do it later. Organizing the tableware and miscellaneous junk drawers has been a nightmare but four spring-loaded drawer dividers seem to work well. I’ll buy another set.

Hallie

I assigned Hallie to check the boxes in the den for the kitchen clock and toaster. She came up with the clock but not the toaster. I’m beginning to suspect that the toaster was a casualty of the dripping water in the kitchen. It probably had mold and got tossed, but no one said so. The toaster can be easily replaced, but the clock is a vintage item that someone gave Mike when we first moved in. I’m delighted to report that it still works and will again hang above the sink. I have missed it.

Mike arrived from town at 9:00 on his XT, which he will leave here. He was wearing a backpack with things we needed – charcoal so that we can grill pork chops for supper and dog food so that Bess can eat. (We thought we had more dog food than we did.)

Mike roasting hot dogs

Mike made a bonfire of the slash pile midway the lane, which was hot and burned quickly. Hallie and I talked him into letting us roast wieners for lunch. It feels so good to finally have that pile gone!

Hallie discovered spots on Primo’s belly. We’re concerned it’s ringworm. She made an appointment with her vet in Seattle.

My great fear finally came to pass. I was searching and searching for the toiletries only to discover I was overlooking them – in plain sight in the bathroom where they belong. I even knew they were there at one time but just forgot.

In the afternoon, Mike tackled the boxes in the den, which included a lot of vintage stuff we’ve been treasuring – record albums, VCR tapes, cassette tapes. We need to get rid of some of this stuff.

Hallie began systematically cleaning the floors, sometimes on her hands and knees. The ottoman I bought several years ago to set in front of the couch in the living room is now in the way of the new couch / recliners, so she and I moved it to the dining room under the window. This was “Plan B” when I bought it anyway.

Planting on the next place over

I was able to pull enough rhubarb to make half a cake. It smelled great as it was baking, and it was delicious.

Mike has searched for his missing ammo box for months and finally discovered it stashed inside an end table in the den. He’s still looking for his rechargeable drill. We have a list of items to discuss with the contractor, but basically we’re in pretty good shape.

Spraying

Farmer Kyle is planting on the adjacent property, and today they sprayed our place. As we went to bed, they were still working across the way to the north, not yet on our property. They don’t start early, but they will work late into the evening. KW