DRYWALL REPAIRED -- AND BACK TO TOWN

Do you see Bess?

Let a day or two go by, and I'm challenged to remember what happened when.

Daffodils bloom in cleaned grove

To review, the drywaller came Tuesday morning as scheduled and said he would return the next day to do the work, postponing the work that Mike had planned for that day. So, he was forced to “make” some work, but that’s easy enough at the farm. First, he worked out in his barn gym in order to energize. Then he did yard work, such as hauling branches from under the trees in the grove to a burn pile. Later in the afternoon he drug an old bed springs over the lane to even the gravel. Yeah, I felt kinda bad not going out to help him, but I decided I didn't want to work outside in the rain, and if he did, that was his business.

In the process of my indoor activities, I discovered the faucet in the laundry room was dripping and everything stored under the sink was wet. I cleared and dried the area, but basically it was another job for Mike. He turned off the water and removed the faucet, which was broken anyway. As I always say, the good news is that it’s now clean under the sink. However, I decided to wait to put the stuff back until the faucet is replaced.

Mike texturing ceiling repair

Wednesday, the drywaller returned as scheduled, arriving just after 7:00 and completing the work by 8:30. Then we had to wait for the mud to dry before we could texture it. I baked a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies to put extra heat into the kitchen. After lunch Mike deemed it dry enough to add the texturing compound, but he didn’t have enough, so he had to go to Orofino to buy more, leaving me behind with the dogs. When the texturing was completed, we checked our old paint supply to see if we had the correct color. Naturally, we didn’t, but it was an opportunity to toss a lot of old cans and containers. I was pleased that the paint we used in the dining room was still good enough for a small touch-up.

Rape slowly begins to bloom

Thursday morning we were up and packing for the return to town. It was 36 degrees (but felt like 29). We drove out in a light rain/snow mix. On our way to the town house, we stopped at Sherwin Williams and were pleased that they could supply our old off-white “Coconut Colada” produced by Columbia Paints (now owned by Sherwin Williams). We oldsters were amazed at the cost of a gallon of paint -- $37.00 -- and that was the sale price! Mike also bought a new faucet for the utility room, this time a plane faucet instead of the spray nozzle which doesn’t work well in that environment.

 

And this is the sight that greeted us as we drove into our town house yard. The excavator has dug the foundation for his house, directly behind ours, as you can see.

This weekend I'm participating in my P.E.O. chapter’s annual rummage sale. More about that later. KW

PLUMBING REPAIR

The wind blew the large maple branch from the yard into the driveway.

We had a 9:00 a.m. appointment with the plumber at the farmhouse, so we wanted to be on the road by 7:00. While I love to get up in the morning, I don't bustle around well for a couple of hours, so I had things ready to load the night before.

And Mike was ready, too, having hitched the trailer to the pick-up. Last trip we brought the 4-wheeler to town. This trip we pulled the Cub Cadet riding mower (new last year) back to the farm. Long story short, the Cub Cadet was recalled, and the local contractor was slow in getting it from the farm and even slower returning it. So, Mike decided to trailer it back himself.

Lid -- somewhere out there

It was a dark, dreary, rainy day as we drove out Webb Ridge to Hwy 95. We knew that snow was predicted in the upper country, and sure enough – as we climbed higher the rain looked thicker and thicker until finally it was snow. Russell Ridge Road was snow floor. We used 4-wheel drive over that last mile into the farm.

The wind tore the second story door off its hinges.

We immediately noticed the effects of the regional windstorm that hit last Friday – the same one that blew Mike off his bicycle. The wicker rocking chair was upside down in the yard, now covered with wet snow. And that big branch that snapped off the maple tree during the winter had blown into the driveway, even though I personally was incapable of moving it an inch. Sections of the old compost bin had blown into the north field. I managed to rescue the top which I wanted to use as my town bin, but the lid is missing. I can just see it soaring through the air, landing in a spot where I may never find it.

Our plumber is a friendly, outgoing guy out of Orofino, but we can count on him to get lost every time he comes. Thank goodness for cellphones! He was only a little late. He quickly determined the problem area and set to work to remove a section of drywall from the kitchen ceiling.

A snowy morning

A better afternoon

The noise of the high-pitched saw was making the dogs nervous, so when I suggested a walk, they didn't need a second invitation. We walked down the lane and up Plank’s Pitch to the driveway of our nearest neighbor and then back. The snow was melting and it was sprinkling rain. I didn’t take the camera, and I didn't see any interesting blooms. The dogs were wet and dirty when we returned, and my feet were soaked.

Now we need a drywaller.

While we were gone -- about half an hour -- the plumber re-soldered a tee under the master lavatory, the source of the leak. He also fixed a troublesome trap leak on the pedestal lavatory in the main bathroom upstairs, and then he and Mike had a long conversation about winterization techniques which resulted in his adding a ball valve to the hot water tank. He was gone by 11:30.

After lunch, I did some housework and then joined Mike outside where he was cutting up the downed maple branches. He hauled smaller pieces to the burn pile at the pond and cut larger pieces for firewood, which we subsequently loaded on the trailer and brought back to town to augment next year’s supply. It wasn't much -- just two wheelbarrows full -- but it's always satisfying to use what comes our way.

Another storm in the distance

We had planned to plant some trees – you know, the kind you get from Arbor Day with your donation, about two in 25 of which will survive – but I said no. It’s still too cold – too much danger of frost – and besides, it was getting late, we were tired, and a storm loomed on the horizon. Those trees may not live to be planted, and if they don’t, we’ll get something else.

 

Arriving back in Clarkston, the sun was shining with no hint that the day had started so drearily. But -- it was 32 when we got up this morning, and while it's warming quickly, more rain is predicted. KW

KATHY'S NEW STEPS

"I told dad," said Hallie in her best no-nonsense voice, "that those blocks at the back door have to be replaced with real stairs this year. I don't want the call that you fell and broke your neck carrying the laundry basket to the line." She added that Nick had had experience building steps and they would come to help. The projected date was May.

My grandparents never had real exterior stairs. They used stacked sandstone blocks. And somehow, when we remodeled the house, the steps from the sunroom to the yard were overlooked. So, we stacked sandstone blocks and went on. Over the months we discussed options with Nick, then a contractor, and Mike eventually decided to build wood frame steps and work alone. Sometimes when you're feeling your way along with your own ideas, you just want to work alone. 

And today he finished the project and we're quite proud of it. Admittedly, carpentry isn't Mike's favorite thing, but he persevered and we have steps. And they're so much better than the sandstone blocks.

We haven't seen chipmunks here at the farm in 50 years -- until yesterday. In the top photo, the chipmunk is hiding in the sandstone blocks that Mike is in the process of removing, much to Nellie's frustration. And yes, the chipmunk was quicker than Nellie. KW