OPENING THE FARMHOUSE

As I mentioned in a previous post, Mike and I headed to the farm Saturday afternoon (April 5) in hopes of de-winterizing the farmhouse. The major task is to turn on the water and hopefully heave a sigh of relief that the pump, the tanks, the pipes, the faucets, etc., are all functional. Well, we didn’t get that sigh of relief this year. To continue and go on (as Ina would say) –

The situation was that the holding tank in the mechanical room would build pressure when turned off, but as soon as we turned it on, we could hear a rush of water. The pressure in the tank quickly decreased to the point of automatic shut off. Mike thought the problem was between the holding tank and the hot water tank. I wasn’t so sure. I thought I could hear water under the house. I sent Mike back down there several times, and he couldn’t find a leak.

Well, it was mid-afternoon Saturday and neither the pump guy nor the plumber were available, but it was clear that we needed more information. We hadn’t intended to stay anyway, so we set about our other errands. Mike got the 4-wheeler running and loaded it on the trailer so that we could pull it back to Clarkston. I unloaded the boxes of supplies and then prepared Hallie’s little mission rocker for the trip to town so that we can take it to her.

 

Of course I toured the yard, and Bess and I walked down the lane to inspect the water damage there. The lane did wash a bit during the run-off and will have to be fixed. However, it could be worse. We can drive over it.

First thing Monday morning Mike called the pump guy, who advised him to check a valve on the side of the hot water tank. We decided to return to the farm Tuesday afternoon (April 8), which was yesterday. It was a lovely warm afternoon – perfect for a trip into the upper country.

At the house, Mike found the valve on the hot water tank was closed as it should be, so that meant the problem was elsewhere. Therefore, he donned old clothes – really old clothes – and once again disappeared under the house through the access door in the mechanical room. This time he persisted until he found the broken line, which was under the kitchen sink in an area difficult to access. A previous repair on that pipe had come loose. Well, now we knew we needed a visit from the plumber. Arrangements were made before we left Gilbert.

I just feel at a loss without water. Water at the farmhouse still seems magical to me since I remember the years when we had to carry it. Mike was wet when he came up from under the house, so he went to the pond to rinse off. Rinsing off in the pond? You have to wonder about that.

And speaking of the pond, it’s full and there’s water in the spillway, but we notice that it’s dry towards the barn. In other words, we don’t have the standing water we have seen in the past, which is good – and bad. We may not have as much water in reserve this year.

Before leaving the house, we swept and/or vacuumed. Of course, Nellie and Bess enjoyed the outings to the farm. Bess runs all around while Nellie quietly explores. Yes, she’s slowing down, but she’s learned that you don’t have to rush around to be good at what you do. 

After completing chores, we drove back to town, arriving before suppertime. 

[Photos: 1) The farmhouse in the distance. 2) Daffodils -- the fruits of my labor last fall. 3) Crown Imperial Frittalaria. 4) The wash out in the lane. 5) More daffodils and Crown Imperial. 6)  Nellie poking around at the pond. 7) The barn reflected in the pond -- and if you look closely, you can see a pair of ducks.] KW

SPRING -- GLORIOUS SPRING!

It's a beautiful day in the town neighborhood today -- 77 at 5:00 p.m.. It's actually 70 here in the house without benefit of heating today. And I'm wondering if we'll want to turn on the electric blanket tonight.

Yes, it feels like spring today. It was warm for our afternoon walk. Nellie doesn't take the heat well, but even wiry little Bess wasn't as energetic as usual. I'll have to carry water for them -- or walk earlier in the day.

I've been working in the garden at the west end of the house. Once I've weeded, I intend to plant the "Jumbo Water-wise Garden" I ordered from High Country Gardens on the north end, significantly decreasing my vegetable garden space. I've also ordered a variety of coneflowers from Breck's. Those haven't come yet.

Mike and I went to the farm Saturday afternoon (April 5) with the intent to de-winterize the house. However, there was a problem getting the water turned on, so Mike sought advice this morning and tomorrow we'll try again. I'm just not going to reveal that story until the problem is resolved. KW

[The pictures here are of our ornamental cherry tree on the west end of the house. It's very pretty this year -- and buzzing with beas.]

TUDOR UPDATE: NEW RETRO MAILBOX

Hallie and Nick continue to settle into their cute little Tudor cottage in Seattle.

A few weeks back I shared Hallie's account (here) of how they found the antique mailbox under a bush in the backyard. They decided the antique box had seen enough active service and replaced it with a new retro-styled box.


Here's what Hallie wrote in response to my question as to where she had purchased the new box: "There's a really cool store here called Rejuvenation. I believe it's headquartered in Portland--you can check them out online, too. They reproduce awesome things from the past. Most things are SUPER expensive, but for certain things I think it's worth it. The mailbox will be a point of interest and it's nice that it's locking. It's bigger than the original mailboxes of that style, which is good given the size/volume of mail that is distributed these days.  

"We also got some of those push button switches for the living room. I wish I could get a part time job at that store just to have the employee discount. I'll take you there when you visit."

Oh Boy! I can hardly wait to go.

I remember push button switches, do you? As my parents updated their 1910 Sears Craftsman, they replaced those with toggle switches, but for a long time my dad's studio still had the push button unit. KW

WALKIN' THE DOGS

I can't remember if March came in like a lion or like a lamb, but yesterday it went out rather mildly. We did have a shower late afternoon, and while it rained, the sun still shone -- a typical spring phenomenon. The picture above is just a scene from our neighborhood. You can see that the flowering trees are budding out.

Mike went on a long bicycle ride, so I took Nellie and Bess for their afternoon walk. Bess loves to practice her hunting skills . . .  

. . . and Nellie just saunters along doing as she pleases.




Often on our walk in this rural neighborhood we see a herd of eleven or twelve mule deer. Yesterday I captured this picture of them, but of course, they weren't really close. KW

A NIGHT ON THE OUTSIDE

When it’s bedtime, the routine is that Mike turns off TV and calls the dogs to the kitchen to get their teeth brushed. Both Nellie and Bess have their teeth brushed every night. Mike became convinced of that necessity when previous dog, Nobie, had to have her teeth cleaned, a procedure requiring her to be anesthetized. After that, he added "brushing the dog's teeth" to the bedtime routine. Nellie’s teeth are in good shape for a dog her age.

As the next step in the bedtime routine, the dogs make a brief visit to the field. They are expected to return from that visit ASAP, and usually – but not always – that happens. Then they go to the kennel, receive their bedtime treat, and have strange “doglike” interactions as they decide which one will sleep where.

We had two dogloos in the kennel, and a while back, Mike noticed that the shavings in the one house were wet. We haven’t found the reason yet, but Mike pushed that dogloo out of the way behind the kennel and re-installed Nellie’s barrel. The other night the wind was blowing, so Nellie went to bed early. (She doesn’t like to be in the house during a storm.) When Mike took Bess to bed, Nellie wouldn’t allow her to enter the barrel. Of course, the second dogloo was still available for Bess. We don’t know how they resolve these things. They’ve given Mike to know that they prefer to solve their own problems -- and privately. If he tries to watch, they watch him back and refuse to "discuss" their issues until he leaves.

Last night, Mike put both dogs in the kennel and returned to the house to brush his own teeth. As he turned the bedroom light out, I thought I heard a little whine from outside. I didn’t hear it again, so I didn’t mention it. In fact, I just thought I was hearing things. Big mistake! Somehow Bess ducked back out of the kennel before Mike latched the gate and he didn’t notice her, so she spent the night on the outside. Well, it wasn’t cold and she had the outside dogloo at her disposal. No harm done except that she took retribution by chewing the leather strap off Mike’s wood carrier. Apparently it mattered to her that she wasn’t inside the kennel. KW

[Photo 1: Bess has long, floppy ears, and for a Shorthair, her fur is rather long. We call her a long-hair Shorthair. Note the cowlick on the back of her neck. 

Photo 2: Bess wanted so badly to sit with Mike on the sofa. He gave her no encouragement.

Photo 3: Bess seemed posed for this picture.]

TUDOR UPDATE: WORK CONTINUES

Work continues on Hallie and Nick's cute little Tudor cottage in Seattle.

Some of the work just had to be done -- a new sewer line and a new roof. You can see Nick beside the fence, watching the roofers.


But Hallie and Nick did most of the work themselves, and they worked and they cleaned and they worked some more. I think Hallie said she got the shop-vac off Craigslist practically new.

They made the bathroom workable.



Then, taking first things first, they tackled the kitchen. The picture on the right shows the old kitchen with old appliances before the work commenced. The refrigerator was hauled off -- ruined by spoiled food left two years ago, Hallie said. She refused to deal with that. And they gave away the old range.

In this picture, the kitchen walls are now yellow. Hallie says the yellowness makes her happy.

 
And to the right (I hope -- a pictorial post is not easy), we can see the new kitchen floor. I think Hallie said it's a "floating cork" floor, or something. And I believe they laid it themselves.

And here are the new appliances, delivered last Tuesday. Hallie reported that they chose stainless steel, which isn't traditional, but I say that even though the age and style of the house may dictate some of their decisions, they're still living in the modern world and should have what they want.

Here are before and afters on the kitchen faucet. Now there's a vintage look. And Hallie reports that the new faucet works! (Look at that soapdish.)


It's not been an easy project, but I think Nick and Hallie are pleased with results thus far. Worthwhile projects often aren't easy.

Well, I'm going to push publish and hope that the appropriate illustrations stay with the text. KW

WISH YOU WERE HERE . . .

Over at the resort, "Aunt" Chris and "Uncle" Dan hired grandsons to come and help with some heavy yard work. Unfortunately, our grandsons don't live near here.

Today, Mike cut the stump of the big poplar tree. He shoved it around himself, but I think we'll leave it there and see if it dries out a bit before "we" try to move it again.

Days have been sunny but still somewhat cool. Mornings have been frosty -- low was 27 today. KW