Time is Fleeting

If I remember correctly the song “Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show starts….. “It’s astounding, Time is fleeting…Madness takes it’s toll”. How true: time has just been flying by for this boy, and as far as being mad goes…. I think I’ll plead the 5^th on that one!

People who really know me have seen me become consumed by a project. This latest patio mess is no exception. Monday found me making plans for a fast road trip to Dallas, TX for a mess of paving brick. I know it sounds crazy but as my sister aptly said: “Once Brick makes his mind up to do something he does it. Case closed.”

I got on the road Tuesday morning at 3:50 a.m. It is a straight shot west on I-20 to Dallas. I’m in luck whereby I miss the thunderstorms that are plaguing Mississippi. All through Louisiana and Texas the skies clouded up and get threatening only to later clear to brilliant sunshine. The brickyard is located on South Lamar St in Dallas. Once again the computer helped out greatly by using Google maps. Being able to enlarge the map to the most minute detail I can plot my route through the tangled mess of exit ramps. Traffic was light and I arrived a bit early from my projected time at 1:00 p.m. The guys at the yard were expecting me. As is normally the case in something like this cash payment is great appreciated. The pavers are only .60 ea so 200 only put me back $120. There was the nicest handyman on the yard who helped me load the things. This was the most weight I’ve ever had in the truck. The back is down as far as it can go. There were even 25 pavers packed in the cab with me! I had almost 600 miles under my belt; I wanted to get to Shreveport, LA for my night stop.

It was about 185 miles later I pulled off the road at exit 8 off I-20 at the Motel Six. The nicest woman checked me in. she had so much personality. I had her laughing so telling of this latest brick run. I made arrangements for a 4:30 wake up call the next morning. I really had her going when I told her I can’t wait to get my wake up call from Tom Bodett telling me I won the one million dollars! (That is the usual recording on the motel Six wake up call!!)

A “Catfish House” is just down the road. A take out catfish dinner and some cold Buds made for a great dinner to this road weary boy.

My wake up call is right on schedule…A woman’s voice tells me this is my wake up call.

Brick: Wait a minute, where’s Tom Bodett telling me I got a million dollars?

Woman: Hearty laughter…Oh baby I don’t have one million for you!

Brick: Laughing back…thanks, I’ll drop the key off on my way out….

What a nice way to wake up with laughing! I just love it when I get called “baby and Hun” in these situations.

I’m fine driving till I get to Jackson, MS. There were horrible thunderstorms I drove through. Even with all that weight I can feel the truck hydroplane on occasion. This is white knuckle driving. Mercifully the traffic is going slow in the right hand lane so I stay to the right.

I finally drive out of the worst of it and don’t have rain again till I get to the Alabama line. It is 75 miles from here to my little home. I don’t mind taking it slow now.

It was 11:15 when I walked in the door to be greeted by Daggy and Stumpy.

By 1:30 p.m I had the truck unloaded and the bricks piled up.

Thursday: The morning is delightfully cool: The perfect weather to get the ground ready for the new bricks. The hard clay is scraped and leveled. In one spot the ground is spongy. I dig down and discover the decaying remains of the tree that was destroyed back in 2000. The remains of the trunk and heavy side roots have to be dug up. UGH! This really heats me up and puts be behind time wise. Better to do the work now and have a good foundation than to skip the job and then have the patio “sinkhole” in a few years.

Time to load the truck up again: a short drive to Scotties for a load of crushed limestone. His business must be dong well. The yard is immaculate. I notice the bin containing the crushed limestone I need is nearly empty. He loads up a half yard into my little truck and the back end is back down to the ground!

That is unloaded and I need another ¼ yard to finish up: Another trip, another load of limestone. By the time I finish cleaning that mess off the truck I’m all done in.

Tamping down the crushed limestone.

But now I need to get the yard all detailed for the dinner party Saturday: I forgot to mention that one! I think everyone has a dish they know will always turn out and people love. That meal for me is bar-b-que lamb shanks. It was a standard dinner that my friends always looked forward to having. It has been some ten years since I cooked up that dish. The biggest problem is finding the lamb shanks to begin with. Publix markets has been carrying them. In the past few months I had acquired enough in my freezer to justify a dinner.

It makes no sense to just cook up a few, so I waited till I had even dozen shanks. I call the gang and everything is set for Saturday night. I told them to arrive around 5 and we will eat at 6:30 or so. The stove heats up the kitchen so; summertime is not the time to cook up a dinner like this. But I need to use these shanks up. I’m hoping cocktails and munchies can be out on the patio or front porch so the heated up house won’t make that much of a difference…

After the walk this morning I began the preparation of the shanks. They are first seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika. Then they are browned in bacon grease using a cast iron frying pan. A sauce is made up using catsup, water, dry mustard, brown sugar, vinegar, and sliced onion. The shanks are arranged in a turkey roaster, the sauce is dumped over and the entire mess is slow cooked at 300 for a couple hours.

The secret is to have the shanks “rest overnight” to really soak up the flavor of the sauce. That also gives time to “defat” the sauce. Now the shanks and sauce just have to be warmed through for the dinner. When I have company over I hate to have to spend all my time in the kitchen!

Here are the shanks. Time to get them taken care of and get started on making the cheesecake for desert….

Moving Iron 7-03-2007

It is 6:30 a.m. as I type this out. I went to bed last night to the wonderful sound of RAIN! The threatening sky finally let loose after 10:00 p.m. Not a torrential downpour but a steady constant rain. It is so amazing the plants will “green up” after a good soaking. It must have rained most of the night, things are still very wet. Daggy and Stump returned into the house after the first check of the back yard with wet fur. That does not bother them much!

I still have to turn the central air-conditioner on. To annoy everyone I gave myself the deadline of July 4^th to activate the thing. My fans and cooling strategies have been working so well, I might see if I can go the entire summer without using it! People got by in the past without AC. It cooled off enough last night to where I had to get under the wool blanket. Stump insisted on going under the covers for a bit, curling up in the crook behind my knees.

Monday was another steamy hot day. Working on the patio extension I smell the foulest odor. I’m blaming one of the neighborhood cats that frequent the back yard on spraying. Then my little Daggy trots over digs a bit in the pile of dirt excavated for the storm sewer cover. She delicately “does her business.” This loose dirt is her new litter box! Now everything makes sense! That pile of dirt is in full sun so it really heats and ferments. I know what the next project will be!!!

The pad for the sewer cover has cured for a few days; it is ready for the cover to be installed. It is not hard to transfer the iron housing onto the four wheeled moving dolly. The ancient 2x6’s are set up as ramps. Using a scrap of iron pipe, this heavy housing is rolled into place! I used to help friends move upright pianos this way using large wooden “rollers”.

There is a little wobble in the housing. Using crowbars and some wood blocks for support the low side is raised up. Mortar is mixed up and applied in the gap. Ever so carefully the housing is raised, the supporting blocks taken out and then lowered onto the wet mortar. Once cured this will be solid as a rock!

I’m toying with how to tie this patio all together. I think using the Belgian Block around the sewer will give a “city feel” to the installation!

It is still gray and cool as I wrap this entry up. Maybe we will have more rain during the day. I have the door to the driveway open giving me a full view to the street. This so improves the air flow. The inside landing is Daggy’s favourite spot to stretch out. She is safe in her house, but has a full view and access to the outside.

Hot weather and Cement 6-30-2007

Hot Weather and Cement

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Debbie and I did our morning walk in Northport so we could splurge and get breakfast at City Café. It was a beautiful sunrise as we walked on the new levee along the Black Warrior River. I’m going to have to bring the camera the next time we do this walk. There are some excellent “picture possibilities” along here. City Café is not crowded at all. It takes a bit longer to get a breakfast order because everything is cooked to order. We are in no hurry. I get eggs over easy, grits, biscuits, and ham. This is the REAL ham with the bone in it. No processed stuff that is cut from a loaf. I savor each salty mouthful, even relishing the fat!

After breakfast I head to the new Lowe’s to get five 80 pound bags of Quickrete Concrete Mix. I’m hoping to have the forms all put up and hopefully the cement poured for the manhole cover project by tonight.

Before doing anything I have to remove the old forms from border bricks. All looks good. The cement is firm and set well. The new excavation for the “manhole pad” is staked out. The top of the pad must be seven inches below the top edge of where the face of the pavers will be. This entails a lot of digging. As the day wears on the heat builds. The temps stayed at 97 pretty much the entire afternoon. There were a lot of water breaks. Daggy had to come out to help too. Seeing the dusty hole, she had to try it out!

The completed brick edging. Note my iced coffee in the pub mug!

Daggy rolling in the dirt.

I realized I forgot to get cheap lumber for the forms. I take a much needed break to Lowe’s again for the wood. It is amazing the looks I get in my working outfit! Today I’m decked out in a pair of cut off sweat pants, a mesh wife beater, my logger boots, and cammo do-rag. My clothes are wringing wet and splotched with the red brown Alabama clay so prevalent here.

By the time I get home the sky is turning dark. This is wonderful. I will make up the forms in the morning. In all honesty I’m too tore up to do much more tonight.

I just get the tools get put away when the first raindrops start to fall. This is how the summer days are supposed to be. Hot with an afternoon thunderstorm to cool things off. My parched yard enjoys a soft steady rain for nearly an hour.

This morning (Saturday) I’m outside digging and fine tuning the concrete forms at 5:30 a.m.: the morning is so cool. As always, installing the forms is the buggiest part of the job. It is the unseen parts of the project like this that take up the most time.

I mix up seven 80 pound bags of concrete mix. I’m just 1 ½ bags short! Damn! Make a quick trip to Lowe’s. It is about 9:00 now and the store is packed. Naturally there are no cashiers open. One poor woman is trying to handle the entire building materials side. I feel so sorry for her.

The concrete gets mixed and the form topped off. I have to hunt up a coin with the date 2007 to put in the top. By doing that I will never ever be broke! I scratch my name in the top and have Stumpy walk across the top so his pawprints will be forever preserved!

The finished pad with the 2007 dime!

I have enough cement left over I can repair the corner of my driveway. That curbing has been missing forever. The dirt I’m excavating from the back is being transferred to the low area here. I won’t even attempt to grow grass here till the fall. Where this break is, the dirt will just wash into the street during heavy rains. Not now! I found a 2007 penny for this project!

From here on it is clean up time. The tools are cleaned of cement and put in the sun to dry. I’ve got all kinds of excavated plants to transplant. There are lilies that I brought down from my house in Lockport, daffodil bulbs, mum plants, and even a few peonies.

After all that I need a break. The soaking wet clothes are peeled off and clean dry things are put on. As I was typing this entry out Debbie called. At 5:30 we are going to meet for Mexican. I need a taco salad and a couple cold beers.

Hot weather and Cement 6-30-2007

Hot Weather and Cement

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Debbie and I did our morning walk in Northport so we could splurge and get breakfast at City Café. It was a beautiful sunrise as we walked on the new levee along the Black Warrior River. I’m going to have to bring the camera the next time we do this walk. There are some excellent “picture possibilities” along here. City Café is not crowded at all. It takes a bit longer to get a breakfast order because everything is cooked to order. We are in no hurry. I get eggs over easy, grits, biscuits, and ham. This is the REAL ham with the bone in it. No processed stuff that is cut from a loaf. I savor each salty mouthful, even relishing the fat!

After breakfast I head to the new Lowe’s to get five 80 pound bags of Quickrete Concrete Mix. I’m hoping to have the forms all put up and hopefully the cement poured for the manhole cover project by tonight.

Before doing anything I have to remove the old forms from border bricks. All looks good. The cement is firm and set well. The new excavation for the “manhole pad” is staked out. The top of the pad must be seven inches below the top edge of where the face of the pavers will be. This entails a lot of digging. As the day wears on the heat builds. The temps stayed at 97 pretty much the entire afternoon. There were a lot of water breaks. Daggy had to come out to help too. Seeing the dusty hole, she had to try it out!

The completed brick edging. Note my iced coffee in the pub mug!

Daggy rolling in the dirt.

I realized I forgot to get cheap lumber for the forms. I take a much needed break to Lowe’s again for the wood. It is amazing the looks I get in my working outfit! Today I’m decked out in a pair of cut off sweat pants, a mesh wife beater, my logger boots, and cammo do-rag. My clothes are wringing wet and splotched with the red brown Alabama clay so prevalent here.

By the time I get home the sky is turning dark. This is wonderful. I will make up the forms in the morning. In all honesty I’m too tore up to do much more tonight.

I just get the tools get put away when the first raindrops start to fall. This is how the summer days are supposed to be. Hot with an afternoon thunderstorm to cool things off. My parched yard enjoys a soft steady rain for nearly an hour.

This morning (Saturday) I’m outside digging and fine tuning the concrete forms at 5:30 a.m.: the morning is so cool. As always, installing the forms is the buggiest part of the job. It is the unseen parts of the project like this that take up the most time.

I mix up seven 80 pound bags of concrete mix. I’m just 1 ½ bags short! Damn! Make a quick trip to Lowe’s. It is about 9:00 now and the store is packed. Naturally there are no cashiers open. One poor woman is trying to handle the entire building materials side. I feel so sorry for her.

The concrete gets mixed and the form topped off. I have to hunt up a coin with the date 2007 to put in the top. By doing that I will never ever be broke! I scratch my name in the top and have Stumpy walk across the top so his pawprints will be forever preserved!

The finished pad with the 2007 dime!

I have enough cement left over I can repair the corner of my driveway. That curbing has been missing forever. The dirt I’m excavating from the back is being transferred to the low area here. I won’t even attempt to grow grass here till the fall. Where this break is, the dirt will just wash into the street during heavy rains. Not now! I found a 2007 penny for this project!

From here on it is clean up time. The tools are cleaned of cement and put in the sun to dry. I’ve got all kinds of excavated plants to transplant. There are lilies that I brought down from my house in Lockport, daffodil bulbs, mum plants, and even a few peonies.

After all that I need a break. The soaking wet clothes are peeled off and clean dry things are put on. As I was typing this entry out Debbie called. At 5:30 we are going to meet for Mexican. I need a taco salad and a couple cold beers.

Cement, Bricks, and Manhole Covers

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

It is 6:30 a.m. as I type this out. The mornings truly are the favourite time of the day for me. The watering has been done. I know I sound like a broken record on the drought here. Today I hooked up the soaker hose the front holly hedge. I’ve lost one mature plant. It had been sickly for awhile so I’m not sure I can blame it on the drought or not. I will not attempt to plant a replacement till the fall. The annuals seem to be holding their own. The two rubber plants on the front porch are flourishing. They must be a real masochist type of plant. The abuse they have received over the years, they have no reason to be here now! They are in cement planters that drain onto the concrete porch. The water that drains out is Daggy’s favourite drinking water. It drives me crazy! I give those cats fresh water every day! I guess the “dirt filtered” water has a better taste to her!

I am worn out. I had forgotten what a pain in the butt is to mix up concrete. Yesterday afternoon I made a trip to the brickyard to get 50 bricks to line this new patio addition. On the way there I stopped at the wastewater plant. It was recommended I check here for a manhole cover. I heard voices as I entered the building. Three guys were in a “break room” kind of place. I asked them who I should talk to see about getting a cover. They directed me to the head guy upstairs. I’m not sure if it is professional courtesy or not I was not treated as if I were totally mad in requesting this. The city can’t sell me a cover. He referred me to the supplier they use. This supplier is just around the corner. As I was leaving one of the guys was laughing, “You gonna get one?” he asked. “Things are looking good!” I answered. He gave me the high sign as I left!

In the street in front of my house:

First I have to get my bricks. It kills me to actually buy NEW bricks! But this has to be so the top edge of the patio addition is uniform. I found a great old looking style brick with “Old Virginia” stamped into the face.

On the way home is when I check supplier for the manhole cover. Once again the people I talk to don’t think I’m crazy at all! I’m taken into the “yard” after donning a safety vest and hard hat to see the covers. Yup, there is the familiar cast iron cover with “City of Tuscaloosa” all embossed with a great art deco cityscape. The cover with the ring is only $199.00 plus tax. This guy I’m dealing with is laughing as I tell him my patio plans. He has really made my day. I’m sure he told his family about the guy who was in his office to buy a manhole cover that evening at dinner!

I finished up the afternoon mixing the five bags of cement left over from last years projects. There was nearly enough to fill the forms. The bricks are soaked in water and then placed on top and leveled. They get soaked first so they don’t soak the moisture prematurely from the cement. This slow cure makes for a much stronger bond.

Today I’ll dig the other half of the trench. The cement will be set up enough to where I can remove the forms and reuse them on the other half.

I also need to ship stuff off to Louis via Fed Ex. The terminal is right in the area where the manhole supplier is; I might just pick the thing up today.

It is a muggy morning as I type this out. What does a “Damn Yankee” do in this type of weather? For this boy, the answer is: “Work with bricks!”

Originally I had hoped to fill a small grassy area using my rocks gathered from the shores of Lake Ontario. As fate would have it, I’m just a few rocks shy of a full load of being able to complete this. I had planned on getting more rocks my last trip home but the weather and Joe being sick changed those plans.

Instead I decided to extend the patio I built last summer.

Saturday was the start of laying out the new addition of the patio. My first plans were of a small addition using the cobblestones brought back from Pennsylvania last spring. Not now. This patio will be almost doubled in size when the addition is completed.

The center point is found on the patio side. A pipe is driven into place. A string is measured to the side of the patio. This will measure out the outside perimeter of the addition. My shovel is tied off on this and the first cut is made.

The pick axe is used to dig the trench where the cement foundation will be poured. Daggy was helping me at this point. She started out in the cool shade of the ivy and wisteria. Once she saw all that dirt piling up she had to roll around in the dry soil.

Stumpy chose the more sensible route and camped out on the cool stone bench. I did not want to leave the house, but I had to make a quick trip to Lowe’s to get some treated 1x4x12’s. These I’ll use to make the cement forms. I really need to do a shopping trip. There is very little in the house for food. More important; I need another “cardboard Kegger”. I learned that is the current college term for box wine! There is a nasty place not far from me that sells beer and wine near the University I stop at on the way home.

While all this is going on, I’m thinking on how to make this patio project unique. Sure I’m using all this reclaimed brick, but I need something to really make the finished product stand out. Then the light bulb goes off in my twisted little mind. If I can install a manhole cover in the middle of all this I can rant on how the city is so messed up they had to put a sewer access in my back yard! That is to be the mission for this week, see if I can wrangle a manhole cover somewhere!

Sunday I start work on the forms. These need to be notched so they can be formed into a curve. Wooden stakes are made to secure the forms into the trench. This is the real pain in the neck part of the job. I went through most of the lumber at Lowe’s to get the straightest stuff I could. This is pretty cheap wood so there are tons of knots, which do not bend and flex well.

The forms have to be installed so there will be a slight dip. This facilitates the run off of water when it rains. (That is a funny one! Rain!!!)The outside form is the first to be installed. This is leveled off using a section of pipe. The string is brought out again and measured against the inside edge of the form. Once everything is as it should be, the inside board is installed. Scrap bricks are used as spacers between the two boards. The inside board is leveled and staked in. This is fussy work taking up most of the afternoon. I’m just about finished when it actually rains a bit!

There is not much I can do till I get new bricks. I detest buying new bricks for this project. But, I need bricks with a constant thickness for this part of the patio. I don’t have anything in any quantity in my horde for this part of the job.

I call it a day when the rain arrives. I wish it were a steady hard rain, but it turns out to be just a sprinkling for about half an hour or so. It was just enough to dampen everything; not much more.

I’m sweaty, hot and dirty. A wonderful prolonged hot shower has me feeling like a million bucks. After enjoying the last of my steak I take a break walking around in my back yard. I study the ancient power pole my phone and electric lines run off. It is so archaic I think it could be considered for landmark status. Something is not right….the power lines to my house are draped over my security light. The supporting “guy wire” is loose from the pole. My God that is all I need is to have those lines short out!

Going again through “voice mail hell” only this time with the power company, I’m able to talk to a real person. I try to explain the situation with the incoming power lines. This is not a dire emergency yet, but it needs to be taken care of soon. Hopefully this was fixed up on the work order to make sense to the lineman when they come out….

If those lines shorted out on that light standard it would fry my house wiring for sure. It is always something here…….

Window Wonderland

My High Electric Bill

Thursday, June 14, 2007

If there is one thing I delight in, it is annoying my friends with my frugality. Sunday I announced how upset I was going through all my bills. I found my electric bill was higher for May 2007, than it was for May 2006. “I’m going to have to cut back even more.” I announced in a solemn voice. “My last bill was $44.29: that is 14 cents over last years bill.” This naturally brings out the predictable moans and cheap comments.

One reason I can keep this bill low is by rarely using my air conditioner. I have yet to turn it on this year. I have tested it out to make sure all is working properly. According to Google, it is currently 93 degrees outside. In my center hallway where the thermostat is located, the temperature is a comfortable 80 degrees. Having a constant air flow helps a great deal in cooling things off. The two ancient oak trees on the west/front of the house do a great deal in keeping the hot afternoon sun from heating things up in the house. The front door is open: the screen door keeps out the bugs while allowing the air to circulate. All the double hung wooden windows are open allowing a cross flow of airin every direction.

A job I have been putting off for years is installing new sash cord on the set of three windows in my dining room. Since moving here, when I opened these windows they had to be propped open with a section of lumber. Normally with double hung windows using cords and weights, there is an access panel on the side of the window frame. Not here… truth be told: this house of mine is not of the best construction when compared to my old house in New York. In all my other windows I had to remove the outside casing to replace the rotted out sash cords. That way I did not disturb the interior finished woodwork.

Outside casing removed showing compartment for the weights.

The problem in the dining room is; I can’t remove the outside casings without destroying the sill of the center window. In order to replace the cords I’ll have to install my own access panels. This will be an all day job, but it needs to be done.

The first step is to take down the wooden blinds, burglar bars, parting strip and the inside molding. Two holes are drilled in the channel of the parting strip. These are done at a 45 degree angle. Then a saber saw with a new, sharp, fine blade cuts across through the board. Once the two cuts are made, duct tape is put over the top cut to prevent the board from falling into the casing when the long cut is made to connect the two holes.

A piece of a paint stirring stick is glued to the back of the bottom cut to support the newly cut panel when it is reinstalled. A shim is glued to the top of the cut out panel. This is sanded down to make a nice flush fit when all is put back in place. A pilot hole is drilled at the top cut. This hole is enlarged on the panel and recessed. When this is screwed back in place it is barely discernable.

I’m able to remove the outer casings on the outside frames making for an easier replacement of the cords. Looking at this picture reminds me another job to be done. I realized after stripping and redoing these windows(many years ago) that Marine/spar varnish holds up beautifully for interior window sills over the normal varnish I use for the woodwork.

That was my Wednesday. I was a happy camper being able to raise and lower the windows as they were originally meant to be. I’m not a fan of burglar bars; they were on the house when I bought the place. They stop the upper window sash from opening. However, I feel a lot safer from a random burglary having them there.

Final Water Heater Entry

Back from hiking on the Appalachian Trail and had to finally post this last water heater entry. Catch-Up

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Where to start? Last Thursday night was the initial operation of the new water heater. I held my breath as I opened the water and gas valves. The electric power to the unit was turned on, and I opened the hot water control to the outside shower. I heard the inner workings of the heater start up and in no time I had hot water streaming out of the showerhead! Success!!! I took a long, HOT shower to celebrate!

On Monday the 19^th I finished up the “tweaking” of the installation. The cold water line was not level, and I wanted to be certain all the connections were tight. That cold water line was fully functional, but just knowing that it was out of level drove me crazy. I could not look at it without wanting to remedy the situation. It only took ½ an hour to cut a section out of the line and re-sweat the thing. Now I can rest easy! So many times the threaded copper fittings and unions will develop small leaks after a day or two. This job was no exception; there were a couple drips that I had to contend with. All seems well now.

The exposed pipes were insulated and attached to a support yesterday. Today I will insulate the pipes in the crawl space and install permanent pipe hangers. The plastic coated wire I used for the installation could suffice, but after all this work, I want the job to be finished up right.

With this plumbing project out of the way, it was time to get back to my workshop roof. The shingles I had special ordered arrived at Lowe’s on Thursday. Saturday afternoon I went to pick them up. Customer service checked everything out and told me to go see George in the building dept. I can tell George is the comic relief of the dept. He is having a great time interacting with his friends and customers. George and his working partner are loading lumber when I arrive. Long boards of pressure treated wood were being transferred into the bed of an ancient truck: an old short bed Ford from the 1960’s. None of the door colors match the body and primer covers much of the trucks surface. A chromed tool box takes up half the truck bed. (It would not surprise me that this tool box cost more than the truck!) The proud owners of this vehicle stand by as this wood gets piled into the back and make no attempt to help. There is long overhang of wood over the tailgate; this is a very unsteady load. You can tell these are trailer people. The man opens the tool box, takes out a hammer and nails a red flag to the longest piece of wood hanging out. Then they drive off. That load was never tied down or secured in any way. Turning the corner to exit the parking lot, the spare tire rolls off the truck bed, bouncing onto the parking lot. Fortunately it did not hit anything. I see this type of thing every day here in the Deep South. People wonder why I hate to drive in the mist of all this?

I get the shingles home and try to get them transferred to the workshop roof. There is a Mimosa tree that grew up in Michelle’s back yard that makes this almost impossible. She told me I was free to take it down, in fact she was very happy at the idea when I suggested it to her. This tree is only a few years old, but things grow so fast here. I get out my axe and try to play Paul Bunyan. The trunk of this tree is very springy; I’m losing all the power of the axe as the trunk moves upon impact. Checking the growth of this nasty tree, I see how it originally started on my property, grew sideways under the chain link fence, and then up into Michelle’s yard. I transfer the chopping to my side of the fence. Once I get some notches cut into the trunk, I take my chains, cables and “come-along” back to Michelle’s yard. One of the chains is wrapped around the huge Pecan tree, the other chain around the Mimosa tree. The come-along is fastened between the two and ratcheted up tight. It does not take much to snap the trunk where the notches are cut.

Gary is cooking dinner tonight. It is getting late, I will just have enough time to shower and shave now. The mess will have to get cleaned up Sunday.

With Sunday being Father’s Day, Debbie calls to invite me to lunch with her, Sherri, and Jammer. This sounds wonderful. I need a day to take it easy. At the restaurant I am bad and get chicken alfredo on spinach pasta. It was so good. This dish is a treat that I ration myself to just a couple times a year!

The Home Builders Association is hosting the “Parade of Homes” this weekend. This is an event where the best of the new homes are showcased. Usually all the appliances are upgraded and things are finished off nicer than a usual “spec” home. We decide to check out a couple of $500K homes to see how the other half lives. I am so amazed at what people will buy. The new trend I guess is to have everything open. The entire kitchen is all in plain view from all the common house areas. Now any dirty dishes or kitchen clutter is part of the décor! These show homes are all in these new developments that are named after the wildlife that used to reside there: Quail Hollow for example. What was once a meadow is now a cul-de-sac of ugly houses.

I was always under the impression that people moved into these places so they could have privacy and space around them. It just boggles my mind that these McMansions are built right on top of each other. In one of these places the view from the yupped out dining room is the poorly laid brick wall of the neighbors’ house some 10 feet away. Looking out the other direction is the view out the French doors: the back yard, a bare grassy area surrounded by a stockade fence surrounded by more poorly designed houses.

I will take my old place in the city with all its flaws and character any day over the overpriced, shoddily made houses being promoted and hyped today.

My nerves were so shattered by all this: I had to take a nap before attempting to clean up the Mimosa tree mess over at Michelle’s. Michelle is out so I can easily get the wheelbarrow into her back yard and not worry about scratching her BMW.

I end the day moving the last four bundles of shingles onto the roof.

It looks like my next project will again involve bricks and Belgian Blocks...anything heavy and frustrating!!!

Cutting and Threading Gas Pipe

Here is part two of the water heater story from last year......

The Old Fence & Threading Gas Pipes

Thursday, June 08, 2006

After I finished yesterdays entry I went on a search for the picture I knew was in my possession. A famous picture in my family: it is of me painting that bloody picket fence back in 1967. I finally I found it where it was not supposed to be. Here is a “happy Brick” finishing up the southern section of the fence. There were three pickets that were installed with screws so we could cross through to the neighbor’s yard!

Today I pretty much finished up the worst of the gas line installation by mid afternoon. The water heater was delivered by UPS late this morning. Now I can figure out how the installation will be done. It is so much easier when you can see it in person. The heater weighs 60 pounds. That is a lot of weight to be hanging off the siding of this house. What I plan on doing is: make a frame of 2x4’s the size of the heater and cover that in exterior plywood. That will be fastened to the siding and will make a sturdy base for the heater. The panel will be painted to match the house. I will install the unit onto this panel. This kind of contemplation over my projects was how I would occupy my mind at work. How this entire project will be done is slowly working itself out.

I have the chance to go to Pensacola with Gary and Larry this weekend. Part of me wants to go, but the other part says no. I think the “no” side will win out. I can take Larry in small segments; I can’t imagine an entire weekend with him.

Besides, I’m anxious to get this water heater mounted so I can do the final gas line installation done. Then I can start on the new copper water lines and get this nightmare finished.

That is where the project stands as of Thursday afternoon. While I was threading pipe in the workshop this morning, I set the camera on the packing box the heater came in to see if I could capture a Kodak moment. So, here is a good comparison of what a difference 40 years makes!

Tankless Water Heater

I just read on the boards some questions on tankless water heaters. I installed a unit last year. Here is a cut and paste of the beginning of that ordeal from my everyday blog....

Cutting Gas Lines

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Monday was internet shopping day for me. Researching the differences between tankless water heating systems I found a great Memorial Day sale that ended midnight on the 5^th on a good system. (http://www.designerplumbing.com/store/TAKAGI03.html)

After I ordered the thing I downloaded the instructions. I decided on doing an external installation. The venting of these systems is tricky, and the venting kits can really run into money. Being in Alabama I don’t have to worry about freezing temps. It is supposed to be safe to 5 degrees. It VERY seldom gets that cold here. Going through the instructions I realized where I originally was going to put the thing will not be to code. The vent has to be four feet away from any window or door opening. That is what my entire house is: windows and doors! I will be able to put the heater on the back wall by the shower and be to code.

This is turning out to be one of those classic “mushroom projects.” That is when a simple job grows way out of proportion. It just keeps mushrooming!

Because of the new location of the installation, the gas line will have to run about 40 feet from the meter. The fittings added to this feeder line will also slow down the gas flow. With all this in mind the supply gas line has to be 1” in diameter. The place where I planned on tapping into the gas line at the meter is ¾ inch. To remedy this I had to switch out the Tee fitting from the meter to 1”. A simple job? Not on your life!

To do this entailed cutting the two pipes, one pipe was 1” and the other was ¾” coming off the tee. These pipes were removed, and then the Tee was switched out. This all had to be done in the crawl space with not a lot of room to move around.

While doing this I removed more pipe work to simplify the gas runs. There were gas runs backtracking all over. Now the current hot water tank, gas fireplace, stove and gas dryer all come off one main gas line. The main cut line had to have a union installed.

Finally I had everything back together by 7:30. The gas was turned back on and all the connections were tested with soapy water. If there is any leak the soap will bubble up like crazy. It all passed inspection!

This tank requires the water intake come from a ¾ line. When they replumbed my house with copper tubing I think they got the pipe from a remnant store. The main supply lines go from ¾ to ½ and then back to ¾. This has a great effect on the water pressure. Just think of a highway that has a set amount of traffic that goes from two lanes to one, and then back to two lanes again. Here is a picture of what I have to contend with. Every branch off the main water lines to supply the sinks, toilets, and tubs is a conglomeration of tiny bits of copper pipes sweated sloppily together. This mess has been a bone of contention to me since I bought the house 10 years ago. Pretty much everything will have to be redone.

That is where I stand today. Central Plumbing is just around the corner; they will be seeing my mug when I go there to get 1” galvanized pipe today. I will run the new line to where the tank will be installed and cap it off. Then gas line work will be finished and I can dig into the water lines.

All the while I was fussing with the galvanized pipe I was thinking of my dad. He taught me how to work pipe wrenches, measure and cut pipe, and most importantly the right way to thread pipe.

Dad was taught by his Uncle Joel, who was a second father to him. “Uncle Joe” was a craftsman when it came to plumbing and carpentry. He taught dad skills and dad passed that knowledge on to me. Poor dad, I can still hear him lamenting how I would be handicapped for the rest of my life because I was left handed.

While I was working using Dad’s old thread cutting dies and pipe vice: threading that galvanized pipe, I knew he was looking over me with a smile.

I always felt I was such a disappointment to him because I was never interested in team sports. Growing up I’d hear how so and so’s son on the football or baseball team did so well at the game. In time, many of these stars turned out to be real losers: I know dad took pride in what I accomplished on my own.

Dad died too young at 67. When he was dying in Buffalo General we were talking about how I hated painting the backyard picket fence. There was never any question about me not doing it. I was told to do the job and I did. The fence was divided off into sections; I’d try to get one section done a day. This was oil based paint back then. It was such a pain to work with, when I was done for the day the brushes had to be totally cleaned out in gasoline. When dad would come home from he would inspect my progress for drips and runs. Oh how he would rant and go on if I screwed up. Today this would be called abuse. Looking back, it was a learning experience that set my standards higher than a “half assed” job.

Poor Dad lamented that he was too hard and would always remember that as such a bad time. I think I was able to convince him that I was thankful he cared enough about me to put me through that. Because of that early training I always try to do the best job I can. “If you can’t do a job right, don’t do it all.” was one of Dad’s favorite sayings.

Dad was not a perfect father. That person does not exist, but he did the best he could and he loved his family. You can’t ask for much more than that.

Latest Project....tool shed addition

One of the big projects last summer was “Pergola/patio that was installed on the west end of my workshop. While all that was going on, I poured a cement pad for a small addition to be added to the shop. This was to be for my garden tools. I was getting itchy for an “outside project” so I began work on this addition on Wednesday.

This side of the workshop faces north. It is always in the shade. I installed a new doorway and poured a cement pad to this back in 1999. There was a great deal of rotten siding that had to be replaced. I think there is some source of water in this area. The cement floor in the workshop on this side is always damp. Here it is only eight years after the fact and again I have to replace rotted siding. About three feet going from the bottom up of the siding is removed. The bottom three boards are pretty well trash. The rest is not in that bad shape. A piece of 23/32 sheeting is installed where the siding would be inside the new garden shed. From the outside of the shed to the edge of the workshop, the removed siding is fitted in. The bottom-most piece is coated on the back with Minwax Wood Hardener. Hopefully that will help stop the capillary action of water soaking into the wood.

I have a pretty general idea how this is supposed to all flow together. The first job in the framing department was to anchor the sill plates to the foundation. When I poured the cement last year, bolts were put in place for this task. It was a simple job to measure, cut, drill and install the pressure treated lumber.

From here it is just putting up the framing. This is a bear of a job to do solo. It is up and down the ladder, measuring, cutting, leveling and nailing for pretty much the whole day.

It is not till I get pretty well finished with the framing of the walls that I figure how I will install the roof. I will scab this shed roof onto the existing garage roof. The same roof I redid last summer! UGH!! I will have to add a little bit to the headers to raise the height so the new rafters will be at the same angle. It is going to be some tricky work to get this “scabbing” to even out and look right. That is going to be my project for today…..install the rafters.

I was half way thorough this entry when I had to shut it down at 6:00 a.m. for the Friday walk at the University with Debbie. The campus is so beautiful. I remembered to take the camera. Following are some pictures as to how I started my day……

With it being Friday it was “coffee day” at the Starbucks on campus. We got there a little later than usual. It was so busy! There must have been complaints because the music was a wonderful soft Jazz, and the staff was friendly and nice! Rusty was in his spot over in an upholstered “lounge chair” in the corner. Debbi and I made his day! He always knows when it is Friday when we show up!

This is a view of "The Quad" at 7:00 a.m. on 3/23/2007 facing south east.

This is the Gorgas House on campus. It is one of the few structures of the original college to survive the destruction inflicted by Union forces in the last days of the "late unpleasantness".

More Patio & Pergola Stuff

It has been a while since I have worked on this mess I call a blog. That last project doing the bedroom pretty much wiped me out for wanting to take on another project. Just trying to get the routine maintenance done in the yard here has been exhausting. Anyway...here is a continuation of the pergola project from last spring/summer.....

Working With Bricks

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Today is Saturday the 20^th. It is time to take a break from the latest project and pound out a journal entry. Right now at 3:00 in the afternoon it is the hottest part of the day and all my shade is gone. I’m hot and grouchy and sick of this project. When these signs surface it is prudent to switch to another job…..

Since arriving home from the last excursion I have been working on the pergola/patio project. I’m getting burned out. Tuesday and Wednesday I cemented the border bricks along the tops of the forms I had poured. I have a fancy edged brick I used for this. Unfortunately, this brick still had cement that had to be chipped off the sides. This was Portland cement which was a real pain to remove. It is so much easier to remove the earlier types of mortars which are composed of just lime, sand and whatever. My arms, wrists and shoulders were aching from swinging that hammer and the shocks from the heavy iron chisel.

To cement these bricks in place on top of the cement form I purchased mortar in 10 pound bags. This stuff sets up real quick. I’m so slow in working with this compound: I don’t want to make a huge batch from the bigger bags and have it harden up before I’m done. After all that chipping cement off the bricks, now I have to mix this mortar crap up by hand. My aching body….at the end of the day nothing feels as good as a HOT shower. It is times like this I say “Screw the gas bills, I need this hot water!”

This project will use up all the remaining bricks from what I had salvaged years ago. I end up being about 120 bricks short. I take the easy way out and actually BUY new bricks from the builders supply. I decided that I will use these new bricks as an outline around the old salvaged brick. That way it will look more uniform. Although the new bricks don’t have the charm or history of the old bricks it sure is a lot easier to just have the bricks loaded into the truck and drive away. No demolition, chipping off mortar or stacking and restacking of the bricks.

I get four bags of sand as a start to set the bricks into their final resting spot in the patio. Once I get started I realize that I have to raise the crushed limestone base over ½ inch to have the bricks level with the border bricks on the form. Back out to Scottie’s for more crushed limestone. This stuff is a fraction of the price of sand.

Laying the bricks level is the worst part of the job. Because I’m using salvaged brick there is no uniform size. Each brick has to leveled as it is put down. The surfaces on these old bricks are not even making the job even more of a pain. Anyone who has read about my projects knows I’m not anal when it comes to this kind of thing. (RIGHT!)

The early morning is the best time for this job. It is so nice and cool, the birds are singing and my coffee is hot. As the day wears on the temperature rises as the sun travels higher in the sky. My shade disappears: by 1:30 I’m working in full sun. I can only do this for so long. After working with the bricks, level, trowel and crushed limestone since 6:30 in the morning it does not take much for an excuse to quit!

That is where I stand at this point in time. I have over half the patio bricks set out and leveled. The worst part is the center design using different street pavers. There are twelve pavers in this center design showing the manufacturer marks. It is almost an even split between Alabama and Ohio bricks. I had a bid on e-bay for three pavers from Kansas, but they ended up selling for over $40.00! That is WAY out of my price range. Here I thought I was being extravagant with a top offer of $5.00 a brick! It is hard to pay for something that you are used to getting for free!

Tonight the neighbors are having a “Sundowner”. Basically it is a get together of the neighborhood with drinks and snacks between five and seven. It is just down the street so I can just walk there.

Hopefully I will have the rest of the bricks leveled by tomorrow afternoon. Then I pour bags of “topping mix” over the whole mess and sweep this mixture between the cracks of the bricks. Mist this all down with the hose and the mix turns into cement which holds everything together.

Then I start on the next project…the new roof for the garage and tool shed addition.

More on the Pergola Project

It is pouring rain as I type this out. Following is a continuation of the pergola project that kept me so busy last year. In hindsight I can clear up a few details. Because this patio base was built facing into a slope, it had to be elevated. Because it was elevated, the side that would normally butt against the building was higher than the the cement slab foundation. Because of this, I designed this patio so it would be "freestanding". There is a space of about one foot between the side of the building and the patio.
I poured forms so the perimeter of the patio is a solid cement "wall" the width of a brick. This wall is then topped with bricks. More on that to follow. Here is the next step of the building process taken from my on-line journal.....

Low Key Monday

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

I’m getting burned out on this patio project. The worst is really over at this point. The concrete forms are all poured, now I need to fill this area with crushed limestone to make a base for the bricks. The clay/dirt base was tamped down and covered with landscape fabric. This fabric is held down with the limestone leftovers from the last project a couple years ago. This limestone had been stored on the driveway side of the house in some 20 plastic buckets that originally held kitty litter. That reminds me: back when I was working at a supermarket in Lancaster, PA. a customer asked Ronnie, (one of the stockboys) where the cat litter was located. Ronnie yelled down the aisle to John, “Hey John, what aisle is the shitty litter in?” This was totally inappropriate back in 1971, but we all laughed!

While working on all this, my package arrived with the latest E-bay purchase. When I redo the doors here in the house I replace the 1920’s door knobs and back plates with earlier styles. I have the styles of this house so mixed up and besides the older sets just look so much nicer. This box contains a set of door knobs and plates that match a set I already own. I’m very disappointed when I unpack the box. The merchandise is bright and shiny, it is definitely old but it does not feel right. The finish is rough. Whoever cleaned this either: sandblasted the pieces or brushed it all to death on a wire wheel. Not wanting to make a mess in the garage, I set up my buffing wheel outside. Now I go to town smoothing out the rough finish. What a difference some red rouge and a cloth wheel make.

As I was putting the tools away I had the camera in tow to document the progress of this project. That digital camera is so much fun! Stumpy was up to something. Sure enough; he was tormenting a poor little Gecko. After taking the picture (you can just barely see the little guy on the piece of wood) I put Stump in the house for a bit to give the Gecko time to find a new hiding spot!

Stump was pissed, he wanted to be outside. I turned him loose again and he went right to where his “friend” was. That cat was sniffing the grass and going crazy trying to find his new “buddy”. Mr. Gecko was smart and was nowhere to be found!

When I was last in New York (there is one more installment on that trip to go!) I purchased a copy of Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. At the end of the day in my Morris Chair along with a glass of cheap box wine, I’m transported back to England of the 1920’s. Next to the early mornings, this is my favourite time of the day.

At nine it is now dark and time to round up the cats for the night. I can usually find them in Michelle’s driveway, right next door. Tonight is no exception. Daggy goes into the back study by herself. Stumpy, I have to track down and carry into the house growling. He is pissed a second time at having to return to the house. This is tempered when he gets his bowl of wet cat food as a reward for being a good cat!

Pergola Project 2006

I'm itching to do some outside work. The weather is not conducive for yard and outside house work yet. I've culled through my online journal and decided to post the pergola project that took up a great deal of my time last year. I'll do this over the next few days....enjoy!!!

When is Sunday??

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Things have been so crazy here: I have been so intent on getting caught up on my trip and all I have totally gotten mixed up on my days. This morning I go to the paper box on the corner to get a paper. Nothing so unusual about that: I put six quarters in the box for the Sunday paper and am outraged to pull out a Saturday paper. I’m all set to call the paper to give them Hell for not filling up the paper box with the right paper. The huge pan of home fries and onions are just about done as I’m fuming over the newspaper’s oversight. Then it slowly dawns on me, today is indeed SATURDAY!

How did I get to such a state? It’s a long story…… For a long time a major annoyance has been the mess located at the front of my workshop. This area has been a storage area for my brick horde and has been pretty much untouched for the past three years. It looks it. I have toyed with the idea of adding another patio in this area and even a pergola type enclosure. For the past few weeks I have been toying in my mind on constructing a simple pergola attaching it to the side workshop. Once that is up; it will be a simple task to brick in a patio.

Early Monday afternoon I head to Lowe’s for the first batch of lumber. It has been a while since I’ve purchased treated wood. Talk about sticker shock. The three 4”x4”x12’ and two 1”x6”x10’ was over $60.00. But with that lumber in my truck I HAVE to get started with the project.

The real pain is all the measurements that need to be done. The most important thing to remember in a backyard like mine is to keep things in proportion. The side of the shop this patio will be at is 16 foot wide. If the pergola extends about half that distance, it should be just about right. Using plumb bobs, squares, stakes and string the spot to dig the center post is located. It has been very dry for the past few weeks. The ground back here is hard as my heart. The soil seems to go in layers. The hard top layer is decent dirt which then goes to a layer of dirt and pea gravel. Under this is a light clay that is easy to dig out using the post hole digger. This hole goes to a depth of two and a half feet. Stakes and braces are installed to hold this first post exactly square and straight.

There are two bags of cement left over from the last patio project. This old stuff was a bear to mix. It took a lot of smashing with the back of the hoe to get it all thoroughly mixed. I’ll make sure I don’t have any bags of cement left over from this job!

Set this first post in cement and start working with the 1x6’s. I have to run a board across the side of the shop to attach the stringers to. I wish I had the foresight to plan this all out ahead of time. Instead, I just jump into a project and figure out solutions as I hit the problems. Get the side angles all cut and the board installed.

At this point I start the brick moving. All the bricks stored here have to be moved. I’m reminded of that poor guy in Greek Mythology who had to spend eternity rolling a boulder up a hill: only in my case I’m moving bricks!

Tuesday is spent installing the other two posts. This is such fussy work getting everything lined up and measured just right. Working alone makes this just that much of a longer job.

Wednesday after walking at the University with Debbi, I go on a lumber run. I end up with two 5/4 x 6 x 16 and ten 5/4 x 6 x 10. I’m into this mess now! I hate to move 16 foot lumber. It takes a lot of tying down to secure this safely in my truck bed. The back streets are my route home, no interstate with this load!

The miter saw is set up to chop the lengths right. Now this is where things get complicated. I learned that you don’t get burned out so quickly when you do a variety of different jobs. I had earlier made up a template for a fancy cut out for the ends of the boards. In between cutting the boards to length, I’m cutting out this fancy work with a saber saw. There are 14 cutouts that need to be done.

The first cross board is installed on the posts. It is at times like this I wish I had a helper. I can’t fathom how many times the ladder needed to be moved and that cross board adjusted to get it to the right height and level. All I know is I was beat by the time I was satisfied with the results.

Wednesday night I’m relaxing with Brideshead Revisited and a glass of box wine. At 8:30 I hear some yelling outside. A car is pulled into the insurance parking lot across the street. The engine is running, headlights on and door open. This young woman is screaming and shrieking at this surly thin boy. “I’m sorry, I f—ked up, It will never happen again.” Things continue in this vein for a while. The sulking boy tells this woman to not f--king touch him and tries to walk away. This woman is using her wiles crying and grasping at this boy. They walk around the block leaving the car running and abandoned for over half an hour. I want to tell this boy if he is smart he will run away from this as fast as he can. Finally they return. Was this resolved? Who knows and who cares? These kids and their drama!

Thursday is spent installing the rest of wood. I get a set routine down that makes this job a bit easier. With the wood all up I’m feeling pretty good. Now I move out the last of the bricks. It has been so hot, even with my do-rag my hair is driving me nuts. It has been a ages since I’ve let it grow so long. A trip to Northport barber shop is in order. Glens chair is empty as I walk in. I plop down and tell Glenn to “buzz it all off!” He laughs and asks if I want a number 2 or 1 ½ blade on the clipper. I take the 1 ½ blade and in no time I’m covered in my shorn hair. I can feel the breeze on the sides of my head. After trimming around my ears Glenn rubs the top of my head with the cool towel. It is such a great sensation.

After my haircut I drop into City Café for a vegetable plate. Martha is on so I get her going. I tell her I’m all upset after my experience at the barber shop. She immediately starts laughing. “What happened hon?” she asks. I tell her I went in the barber shop and told Glenn, “I want my hair to look like Buzz Alden the astronaut. Instead they buzzed it all off!” She laughs and tells me I’m such a mess!!

Friday I realize that if I’m ever going to remove the truck cap stored on the side of the workshop, it will have to be now. I used this truck cap when I was moving my stuff down from New York. I should have gotten rid of the thing years ago. After being in the same spot for years, it is buried under prickers, ivy, and small trees. I got cut up real good cutting this mess away. The cap is not heavy, just awkward to handle alone.

Once out in the open the ivy is pulled out from where it had grown between the inside supports. The thing is scrubbed down and hosed off. Next week I’ll get an ad in the paper to get rid of it.

I missed my workout at the Y on Wednesday, I won’t do that today. It is a black sky to the west as I’m walking. The weight and exercise areas are surrounded by large plate glass windows overlooking the street. I’m on the leg extension machine when the storm breaks. The trees are being blown sideways and lightning flashes light up the outside darkness. A transformer explodes and the lights go out. Shortly power is restored: by the time I’m finished with my workout it has stopped raining. The sky is still threatening on my way home. I get to thinking, were the cats outside when I left for the Y? I get the answer when I get to the front door, two wet cats run from underneath the truck parked in the driveway. They get dried off, and I get a nice hot shower!

That has pretty much been the story of my life for the past week. I think it explains a bit why my sense of time is all screwed up!

The Floor is Finally Finished

After much aggravation and waiting the finish finally dried on the floor. It kills me to have the heat turned up high to help speed up the drying time! The woodwork in this room/house was never meant to be natural. This is just cheap paint grade pine stuff. Originally I was just going to faux grain everything. But, the paint build up on this wood was so great it was easier to just strip it all off rather than put up with the brittle built up paint chipping off constantly.

Saturday I was FINALLY able to get the floor finished. I put down the rug and clean the bejesus out of it. Then the bed gets set up. Finally things are coming together. When I was living in Bowling Green I purchased the greatest oak wall clock. Mission style, the top is a long shelf with a groove to set plates in. There were problems with the thing, but the price was right at a close out for $35.00!!! I had no idea where to put the thing when I bought it, but I had to at that price! Now I realize; it will go perfect behind the bed! The rest of the day was finished out in this fashion, arranging pictures on the walls, moving in the computer armoire and installing the computer. All that wiring drives me crazy! I have my Saturdays planned out around the CBC 2 broadcasts. I had to keep the computer hooked up so I could listen to the Vinyl Café that comes on at noon Eastern Time. http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/ I know I’ve written about this program before. It is so low key and human. I think the word civilized can be used to describe it. I always get homesick for Lockport and my friends in Canada when I listen to this. For the record; as I’m typing this, the program “Music For Awhile” from the CBC is playing on my computer! My life sure has changed since getting that high speed connection!

All the while I was working little Daggy was on hand. She is resting on the register grate that was in the kitchen of the house I grew up in. I used to stand on it on winter mornings to get my feet warm. That old iron top held many wet mittens to dry. This is just another example of the stories behind some of the most mundane things I have!