Entrance Hallway To Be.

Not mine but the vibe is the same.  White walls.  dark floor.  This is wood and mine will be black slate tiles.  I have a table like this behind one of the sofas in the living room.  (yes, I have two sofas) And that table will go into the hallway.  With a lovely watercolor I purchased many years ago above it.  I mentioned to the artist that I had purchased it.  She replied "I never liked it".  And the conversation ended.

The painter comes on Monday.  To start painting everything white.  Extra White by Sherwin Williams.

My front door went in on Friday.  I had the two carpenters and the General Contractor working on it. They seemed to be having fun and looked happy.  So I made them brownies with extra chocolate chips and served them in bowls, warm from the oven.  My front door has many windows.  And the light is just flooding in.  So, so lovely.  Instead of the gingerbready trim--I now have simple flat board trim.  We all agreed it looked amazingly good.  And Right.

It's really like the house is happy to be having the changes made.  Like THIS is the way it should have always been.  The three guys thought the door removal and the installation would be "difficult" (they had planned for two or three days to do it) and the three of them just sort of shook their heads that it was almost effortless.  Started at 9am and completely finished by 3 pm.  Locks matched to our original old doors.  The only loose end was the doorbell.

I'm thinking two matching box planters (in black) on either side of the door with some sort of boxwood or cedar planted in them.  I may have to move the Indian (from India) Goddess of Plenty to a new spot.  But, maybe not.  She sure has been doing a fantastic job next to the doorway into the house.  Perhaps, she will also help in the back of the house with the gardens???

Anyway.  Tomorrow a day of rest.  I am making a huge pan of meatballs and marinara sauce.  My supermarket had a big sale on ground beef.  $2.69 a pound for 85%.  Almost half price.

Beautiful Kitchen

If my bathrooms, bedroom hardwood floor and doors (painted) ever get close to being done--and we still haven't finished the master bath so we can't begin tearing the hall bath apart.......I will have THIS kitchen.  To the right of that cute little pantry--I have a door into the room where some who have owned this house had a dining room.  We have a big couch and the tv instead.  And a nice desk I got from an employer I had once at the Little Traveler in Geneva, Illinois with my computer on it--where I sit right now as I type this.

We aren't "dining room" people.  The very huge and very heavy chandelier that hung from the ceiling and that I though might fall and kill someone--is in the attic (we put up a ceiling fan).  We should take that  light fixture to the local "yard sale".  We've already taken all the bifold closet doors and two of the regular "passage doors". Habitat said no but the hospital charity said "'wow, yes!!"

You learn so much when you are forced to buy the hardware.  Dummy knobs (pull), passage knobs (no locks but the knob turns/clicks) and bedroom/bath knobs (locks).  I was set on black round knobs but then read about Aging In Place and the fact that as we get older (not me!!!) our hands are less able to grip and turn knobs.  The author recommended lever knobs.  You just have to push down.  So now I am wondering about that type.  We already have levers (French) on several doors in the house: Atrium doors, French doors, Patio double doors and now--soon to be on the front door. So it could be easy to just have them on everything.   And I still have to chose bathroom light fixtures.

I went to work at 10:30 this morning and left at 6:19.  I never stopped working.  Non-stop.  I am exhausted.  Just about made it into the shower but now that I am clean--I feel just a little bit more perky.  Had to find a tick that was roaming around on G's neck.  Bad tick season this year.

My dinner has arrived.  G and Riley went out to get it.  Nice Caesar Salad for me.  Maybe a glass of red wine.  Then.......well, I will try to watch some television.  Up early tomorrow when the workers get here.  At least the guy who listens to Rush Limbaugh at top volume won't be working tomorrow.
I often wonder if I should request he not listen to it in my house?  What do you think?

The Day After

Incredible sadness.  The young guy who did my tile work in the walk in shower decided that living was too hard to do anymore.  The story is not mine to tell.  But my heart breaks for his pain.  And I will always be reminded of him--with each shower I take.  Life is hard but this........ my shower will always be the last shower he would ever tile.  Beautifully done.  A true craftsman.

My carpenters are working in the master bedroom--installing closet doors.  I just decided to measure and see if I would be able to open the doors when the bed is in the room.  W just looked at me with his mouth open---"now, you wonder if the doors have room to open?"  Yes, I said.  G and I live life on the edge.  ........They have plenty of extra room to swing wide open.  Thank goodness!

And, did I tell you I found the roll of master bedroom wallpaper so we can do patches in a few spots?
I found it in the living room on the back cushion of one of the big chairs (almost behind the cushion).    G kept saying he's seen it somewhere but couldn't remember where.

The weather the past two days has been terrible.  Cold, no sun, and lots of drizzle.  We are all wearing layers of clothing.  Shivering.  May is usually the most glorious of months here in Maine.  Spring blossoms on the trees, daffodils, tulips etc, blue skies and sunshine.  Our son was going to visit in May but had work issues.  Good thing.  He can enjoy rain and cold at home in the northwest.

Did you know Andrew Jackson was involved in the Civil War sixteen years AFTER he died and was buried? Sort of "Back To The Future" time travel. Thank you D. Trump for the history lesson.  And D Trump also figured out that Lincoln was the first Republican president.  That super private school he attended must have really been GREAT.  I don't think D Trump has ever actually read a B.O.O.K.

So sad.  But perhaps the whole Civil War "thing" was just fake news???

Full Stop- Construction

It happens.  To us.  And I guess to our General Contractor (GC).  Too many clients.  Too many bathrooms and only the one tile guy and only the one plumber.  So......no one came to hook up the washer.  So today I carried it all plus four floor rugs and two dog blankets to the Laundromat.

I can safely say that from now on the floor rugs and dog blankets will ALL be going to the Laundromat  each and EVERY time they need washing.  Hot water, large machine.  What's not to like?  Well, the $7 to get the machine going.

The Laundromat continues in the long running saga of life to be a Continual Puzzle to me.  Human Development or the lack thereof.  And I still had unused quarters in my pocket this time.  Why hasn't some do-gooder opened a free laundromat for those in need???  Or at least make the dryers free?? Perhaps in the second 100 Days.

 I think tomorrow J & W (carpenters) will be back trying to finish installing the new closet doors in my bedroom.  No bi-fold.  Real doors.  The GC says bi-fold is only used "now" for starter homes.  His opinion was given when we tried to interest Habitat for Humanity in the bi-folds we were taking out.  They said "no".  In fact, Habitat says no to quite a lot of donations.  Didn't even want to stop by and look at what we had.  I had decided from the first to use real doors.  No hollow ones.

It's still too cold and damp for the guys to tear out the old front door, do carpentry to frame out for the new door.  The new door is in the garage and I look at it every day.  It is going to be so nice.  Lots of windows to let in light.  Also it's "thermal" so it will also keep heat in and cold out.  This wasn't the case when the old fireplace brick wall was pushed out and we had tarps up and nothing else.  That was summer.  This isn't.  And those were big French Doors we were installing.  Love those doors!!!

I am feeling so much better with the 2 week treatment of the stronger inhaler.  No need of the rescue inhaler, even on Saturday--9 hours on my feet running around at work.  And I had a lot of re-pots and that means soils etc.  So--it's all good.  I did find a SECOND tick on my clothing.  Reports are that this is going to be a heavy tick season.  The first tick was in my hair at the back of my neck. So I have to check myself.

I swept and swept and swept up the dirt, dust bunnies and debris that is all over the house.  It just sort of "drifts" from the construction zone and the garage and the yard.  Dust pans full of grit.  And the mess that fell out of the runner rugs when I shook them?  Well, no Good Housekeeping Award for me.  Mostly the floors are now plywood.  So no walking barefoot even in socks.

I finished up the tomato, lettuce, mayo, bacon and bread that I took to work yesterday for lunch.  Finished it for today's lunch.  Having coffee to warm myself up.  That's about all for now.  My days off are spent cleaning, sweeping, wiping, stacking, moving, sorting, packing into containers for the attic, and for entertainment--I am pruning rose bushes, shrubs etc. plus cutting web worm nests out of the fruit trees.  Oh--and also "looking for stuff" we already put away.

Tomorrow--work.  Where I can rest up. (laughing)

Finally Looking Like Spring

So I bought some eggs.  I think eggs and Spring go together.  I will be having them on toast with salt and pepper.  Just like this little whatever it is that came along with the photo from Food52.

The new inhaler is finally working.  I now take the second dose at 8 pm instead of bedtime.  Today--A long and tiring day at work--I didn't need to use the rescue inhaler--not even once.  Yesterday I used it once.  So--small steps.

But I am tired at work.  Standing for 7 hours.  On cement.  It's not for 70.5 year old bones, knees and feet.  I had a difficult time falling asleep last night. Twinges in the knees and calf muscles.  Tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable.  Woke up tired.  Friday I have the day off.  Resting up?  Nah. We have to empty the master bedroom closets.  Carry it all up into the attic (not the upstairs bedroom--the actual attic)  G has screwed hanging clothes poles up to the wall of the attic and we'll have our clothes up there.  It means climbing stairs but not overtime we need something.  The clothing in the second bedroom (where we are now) was selected in March.  We need May clothes now.

So once we have exchanged Winter for Spring in the second bedroom closet---what we wear will be there.  Everything else will be in the attic or at Goodwill.  I plan on filling G's Jeep with boxes and bags of donations.

The Farmer's Almanac says the Spring/Summer of 2017 is going to be cool and very wet here in Maine.  I am reminded of another summer like that.  50 degrees on 4th of July.  2001 or 2002 .  I remember both of my children were at home that summer and shivering and questioning why we had moved here.

I don't have a book to read.  I don't have any food I am planning to make.  I have one load of laundry I could do at the laundromat.  Bed sheets.  Towels.  Work clothes.  That's two loads.

I finally found my raincoat.  I looked everywhere.  We always say that when we are looking and then when the item is found--geez, it was right where I put it.  laughing.

I do have work to do--carry all those clothes upstairs.  Carpenters will be here at 8am.  No sleeping in.  I will ask one of them to paint swatches on the bathroom wall.  Then chose the white I want. And My prize for all that up the stairs climbing is to be a hot fudge sundae.  G promised me one.

If I have time, I will prune my Cameo quince.  Rake out the garden path.  Beds were cleaned in the evenings of last Fall (by the light of the security lights from the porch) --- but I lost interest with the last of the paths full of leaves and junk.  Then it snowed.  Now I have to finish before I can start.

That should be a sampler on my wall.  I have to finish before I can start.

Little House-Big Garden

Some day.   Right now it's big house and neglected garden.  The weather is getting better.  I am on a two week regimen with a higher dose inhaler.  The twice a day-12 hours apart one.  And then inhaler four times a day as needed.  I no longer have the "cough".  Now I have hyper-reactive asthma.  And I need to get it calmed back down to just regular reactive.

My doctor is sympathetic.  It IS difficult to go from being always healthy to being chronically ill. It is hard to see one's self as having an illness.  Of having to take daily meds.  And ignoring it isn't going to be the path I should be taking.

On the renovation front:  The new walk in shower is amazing.  All tiled now and caulked.  Ready for the plumbing to be attached to fixtures.  The vanity isn't here yet.  The tile floor is in--super gorgeous-- and is also caulked.  The new modern chair height toilet is still in it's box.  The plumber was on a week's vacation to somewhere warm.  And sunny.

The entrance hall now has it's new closet doors.  LOVE them.  Two doors.  Not louvered. Now to choose the black knobs for ALL the closet doors, the passage doors and the bed/bath doors with security locks.  Three kinds of knobs.  I have to walk thru the house today and count.  Want to get all of them at once.  And order the bathroom lights.

The little "room" for the washer and dryer had it's walls painted.  Well, primed.  And it has it's own little door.  It is regular sized but looks like a Hobbit Door in the very tall feeling bath.  As soon as the plumber gets it all hooked up--I can do laundry at home again.

I did go to the paint store and chose three whites.  Pure White, Extra White and Highly Reflective White.  The last one matches the bath tile exactly.  The first is the softest.   So I expect we will end up with the middle one.  If I can find my paint brushes and or roller I will do a block of each on the bare bathroom wall------G says no.  He is positive I will spill or drip on the new tiles. He is possibly correct.

A few of the seeds I planted in the gallon milk jugs back in early March or late February (in the snow) have finally sprouted.  So happy to see the tiny dots of baby leaves.  I only got 4 onion seedlings.  Out of quite a few seeds.  Boo!

What's Cooking:  Chicken thighs were 77 cents a pound so G is getting a final pot of soup.  I made a garbanzo bean "chicken salad" with beans, celery, pecans, red grapes, poppy seeds and mayo for myself.  Next time I will add onion to it.  It is very good and I need the protein the beans provide.  No rash and no reflux so Garbanzo beans are back in the line up.  I bought organic ones.  Next I am making tuna salad.  With lots of onion and mayo.  I may add celery and petite green peas.

What I Am Reading:  The Boy In The Shadows by Vallgren.  Not an author I know but the book--once I got past the first 30 pages, is holding my interest.  The violence in the book is written matter of factly.  But since it is first person and that character is damaged--it makes sense.  Finished The Girl From Venice by Cruz-Smith.  Slow but a good read.  I see that Vallgren wrote another book and will order that as soon as I hit publish on this.

What I am Working On: Build.com and my long list of things I need to find, choose and order. I was making myself crazy with chrome, polished nickel and bronze etc. and just sat here one day and said "I just wanted everything to be black and white".  So the light fixtures and the knobs will be black.  Just plain black.  Against white walls.  I can add color with art, towels etc. Duh!  But my choice of doors?  Like I said--love them.  And they are white. Will have black knobs.

What I Will Be Wearing Soon:  Black linen pants and white linen shirts.  Red rimmed glasses. As soon as it is warm enough.

Happy Easter To All

Well, here in Maine the sun is shining and it may get to 76 degrees today.  Almost all the snow and ice has melted.  I have three boxes of pansies to plant into the tall planter I carried to the front porch. Hopefully the deer won't eat them all this year.

My cough is doing much better.  Yesterday, at work, teaching the afternoon gardening class, I started coughing and really needed my rescue inhaler.  Now everyone at work knows where I keep it and if I start coughing they know to run and get it and run to me with it.  My emergency plan.

G has the cough I shared with him and is having a hard time.  He is sleeping quite a bit.  His doctor gave him a prescription for his own rescue inhaler to use 4X a day.  He keeps forgetting.  this cough really takes your energy out of you.  It's NOT whooping cough, which is also in Maine right now.
And it's not the flu.  This is something quite different.

We are having a New England Boiled Dinner today.  I purchased everything days before I got sick and it's all still in the fridge, so, I have time today to watch water boil and make the dinner.  Might as well eat it.  We all like it.

I worked Wednesday and Thursday and spent most of Friday doing our taxes and our daughter's.  Hers are very quick--ours with investments and stock sales etc takes hours for me to type it all into Turbo Tax.  But they are done.  Being sick really set me back on a lot of things.  G sent them off to the post office Saturday morning.  Today is Sunday and a Holiday so I am not carrying the many loads of wash to the Laundromat.  Tomorrow.

Now, I am going to plant my pretty pansies and go sit in the sun out back.  Happy Easter.  Enjoy the sunshine!!!

The Only Day This Week

To do all the things I haven't gotten around to since I got "the cough".  I have loads of wash to take to the laundromat.  I have the taxes to do.  I have carpets to vacuum.  Sheets on the bed to change. The hall bathroom to scrub clean .

And now that the snow has finally decided to stop coming down---I have to go upstairs to search for Spring clothing.  Which was furthest from my mind when the carpenters first arrived in March.  Now it's April and nearly May.  It's been so long that I think lifting plastic barriers to get to the different rooms in the house is "normal".

My shower tile is like the tile in the picture above.  Only my tiles are 4 by 12.  And the line where the shelf is in the picture is a thin one inch line of the black floor tile.  My vanity will echo the cabinets and granite top.

But instead of the solid bottom my vanity has a long shelf at the bottom to hold folded towels. The shelf is higher off the floor. Sinks are under mounted. My faucets are shorter but only the one for each sink.  The little column has a little lever to switch from cold to hot/ on and off. I spent too much time and effort cleaning the previous sinks (shell design lots of indents) and faucets (clear glass knobs with creases) so I don't want anything with grooves or design elements.  I think I just found a less expensive (and correct finish) light fixture.  Previously I had ceiling tube lights.  Wallpaper. Lots of wallpaper. Such an ugly bathroom.

I still have to find and order vanity knobs.  And door knobs.

The shower floor is going in today.  Adding to the neighborhood excitement--- a big oak tree is being cut down next door.  Riley is torn.  To watch and supervise the bathroom work or be outside supervising the tree work.

Have to run across the street to list my neighbor's cleaning person in to the house.  See you later!

Spring and Pansies

At work--the pansies are taking the second row.  Easter Lilies the first row.  Easter seems too quick this year.  I must really be getting old.  Time speeds up as we age.  I am always reminded of the way time seemed to slow and not move when I was a child.  Waiting.  Always waiting.  Now, things just seem to rush past.

Easter.  I had wanted to put up an Easter Tree with all the old German ornaments.  While packing everything into the attic room--I found the ornaments I thought were long lost to me.  Little rabbits, chicks and eggs.  So sweet.  I never did buy the tiny carrot ornaments.  Perhaps they never really existed.  Perhaps I just imagined them?  Now it's too late.

And Taxes.  I was supposed to do them and then got sick.  Doing complicated taxes while sick and woozy isn't "a good thing" so now I am behind and rushed.  Worse thing.  It will work out.  I have been in worst situations regarding the taxes.  Last, last minute.  Working and reworking with calculator and pencils.  It's about a four hour job now with the computer.  Just need to set aside the four hours.

Work--I think I am good enough to return to work tomorrow.  We'll see.  I can always decide to sit and rest if I feel fatigued.  I am teaching on Saturday.  Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces.  Mostly it will be about containers.  Small spaces usually means no ground for digging a garden.

I potted up my dahlia tubers yesterday.  Five large pots and 4 smaller ones for the small sets of tubers. I think most are Park Princess my favorite cactus dahlias.  Pink.  Petals shaped like little fireworks explosions.  I intend for some, if not all, to go into the garden beds this summer.  Not stay in pots. We had way too many pots on the front steps, ground in front of the steps etc.  Plus the indoor plants on the porch itself--out of direct sun.  And then the large containers full of annuals (petunias mostly).  It was colorful and cheerful but such a job to keep it all watered.  I often felt like I did nothing else each day but water.  Hours of hauling hose.  More work than at work.

The truth is evident.  I have chosen to create a very expensive master bathroom.  Very.  I thought, at first, when the contractors referred to my bathroom project as the largest of the five in progress right now, that they were referring to size.  But it isn't that large.  Now I realize it's "large" in cost of materials.  I have asked for, and been given, what I wanted.  Not knowing that the very simple design is also very costly.  The very large walk in shower is being tiled in white subway tiles with a thin line of the black slate flooring as a pinstripe.  Black granite bench and trim on the shower entrance.  Glass doors to come.  Well, I guess I have "good taste" or something.

First Signs Of Spring- Crocus

Mine are not this abundant.  I should plant more bulbs.  But they are very welcome here in the back garden -over the septic out-take.  Where the ground is warmest.

The tile is going up/down in the shower starting on Monday.  The plumber is buying the European hot water radiators.  Not the ugly American style ones that are so impossible to keep clean.  These are flat closed systems like the lovely ones we had in our German house.

There are still so many things to consider and choose and purchase.  Like door knobs.

What I Am Cooking Today:  Chicken Soup for G.  I gave him my cough.  But I don't really think Bronchitis is "catchy" so more likely we are both being affected by the drywall dust floating everywhere.

What I Finished Doing:  Watched two full seasons of the Affair on Showtime (free week of viewing) which took a lot of time. I skipped season three as the reviews said it was all about Noah and I detest his character.  So, yesterday I watched season 5 of Homeland.  Eleven episodes.  Those foxy people at Showtime got me all the way to 11 and tonight is number 12.  The ending.  And I would have to subscribe to get that.  That's okay.  I can just read the reviews after. Figure it out for myself. It was very good.  Had all the characters I enjoyed in the first few seasons with Damian Lewis.  Not so much after he left.

What I Tried To Do:  Vacuum.  I was doing okay and then I clogged the vacuum up and G had to work on unscrewing all the tiny screws to get the hose that was plugged up--open.  What a dirty mess. And then he vacuumed with his shop vac.  Too much dirt for the household one.  Especially in the construction zones (which is basically everywhere right now).

What I Still Haven't Started Doing:  Taxes.  I'm just too foggy headed right now to do it right.

What I Thought I Wanted To Do:  Go on Riley's walk in the woods with G and Riley.  G said no, it would be terrible.  Guess it's wet, icy and muddy.  Just the way Riley likes it.  It's sounds like the conditions I usually have at work in Springtime.  50 degrees.  Sunshine.  Very Nice For Sitting On The Deck, I think.

Getting Better

Well, if the computer will co-operate I will be letting you know I am getting better.  Mucinex to the rescue.  Productive coughing.  Rather than just annoying coughing.

I spent yesterday watching the two Elizabeth movies with Cate Blanchard.  Loved the Armada burning in the ocean.  Also loved the clothes.  The dresses.  They must have cost a fortune.

It's red grapefruit season and I bought 3 lovely ones and have them segmented and prepped for yogurt  lunches this weekend.  Today I am finally able to drink the smoothie I made--------days ago. The raw cashews have thickened it up a bit too much and I added too many blueberries so it's less peachy than I like.  Soothing to a throat roughened up by coughing.  My voice is deep and croak-y.  Like I have been smoking for decades.

It rained most of yesterday.  Today I got a few rays of sunshine out on the back steps.  Felt energetic enough to dig up the Ajuga that invades the back garden bed--every single year.  People actually BUY the stuff.  I dig it up.

The TiVo remote stopped controlling the on/off/mute controls yet again.  This is the new remote. I also dug the old one out of the trash to see if it wanted to try working again.  It did not.

Well, I just coughed a lot and need to return to the couch.  Close my eyes.

Still Sick -Still Coughing

My cough is strong.  "coughing up a lung" is the way the worker men describe it.  I called out from work.  Wouldn't have been able to stand upright for any period of usable time.  DayQuil.  Tea.  More Tea.  A nap.  That's about it for today. Trying to keep germs to myself.

I have a call into my doctor's office.  They say they might be able to call back in the next 2 hours to chat with me.  Wednesday.  Don't really think anyone is at work.  A bad cough and exhaustion.  Sounds like pneumonia to me but I don't have a medical degree.  And there isn't much other than rest and liquids that can be done.

Not much else to say.

What I've Been Eating:  The turmeric broth with carrots, peas, corn and rice noodles. The vegetable combo is what was in the fridge and freezer.  The rice noodles in the pantry.  Tea. Clementines.

Sunshine & Clementines

It is warm enough to sit outside on the back deck sans coat.  So that is what I will be doing.

I did my one load of wash  and it's in the dryer.  And I used my canned in juice peaches to make my favorite smoothie (frozen banana, raw cashews, peaches, blueberries and yogurt or milk).  Then I had to go up into the attic (into that weird sewing room) where I store things and find my carton of 16 ounce Crate & Barrel Working Glasses.  I use them for my smoothies.  They have lids.

I also counted my Working Glasses.  Three seem to be missing.  I usually buy them by the dozen. I went upstairs because I could only find two jars.  Which was very odd.  Now I have nine. Five were in the attic, two in the porch fridge (turmeric broth), and two in the cupboard.

That's it for today.  Still coughing. No workmen working today. Xfinity Watch-A Thon. I need to decide what to watch on Showtime or HBO.  Billions, Homeland, True Detective.  And hopefully a movie or two.  Deadpool for G and The Martian for us.  And perhaps Arrival.  I really liked it. Last year I watched True Detective one and it was wonderful.  And I watched the movie Birdman.  Weird.

Sunday, Home With A Cough

It could be the dust from construction.  It could be "new to me" germs after weeks at home with just G and the dog--and then back to work with so many new people and new germs.  Anyway, I am coughing and feeling light in the head.  Drifty and not in a pleasant way.  Like I might just tip over and hit the floor.  No fever.  No chills.  No sore throat.  No runny nose.

But that could all change as the day goes.  I called out "sick" for today's 8 hours @ work.  I called yesterday so they could replace me.  I am replaceable......

I have had tea and toast and now have three shiny clementines to eat. There was a great deal of heavy wet snow in Friday/Sat's storm.  Everything is now white again.  No ground showing.  No Spring.

I am wondering if I should have spent money on new doors?  Or should I  just use the ones that came with the house 26 years ago.  I never liked them.  They are very hard to keep clean--all sorts of little groves and indents.  I'm not even sure they are solid wood.  And then I will need new knobs.  this changing of things is like: one thing leads to another and another and another.  Seems endless.

We looked at the old master bath tub (which is being repurposed into the hall bath tub) and discovered it was made by Kohler. Like all the bath/shower things I purchased on line. To go with the Kohler valve installed before I decided what company line I wanted.  It's things like that which irritate me.  But I would have chosen the Kohler anyway.  I liked the way it looked.

I am a visual person.  Also I like the way things feel.  I have run my fingers over the drywall finish in the hall--well, at least twice a day since it was dry.  Like it so much better than the shiny wallpaper.

The second owner of this house did a great deal of work here.  New hardwood floors in living room/dining room.  Third bathroom and fourth bedroom upstairs.  The very strange  "sewing room" on the other side of the attic.  With a wall of nice floor to ceiling built in shelving.

We have done a great deal of work here.  New roof.  New furnace.  New windows.  Now new bathrooms.  New entrance hall with a new door.

I hope we live long enough to enjoy and "use it" all.

 Well, I finished book two -not as good as Boyce's first book.   My thoughts are that the book I just finished was actually the first book.  But not "good enough" so she tried again.  That new book was great.  And then she went back and quickly tried to "fix up" the original book so they could sell it also while everyone was excited about the first (good) book.  But it's still rough and weird to read--almost like an outline at times or a list of plot ideas.  I wonder how book three will turn out.

Time to lay down and "rest my eyes".

Growing Things In Jars

Now my way is so much simpler but on the very same theme.  I have used the cut root ends of celery and romaine lettuces.  Set the ends in shallow water in little flat canning jars (4 ounces) and kept the water changed and fresh.  I have roots on the celery end now so I added some perlite to a jam jar and now the roots are in water and the celery end is above.

These jars offered by House.com have a mesh basket that holds the roots in water and the leafy tops above water.  I have never been a fan of colored canning jars so haven't been tempted to buy any.  I think I would have if they had clear ones.  Especially for my classes.  I have a class coming up on Gardening in Small Spaces.  A quart jar is pretty small.

Things are moving along at a pretty brisk clip today.  Guys scraping the under flooring of the hallway to prep it for laying tile.  In the bathroom some wall board is up in the shower and the shower has the floor in--and drying so they can add tile next week.  So...... actual walls in the master bath.

At one time we had about 6 guys going in and out of the house.  Riley was going nuts.  I think one of the guys had a bakery scone in his pocket and the others all had coffee.  Riley LOVES coffee.

The Tile guy gave me the name of an on-line faucet supplier and I was able to put together my list of faucets, shower heads etc and make an order--saving me over $2000 over the regular Kohler prices. there is just one thing left to purchase .....the drain assembly for the old soaking tub........and I just realized...it has one.  So, we'll use it!  G just gave me a high five for "saving money".

Hardly--I have been spending money on this remodel like a sailor on shore leave.   I even purchased two 4 by 6 hooked rugs (re-used cotton from the Garment District)--in DayGlo colors which is just the right thing to go with wood floors and black four poster bed.  My bedroom is going to look so sharp!

Why I am doing the happy dance:  Every one of the guys is gone and not coming back until Monday and we have leftover meatballs and sauce to eat for dinner tonight.

What's Happening Tonight:  Another in the long list of snow storms.  This one will lay 4 to 12 inches of new snow on the old, vintage snow that has been here since Christmas.  Never warm enough to melt it all.

What We Are Really Upset About:  The TiVo remote has stopped signaling the television for important things like on/off, volume, mute.  Unfortunately, the volume is set at a level which is too loud for most things.  So we unplug the television from the TiVo (it continues to record things) at night (only way to turn it off) but we can still watch tv and change channels and record stuff.  That's all stuff the TiVo does.  TiVo is sending a new remote. Free of charge.  But it won't get here until Wednesday.  There are things we may not watch due to the sound levels.

When you are unable to control the volume--it's surprising how much the sound annoys you!!!

What I Am Reading:  Old Bones, the second mystery from Trudy Nan Boyce.  She must have written two books and got both published within months of each other.  Love it when that happens!

Do You Ever Wonder

What the Republicans would have done if Obama was ever as "conflicted" by the truth as the Orange Man is?

 But when faced with the things going on--Nepotism (family members taking the places reserved for highly experienced government people who actually know how governments work)-- political mistakes of significant weight for future negotiations (not shaking hands with the German Chancellor in front of cameras and press) and now evidence that the Orange Man is still getting weekly or daily status reports on his Corporate Empire even though it is totally illegal for him to be doing so.......... (his sons (Beavus and Butthead) spilled the news to reporters--thinking it was funny) and still no impeachment.

It's like a very bad dream.  And this morning I read that a petition is being circulated in New York City to try and FORCE the First Lady to move into the White House with her supposed husband.  Not that I think she will do it.  NYC wants to stop paying for security.  Millions of $$$'s a day for security.  Not unlike the 5M a weekend to fly to Florida every weekend so the Orange Man can play golf.

I am reminded of the Orange Man screaming about Obama playing golf on his infrequent vacations.  "Why isn't he working for the country?"  "Why is he fooling around on the golf course while the country goes to hell?"   We need the news people to start playing those tapes.

I won't say more.

Sometimes Simple Is The Best Choice

Keeping the blog name the same.

It's raining.  And the ground is still frozen.  So, ice.  Slick. Dangerous.

Yesterday--a full 9 hours at work with just one short chance to sit down and eat--quickly--my lunch.  Otherwise, walking the full length of the greenhouse and garden center to the cashiers--over and over and over and over picking up "re-pots" and them bringing them back to the cash counters when I'd finished them.  And watering, talking, giving advice and otherwise doing my job.  Exhausted.

It was a struggle to walk out and around the place and them up the stairs to the upper yard and my car.  The only one slower than I was--the other retired person.  A Navy veteran.  Both of us looked a bit pale.

The carpenter and the tile guy have been here this morning.  G has the washer hooked up but we may experience a sudden spill of water as the cycle goes on.  The shut off doesn't work.  Could be very exciting.

Things are moving along.  We may have a working new bathroom in a week or two.  Then we'll start on the hall bath.  And then the floors.  And then the hallways.

We are living in a strange construction zone.  It doesn't help that it's cold.  Wet. Raining.  Odd after the warmth of the greenhouse all week, the sunshine and the flowers in all their splendid colors.

I have two full days off.  Time to rest up.

Today's Chores:  Cleaning.  Vacuuming.  Laundry. (washer didn't leak so far so I am going to change the bedding and wash it)  Doesn't sound much like a "take it easy day" does it?  But I do need to give all the surfaces a spray and wipe at least.

Today's Reading:  Finished the Stargazer's sister--the last bit was truly sad--I would stop reading for the tears.  How her brother could do what he did after so many years--hard to believe.  I am now moving on to a new to me mystery writer.  Trudy Nan Boyce and "Out of the Blues".

Today's Cooking:  We ordered take out pizza and a salad for me last night.  I have a nice corned beef brisket I could be cooking--perhaps tomorrow.  Or Thursday.  I will, I think, make a nice pot of spaghetti sauce instead.  Sausage, mushroom and onion for G.  Just spaghetti for me.  With cheese and butter.

Today's Would Be Nice" To Do:  Take some frozen peaches out to thaw for a smoothie.  But it's so cold.  I wouldn't want to drink the finished smoothie.

Riley really wants a walk today--even in the cold rain.  G does not.  One is very sad and the other is not.  Acupuncture at 4pm.  Then we'll stop at the grocery to pick up any items we may need.  I wish they still rotisserie roasted chicken breasts.  A nice chicken salad would be nice to take to work--or eat for breakfast (me-never G).

And It Won't Stop Snowing

Riley likes it.  I do Not.  Yes, it is Nature's compost (snow with all it's minerals) but enough is enough.  Today's snow did serve a purpose though--it was wet enough so I could use the layer of it and a towel to scrub the crusty, sticky salt off the back end of my Fit.  The car isn't clean--but it also isn't salty.

The "new" master bathroom now has electricity and plumbing.  The hallway wallpaper turned into an epic undertaking.  They must have put the stuff up with glue. Two full days.  So, we needed to refinish the drywall. Undercoat and finish coat.  Sanding.  Breathing dust.  I have my scarf wrapped around my mouth and nose whenever I am home.   I guess I could buy those masks.  Wear that.

Now we wait for the tile man to get home from his vacation.  Then perhaps walls, more drywall coats and sanding.  And the lumber for the floors.  That has to settle in and grow accustomed to the humidity of the house before it can be nailed down.  Then sanded, stained and sealed.  So many things have to happen still.  And do I want shelves built into the hall closets.  I think I do.

Three days in a row back at work.  I am exhausted.  I had to be cheerful and nice to everyone--Open House!!  It takes a lot out of me.... I am kidding.  I can be nice without much effort.  And we had really good oatmeal raisin cookies.

Saturday off work and I think PBS is FINALLY done begging for money--- and I think the Saturday cooking shows will be on.  I just love them.  I am also going to be watching more episodes of Longmire or reading my last book.  G took my stack of books back to the library by accident.  Un-read.  And I don't remember what they were.  So---it is what it is.  I still have the Stargazer book.

The rash between my eyes and eyebrows hasn't come back.  Some acid reflux though.  I wish I knew what causes it.  I am pretty sure it's food.  Or coffee.  It's a puzzle.

What We Are Eating Tonight:  G has leftover Chinese food and I have a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese.

I didn't buy anything today.  Ate 3 oatmeal raisin cookies off the Open House Donut and Cookie and Potato Chip Buffet.  Drove home in snow.  Had a nice hot shower and clean clothes.  Read my blogs.

Now I am going to watch the news.  I think Ryan and the Trumpets got what they deserved.  Now I want to watch it and listen to all the politicians and just bask in the happiness of knowing that millions of good people still have health care.  Amen to that.

Thinking Of Changing The Name Of This Blog

I am now officially 70.5 years old.  Half way through the year.

I think I should officially express who I am.  Not just the day on which I was born--a Wednesday. I am struggling to come up with some names to choose from.  This was the problem so many years ago when I started this blog--what to call it.

Any help for my Readers would be welcome.  You probably know me better than I know myself.

The carpenters are back--we had the weekend free of noise.  Now stud walls are being built.  The larger than life empty room will now be sectioned off and made smaller--and then when filled with the "new" seem larger than before.  It's a magical thing.

The door I wanted--the front door to the house--was too large for the opening and WAY TOO expensive.  So now I have to choose another.  Everything changes.  Nothing is set.  Now flooring. Light or dark wood.  In the closets?  The plumber comes tomorrow.  Then the electrician. We have a drawing of the vanity for master bath.  So many things to decide.  And then live with.

I am continuing to reduce, recycle and re-purpose.  Even the refrigerator.  I pulled out all the vegetables and roasted them on a sheet pan.  Carrots are so dense and delicious roasted with just salt, pepper and good olive oil.  I ate them off the pan.  Just like that. Right out of the oven. With my fingers. I also roasted a head of cauliflower.  That was good also.

What I Am Reading:  The Stargazer's Sister by Carrie Brown.  Based on the real life of Caroline Herschel, sister of the great astronomer and composer William Herschel.

Where I Am Going: To the grocery store.  For Yogurt. For Salad Greens. For Cheese to put on Riley's food.  (old dogs have trouble knowing there's food in the bowl).  For Milk for my cereal.  For Carrots.
Later today: Acupuncture.

What I Have Been Sewing:  I had to add more patches to the favorite, well worn grey cashmere pullover.  The other elbow was looking thin.  A hole in the edging of the sleeve.  A hole under the arm at the seam.  A stabilizing patch at the V in the open cowl neck.  I feel better knowing the weak areas are now better able to get through the next 10 years or more. I am hopeful.  I would like to be wearing this sweater on the day I die.

What I Have Been Thinking:  Death seems to be all around me these days. Not mine.  Others I have known and lost--without being aware of it.  Finding out long after death came for them.  Being reminded of the time spent with them and the memories of that time. Like time and memory is slowly fading and disappearing.  I am reminded of the priest saying at the untimely death of a beloved man- "he is not dead until the very last person that has known and loved him is dead".  They all live, still, in my heart.

So, on that "cheerful"note--I leave you and get myself off to the grocery store.  The workmen have gone to lunch.

Happy St Patty's Day, Madam

Celebrate with a Bonsai dish garden?  Well, it's green.  And I love making them for customers.

Second day of master bathroom demo.  There is nothing in the room but the stacked washer/dryer. So I can do laundry over the weekend (thank you).  Found lots of mouse poop,  mouse trails in the insulation (where they traveled from their nest to the places where they pooped).  No pee.  Oddly enough.  No mice which was a very GOOD thing.

The guys helped G carry the king four poster bed into the second bedroom yesterday (where we will be for as long as it takes) and--even though I measured and thought it wouldn't fit with any space to walk --the bed fits nicely and there is plenty of room all around for all the dressers etc.  It's rather nice in there.

The transition (for me) to the hall bath is rather more difficult.  G has had (for 26 years) sole use of that vanity.  And, though I asked nicely, has not cleared any space for my stuff.  My stuff is in drawers in the office--across the hall.  Kind of NOT easy when you have two carpenters, a plumber etc wandering around---- and you have run out of toothpaste and are wearing your pajamas. A quick dash across the hall is sometimes NOT the best plan because someone might decide to use the bathroom while you were across the hall.  Just saying.........

Work tomorrow but thank goodness I am not teaching a class.  Way too distracted.

I had to "go see" several things in the new bathroom today.  Like the problems with the washer /dryer area--- needed to rebuild a dividing wall to the new code and also so the trim on the washer/dryer "room" door would have the same amount of trim space on both sides.  This made the opening to the shower a "problem" and they got to talking about "custom" doors.  I said "standard sizes" only.  No custom.

That's when J looked at me and said--slowly and with emphasis--"Everything about this bathroom is custom". OMG.  I tried SO HARD to make it all simple.  And all I did was make it all so uniquely Joanne.

Reminded me of two years ago on the day of G's heart attack when (surgery was on Friday and it was Wednesday afternoon) I asked the nurse if G could go home and come back Friday.  "Madam, your husband has had a heart attack...he is NOT going home today".  This was said slowly and with real emphasis by the Russian born nurse.  The "Madam" still ringing in my ears two years later.

Some things never change I guess.  Like me.