TheCapeBlog

Ron’s visit to Hearing Aids Associates in Pittsfield yesterday was a success. He booked an appointment in May for a cleaning.

Aside from that, didn’t do much: one load of laundry, hung kids’ old artwork.

Today was another story.

A tech from MassSave did a thorough review of the house and unearthed some surprises.

Like the walls in the second floor are essentially cardboard. Same for the ceiling in the “office”. No wonder it’s so cold.

MassSave will not install insulation until we are able to waterproof the basement. This is difficult with a stone foundation and the crawl spaces.

We also need to have the rafters checked for mold or other hazards.

We had pizza for lunch with the Theater Department at Williams College. Very enjoyable!

I sent a signed contract and check to Barile Environmental.

We went to Bennington to pay for the truck – much less than expected – and checked in with a nearby repair shop to take care of the coil/sparkplug problem.

Dropped off DVDs at the library and picked one up.

We have a little snow this morning.

Now that we meet income qualifications, have been reading up on grants and zero-interest loans for home energy improvements.

Yesterday, after I dropped off trash at the transfer station and picked up our “grab and go” at the senior center, we were on our way to Pittsfield when Ron realized he’d forgotten his hearing aids.

Turns out was just as well, I had the appointment date wrong.

We turned around, did another transfer station, Spirit Shop and Dollar General run.

Ryan was here to finish up windows. Lucky for us that he was: the right-hand garage door was stuck and he figured out how to release it.

Peter finished up the electric work in the garage; everything works: lights, doors, outlet.

Ryan and Erin finished the windows and installed a downspout on the new gutter.

I stupidly asked the garage door techs to install manual locks; they aren’t needed now that the electricity is hooked up. Oh, well, good if we lose power, I guess.

We attended a pretty tea at the Senior Center, a twice-a-year event put on by a local woman. She provided real linens, real tea cups, an assortment of teas and home-baked pastries, including scones.

Unfortunately, we were not able to sit with anyone else, the other tables were full, but we did chat a bit with the hostess and her “crew”. We were lucky to get in. Apparently I should have signed us up first, but evidently some people didn’t show who had made reservations.

The architect and our construction supervisor measured and consulted on the second story work.

The skin around my eyes is flaring up again. Got to take allergy meds more consistently, I guess, at least until my medical visit in early March.

We went to the Berkshire Food Project lunch today at the First Congregational Church of North Adams. Left pleasantly sated with a bag of vegetables to boot and met some nice people, including a Henderson Road neighbor.

Before and after lunch, I worked on the frig – for hours. Cleaned the freezer in the morning and the produce bins and bottom shelf in the evening. It was in pretty much the same deplorable shape as the furnace, stove, dishwasher, hot water tank and washing machine.

After lunch, Ron suggested a trip to Job Lot for his muesli. This was a good call; we were just a few minutes away, and it gave me a chance to get trash bags and a few other staples as well as his cereal.

Techs from the Overhead Door company in Pittsfield installed safety devices and locks and tightened bolts and hinges. One door doesn’t lock properly, it’s an awkward setup, and Ron volunteered to make a minor change that should fix the problem.

I returned the window well cover, it was not deep enough. Gave me an opportunity to introduce Ron to rk MILES.

I’m wondering if anyone is going to show up tomorrow.

I set up the Roku TV that will go in the guest room and connected DVD player, thus redeeming myself from yesterday’s failure.

I cleaned out the dishwasher filter, which was filthy. Ron ran the machine with a cup of white vinegar and we wiped it down. I’m pleased with the result.

We must have great immune systems, to have survived the scum in the stove, overhead fan, hot water heater, furnace, washing machine and dishwasher.

Gloomy and raw today: 40 but felt much colder. I’d be perfectly happy to read or watch tv and eat bonbons all day, if we had any. I made chocolate pudding; not a bad substitute.

Warmed up by raking the back and side yard, “three bags full” of leaves. Consolidated the piles of sticks as well.

We walked a little way down Henderson to see the Williams Winter Carnival fireworks. 20 degrees and a clear night. Fine display!

Ron put together the solar driveway light; nice bit of home improvement.

Ron got a gorgeous haircut and beard trim at the Clip Shop and I can’t believe the difference: hobo to college professor. We had lunch at Spring Street Market and Café; Ron found a novel at the Chapter Two bookstore.

I tried attaching the small DVD player to the big television and failed, gave up.

Had an unfortunate falling out with the electrician.

Dreading the vermiculite remediation.

Ryan and the two young Suns installed the new garage gutter and downstairs windows. Exposes a good scraping and painting project when it warms up.

Got new plates for the truck at the North Adams RMV.

I visited rk MILES. Picked up a window well cover and a knob for the kitchen drawer that Ron is cleaning up.

Heard from the ZIA Trust that we qualify for compensation. Interesting that this came a day after my call about this.

Submitted income verification info to Mass Save. Set up appointments for next week with the architect and a garage door company.

Ordered aster seeds.

Seems we need pay no federal taxes this year.

Hung curtains in the living room this morning to help keep out the cold until the windows are sealed. Pain.

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Got pizza for the crews from a restaurant in North Adams.

Went to RMV. They gave me instructions and GEICO sent me the document needed to re-register the truck.

Received a rough sketch from the architect. Looks good to me!

Boys received their welcome home gift.

Found a cellar window, needs a well cover to replace a board.

Roofers made great progress, they are almost done.

Electrician ran a wire to the new panel in the garage. We found an old fuse box which I hope he’ll remove.

Mirabito tech cleaned and tuned the furnace. They are allowing me to buy a maintenance contract and cover the cost that way. Works out to almost the same amount.

Finally, the tech from Modern Pest surveyed, placed traps and sprayed, all as they described on the phone.

Ron and I bagged more leaves. I cut down some big roots that were sticking up as a result of the sewer repair work.

Ron is fixing a kitchen drawer. I stopped him because the inside was unbelievably filthy. Need to find or buy shelf liner.

This week, I’ve facilitated appointments for Ron with a doctor, a hair salon and Beltone. I made appointments for us at Williamstown Dental.

Since moving here, I’ve spent half my life on the phone and the other half on Google search.

Ordered a fun housewarming gift for Robert and James, a vegetarian Weekender Gift Box from Zingerman’s.