Month: October 2011

Now it matches the house.

I have three projects going, which isn’t good, I’d rather finish one before starting another, but in this case, the weather has complicated things.

Last week, it rained for several days, so outdoor activities were limited. It was especially hard for painting, since both the current temperature and the future 24 hour forecast need to be right.

I have managed to clear the circle of white rocks and mulch that surrounded the fire pit, which is now part of the new glade.

The white rocks are in the bench area, to be used as a matrix for the pavers. The mulch is piled mainly around the rose bushes, although I did place some around the annual containers on the right side of the deck.

I’ll want to do something with the now barren circle, maybe wait till the spring to put in grass or even sod.

The matrix just needs to be evened out for the placement of the pavers, which shouldn’t take too long.

The third project, something I’ve put off for a couple of years, is painting the shed.

Until we committed to the gray siding in the front, I wasn’t sure what color to use. We bought a house version of the gray stain that we used on the balustrade.

The shed looks a little odd right now because Ron took the shutters off for painting and we emptied the window boxes. I may freshen up the trim, haven’t decided yet. I was so used to the odd yellow-brown primer that it will take some getting used to the gray, although I think we will like it much better.

We’re expecting a surveyor this week and completion of a new driveway at Edgewater next week.

Ron and I have contracted or completed some big projects since he moved here in May: roof ridge vent; siding and new front windows; new basement windows; new septic system at Edgewater; fence repair and repainting; driveway; staining over 70 feet of balustrade; reupholstering a living room chair; and now the rhododendron glade.

In addition, and in spite of knee and back problems, Ron finished a number of smaller but very helpful home repairs, including making a soil sifter for my gardening, installing a second medicine cabinet and replacing the doors on the first, re-attaching several hooks in the bathroom and putting in a new back door light.

We’ve also refinanced the mortgage at Edgewater and purchased Dixon.

Not bad for a couple of doddering old fogies.

We are in the last throes of septic replacement at Edgewater. It has taken too long and been way too much of a nuisance for those who live there.

Yesterday, Ron re-dug holes for the new fenceposts, and we managed to get everything back in place. Of course, I didn’t realize how crummy one very visible section of fence looks, so will replace about half a dozen pickets this week and repaint.

As Ron said, “Martha Stewart doesn’t live here.”

We had a really nice lunch at Canalside. Ron ordered fried calamari, I got lamb and we finished with spectacular desserts.

We finally have some drier, cooler air – thank goodness.

Did laundry and painted the new fence posts; set up Ron’s boom box which gets decent radio reception. Nice to have music while working.

We washed one of the hammocks and brought a truckload and a half of yard detritus, trash and recyclables to the transfer station. Ready for a nap.

Going home: our visit to Plymouth yesterday, October 1.