TheCapeBlog

I’m hoping that Ron will cut a cube of wood to fill in the living room closet door.

Yesterday our neighbor the electrician installed a new box to replace the weird floating outlet. This sets us up for installation of a light in that closet at some future time.

I installed webbing and plaster to cover everything up. The closet is a mess, whoever created it did a horrible job, but at least it’ll be “tight to the weather” after Ron fixes the floor.

Heard from my favorite plumber in Schenectady. He’ll be in the area next Saturday and can check out the upstairs shower and floor situation. Hope he can help.

My credit union card was compromised so I had to get a new one. Unfortunately, only one bank officer was available yesterday, so I had to wait for one of the “born lucky” petites to finish before she could help me: irritating, but the bank manager took good care of me. I updated as many financial records I could think of, figuring the rest will let me know if they still have the old card on file.

I made eggs with spinach and old feta for Ron this morning. Used the rest of the spinach, eggs, onions, a little milk, new feta, parmesan and a frozen pie crust for a quiche. That and salad from a mix we got from the Food Project was lunch.

Well, Ron couldn’t manage to cut a cube the right size to fit into the chunk missing from the living room closet door, so he did the next best thing, stashed a bunch of small pieces of wood to fill in the hole. It would be very difficult if not impossible for a mouse to squeeze through it.

It’s not a milestone exactly but 55 is still an age to celebrate. I hope someone does something nice for him today.

Yesterday I went to the writers group meeting and met two new people. I was thinking about driving to the North Adams Library for a reading but the driving was bad: dark, rain and the streets were flooding.

I also made a quick trip to the bank and dropped off the payment for the tailors.

Today we met with a company that installs stall showers. Price is gigantic, I paid around that for my first house some forty years ago.

We dropped off the latest oil company receipt to the Salvation Army. The major was in so we got to exchange greetings.

Afterwards we picked up excellent lunches and groceries at the Food Project.

I finished mudding the coat closet yesterday and after a small amount of sanding and vacuuming, put back the coats and put away construction materials before the visit from the shower person today. Nice to have the living room somewhat back to normal.

The truck got a new muffler, differential pinion seal and rear spring plates and u-bolts.

This was all a surprise. Ron thought it was a good idea to invest in repairs/replacements.

I wanted to get the truck home and in the garage before the rain so Ron drove us to the shop around 5:15 last night.

The garage roof repair seems to have fixed the leaking problem. At least that part of the floor is dry for the first time since we moved in.

The snow is gone for now.

I had a nice afternoon yesterday, visited a pottery workshop and met some nice people, got a fine house gift for Betsy and David when Ron visits them again.

This morning I have been screaming.

Brought the truck in for what I thought was an estimate. Turns out the shop went ahead and ordered the part. Before I realized what was going on, they’d taken out the muffler assembly.

The shop manager had attempted to enter the waiting room to talk to me but was accosted at the door by an entitled older woman who had tried to enter the work area. Her purpose? To ask for windshield wiper replacements.

I was beyond furious, trying to process an unexpected $500-plus expense while already upset with Ron for not caring enough to drive to the shop in the car so I’d have a lift home.

I hate people.

Talked with the manager a couple of hours later. Turns out the truck needs a differential, shocks and the muffler assembly: $1,400. $500 looked good in retrospect.

I went to Dollar General for thyme and toilet cleaner. Stopped at the credit union, always a pleasant stop.

Ron is working on three sisters soup. I’m sure it will be good. The squash smells fabulous.

I am hurting. Did a tiny bit of shoveling yesterday and a bit more today, but that shouldn’t be enough to bother. Rain predicted for later. Thank goodness.

Ron has been cold since he got up.

Made cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies from a refrigerated starter and a packaged mix.

Gray skies, warming up.

Mind over inertia: changed the sheets.

We attended the Souper-Bowl cookoff, the Penny Social & Nonprofit Fair and the “Reindog” parade.

I ordered a gift for a boy who loves science. Delighted to see a Giving Tree suggestion that isn’t about female vanity.

I continued work on patching the holes inexplicably punched in the walls of the living room closets.

Did a white wash.

More snow last night.

It was in the laundry basket.

Never thought to look.

We had a few inches of snow this past Wednesday/Thursday. Cleaned the driveway yesterday afternoon. I did a little shoveling off the deck today.

Rolled out MRS2025 before noon. New database and updated website. I successfully registered with a discount code. Disabled directory browsing.

Today we went to the last Log Lunch of the semester then Stop & Shop. Excellent presentation by students about their Pownal Forest project.

Yesterday Ron reattached the grill in the kitchen ceiling. It looks terrible, was not installed correctly. What else is new?

Installed the patch and first coat of joint compound in the smaller living room closet.

Looking forward to the Dog Parade and soup tasting tomorrow.

We brought compost, recyclables and a nasty rug that was buried in the back (true) to the transfer station.

We stopped at the library to see the exhibit of original works by local artists, some of professional quality. There’s to be a reception tonight but we wanted to skip the crowd. One of the library employees was quite rude, as were people who walked in front of us while we were viewing the artwork with no apology, save one young person who has better manners than any of the adults.

I finally wrapped and mailed Peter’s birthday gift.

Picked up the CSA produce at Wild Soul River.

Preite delivered 154 gallons of oil. I sent them a check, as promised. Looks like they may have received a payment from the Salvation Army as well.

Ron got the snow blower started! Still missing his wallet.

Yesterday I tried to check out Beaver Mill, but their door is secured with an electronic lock, so I didn’t try to enter.

Stopped at Dollar General on the way back for a box for Peter’s birthday gift, soup, biscuits, cinnamon rolls and cookie mixes.

Made the biscuits and peanut butter cookies. Burnt the cookies but I’m eating them anyway.

Received a box of soy products. We tried out the (free) jerky treats – not bad.

We had tomato soup and biscuits for supper. I finished more leftovers for lunch today. We had a week’s worth of Thanksgiving.

Cooked the mushrooms and made a soup with the leftover green bean casserole.

Dropped off Seasons 1 and 2 “Shetland” DVDs at the library, picked up 3 and 4.

Did an Rx run to Walmart, brought home a few groceries.

Home equity loan was approved. Got an email about it that made me very angry but turns out some people don’t know they have a lien on their property. Unbelievable.

Pizza for supper.

We watched two games yesterday (Saturday).

I made stir fry.

We investigated the floor vent grill in the second bedroom. It appears to be blocked. There is probably no good reason for this aside from a brainless attempt to circulate air to other rooms.

Cold this morning, 29 degrees.

More football today. Patriots lost by 1 point. Steelers beat Cincinnati, two interceptions.

I made two kinds of cookies, neither of which are especially good. Seems wheat flour doesn’t cut it for sweets.

Changed sheets, cleaned the mini split filters. It’s been running hot, hope that fixes it.