TheCapeBlog

I started painting this week: the new wall, the downstairs bathroom door. The latter is a priority so Ron can re-hang the mirror to check himself out before leaving the house.

Ron has been busy; trimmed a bunch of branches overhanging the shed on the South side of the yard and did a couple of transfer station runs yesterday.

Yesterday I picked up a bunch of two-fers at the organic market and more painting materials at Carr’s.

It’s been hot, heat index over 90 degrees. Sitting on the deck is not bad except for Ron’s jabbering after a couple of beers.

I watered three areas yesterday and woke up worrying that Ron had left the water on. He hadn’t, to his credit.

Figured out that the IKEA bookcase will not fit downstairs but there’s plenty of wall for it in the third bedroom.

Moved three file cabinets and Ron’s nice little end table out of the solarium/sunroom.

We binge-watched “The Hour” and ate well: vegetables and rice, Ron’s quiche, salad, good cheddar cheese, chocolate cake.

Jim installed carpet and pad in the third bedroom! He plans to come back this Saturday to do the hallway.

Ron and I hauled the remaining carpet roll into the living room.

It’s gray and overcast this morning.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Knights Orchestra and their performance of music by Edvard Grieg, Antonín Dvořák and Frederick Delius.

The weather and setting were perfect: the Clark’s Fernández Terrace overlooking the reflecting pool. Ron fussed for a bit about being Stage Left instead of straight on but mellowed once the music started.

Prior to the concert, we made a quick trip to Pownal for cheddar cheese. We’d been to Carr for Ben Moore and a roller, getting ready to paint the new wall in the living room.

Earlier I treated us to vegan tacos from a new vendor at the Williamstown Farmers Market, ice cream and frozen yogurt to go.

All in all, a full Saturday.

Unexpectedly but fortunately, we had help yesterday from Jim, the owner of plumbing company Williams FixIt who repaired our downstairs sinks, and Richard, tech from HelloTech who explained how to connect our one working CD player to the TV and corrected our ROKU pairing problem.

The poor kitchen was in shambles for lack of a sink; can’t imagine how difficult it must be to do any kind of cooking in Third World conditions.

Ron and I finished cleaning, folding and storing the giant tarp today.

Ordered an RCA to HDMI adapter.

We’d foolishly piled sod, soil and worm castings from the garden expansion on the big tarp, and with great difficulty hung it on the fence yesterday. Ron hosed it and me off.

Afterwards I went for a drive in search of the super moon, which seems to have been hidden by clouds. Views to the East are tough around here. Found a nice spot for sunset photos in North Adams on the road to the Greylock summit.

It’s pretty clear today, maybe I’ll have luck tonight.

Both downstairs sinks are leaking badly. Made calls to plumbers. I’m hoping the plumber who canceled yesterday will show up this morning.

The carpet installer who’d been suggested by James called a couple of times, and I’m hoping he’ll be available soon. Still waiting to hear from the other company.

Stopped by Preite. Met the family dog, Ford.

Yesterday, the painters finished the third bedroom, hallway, bathroom and top of the stairway. They did a number of extras, including varnishing the new railing and patching a wall. Great people!

The electrician was also here and busy. He moved and replaced an outlet, reattached a ceiling fan that was ready to fall off (and remarkably hasn’t), showed us how to change the recessed light color setting, installed two junction boxes and wired a new breaker. He’ll be back to install a ceiling fan remote.

He also helped me move the couch and freed a worklight in the basement.

Ron did a round trip to Albany for a useless appointment at Beltone.

I met with a carpet installation company franchiser and made an appointment with a plumber for today.

The kitchen sink is leaking like a sieve. Poor Ron struggled with cleanup last night.

Wild thunderstorm this morning. Betsy’s birthday is today and she’s planning a day of frolic with friends and family.

Ron and I dug out more rocks and planted the Sedum and Montauk Daisies.

I did more de-cluttering of the living room. Removed the last of the CD cardboard boxes, vacuumed the big closet and fit in the recycling (now two big bags), vacuum cleaner and pictures. Put the dolls back. It’s better.

Changed sheets. Installed plate covers yesterday, one to go. The outlet is in a bad spot, hoping the electrician can move it.

Gorgeous late Summer day. I’m enjoying a glass of wine, an open window and the BBC series “The Hour”. Ron found his stash, I found his passport.

I forgot to unload the mulch from the rental, and it’s been leased by another customer. Thought I’d lost the camp chairs, too, but someone put them in the garage before I returned the car. Making too many mistakes recently.

Checked with MassMOCA, which owns the parking lot on Marshall Street, to see if they have a video camera that might have recorded the fender-bender, but no luck. Everyone I called to track down the responsible party was extremely nice, which is a consolation: the funeral home, the Social Security office and finally, museum security.

We missed outdoor frolicking this week, either because events were canceled due to weather or even if they were “on”, we didn’t want to get drenched.

Painters have pretty much finished the first coat on the third bedroom and started on the hallway. They are good guys, easy to have around. Carpet installer has been MIA.

I started moving living room furniture around last evening, did a little more this morning. It’s better, less disheveled, but would go too far to say it looks good.

Ron drove us to Bennington for errands at Walmart and Home Depot. Got covers for the new outlets, a couple of on-sale camp chairs, mulch, DEET spray, sandpaper and 75 tulip bulbs.

We trekked to Bennington yesterday to return the rental and pick up the Corolla, a misadventure that cost me over $500.

I floundered a bit but after stopping for ice cream (me) and mozzarella sticks (Ron), finally figured out the “pretty” way home.

Ron bought donuts and tonic at Big Moose.

The painters told us about Winchester’s, so we stopped on the way back and picked up sliced cheddar (very good) and beer for Ron.

Watched the last Downton Abbey film, a nice change from politics and mayhem.

Earlier this week, children and grandchildren served tea, and we got to sit with our friend Linnea who didn’t want us to be by ourselves!

On Tuesday, Ron did the lawn, stout heart. It was a very pleasant day to be outdoors.

I’ve been working on code for Jim.

Ron started cleaning the garage gutter yesterday afternoon.

We enjoyed a concert by the Eagles Community Stage Band last night at Windsor Lake. I fell trying to get into my chair on a slope; two people helped me up.

Painters started bright and early this morning!