TheCapeBlog

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.

Yes, actual yard work yesterday. Ron and I raked and bagged leaves. I took on the ugly pile of partially burned wood.

We were astonished at the richness of the soil. Haven’t seen anything like it for decades.

The electrician and roofers were here.

I gave GEICO wrong information on Ron’s Corolla. It was not financed through Toyota but through Bank of America. I thought BofA was an agent for Toyota Financial. GEICO Claims is sorting it for us, and we hope to have the payoff soon.

I was too late for a guided walk at Field Farm, but enjoyed the grounds on my own.

Later, Ron and I tried out the bike path and found it a fine place to get a happy dog “fix”.

I took out a subscription to YouTube TV so we could watch the Super Bowl.

Did a shop at Stop & Shop.

The Corolla is in the driveway. It’s a good car with lots of features.

The salesman set up the Toyota application that connects my phone to the car. It has, among other things, remote starting.

Yesterday, Ryan and Erin installed new windows in the second floor. What a difference!

I was late getting back from Bennington, so we missed the pizza lunch at the Williams College theater. I picked up mac and cheese at the senior center but that was a mistake, hadn’t signed up. Hope no one else was looking for it.

Got a pizza at Cozy Corner. Crazy, busy place, hardly room to park.

Struggling with decisions about the guest bedroom. I think we need it, but getting rid of it would make it possible to improve the hallway and stairway. Emailed the brain trust this morning asking if making it shorter would accomplish the same thing.