TheCapeBlog

I could easily have clobbered Ron yesterday. He redeemed himself somewhat by treating us to an “uptown” evening at Bad Martha’s.

We’d been fighting all day about getting the second bedroom in shape for a showing scheduled for 6 pm. We argued about boxing the clothes and detritus on the floor, about his idiotic attachment to a slew of empty Grateful Dead beer bottles and his general unhelpfulness while I’ve been getting the house in shape.

Worse, after promising to give it up yesterday, he insisted on trying to install the folding closet doors.

The handyperson I’d hired was nowhere to be found. I posted on Facebook and got a couple of responses. One, from a property management company, was golden: they sent a carpenter in an hour’s time, pulling him off another project.

He was friendly, professional and did a beautiful job.

That done, we had to find a place for us to hide for about an hour and half. With poor Lizzie crammed on my lap in the truck. It was raining to boot.

Fortunately, Bad Martha’s allows dogs in their outdoor seating area. It was covered, dry and very comfortable.

Parties with two other dogs showed up. The waitress brought water and biscuits for Lizzie, who was a bit unsettled but maintained her usual composure and dignity.

At home, I fed her the chicken and rice cooked that morning, and she wolfed down about a pound of meat.

The sign is up and we are listed. Showing tonight.

Ron finally gave up on the folding doors.

I finished painting the deck railings and mowed the “lawn”. Steve never showed up, either virtually or in person, thus saving Ron the $100 tip he was planning to give him.

We were able to attend the service for David Weeden’s mother yesterday at the Meeting House. It was almost two hours long. Luckily, we had a place to sit, and the old church was a comfortable temperature.

It was quite a memorial to her place as the “heart of the family”. She was greatly respected and loved by many friends and relatives.

Select Board members, the Town Manager and Assistant Manager had attended the wake. We saw the Faulkners, the DeSorghers and Arden. Everyone else seemed to be a member of the Tribe.

Steve worked on the deck railings all day. He’s making it all look brand new.

Went to Home Depot for more stain and to BJ’s for groceries.

Woke up around 11:30, couldn’t get back to sleep until after 1:30.

Barbara called today to coordinate details for this week. I asked for the listing to go in to MLS on Tuesday or Wednesday. They’ll post a sign 24 hours beforehand.

I promised we’d be ready for showings on Friday and a two-hour open house on Saturday.

Meanwhile, I drove to Falmouth Center to pick up breakfast pastries from Maison Villatte, only to find a line that circled one and a half times around their sales floor.

I remembered that West Falmouth Market has a limited supply from the patisserie, so I bailed on Maison Villatte and picked up two almond croissants at the Market – no line, no waiting.

I puttered a little in the yard, tied up one of the Montauks and did a little digging to better orient the Bridal Veil.

Drove Tony to the transfer station to dispose of a mattress set. He’s been so good to us, nice to have the opportunity to return his kindness.

Conundrum: Ron decided to take both folding doors off his closet.

It occurred to me that being unwelcome by the Town leadership has nothing to do with my worth and everything to do with their values.

Lizzie barked repeatedly last night. Both of us got up at different times.

Steve was by around 8 to install the folding door.

I made rice and stir fried vegetables but mixed up mirin with soy sauce so it’s too sweet.

Select Board member’s mother passed away this week.

Managed to put back everything I hid yesterday.

I caught about 20 minutes of a jazz concert by a group I’ve been wanting to hear, the Osterville Library Jazz Band. Dropped off the toaster oven at the transfer station (no charge) on the way back.

Michaela and Paul hosted a nice get-together at Dino’s which both of us enjoyed. Ron was glad I ignored his pleas to stay home.

The photos of the house are done. Very pretty morning.

Steve was here yesterday to put up the folding doors in the bedroom; thank goodness! He’d arrived to work on the deck railings but since Don punked out, Steve was nice enough to fill in.

He took one of the doors home to fix it. Turns out we didn’t need it today, we used the second bedroom as a repository for Lizzie’s bed, big kitchen appliances and “stuff” from the bathroom.

I’ve been working for days to get the house ready. Started around 4 or so this morning. The realtor was very complimentary. Looking forward to seeing the photos.

We managed to cram the three of us into the truck for Lizzie’s grooming appointment last Wednesday. She was frightened but calmed down when Ron held her on the table. Groomer did a good job, but Ron doesn’t want to go back: “too noisy”.

I took time off to attend a commission meeting last night and was the only citizen there who doesn’t work for the Town or serve as an elected or appointed official.

We are now working with a dear family friend on the sale, and I am so relieved.

Ron hung the big Cape Cod geologic map on the far bedroom wall.

I did a transcript for our Conservation Commission of the talk on coastal waters from this past Monday.

The knives were out this morning at the polls. Been a clean election so far, let’s hope it continues.

Did have a nice conversation with one of the Select Board members, though. The “opposition” was looking pretty good, thumbs up from voters and cheerful demeanors.

Now that the yard is in reasonable shape, I’m working on indoor “straightening out”.

Made a grooming appointment for Lizzie.

Ron slept in.

It sprinkled a bit, good for the grass seed.

Two workers from Bee Green got here around 8:30. They raked, leveled, loamed and seeded. Fantastic.

Am I ever glad I didn’t water today, or buy seed yesterday.

Took time off to watch “The Phantom of the Open” on the basement DVD (didn’t work upstairs) and the part of “Bull” that I missed last night.

Finished tying and anchoring the plants.

Ron finished his 18-day (September 14 to October 2) closet project yesterday, nailing the two brackets that we already had to studs after I painted everything. It was not necessary to take down and replace the shelf and pole a second (or would it have been the third) time.

Lizzie was restless last night and this morning, poor doggo.

I painted the last of the folding doors and staked some plants. Cleaned up a bit as well; Lizzie kept me company for a while. Back yard is starting to look better.

Did an hour standout for Michaela. Cool and a tad windy. Had a brief chat with a former special ed executive about adoption and foster care. She’s typical, blames the child’s genetics or prior experience when failure to engage happens, not of course the sainted adopto-raptors. She also has never observed narcissism in adopto-“mom”s.

Sigh.

Ron did a load of laundry, including one of Lizzie’s blankets.

Since I was already out, made the bagel run to Shaw’s and got some nice two-fers, including soup, ice cream and peanuts.

Did a bunch of work afterwards including tying up bushes and replanting the poor Roses of Sharon. Ron did help by digging/pulling out a rebar that was bent in not one but two places.

Ron trekked to Home Depot yesterday for wood stain. We didn’t see the painter, but we can always do this ourselves if necessary.

I enjoyed the Orange Day standout at the rotary last evening. The gang was there.

It was beautifully organized, a sea of orange shirts and flags. The Tribe held a dinner afterwards, but I went home.

Did some cleanup of the “oval” and “U” areas yesterday. If we were staying put, I might even have put a small patio with firepit and chairs in the cleared area.

Michaela cancelled this morning’s standout, so I get to work some more in the yard.