TheCapeBlog

Ron worked on restoring the extension cord that I cut. I unclogged the shop vac, cleaned the sunroom floor and unpacked the raised bed. Back was killing me.

Fierce storm came through early evening. We lost power around 6:30.

The house was uncomfortably warm for me and having enough of “sticking it out”, I finally left around 9.

It was extremely fortunate that the tech from Madsen Door had repaired our garage doors the day before. I was able to get the right side door open and manually locked. Dragged Ron out around 9 so we could at least enjoy air conditioning in the Corolla.

There were lights at the College and on Cole and Main Streets but hardly any open businesses. Our neighbor’s restaurant was one of the few and she invited us in for pizza and wine. We kept them, delayed their closing by an hour.

We drove around for a bit after that and took the back road home. There was a crew working on a downed tree on Mass Ave; incredibly, it had happened where the road splits so we were able to go up and around to get past it.

The bedroom still had a bit of residual coolness. The sound of the mini split kicking in woke me a little after midnight.

Ron did the lawn yesterday, but the lawn mower barely made it. He tangled it in some fence wire and had trouble restarting it. Luckily, no human was hurt.

I took on trimming the front shrubs this morning and once again, cut the extension cord. Can’t believe it.

Madsen Doors sent a great repair person who fixed both doors. They now open when we don’t have power.

The right door was missing three giant screws. One of the wheels had gone off the track, which was out of place.

He adjusted the motor track for the left door and increased the “pull” of the motor. In typical screwed up DIY fashion, the former owner had cut a chunk out of the door rather than adjust the track.

We went to Walmart for vitamins and supplements. On the way, up we gave a ride back and forth to a woman staying at a hotel who picked up supplies at Stewarts.

We stopped for ice cream at the Apple Barn and had a delightful conversation with another Williamstown resident and his friend.

We had a rousing game of tossing balls back and forth with the little boys. Vegged afterwards in front of the TV with guac, hummus and chips.

Ron has been working all day on his bike tires. Something about replacing the tubes.

He road to Spokes and back but had a spill on Main Street. Thinks it was because he wasn’t wearing his glasses and/or because the derailleurs need to be adjusted.

The other day, he was putting a big piece of wood on the truck and fell. His glasses frame cut him behind his ears.

I did some garden cleanup and sowed Bellflower seeds. I ordered Campanula rapunculoides, hoping they were the same as my Dixon flowers. The seeds do not look familiar, so I have doubts. In any event, it’s considered an invasive, so maybe just as well if they fail.

I did more scraping and sanding. The deck railing was/is a mess. I dread to consider how bad the deck must be.

I shopped at Tractor Supply yesterday for mousetraps and picked up a “100-water balloons in 60 seconds” kit for the boys. Their Mom is clever, she awards a prize to whoever gathers the most spent balloons.

Picked up meds at Walmart, too.

Had an 8:30 appointment today with the dermatologist, who said “no cancer” after a lightning-quick total body exam. Beautiful ride up, no traffic and no rain.

Stopped at Price Chopper. The Meat Department manager brought me to the service desk for a loyalty card and pointed out the coupon kiosk. Great prices on wine. 6% liquor tax.

Ron started cleaning out the outer shed for his lumber find from yesterday. I continued work on scraping the deck railings.

After we had our teeth cleaned, we stopped in New Ashford to meet with our paving contractor for his signature and estimated start and end dates.

We dropped off the application at the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission in Pittsfield. Nice people!

Ron treated us to a good pizza lunch but forgot his phone, so had to go back.

On the way home, he ran into a traffic jam and ended up driving over Mt. Greylock. He was delighted with the views!

In the evening, we took ourselves to Windsor Lake for a blues band concert. Met a cool couple who’d performed at Williamstown Commons earlier in the day.

One Drive has been showing pictures from my Mashpee gardens, and I’m pretty depressed.

I have to remember that it took 20 years to build up those gardens, and many plants and shrubs were from end of season sales.

Also, I did a better job of decorating the deck here last season. This year I opted for tomatoes instead of flowers, an experiment, particularly with the giveaways.

We’ve spent so much money and effort on upgrading the house that we haven’t been investing so much in flowers and plants.

We economize on food and entertainment, opting to stay home and cutting back on paid subscriptions to cable stations, newspapers and magazines. One could easily be depressed if it weren’t for the fact that we live in a strikingly beautiful town and don’t need a lot of external activities or objets d’art to satisfy our aesthetic cravings.

Today I washed the sunroom/solarium glass walls, inside and out. They may not be 100% but they are a lot better and anyway if they need a touch up, tomorrow is another day.

I also cleaned up my yard debris mess next to the side shed. Ready for the transfer station tomorrow. Meanwhile Ron did a small transfer station run and brought home a pile of lumber that had been discarded.

Had a great conversation with people at UCOP, the University of California Retirement Office. They squared me away on monthly survivor benefits, which equal a base benefit plus cumulative cost of living adjustments. There is also a modest lump sum death benefit which should take care of processing Ron’s remains.

I’m still hoping that one or both of the driveway companies will give me an original signed contract.

Yesterday the locksmith installed two new deadbolts and a cylinder lock, all keyed the same.

National Grid swapped out the meter. We are waiting for Insight to turn on our solar panels.

Ron got a nice haircut at SuperCuts in Bennington. He picked up a fence at the motel giveaway.

We gifted our old portable a/c to a woman with a young family from North Adams. I hope it works well for them.

Gave the center garden a good soak. Ordered an on-sale raised bed.

I’m worried about the rash on Ron’s right leg. It seems to be getting larger and I think he needs a second opinion.

It was 90 degrees in the shade yesterday.

92% humidity this morning.

I fell asleep around 6:30, woke up 11 hours later.

Ron did more gutter work, I think. My only accomplishment was to weed the deck garden, dig out a heavy rock and transplant the cuke seedlings.

Ron treated us to pastry at the A Frame. In spite of the sign requesting one party at a time, a skinny faculty wife-type pried herself in and asserted social superiority by knowingly informing us that the wares are “fresh and delicious” and cash is the only thing they accept for payment (wrong, in fact, they do take checks). I told her “We’re aware. You must be from South Williamstown.”

Ron laughed.

We picked up freebies from the motel next to Town Hall: a piece of lattice, a folding twin bed frame that fits in the garage for storage and a suitcase holder. Unfortunately, we’d missed a gorgeous wardrobe earlier in the week: too heavy for us to move.

This morning, Nick the mason and his friend motorcycled here to prettify the top step of the new concrete stairs. Good to see them.

I overcame inertia long enough to go to the bank, fold laundry, make a rhubarb/apple pie and a summer squash/tomato/cheese casserole and turn the water on for the corner garden.

I did a last look at the HMLP application, need one more piece of documentation before dropping it off tomorrow in Pittsfield.

Started with the parade at 11, free pizza and donuts, great brass band concert at 11:45, free veg hotdogs and cookies after noon.

Fireworks were out of this world. We did pretty well as first-timers with parking and finding a place to watch, will know the ropes next year. Easy out.

Quite impressive for our tiny town.

Ron did some fussing with hoses or something. I planted the two free daylilies that turn out to be red in the spot where I dug up the ugly rose bush. Did laundry. Watered, must do more tomorrow.

The new mini split is fantastic.

Spent part of the day cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing the mini frig with a vinegar solution and the greater part of the rest of the day culling logins for the NOK box.

Ron vacuumed the back of the frig which was full of seeds and Lord knows what else.

He also ironed a bunch of summer shirts that were in one of the trunks.

Right now he’s doing something with gutters. Busy person.

I did some investigating of Ron’s credit card accounts. One has a zero balance and the combined monthly minimum payments for the others are substantial but less than he thought. At least the accounts are current.

I found much to my surprise that we have a substantial balance in his Cal FSA account. So I can be fully reimbursed for my endoscopy copay and a couple of office visits.

Ron’s computer is still at the shop.

I’m thinking about planting vegetables in the deck garden. We may have enough chicken wire to cover them. Worth considering.