Minimal

I used to have corn stalks and pumpkins and gourds and mums and Indian corn.  Used to.  There is a fine line between having just enough, and looking like you started something and didn't finish.  It's not easy!  Too little is sometimes as bad as too much.  The white mum is loaded with buds and should be really nice when it fully opens.  I love the yellow, but couldn't pass these by for $4.

 

I do think corn stalks would be a nice addition in the corners.  Always afraid they are hiding a monster spider, waiting to get loose in my car.  I have huge bags so maybe I'll stick a few stalks in them tomorrow.  May take a ride to Amish country and see if I find any white pumpkins there.  The local farmers' market had none.

 

Jason is coming in a few weeks to work on the landscaping and we still have not found a concrete company willing to do a small job.  Sure, we could get an individual to lay some down but without proper foundation it is a waste of money.  We've had more than our share of shoddy work. 

 

Mark installed the strongbacks in the attic and when we removed the jacks, all held.  Not perfectly level but the beams will be able to meet the ceiling across the span now.  Mike decided to go on disability for his PTSD so he won't be doing the rest of the work.  I didn't know you could go on it at 72 after being on social security.  Regardless, we need to find someone else.  Again.
EDIT - has nothing to do with SS.  He will be getting a large check monthly from the VA and income or SS or age has nothing to do with it.  Did not know that.

 

I hope your weekend is going pretty damn good.

 

Thanks for visiting this boring site.

 

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If something can go wrong,

it will.  Our ceiling is so uneven, that after two beams, the others had a 1 1/2" gap where they met the walls.  The outside edges of the ceiling were much higher than the rest and that gap is huge.  Mike was not able to handle this and became very flustered so we told him we will decide on a solution and he can come back Monday.  So what can you do with such a space?  Too large for caulking (which I hate), way too large for joint compound, perfectly cut wedges to insert in the space?  We did, but it was so obvious that the beam was much lower and bigger on the ends.  What's a girl to do? 

Jack it baby. Bottle jacks to the rescue.  The 4x4 at the top easily corrected and leveled the defects and the gap closed to 1/8".  YAY!!!  We even took out the wedges and now the wonky one is good.  Whew.  Mike is relieved and should not have any difficulty finishing this job.  Let's just hope that the supports Mark will make Saturday to hold this correction, stay!  Surprisingly, there are no cracks in the drywall other than the ones that showed up right after the drywall installer left years ago.  I hate drywall. 

 

With only half the room installed, I am surprised at the difference.  We had cedar beams years ago but these are running across instead of lengthwise.  Huge difference in the feel of the room.

 

Thank you for the prayers, Sandy passed away Monday afternoon, years after being diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia.  Until then, we never heard of the condition.  She taught in New Prague MN and traveled throughout the world every summer.

 

I'm not sure what I did but currently have either a broken rib, torn cartilage, or a cross over.  Started with soreness but now it is very painful.  I know the doctors do not recommend wearing compression or support, but it makes such a difference.  I bought the Mueller low back support neoprene band.  Had broken ribs before and lying down is misery because my body seems to spread out (it expands monthly) and that causes my ribs to feel ....  pressure or something.  Without the support band to hold them from moving, I could not sleep.  There's swelling down from it (unless it's a new fat roll) and I may go to the doc next week if there is no improvement. 

 

First weekend in October!  I bought white mums for the front and looked for white pumpkins.  Must have been a bad year for them because there are very few and most already sold.  No big deal.  I won't get to selling anything else until Mike is done, then we can paint that room and Dominic should have the cupboards in two weeks.  Still not sure about the dining room.

 

Hope your weekend starts swell.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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And so it begins

I compromised on the beam construction, not that important.  So he came back, we ordered new wood, he started over.  We banged and cut and slit and sanded and stained after he left.  The first two beams have nice markings, the subsequent had fewer and more shallow distressing.  Didn't take long to wear us out. 

 

 

The walls and ceilings are so off kilter that it is a real puzzle to fit them.  Mark is helping him and the first one hits at the corners and the center ceiling is much higher so the supports are showing.  Here we go!

 

This is the cabinet that holds the peanut butter and peanut M&Ms and I can't keep dodging the tools and ladders to get to them.  As a result, I must make my way down to the cellar and open the microwave door in order to gain access to the Dove dark bags.  Construction can be so disruptive. 

 

At this point, after several years of waiting, I'm just glad for progress.  Any kind.  They did such a poor job on these rooms for Mom initially, it's impossible to expect any more than we will get now without tearing it down and starting from scratch.

 

Nit was not happy with the beams taking floor space in his pad where he crashes at night.

 

Have a good one!

 

If you are so inclined, I would appreciate a prayer for my cousin in MN with FTD who has started her passage to the every after.

 

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Rethinking

The bottom drawer holds linens I doubt I will use and it's been thinned.  But the others really need to be sorted.  I think the 25 count unbleached will go for sure, but I still have reservations about the 28 count.  Planning to keep some of course.  But glad I didn't go ahead with the big sale as I planned.

 

 

 

My favorites that I stitched long ago were all done on SL 25 count or 28 count.  Why don't they look like large stitches to me?  Maybe the 25 count will be the only to leave.  I am leaning toward the lighter backgrounds now and got rid of those a while ago, never expected to use them.  I should learn from that!!

 

Lydia Bond and Safrona Ager, why am I so drawn to them?  Hannah Breed is another oldie favorite, still available from SL.  She was purchased as a kit and done on 25 count and I love it.

The 25 count is unbleached but not as dark as what I have now.  Is it because the white mounting board shows through the more open weave of 25?  Probably.  But she also does not look like a large stitch to me unless a 35 count is right next to her.  And look at that over one section.  I did it decades ago but avoid it completely now.  Some times looking back and examining favorites reminds me why I started stitching and may give me the boost I need.  The pages of Sampler Farmer's samplers on the now defunct photo website was the impetus after my first long break.  Her work really inspired me to start stitching again.  Can Lydia and Safrona do it again?  I think so!!

 

Last days of September.  Damn.  Seems like just yesterday I was bitching about losing August.

 

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Another casualty

He left early, changed his mind about coming tomorrow, left all the mess for me to clean up, moved his big saws into our garage so we can't pull in either car, and then I see this.

 

He claimed that mitering the corners would not work out with these board lengths (he knew the length from the beginning), and asked if he could butt the joints after running the edge on the saw for a tight fit.  He did not.  He used the mill edge which is damaged, does not fit tight at all, is loaded with glue, and not the type of beam I was expecting.  So now what?  Do I tell him to come and get his equipment?  I walked on eggshells because he gets angry easily, and do not want to cause him any more anxiety.  But I do not want this.  Mark knows him and he is a hard worker, does all the finish carpentry for these massive homes with an excellent reputation!  He did the other trim perfectly and I don't know what to make of this, or what to do. 

 So I baked Death by Chocolate zucchini breads.  The large one will go the Postmaster that is a riot and a great guy, the small ones in the freezer.  I finally wised up so I don't have to devour an entire bread and these smalls will be perfect for a decadent treat in moderation.  Unless I eat more than one.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

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Casualties

A little too much pounding can knock two stacks of heavy wooden bowls off the top of a cabinet.  Who knew old brittle wood can break?  Who knew that it would happen to two of them?  One can be glued, one has several very small edge pieces that are shattered.  I know many old bowls are held together with metal strips and wire.  Not sure I will bother with the shattered one.

 

And who knew that wooden bowls can actually gouge your hardwood floors?

No big deal.  This is why I don't care for refined or classic decorating for my home.   The lived in beat up look is easier to maintain.  When you have primitives, guests do not know if that is the look of the piece or it's in need of a good cleaning. 

 

I just hope he continues with the rest of the jobs.  His PTSD is pretty severe and this really upset him.  I told him it's no big deal and continued making the zucchini breads.  But I'm concerned.  I can hear him taking deep breaths and he has gone outside to walk around several times. 

 

Sun is out today.  But that doesn't make Fall any easier to accept.  And I know that the seasons and the redecorating and the wood knots and the heavy zucchini breads and the sagging jowls and the large derriere don't mean a damn thing in the big picture.  Just nuisances along a path that will end soon enough, so enjoy all the scenery along with the rocks.  No path is without them.

 

Have good one!

 

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