Weekend Work

We were busy little bees this weekend and got a lot done on various projects. First we finished the sheetrocking on 3 walls and moved on to the closet-to-be wall.

That little alcove was walled off  and not part of the bedroom  but does have a  plastered wall and ceiling and the same (but unfinished) baseboard as the rest of the bedroom. We still can't figure out why it was built like that originally, but we took down the bedroom wall and will add that to our new closet area, so we had to close the opening into our attic.

 That picture was taken from the attic side and you can see the bark still on that old post. We had just enough scrap pieces of drywall left to close this in. Some of the pieces had been saved from the kitchen work from, oh, about 4 years ago. And that is why we save stuff.

Now, J has lots of taping and mudding ahead of him, plus we have to figure out how we are building the drawer and closet wall.

That yellow paper we could see between that wall as we tore it down? Not so exciting- a video store receipt from 1990. But after Ameranth told us that her brothers used to squeeze in that 10 inch space to thump on her walls and scare her, we hadn't expected anything too wonderful.

We moved our cat and her kitten out of our front hall, which is wonderful! We had installed a sliding door to keep the puppies away from the cat food, shortly after we got Anna and Rosie.  It has a little cat door on the bottom and worked great until we had kittens. Kittens climb.

Those kittens are long gone, but our dogs soon learned to slide the door open, so we used an old flatiron to wedge it closed. I think I've mentioned Anna's fixation with small prey- she has been living on the rug in front of the door, waiting for a chance to slip in for some take-out. She learned how to tip the iron out of the crack, so we added a footstool to block the iron. (And for those of you who ask "why not just put a handle on the door?" I ask "Have you been talking to J?" We haven't put up the ceiling trim or replaced the floor on the outer side of the door yet, so we are waiting for the permanent solution).

Anyhoo, when the kitten started walking around, we had to block the cat door, or Anna would have gotten her head in there and snapped her up. It got so it was like getting through a prison lockdown to get in or out of the house. The cats were moved outside to the attached shed, which meant we had to move a wooden box we keep returnable bottles in, close off an opening to the upstairs storage and clear out a space under the staircase. Now they have a cosy space with a window egress and I have no litter box indoors! Hurray!

As well as moving the litter box, we moved our string and liquor cabinet. Yes, that's right. Years ago we bought a shelving unit for storage, before our pantry was complete. J stashed a ball of twine and a bottle of rum there, and when Ms.M saw it, she asked sarcastically if that was our string and liquor cabinet. We've called it that ever since, although our liquor stash consists, ironically enough, of  a couple of bottles of brandy and wine that Ms. M brought home from her Peace Corps service in Moldova. That's gone and we can reinstall the coat hooks which will  be used much more than the liquor was.

Now we can get to replacing that front hall floor. Sometime soon, I am sure. 

And the beat goes on...

I posted yesterday about a family quirk  and of course, have more today. As Captain Dumbass commented- we're like the Suess family. Which is nice but I have a secret dream that we are the Van Trapps and can all sing in tune.

 
Dream on.

I promise, no matter what I get in my email tomorrow, I won't put it here.

    From Torsey Bob:

    Ho Ho Ho - a morning of no work;  we looked and looked, it was no quirk!
   
    We did our bit on yesterday, today we'll just play!
   
    The garden has been watered,  both the veggies and the flowers.
   
    Damn, it would be awful nice, just to get some little showers!
   
    Ya know; this rhyming thing has caught me in it's grip
   
    Like mad dogs and Englishmen, I give a great HIP HIP!
   
    Now, my joy must be shelved for the day;
   
    Or else, the taskmaster, I'll have to pay!
   
    So now, I'll just go out; I'll sit on the porch
   
    But for all of the family, I'll still carry the torch!

And from #5:

I also worked quite hard yesterday,
So I think I'll take my break today.
I did have to take a trip to the stores,
and I do still have a couple more chores,
some ginger cookies I will bake
along with the muffins I must make.

Then my car must go
off to see the Tire Pro.
Two valve stem caps are cross threaded,
broken valve stems are very much dreaded.
I will have the "Pros" check the air,
and then make any needed repairs.

But then I will take my leisure
and play the games that I treasure.
For now, Good bye I will say
and I hope you all have a nice day!

What's worse, song or verse?

Ameranth told me this morning that she thinks she may have a musical form of Tourette's. All day yesterday, when her coworker said something to her, she sang one word of it back to her. She later apologized, but her coworker had been amused, not annoyed.

I reminded her of a recent comment from her grandfather about some days being those that make you come up with a song as a response to any conversation. Totally normal. For our family anyway.

Then I get the daily email from my father- in verse, which happens from time to time, and usually provokes a similar response from at least one of his children.

Here's his original message:

Bob and Fran went out to work.....

Boy they both must be a jerk!

Ten minutes struggle, and they were done

And they weren't even in the sun!

Went inside, got water in their glass

Went onto the porch, and sat on their ass.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, maybe tomorrow

Just you wait and see!

So I sent this reply:

Your struggles sound so familiar
You think a little work will kill ya,
Even though a few years ago
Through it all you'd easily mow!

I think twice and then again,
Before I halve my original plan.
I start off great and slowly fold
Boy, it sucks to get old!

But, what difference does it make
Just how long it may take?
You've got the time, and the will,
And many years left to you still.

I just got another email from him:

Listen our children, and you shall hear

Of the exploits of your folks, so dear.

We went out again; 'twas just after noon;

With a shovel, no less, but we didn't swoon.

We huffed and we puffed, and we finally did do it

Just like we knew we could; we just kept tuit.

That post is now out, laying on the ground.

'Twasn't too rotten, in fact was still sound.

But- now there's an iron post; a former supporter

Which won't move an inch - not even a quarter.

But, today's chore is done; there's always tomorrow

So don't feel for the old folks; we don't need your sorrow!

And on Friday, we'll probably be out there again - on the 'morrow.

Now we are resting - the AC is going,

All is well in our world; we are still growing!

I sent this back:

Okay, I am very impressed

That you finished your quest.

Leave the post that can't be stirred,

And add a house for a bird.

His emails are much more entertaining than mine, but I know he likes a response. Plus it amuses me and that's why I write this blog too- to amuse myself- that, and to share my funny, funny family.

Another way-back trip

While looking for a picture of Shoeshine yesterday I came across these photos which made me smile. They were taken in our RI house, so are from either 1986 or '87. Shoeshine probably came up with the idea, since he seems to be in charge.

Here's my rogue's gallery, starting with Ms. M.

Shoeshine

Ameranth

and Sectaurs

For the most part, they played well together. At least at this age. At least that's how I want to remember it. :)

It helps that I apparently had no desire to photograph tantrums or arguments,

(go figure) so our pictures are happy memories.