Destruction and Water

Last night, for the third night in a row, we attached the TV Room walls. Susan has pretty much completed the north wall and I'm very close to finishing the west wall.

We came across a little emergency this morning. It appears that I have not completely closed off the water supply to the Radiator system.

Susan called me this morning saying that water was leaking out of the open pipes in the TV Room. Last night, I closed off the drain valve on the boiler and put the drain hose away.

Over the night, it continued to fill from whatever little trickle of water is still entering the radiator system.

I tried to tell her how to turn off the main water but she couldn't do it. There will be some training on that tonight. In the end, I had her reattach the drain hose and open the valve to let it continue to drain.

Memorial Day

We have made it to day three of the holiday weekend and I feel a bit incomplete. I really wanted to go out and visit my Uncle Jack's grave at Fairmont Memorial. He's the only member of the family that is buried here and was a veteran. He flew those big amphibious airplanes during WWII. I haven't been to his grave since he died back in the 80's. Anyway, it seemed like an appropriate day to go say hi and remember him. But I didn't!

We did however make great progress on the front garden.

Check out these stepping stones for stone stepping on. Susan got a bunch of plants into the ground and we have the front of the house looking like we belong in the neighborhood. Or at least, like the neighborhood will tolerate us.

Memorial Day Weekend - Day 1

It is the Memorial Day weekend and we are hanging around the house and doing a variety of chores. Susan is intent on getting the railing on the deck painted. While she is prepping for that I'm going to go out and do some lawn care in the form of mowering.

There will also be some beer drinking and remembering of those who served and sacrificed so I can spend a weekend mowering and beer drinking.

2:48PM: Whilst out mowering, I think I collect as much dirt in my grass catcher as grass. Therefore, I'm quite unkempt and more than a little dusty. My lawn is a disaster. I'm glad nobody looks to closely. So many bare dirt patches. 

But I've done what I can do with what I have to work with.

I have completed a bunch of little projects. I got the pond cleaned out, filled with water and the regurgitating turtle in place and operating at optimum efficiency. 

I also got the air conditioners installed. All three. Yes, box air conditioners are classic white trash but I have hidden them from the front view of the house so I believe I'm covered.

I'm going to start prepping the deck.

I got everything taped up and Susan arrived home just in time to begin the painting.

By now, you must be aware that I'm a big fan of before and after pictures.

Here's before.

And here's after.

We got through it in about two hours. We feel like we really accomplished something. We were so pleased, we went to the Hub for a celebratory beer.

Then we returned home and barbecued pork chops and asparagus and watched "Singin' in the Rain" on PBS.

Day One of the Holiday Weekend is a success!

Boiler Game and Injury

I have set the Boiler Game in motion by turning down the heat. I set the thermostat to 60 degrees. That should prevent the furnace from coming on unless it gets way cold, which is possible here in early May, but not likely.

We actually had to turn on the A.C. last night. It was on low and not terribly cool but enough to recognize having to power it up.

I also need to report a post Bloomsday injury. As I stated on Sundays post, Susan ran Bloomsday. You can check out that post for all the details.

She is currently suffering from a bruised tendon in her foot. She has a significant limp. She thinks she injured it on her foot massager on Sunday night. She went to the Doctor and he confirmed it's just a bruise, or strain, or stretch...whatever. It hurts!

Stray Cat

There is this really large cat that has been coming up on the deck in the mornings and eating the peanuts we put out for the squirrels.

I'm trying to figure out which of the neighbors this cat belongs to. As she was snarfing up peanuts this morning, I knocked on the window and startled her. She then lumbered off the deck and I went out to see where she goes. 

To my great surprise (not really) she went over to the garage and crawled into the hole she has dug under the garage. Oh great! It's not our neighbors cat, it's OURS!

By the way, I'm calling her "she" based on past behavior. It is the females who dig under the Carriage House to have a nice den to have babies.

Bloomsday 2018

Susan ran Bloomsday today. I think it was her 29th consecutive year of participation. According to the website, Susan Burke, Bib Number 13332, finished in 1:36:13. She was the 12,096th finisher. Her pace averaged 12:53 per mile and she was 16th among women in her age group.

Pretty good!

Of course, I did not run. I drove her, along with Mark down to the race and then returned home for a big fatty breakfast and to watch the start of the race on TV. Then I meandered back downtown, rode my bike around the blocked off streets and then saved the table at the Onion.

We are now safe at home and after a nice hot tub and a nap, Susan is enjoying her Foot Massager.

Sorry! No pictures.