Flowers and Screens

It has been another busy week at 702 Main. Here are the highlights of last week’s activities.

The installation of the central air unit was completed. This next week’s forecast indicate temperatures will be in the low 80 degree range so we may want to give the central air a try.

Jake the Electrician put in another day’s work. He is making headway in removing old circuits, tracking un-named wiring to find where it goes, and cleaning up the (several) previous “upgrades” to the electrical systems that had been haphazardly done over the years. Below is a shot of the work in progress:

With the warm weather approaching I decided to locate, repair, and install screens for our three doors and a couple windows. Two of the door screens had to have the mesh fabric replaced but the third was in OK shape. Window screens were installed, but the window frames themselves are not in great shape. The result is better than having a closed house but far from perfect. Still, it was pleasant to have the doors open (temps in the 70s) and fresh air coming in.

Saturday we decided to get some flowers that would end up in Pam’s various hanging and in-ground pots. The list included three more arborvitae, enough to finish the “windbreak corner” where Pam wanted them.

These decorated pots, which Pam completed over the last few weeks, look great. Pam will be working on hanging baskets next.

I did get the three new arborvitae planted on Saturday, knowing rain for the night and Sunday morning was in the forecast. The three plants to the right are the new ones (and join the others I had planted during the week leading up to Mother’s Day).

Another project, this one indoors, was completed on Sunday. The hardware had arrived for the two “antique re-creation” doors I mentioned in my last post. Here are a few photos:

Pam was glad to get these doors installed, one more step in the parlor bedroom re-do.

And there were other small projects done: The humming bird feeder was located, unpacked, and set up. I found my welding helmet and wire-fed welder and did minor repairs on a floor lamp and a shepherd’s hook. More Scott’s Weed and Feed was spread on previously untreated areas of the lawn. We ordered the components for the privacy fence and are waiting for them to arrive. Up in the Media Room, I finished modifying the LP record rack, adding end supports so the records don’t fall out as you flip through them. A trip to the dump disposed of the grass clippings and other yard waste that had been accumulating for the past few weeks. Pam, in addition to working on the flower pots, continues to put up decorations in the parlor bedroom. There is no shortage of projects to keep us busy!

Photo Archive

Pam (left) with friends Kathy (center) and Patti (right) as we were cleaning up a fallen tree in Patti’s yard. August of 2009.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Somehow, over the years, I have become the conservator of a dozen unboxed Barbie/Ken/Midge dolls. (Several more collector editions remain in boxes.) My three dolls date back to the 1960s. Felicity’s dolls (plus French poodle) are from the 1980s. My goal, as previously stated, is to get “stuff” out of boxes and enjoy what’s been collected. (Another couple of boxes emptied from the storage room is an added bonus.)

A lesson from this week: Visiting Mennonite greenhouses (four in two days) can be addictive.

Happy Trails.