It has been a quiet interval since my last post. I have a newer iPhone, Felicity and Peter continue with the New York home reno, and it is now late fall. Snowflakes, possibly accumulating, are in the extended forecast. Here is my latest update.
My old phone was an iPhone 6s, purchased in early 2016. A few years ago it received a new battery and had been trucking on pretty well. However, it began showing it’s age, with the battery needing a recharge more and more frequently. Time to upgrade.
I use the Visible network, a subsidiary of Verizon. Going to the Visible web site I was able to locate an iPhone 12 at a decent price, plus get a trade-in for the 6s. The iPhone 12 is not the newest, but still supported by Apple. Besides, I don’t use my phone as much as many people do, mostly for text messages and the Avensa map application (for use on ATV trails).
The switch-over went smoothly. My phone number remains the same and I am getting used to the new home screen and controls. (Pam has had an iPhone 12 for a few years now and is quite used to it.) Hopefully I can go a few more years before another upgrade is required.
Lawn care: A few leaf pickups have been performed, and with snow possible in the extended forecast, that ongoing task may be wrapping up for this year. The pumpkins we had in the yard were delivered to Pam’s sister Becky who took them to a goat farm. Apparently the goats had a good time eating and playing with them.
There are a couple projects being pursued, one to replace our underground water service line, and the other to replace our back door.
The water line may be a lead pipe, or a galvanized line with a lot of lead in it. We have been drinking bottled water for many years, beginning in Colorado, so we are not as concerned with the health aspects as much as we are about the line rupturing due to age. A few of our neighbors have had to deal with that problem and other Elma houses of a similar age have had to have their lines replaced. According to the town water department, Elma began installing city lines in or about 1916 when the first town well was drilled. Because our house is on Main Street we are assuming Heart House was connected in the late teens or early 20’s. (No specific records can be located.) We are waiting on a quote from the local plumbing shop to see what the cost would be to have the water line replaced.
Another upgrade under consideration is the back door. It has never sealed out cold very well and the old-fashioned lockset is becoming problematic. The local lumber yard and installer wants about $2,500.00 for a new door, new lockset, and installation, which is more than our budget for that replacement. Currently I am looking at Big Box stores for a good quality door — costing a bit less money.
Speaking of updates, here is the latest from Felicity on the home renovation project in Lodi, New York.
General activities: Pam has begun working on this year’s holiday cards, a project that takes her many hours. I have begun doing fall maintenance on the lawn gear and vehicles and completed a few other small projects, mostly seasonal stuff such as building a better heated water dish support. (The dish is used by the squirrels and birds.) We had to replace our clothes washer as the LG died, and was replaced by a GE. No appliance stores exist locally, requiring a drive to Rochester to get the new washer. Then I hauled the old one to a recycle center in Charles City. Stuff like that keeps retirees busy.
I am not looking forward to winter; I like my outside time and having some color around the yard. Here is hoping this winter is on the mild side!
Finally, a recent photo of Elmo T. Whitepaws on his (!) favorite bed. (The middle “T” stands for Trouble.)
That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!
Pam’s Penny
Himself does not comment in this forum on politics. The recent conclusion of the national election, where “we” elected a convicted felon to be president, will very likely have personal implications, however. In the expectation of economic upheaval, I’m backing off the Michigan relocation plan for the short term. I anticipate the unqualified and unscrupulous “public servants” going forward will want their greedy paws on the biggest prize in government – the Social Security and Medicare “honey pots.” Cuts in those two programs would impact our retirement funds immediately and aggressively. Time to hunker down, not potentially overextend our budget financially. The prospect of selling Heart House in tiny Elma, Iowa during an economic downturn is just not likely.
Lest you think l’m being overly dramatic, Toby in Nevada is voicing concerns about his Latina partner (US born and legal) being hassled during the coming immigrant roundup. Felicity in New York is worried about loss of medical benefits (for both herself and Peter) through elimination of the Affordable Care Act. Enough misery for everyone – except the cult leaders. Bummer 2025 – the Project and the year.
Happy (?) Trails.