Tara complained to the ranger about a dog which barked all night. It was over by the RVs and sounded like a big dog, a hound making a deep bray steadily through the dark hours till dawn.
"I can't talk right now," said the ranger. "I am on my way to handle a fight. Anyway, the reason the dog was barking is there is a bear in the area."
We were going to take a walk up the hill trail but are now rethinking our plan. As Josh knows, I feel a bit sensitive about bears. Lions, rhinos and hippos feel more normal. I might anticipate them or avoid them. Not so with bears.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Lake Chelan
We have been camping at Lake Chelan on our annual "school is out" camping trip. After weeks of drizzle and a slow start to spring, let alone summer, we are out of the rain and into the Easter Washington sunshine. There are 5 families camping together and another arriving this weekend.
This is easy camping.
The camp store is open till 10pm and sells everything from ice to lattes. We have in-tent wireless and a large playground and a huge grassy field. We are in the tent camp. Across the field is the RV camp. At night one plays a movie across the side of the RV as a big screen.
We haven't used the iPad once.
We spent most of the day at the Slidewaters water park. Wren was very bold and went down a few large slides sitting between my legs. He even went on one of the Advanced ones with a 4 foot landing depth. Unfortunately I stumbled on landing and went underwater but held up up overhead so he didn't get his face wet.
I had to bribe him with the promise of a booster pack of Magic cards to do the advanced one. Afterwards, he said "It was so scarey that it took away my hiccups."
I didn't see Frost all day. He alternated between sliding and sitting in the hot spa.
I alternated between sliding with Wren and sitting by the fence consoling Beezle who, stationed with his crate and bed outside the fence, felt that he was being ostracized or punished and persisted in trying to claw his way in. After 2 hours he gave up watching for me and went to sleep.
Beezle has been a great attraction. He tries to bite little kids who try and stroke him so he needs to work on petting without biting. Its not entirely his fault as we often play 'mouthing' games with him. However, he needs lots of practice about not biting too hard.
Now, a wind has sprung up and its fully dark. Wind is shushing in the trees and the fire, once dormant, has sprung into a blaze that is blowing smoke my way (of course). Wren and Beezle are asleep and the bigger boys are silhouettes on the tent walls where they are reading Foxtrots by flashlight.
The only brightness is the bathroom block across the field from us. Time to head there before bed.
We are in Lake Chelan on our annual "school is out" camping trip. After weeks of drizzle and a slow start to spring, let alone summer, we are out of the rain and into the Easter Washington sunshine.
This is easy camping.
The camp store is open till 10pm and sells everything from ice to lattes. We have in-tent wireless and a large playground and a huge grassy field. We are in the tent camp. Across the field is the RV camp. At night one plays a movie across the side of the RV as a big screen.
We haven't used the iPad once.
We spent most of the day at the Slidewaters water park. Wren was very bold and went down a few large slides sitting between my legs. He even went on one of the Advanced ones with a 4 foot landing depth. Unfortunately I stumbled on landing and went underwater but held up up overhead so he didn't get his face wet.
I had to bribe him with the promise of a booster pack of Magic cards to do the advanced one. Afterwards, he said "It was so scarey that it took away my hiccups."
I didn't see Frost all day. He alternated between sliding and sitting in the hot spa.
I alternated between sliding with Wren and sitting by the fence consoling Beezle who, stationed with his crate and bed outside the fence, felt that he was being ostracized or punished and persisted in trying to claw his way in. After 2 hours he gave up watching for me and went to sleep.
Beezle has been a great attraction. He tries to bite little kids who try and stroke him so he needs to work on petting without biting. Its not entirely his fault as we often play 'mouthing' games with him. However, he needs lots of practice about not biting too hard.
Now, a wind has sprung up and its fully dark. Wind is shushing in the trees and the fire, once dormant, has sprung into a blaze that is blowing smoke my way (of course). Wren and Beezle are asleep and the bigger boys are silhouettes on the tent walls where they are reading Foxtrots by flashlight.
The only brightness is the bathroom block across the field from us. Time to head there before bed.
 |
| Boys at the table. |
 |
| Campfire. S'mores. |
 |
| Stephen making the fire for us. |
 |
| Reading an Alex Cross thriller in the hammock. "Is this our hammock?" asked Wren. Apparently he can't remember the last trip with it. |
 |
| Slidewaters Base Camp. See Beezle outside the fence. |
 |
| Wren eating a yogurt in Chelan. Yogurt followed icecream which followed chips. |
 |
| Iced latte in Chelan heat. |
 |
| Beezle became overtired from the anxiety of being "outside |
Sunday, June 19, 2011
The Shining Leaves of the Camelia
Rain again after some days of shine. We are in great anticipation of our camping trip to Lake Chelan next week where, weather report rumors have it, it has been close to 80 degrees AND SUNNY.
The blossoms on the Camelia have shriveled to brown clusters and the leaves shine in the rain. I have a cold and staring out the window is about my desire but instead we have a Garage Sale today. I have boxes of stuff that we do not wish to move and care too much for to donate.
Now, because the Garage Sale starts in 15 minutes... here are some pictures:
The blossoms on the Camelia have shriveled to brown clusters and the leaves shine in the rain. I have a cold and staring out the window is about my desire but instead we have a Garage Sale today. I have boxes of stuff that we do not wish to move and care too much for to donate.
Now, because the Garage Sale starts in 15 minutes... here are some pictures:
 |
| Beezle sees a Big Water for the first time (Lake Washington) |
 |
| The Micro-Dog Won't COME. |
 |
| Walking the Micro-Beezle (an Aberration, he seldom walks on leash) |
 |
| I am going to EAT you. |
 |
| My life. Balancing Titebond wood glue with Wren's need for JELLO. Jelly was excellent. Good with a sore throat! I ate it with cream and bananas while Wren added "nutty bits." |
Thursday, June 16, 2011
What's up with us
Yes, I am still here. If you are feeling neglected, this is why:
TASKLIST:
- Attach wainscoting to back of island
- Attach Pagoda slats
- Conceal range exhaust pipe above cabinets.
- Re-attach closet door (if one is at RE-Store)
- Remove pipe to old faucet under deck.
- Coat new door with 3 coats of finish.
- Take in secure Shredding: DataSite
9401 Aurora Ave North
Seattle, WA 98103
- Re-Store for closet door
- Check with consignment store if they have sold any stuff
- Get blood draw B12
- Transcribe boer war diary
- Give David and Mum copies of DVD of family photos.
- Write patient article on Shone's Syndrome
- Send Kathryn most recent statements for purchase.
- License dog ---> Josh. In new house
- Put dog vaccination on calendar
- Get Kia door part fitted and talk to them about squeaking brakes
- Submit next estimated tax payment by June 15th
- Buy gift for Matthew' birthday party
- Pack entire house.
- Advertise Garage Sale
PAINTING:
Finish Painting porch trim (almost done)
Living room wall paint
Living room trim paint
Living room ceiling paint
Corridor wall paint
Corridor trim paint
Wren's room touch up paint
Main bedroom Wall paint
Main bedroom ceiling paint
Main bedroom trim
Back deck house paint (half done)
Kitchen touchup paint (walls)
GARDEN:
Clean and weed whole garden.
Get load of play chips 1 cubic yard from Sky. (do they deliver?)
WORK
Thursday 3 hours.
Friday 3 hours.
Oh, and we're going camping for 4 nights next week. Just me and the kids.
But we are all well! Except Josh. Josh is sick with a mild fever, exhaustion, cough, cold and man-flu as well. He is eating pap and soup and feeling neglected because I am doing the things on the list. He is also eating sugary cereal.
Wren is playing Magic the Gathering with imaginary cards he drew. He is drawing all day. I am taking refuge in movies about serial killers and romance. The best are romances with some thrills. I am very much enjoying doing the painting and have just stained my first door. It is stained Daly Stain FRUITWOOD.
I am hoping to do some more remodelling one day as I really like it!
Judy (Ford) is my DIY mentor. She is our contractor from the bathroom and is also a matriarch and a wonderful woman. She makes me feel I can fix or make anything if I just have the tools, ingenuity and patience! I think I will be a crafty person when my kids are old enough to be busy by themselves without it being called Neglect.
Going to watch a thriller now.
I bought the bag. (if you are not on FB, I am not telling more). Joshua is going to hide it for me. I am concerned he might lose it in the move along with my jewelery.
Lauren diagnosed me as having "One More Thing" itis. This means you are always rushing and busy to do "one more thing" before sitting down. You end up with little completed but many many things almost done.
The cat is staring at me through the front window, its feet on the pagoda covered in grapevine. It is mewling because the Dog (who I made swim in the bath tonight for its wash) is in the kitchen, thus blocking the cat door.
Don't you like how I had PACK WHOLE HOUSE as one little item on the Tasklist?
TASKLIST:
- Attach wainscoting to back of island
- Attach Pagoda slats
- Conceal range exhaust pipe above cabinets.
- Re-attach closet door (if one is at RE-Store)
- Remove pipe to old faucet under deck.
- Coat new door with 3 coats of finish.
- Take in secure Shredding: DataSite
9401 Aurora Ave North
Seattle, WA 98103
- Re-Store for closet door
- Check with consignment store if they have sold any stuff
- Get blood draw B12
- Transcribe boer war diary
- Give David and Mum copies of DVD of family photos.
- Write patient article on Shone's Syndrome
- Send Kathryn most recent statements for purchase.
- License dog ---> Josh. In new house
- Put dog vaccination on calendar
- Get Kia door part fitted and talk to them about squeaking brakes
- Submit next estimated tax payment by June 15th
- Buy gift for Matthew' birthday party
- Pack entire house.
- Advertise Garage Sale
PAINTING:
Finish Painting porch trim (almost done)
Living room wall paint
Living room trim paint
Living room ceiling paint
Corridor wall paint
Corridor trim paint
Wren's room touch up paint
Main bedroom Wall paint
Main bedroom ceiling paint
Main bedroom trim
Back deck house paint (half done)
Kitchen touchup paint (walls)
GARDEN:
Clean and weed whole garden.
Get load of play chips 1 cubic yard from Sky. (do they deliver?)
WORK
Thursday 3 hours.
Friday 3 hours.
Oh, and we're going camping for 4 nights next week. Just me and the kids.
But we are all well! Except Josh. Josh is sick with a mild fever, exhaustion, cough, cold and man-flu as well. He is eating pap and soup and feeling neglected because I am doing the things on the list. He is also eating sugary cereal.
Wren is playing Magic the Gathering with imaginary cards he drew. He is drawing all day. I am taking refuge in movies about serial killers and romance. The best are romances with some thrills. I am very much enjoying doing the painting and have just stained my first door. It is stained Daly Stain FRUITWOOD.
I am hoping to do some more remodelling one day as I really like it!
Judy (Ford) is my DIY mentor. She is our contractor from the bathroom and is also a matriarch and a wonderful woman. She makes me feel I can fix or make anything if I just have the tools, ingenuity and patience! I think I will be a crafty person when my kids are old enough to be busy by themselves without it being called Neglect.
Going to watch a thriller now.
I bought the bag. (if you are not on FB, I am not telling more). Joshua is going to hide it for me. I am concerned he might lose it in the move along with my jewelery.
Lauren diagnosed me as having "One More Thing" itis. This means you are always rushing and busy to do "one more thing" before sitting down. You end up with little completed but many many things almost done.
The cat is staring at me through the front window, its feet on the pagoda covered in grapevine. It is mewling because the Dog (who I made swim in the bath tonight for its wash) is in the kitchen, thus blocking the cat door.
Don't you like how I had PACK WHOLE HOUSE as one little item on the Tasklist?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Poetry in Discovery Park
While walking in the park we started to wax lyrical, making up poems. Wren caught the intonation while Frost crafted a whole poem.
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Turkey Syrian Border
Today, there has been coverage of increasing tensions in Syria and how:
"More than 2,400 Syrians have fled into neighbouring Turkey to escape the unrest in Jisr al-Shughur and other towns, according to the UN and Turkish officials."
It got me melancholic. It got me thinking. Twenty-two years ago, in May 1989, myself and some friends (Janine, Osnet and Yair) traveled around Eastern Turkey and I have always wanted to return. Here are some excerpts from that trip for my family and perhaps Janine if she is on Facebook these days.
May 19th, 1989
ELAZiG, Turkey
Shoeshiners everywhere carry ornamented footstools, red, green, yellow and gold. Polish kept in little boxes and bottles. Some stop by bus stops and provide tea while they polish. In the downtown bazaar or market area each road or arcade is for one line of goods. There is a road for pots and pans, another for old suits another for farming equipment, electricals, palstic shoes (all the same).
Turkish sweets are strange and very sweet and sugary. Bought some golden sticks filled with nuts made of brittle spun sugar. Also, blue green and yellow humbugs, candyfloss like string, turkish delight rolled in coconut and nuts. Nuts, nuts everywhere.
Today we went to Harput thinking it was Pertek and then to Pertek to see an island castle in the [Ataturk Baraji] dam. The dam caused the castle, which was on a high rocky mountain overlooking the source valley of the Euphrates, to be isolate on an island. We caught a bus there to the ferry and hired the ferry boat to take us out there. I remember the jolting of our last bus ride and the smell of the driver's armpits and his socks as he slept across the back window....
The castle is medieval and very wonderful, quite ruined but easily recognizable and having a remarkable vantage over the district water of thh Euphrates sliding by slowly while the hills wade in the waves, orange, green. We decided to call it the Island of Indecision. When we landed on our return from the island we were accosted by police demanding "passeporte" which we didn't have [as we had been required to hand them in at the hotel]. They said "Touris, terroris" a few times. Words ensued. We were told that they are very sensitive about foreigners being on the dam as the Syrians would like to blow it up and release the water down into Syria.
May [few days later]
Diyabakir
Passed a grey river flowing from the black mountains. Industrial scars. Great white storks in nests all along the route. One was clsoe to teh road and I could see the big white baby storks snaking upward for food. Also, silhoetted on the roof of the Ulu Cami. Walking through the bazaar we saw offal floating in silver dushes. The bazaar is dark streeted with stagnant puddles and rotting fruit. Some streets have dark recessed carpentry shops lit by a single light bulb and overflowing with sawdust. Men sit playing backgammon, waist-coated and dark. AT certain times they kneel to play on small stools in shops and streets. Outside the Uli Cami are rows of men, old and young. Beside them lay piles of long wooden handled scythes. Apparently the peasants are being forced to seek work in the city and sometimes hired daily to work the land of others.
May 25th, 1989
Dougbezit
From Dougbezit we caught a minibus to Kars and Ani. It was very hot but high up. On may occasions we came close to the Russian border and could see the control and observation points across the high fences. The nomadic people of Eastern Turkey (and Russia?) have huge herds of cows, sheept etc and we even saw horses in their 1000's near ANI. With the herders are ferocious looking dogs, closer related to wolves than any canine specimen I have seen before this. Some resemble huskies, white or grey, huge fanged ... they chase the taxi along the road and we must swerve to avoid potholes. Or they growl by the van and we crawl along as a huge herd of sheept and herders with ponies draped in Kilims move along and slowly cross the road.
In the high regions before Kars the landscape was wonderfully open and barren. The planes, steppe? flat with pale washed skies, empty and dry.
In a remote town near Ardahan, stopped for snacks and walked into a toilet. It was awash with water which a dwarf was sweeping up.
Received permission to enter the neutral borderzone between Turkey and Russia we drove out to Ani, a now deserted city which once rivaled Constantinople and Cairo and was the capital of the medieval Armenian empire. Now it lies almost in ruins, some churches and a haunting mosque remain standing. Also the Armenian cathedral. It is on a cliff above a ravine and one can look across the green rushing river to Russia, to see the USSR road end suddenly and wend its way into unbroken green. Soldiers from the observation towers watch me.
"More than 2,400 Syrians have fled into neighbouring Turkey to escape the unrest in Jisr al-Shughur and other towns, according to the UN and Turkish officials."
It got me melancholic. It got me thinking. Twenty-two years ago, in May 1989, myself and some friends (Janine, Osnet and Yair) traveled around Eastern Turkey and I have always wanted to return. Here are some excerpts from that trip for my family and perhaps Janine if she is on Facebook these days.
May 19th, 1989
ELAZiG, Turkey
Shoeshiners everywhere carry ornamented footstools, red, green, yellow and gold. Polish kept in little boxes and bottles. Some stop by bus stops and provide tea while they polish. In the downtown bazaar or market area each road or arcade is for one line of goods. There is a road for pots and pans, another for old suits another for farming equipment, electricals, palstic shoes (all the same).
Turkish sweets are strange and very sweet and sugary. Bought some golden sticks filled with nuts made of brittle spun sugar. Also, blue green and yellow humbugs, candyfloss like string, turkish delight rolled in coconut and nuts. Nuts, nuts everywhere.
Today we went to Harput thinking it was Pertek and then to Pertek to see an island castle in the [Ataturk Baraji] dam. The dam caused the castle, which was on a high rocky mountain overlooking the source valley of the Euphrates, to be isolate on an island. We caught a bus there to the ferry and hired the ferry boat to take us out there. I remember the jolting of our last bus ride and the smell of the driver's armpits and his socks as he slept across the back window....
The castle is medieval and very wonderful, quite ruined but easily recognizable and having a remarkable vantage over the district water of thh Euphrates sliding by slowly while the hills wade in the waves, orange, green. We decided to call it the Island of Indecision. When we landed on our return from the island we were accosted by police demanding "passeporte" which we didn't have [as we had been required to hand them in at the hotel]. They said "Touris, terroris" a few times. Words ensued. We were told that they are very sensitive about foreigners being on the dam as the Syrians would like to blow it up and release the water down into Syria.
May [few days later]
Diyabakir
Passed a grey river flowing from the black mountains. Industrial scars. Great white storks in nests all along the route. One was clsoe to teh road and I could see the big white baby storks snaking upward for food. Also, silhoetted on the roof of the Ulu Cami. Walking through the bazaar we saw offal floating in silver dushes. The bazaar is dark streeted with stagnant puddles and rotting fruit. Some streets have dark recessed carpentry shops lit by a single light bulb and overflowing with sawdust. Men sit playing backgammon, waist-coated and dark. AT certain times they kneel to play on small stools in shops and streets. Outside the Uli Cami are rows of men, old and young. Beside them lay piles of long wooden handled scythes. Apparently the peasants are being forced to seek work in the city and sometimes hired daily to work the land of others.
May 25th, 1989
Dougbezit
From Dougbezit we caught a minibus to Kars and Ani. It was very hot but high up. On may occasions we came close to the Russian border and could see the control and observation points across the high fences. The nomadic people of Eastern Turkey (and Russia?) have huge herds of cows, sheept etc and we even saw horses in their 1000's near ANI. With the herders are ferocious looking dogs, closer related to wolves than any canine specimen I have seen before this. Some resemble huskies, white or grey, huge fanged ... they chase the taxi along the road and we must swerve to avoid potholes. Or they growl by the van and we crawl along as a huge herd of sheept and herders with ponies draped in Kilims move along and slowly cross the road.
In the high regions before Kars the landscape was wonderfully open and barren. The planes, steppe? flat with pale washed skies, empty and dry.
In a remote town near Ardahan, stopped for snacks and walked into a toilet. It was awash with water which a dwarf was sweeping up.
Received permission to enter the neutral borderzone between Turkey and Russia we drove out to Ani, a now deserted city which once rivaled Constantinople and Cairo and was the capital of the medieval Armenian empire. Now it lies almost in ruins, some churches and a haunting mosque remain standing. Also the Armenian cathedral. It is on a cliff above a ravine and one can look across the green rushing river to Russia, to see the USSR road end suddenly and wend its way into unbroken green. Soldiers from the observation towers watch me.
About Nature
Wren said: "Mom, I have a question about nature. Why does my hair move closer to my face when I eat toast?"
I challenge you to answer that.
We went for a walk in Discovery Park. Wren kept saying "Beazle has DISCOVERED something."
Beazle ran well, to keep up.
Frost said "slow down Mom, Beazle has such short legs he has to run all the time!"
I harvested nettles using the clean poop bag to shield my hand. I am going to make nettle and chanterelle soup. Beazle thinks I am his mother so he tried to harvest nettles too by jumping and biting them.
Wren went on the flying fox.
"Why is it called a flying fox?" he wondered.
Beazle ran with his mouth in a smile and his tongue hanging out. He ran with the leash cut off to 6 inches to get him used to it.
"Look at the nettle sea!" said Frost, who was off school due to a cold and sore throat that has lasted 3 days.
"Look at the sea of dinner." I said.
"I would not come in that sea," said Wren. "I would not swim in the nettle sea! ARGH! It is coming!"
We discussed poetry while walking. I made up a poem. Then Frost made up a poem. Then Wren made up a poem. I shall try and post them.
Beazle's poem was:
"Feed.
Me."
I challenge you to answer that.
We went for a walk in Discovery Park. Wren kept saying "Beazle has DISCOVERED something."
 |
| Beazle Discovers Something |
Beazle ran well, to keep up.
Frost said "slow down Mom, Beazle has such short legs he has to run all the time!"
I harvested nettles using the clean poop bag to shield my hand. I am going to make nettle and chanterelle soup. Beazle thinks I am his mother so he tried to harvest nettles too by jumping and biting them.
 |
| I harvest nettles with the (clean) poop bag. |
Wren went on the flying fox.
"Why is it called a flying fox?" he wondered.
Beazle ran with his mouth in a smile and his tongue hanging out. He ran with the leash cut off to 6 inches to get him used to it.
 |
| I had to work hard to get Beazle to sniff this hole |
 |
| Wren (the Wizard) walks with Beazle |
"Look at the nettle sea!" said Frost, who was off school due to a cold and sore throat that has lasted 3 days.
"Look at the sea of dinner." I said.
"I would not come in that sea," said Wren. "I would not swim in the nettle sea! ARGH! It is coming!"
 |
| The Nettle Sea |
We discussed poetry while walking. I made up a poem. Then Frost made up a poem. Then Wren made up a poem. I shall try and post them.
 |
| Beazle hopes for a snack |
"Feed.
Me."
Adventures with a pressure washer
As many of you know, we are cleaning up our house in anticipation of putting it on the market in July. This process is known as getting the house "market ready" although one would assume that the market could tolerate any house and it is more about getting the house to sell at a decent price.
Last weekend our realtor lent us her pressure washer "until you are done." Since then, my life has been dominated by this pressure-washer. Before she left she explained the various configuration and strength of the nozzles and gestured at the sidewalk: "This one will make your sidewalk white," she said. "It will remove all the moss on the stairs."
"Is that good?" I asked. "Isn't a bit of moss, like quaint?"
"No. It is not good." Apparently realtors earn their money by being emphatic. Clients need good clear instructions in Market Ready Kindergarten.
So, I set out to clean the driveway.
Every year when Mum visits she spends an afternoon sweeping and weeding the cement driveway. I know, weeding? Its because there are cracks in the cement and its all mossy and pebbled. I used the orange nozzle, the one that was described as going in a pattern of swishy swishy motions to scour.
It took a long time but I cleaned the driveway. Every time I cleaned one bit another bit looked dirty. There was a lot of "Yet, there's a spot!"
It is now white. When I say white, its not completely white its like silver grey. My driveway looks like foil.
Unfortunately, the foil has holes in it. The reason the driveway had grass on it was it has crevasses of about 8" deep, long rivulets, gouges. The dandelions have colonized some and others are just little ecosystems of worms, grasses, weeds and flowers. I blasted them out to leave a cratered landscape of foil.
"Did you have to sand-blast the crap out of our driveway?" asked Josh.
You may have noticed that Josh is not as biddable as I am. He gets grumpy when told to improve things he likes that way. He refused to buy a new stainless microwave to replace the white one we were given by Shawn and Sarah. He is not a crowd pleaser.
However, in the "getting market ready" segment. He is wrong and I am right (I am writing and he is reading. I am sand-blasting and he is patching up.)
So, Josh went and cement filled the holes. Its okay now, I guess.
Then I tried again. This time I pressure washed the deck with a lighter squirter. That made drifts of mud under the deck. Serious mud. Its like a pig wallow under there. I can't GET the mud out easily. I had to crawl in the shit while poking a rake in front of me to drag it out. It sucks.
Finally, I did the front deck prior to painting it. That was the most successful. However, I washed one step and it blasted a hole in the rotten part. I have replaced the step. I knew it was rotten. I was going to do it anyway but ye-gods, pressure washers are hard work! They are not the nice quick freshen upper I was expecting.
They make a lovely bright surface but what about all the debris? I have had two pairs of garden gloves caked solid with mud. My green garden boots are no longer fashion items and my face, hair and all have been splattered with moss-mud solutions with bits of mascerated earthworm and dandelion root emulsified within.
After the side yard is finished I am done. D-O-N-E with the pressure washer. I am not doing the steps. We can have a sylvan mossy look:
"Remodeled 1949 Bungalow..it is warm, elegant, mossy and sits over an enormous rutted driveway that shines like a landing pad. Rocking chair front porch from which you can enjoy the mossy rocks and mixed foliage of your edible landscape. Sun drenched living spaces (you may want to spring for blinds), fir and apple floors,exposed woodwork, updated chef kitchen w/oak cabinets and island. Fenced yard is your own private oasis, enjoy the nightly antics of your starving raccoons. System upgrades include furnace,ductwork, electrical, plumbing and patched driveway."
Last weekend our realtor lent us her pressure washer "until you are done." Since then, my life has been dominated by this pressure-washer. Before she left she explained the various configuration and strength of the nozzles and gestured at the sidewalk: "This one will make your sidewalk white," she said. "It will remove all the moss on the stairs."
"Is that good?" I asked. "Isn't a bit of moss, like quaint?"
"No. It is not good." Apparently realtors earn their money by being emphatic. Clients need good clear instructions in Market Ready Kindergarten.
So, I set out to clean the driveway.
Every year when Mum visits she spends an afternoon sweeping and weeding the cement driveway. I know, weeding? Its because there are cracks in the cement and its all mossy and pebbled. I used the orange nozzle, the one that was described as going in a pattern of swishy swishy motions to scour.
It took a long time but I cleaned the driveway. Every time I cleaned one bit another bit looked dirty. There was a lot of "Yet, there's a spot!"
It is now white. When I say white, its not completely white its like silver grey. My driveway looks like foil.
Unfortunately, the foil has holes in it. The reason the driveway had grass on it was it has crevasses of about 8" deep, long rivulets, gouges. The dandelions have colonized some and others are just little ecosystems of worms, grasses, weeds and flowers. I blasted them out to leave a cratered landscape of foil.
"Did you have to sand-blast the crap out of our driveway?" asked Josh.
You may have noticed that Josh is not as biddable as I am. He gets grumpy when told to improve things he likes that way. He refused to buy a new stainless microwave to replace the white one we were given by Shawn and Sarah. He is not a crowd pleaser.
However, in the "getting market ready" segment. He is wrong and I am right (I am writing and he is reading. I am sand-blasting and he is patching up.)
So, Josh went and cement filled the holes. Its okay now, I guess.
Then I tried again. This time I pressure washed the deck with a lighter squirter. That made drifts of mud under the deck. Serious mud. Its like a pig wallow under there. I can't GET the mud out easily. I had to crawl in the shit while poking a rake in front of me to drag it out. It sucks.
Finally, I did the front deck prior to painting it. That was the most successful. However, I washed one step and it blasted a hole in the rotten part. I have replaced the step. I knew it was rotten. I was going to do it anyway but ye-gods, pressure washers are hard work! They are not the nice quick freshen upper I was expecting.
They make a lovely bright surface but what about all the debris? I have had two pairs of garden gloves caked solid with mud. My green garden boots are no longer fashion items and my face, hair and all have been splattered with moss-mud solutions with bits of mascerated earthworm and dandelion root emulsified within.
After the side yard is finished I am done. D-O-N-E with the pressure washer. I am not doing the steps. We can have a sylvan mossy look:
"Remodeled 1949 Bungalow..it is warm, elegant, mossy and sits over an enormous rutted driveway that shines like a landing pad. Rocking chair front porch from which you can enjoy the mossy rocks and mixed foliage of your edible landscape. Sun drenched living spaces (you may want to spring for blinds), fir and apple floors,exposed woodwork, updated chef kitchen w/oak cabinets and island. Fenced yard is your own private oasis, enjoy the nightly antics of your starving raccoons. System upgrades include furnace,ductwork, electrical, plumbing and patched driveway."
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Teacher Told Me That
Wren has become something of a know-it-all recently, eager to make judgements on my behavior and to throw in his wisdom on things that are going on.
He always ends his injunction with a nodding head and the words "I know that. Teacher told me."
This morning I was making Frost's lunch. Because we are low on provisions I was scraping for something sweet to put in his lunchbox and settled for chocolate chips. some graham crackers and a marshmallow. I called out to Frost:
"You poor boy. I hope you are not suffering too much with the terrible lunches you are getting this week."
Frost did not reply because he was reading.
"What? What is in his lunch?" asked Wren, worried. "Is it a bad lunch?"
"No," I said. "Its actually a good lunch. I was only joking."
"It is not good to joke." said Wren, shaking his head and waving his pencil crayon at me. "Teacher told me!"
"Teacher told you not to joke?" I ask, wondering what they do at this Waldorf inspired school anyway.
"No, teacher told me in a story."
"What story?
"There is a boy farmer and its kind of like he tells jokes that a wolf is attacking THREE TIMES but then the third time one comes and all the sheep died."
"Oh! I know that story. I am going to write this down so Granny knows you know about that story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf."
"But write 'the sheep died' in a box so that Granny doesn't know that because she doesn't like DEAD."
"Okay."
"Actually, put DEAD in big letters because DEAD should be in big letters."
So, now I am relieved. It is merely the bossiness of Aesops Fables and fairy tales. Good stories to live by :)
He always ends his injunction with a nodding head and the words "I know that. Teacher told me."
This morning I was making Frost's lunch. Because we are low on provisions I was scraping for something sweet to put in his lunchbox and settled for chocolate chips. some graham crackers and a marshmallow. I called out to Frost:
"You poor boy. I hope you are not suffering too much with the terrible lunches you are getting this week."
Frost did not reply because he was reading.
"What? What is in his lunch?" asked Wren, worried. "Is it a bad lunch?"
"No," I said. "Its actually a good lunch. I was only joking."
"It is not good to joke." said Wren, shaking his head and waving his pencil crayon at me. "Teacher told me!"
"Teacher told you not to joke?" I ask, wondering what they do at this Waldorf inspired school anyway.
"No, teacher told me in a story."
"What story?
"There is a boy farmer and its kind of like he tells jokes that a wolf is attacking THREE TIMES but then the third time one comes and all the sheep died."
"Oh! I know that story. I am going to write this down so Granny knows you know about that story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf."
"But write 'the sheep died' in a box so that Granny doesn't know that because she doesn't like DEAD."
"Okay."
"Actually, put DEAD in big letters because DEAD should be in big letters."
So, now I am relieved. It is merely the bossiness of Aesops Fables and fairy tales. Good stories to live by :)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Raccoon problem redux
Frost and Wren woke me at 7am to tell me that when they went to get breakfast the raccoon was in the kitchen trying to hit the bulk catfood container over and now it was "sitting outside the door watching us.
Wren said "I have never seen a real live raccoon before."
Here it is.
The problem is that it seems to be injured. Its front left paw was hanging and it wasn't using it.
Now we have an injured, starving raccoon that will try and get food [aka into kitchen] and is more of a risk of being around during the day and hurting Beazle.
At least, that is my concern.
As it happened, last night Beazle woke at 4.45am and I took him out to pee. He vanished under the deck for a long while. I am now worried about taking him out to pee at night. What if the raccoon was under the deck?
We have blocked off the cat door and are besieged.
7.34AM UPDATE
The stellars jays started kicking up a fuss in the bamboo and a suspected the raccoon was still around. A few minutes later he returned to our deck and looked at us. I chased him away again.
Wren said "I have never seen a real live raccoon before."
Here it is.
The problem is that it seems to be injured. Its front left paw was hanging and it wasn't using it.
Now we have an injured, starving raccoon that will try and get food [aka into kitchen] and is more of a risk of being around during the day and hurting Beazle.
At least, that is my concern.
As it happened, last night Beazle woke at 4.45am and I took him out to pee. He vanished under the deck for a long while. I am now worried about taking him out to pee at night. What if the raccoon was under the deck?
We have blocked off the cat door and are besieged.
7.34AM UPDATE
The stellars jays started kicking up a fuss in the bamboo and a suspected the raccoon was still around. A few minutes later he returned to our deck and looked at us. I chased him away again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)