No lazy Sunday...

Sunday morning, it really was freezing here. I checked the thermometer and it was right on 32 degrees in Redford at 6:00 AM. In the surrounding cities, it was even colder (they said it was 23 degrees in Port Huron). I suppose I should inject some “funny” comment about what a short summer we had in March, here, but it’s not that funny anymore!

But, it’s supposed to be sunny and 59 degrees today, so the situation will improve.

I posted the Blog entry and then refilled my pill box, took my morning pills, ate breakfast and did my tests.

Sitting on the bed, I started on the bird house project again. This time I tied fishing line to the hooks on the two hanging birdhouses and, after leaving a foot of line, to a snap thing (I forget the name, but it’s NOT a swivel snap as I don’t want them to revolve) you use when fishing to quickly attach your lures. I put them on the snap thing so I can easily take them down during the winter.

I used the only fishing knot I know: the improved clinch knot. You do this by inserting the fishing line through the hole in the fish hook (or in this case, the eyebolt on top the birdhouse) and then wrapping the line around itself six times (sounds easy, but its difficult with fat fingers, lol). Then you put the end through the loop of line at the eyebolt and the eyebolt itself. Finally, you pull it tight as you can (this is the really hard part) and cut off the tag end or remaining line (but not too short! I like to leave about an inch).

I had to do this on the bed, fighting with Caley, who wanted to play with the fishing line. When both birdhouses were done, I got my revenge by kicking the cats off the bed, stripping it and putting the bedding in the wash. It was only after starting the wash machine that I realized I would have to put my shower on hold to avoid drops in the water pressure (I can’t easily move out of the way of a sudden burst of hotter water, you see).

So, I washed the stovetop instead. I checked the outside thermometer at 10:00 AM and the sun was doing its work. It was already almost 50 degrees F.

Then I shaved and showered after tossing the bedding in the dryer. I got dressed and got to work on the birdhouse project. I put in the eyebolts and hung the two birdhouses. I put the other two on the rail (I need to figure out a way to secure them from a strong wind, but they are pretty protected right now by the house.) I took some pictures to show you the results.

Then I went to Home Depot and bought six bags of garden soil, to mix with the potting soil. While I was there, I got a hanging planter and a hanger that I will replace the falling apart (again) tree box planter. I’m a little unsure how it will hold up in the wind, but we’ll see.

Back home and unloaded, I dug out all the potting soil from the rail planter and put it in the wheel barrow. I mixed in a bag of garden soil and then refilled it.

Then I demoed the falling apart tree box planter (I can’t believe I spent the money to get cedar and it fell apart in one year). Next I had some figuring to do to find out how high I needed the wolmanized two-by-four I want to screw the hanger to. But I got it installed and the hanging basket hung and then filled it with the garden soil/potting soil mixture.

I trimmed the bush and then put down the last bag of mulch I had. It looked nice, but will look better when the two-by-four weathers, I think.

It took a lot of stretching to get everything installed and I could really feel it in my back. So, I had to take a break at 3:30 PM (and I hadn’t even gotten to the main project for the day). I took off my brace, took a pain pill and went to lie on the bed to recuperate (at least enough to grill – the sweet corn is soaking and the steaks are coming up to room temperature).

Oh, yeah, the bedding hasn’t been put back on, either...

Well, bedding or not, I needed to lie down. So, I did. I rested until about 5:30 PM, when it was time to start the charcoal. I figured I had enough time before the coals were hot to drill the four holes I need under the kitchen window. I bought a self-watering window box you see and I need to hang the brackets to install it.

Since I know that the original house was cement block and they put siding over it, I bought the Tapcon screws (they also give you the correct-sized concrete drill bit). So, I took my measurements and tapped four holes in the siding with my awl.

That’s when things went horribly wrong. The drill bit couldn’t get through whatever is at least two inches behind the siding (there’s siding, foam insulation, a space and then “something” that’s about another inch back and really, really hard. So, the 1 3/4 inch screws I bought are officially way too short, even if I had succeeded in drilling the holes. The drill bit got red hot, but never went in, even a little.

But, the coals were ready and it was time to stop. I put everything in the back room (brackets, drill motor, extension cords, etc.) and am now left with four holes in my siding!

I gotta figure this one out!

But, instead, I put the corn on the grill. While it was roasting, I made the bed. When the corn was ready, I pulled it off, shucked it and took it in the house wrapped in tinfoil to keep warm. Then I oiled the grate and threw on the steaks, seasoned with just salt and pepper.

While the first side was cooking, I walked back to look at that branch that fell. Sure enough, it’s too big for me to handle. My neighbor wasn’t outside, so I couldn’t ask for help. So, I just left it. Hopefully the guys cutting the grass will move it.

When the steaks were done, I took them inside and put a pat of butter on top of each one. Then I made a plate for my dinner of one steak and two ears of corn. The steak was excellent, if I may say. The corn certainly wasn’t as big or taste as fresh and sweet as August’s pure Michigan corn, just picked, but I knew it wouldn’t. But, it was definitely great to be eating roasted corn on the cob again.

My daughter Melissa called just after I finished eating to check up on me. She’s got finals this week and a research paper to write, but other than that, everything is fine.

I watched a little TV after I put away the other steak and the rest of the sweet corn and was asleep by 10:00 PM.