Father's Day

I woke up way too early on Sunday. While I am thinking about it, I want to wish my Father, and all you Fathers out there, a “Happy Father’s Day!” It’s not as easy a job as some people would have you believe (and, kids like me didn’t make it any easier) but in the end its all worth it. At least, I hope it was for my Dad.

I dozed on and off until the news came on at 6:00 AM. The existing rain was either to our east (in Ontario) or west (in western Michigan) but they still said it would rain between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. So, I held off watering the front yard (not wanting to drag that hose all the way around the house if I can help it). [Note to self: Next project should be installing a water faucet in the front of the house!]

Since it was Father’s Day, I decided I wouldn’t start any work until 8:00 AM. So, I filled my pillbox (the normal Sunday ritual), drank coffee, ate breakfast and pills, drank more coffee, etc.

Finally it was 8:00 AM, so I plugged in the air compressor and fired it up. Scared the crap out of the cats! I guess it was while the air compressor was running that I missed a call from Lu, who wished me a Happy Father’s day on my voicemail. As usual, she didn’t ask me to call her back, so I didn’t.

I put in the 3/4 round molding behind the stove and broke out the masking tape. After stirring up the paint, I painted everything I could. I took off the tape after taking a picture for you and put the stove almost back in place (I left a little room so the paint could dry faster).

I had just washed up when I did hear and answer a call from Carla’s Mom, who also wished me a Happy Father’s Day. She said she had a wonderful time visiting Jake and Carla and that she had sent me a Father’s Day card that should get here Monday or Tuesday. I also got an email from Jyl, wishing me a Happy Father’s Day and promising me rain today (I want to believe her sooo bad!)

I posted the pictures I took behind the stove (while my hands were clean) and then Jake called with his Father’s Day wishes. After we hung up, I went back to the molding.

I was using the wand on the vacuum cleaner to go over the cracks between the tile and the wall before I nailed on each piece of molding to get rid of any dirt or cat hair. I was doing the stained molding first and, so far, I only had to adjust one cut a little bit.

BTW, it was 11:00 AM, 74 degrees outside and the sun just came out (dammit!) I got a text from Michelle at work, wishing me a Happy Father’s Day and telling me to enjoy the day. I sent her one back saying “Thanks! I’m working on the kitchen today, but it was a nice thought!”

I also got an email from Jeremy, who is apparently in Virginia, asking my plans for the day. I replied with working on the kitchen and wished him a Happy Father’s Day as well.

Then I went back to the molding, this time the painted stuff. Problem number one: The wood at the end of the counter (between the counter and the fridge) has decorative grooves cut into it. So, after I put on the molding, I caulked it so dirt, dust or cat hair wouldn’t get in there. I’ll have to wait to paint it though. I took a picture so you would understand (ignore the existing cat hair, I vacuumed it off later; oh yeah, and the molding in the front was not attached yet).

Finally, I was finished. And, by 1:00 PM, I had the hutch, table and fridge back in place (the stove was still pulled out a bit for paint drying purposes). I took a picture of the little bit that is still left to do. You may notice that the stair risers are covered with carpeting, which is yet another problem I will have to deal with. My plan is to pull off the carpeting (although I have no idea how it was installed) and replace it with tile. We’ll see...

Meanwhile, I was taking a break with my brace off, a cup of coffee and my bed raised up in back to watch some TV. My brother Jim called and thanked me for coming yesterday. I told him my one regret was not trying some of the fantastic-looking desserts. He said he was going back over there today and he would email me some.

I went to the bathroom at 1:30 PM and it was raining outside! Thanks, Jyl!! While I was resting, I got a text from Vicky at work, also wishing me a Happy Father’s Day. Bazinga back ya!

At 3:00 PM, I shaved and took my shower, after deciding I was done working for the day. It had stopped raining, so I walked out to check the gauge. There was only 1/4 inch of rain so far, but its still overcast and certainly better than what I had!

While I was out there, I noticed that the turtle was being obscured by the growing herbs. He’s always sat in that garden with the gargoyle next to the chives in the other herb garden. But, change is good, right? So, the gargoyle was reassigned to guard the thyme and rosemary and the turtle has more room standing next to the oregano. See photos.

Even though I said I was finished, I did one more thing. I was curious, so I took off the metal stair tread guards to see about that carpeting. It didn’t help any as the carpeting was attached way behind it. And, what’s worse, the gold stair tread guards I was finally able to find at Lowe’s are made to cover one inch. The silver ones I took off (bending the hell out of them) are made to cover 1 1/2 inches which is the actual measurement. (Sigh...)

Finally, I swept and vacuumed the house (except for the downstairs where the air compressor and 50 feet of hose was taking up too much room to maneuver).

At 4:30 PM, my daughter Amy finally called me to wish me a Happy Father’s Day. She had been trying all day but had the wrong number (we secretly suspect her sister gave that number to her, just to mess with her – you’d have to know Melissa to appreciate that, I guess). Melissa, BTW, is off camping with her family, both to celebrate Father's Day and their anniversary, which was Saturday.

In spite of the forecast for more showers, it was sunny and warm here now. I suppose God doesn’t want to mess with any Father’s who are having barbeques for dinner. After all, He is "God the Father," right?

Speaking of dinner, I made my Father’s Day French dip sandwich. I used two green onions instead of shallots, sautéed in butter, added beef broth and let everything get happy. Then I ran the little bit of roast beef I had left through it to warm it up and piled the beef on a hoagie bun. I poured the beef broth into a ramekin and dipped to my heart’s content. I could have used more beef and more salt and pepper, too, but it was very good.

I watched more TV after the news. It was getting off the bed for a bathroom run when the bed was raised up that I figured out how to put those non-skid pads (for rugs) under the wheels to stop the sliding. With the bed up, I could easily see all the wheels, so I cut out some big squares of the pad. I used that board I’d been weighing down the tiles with and pried up the bed just enough to slid the pads under each wheel. Bingo! Another problem solved!

For the first Sunday night, I stayed up long enough to watch Longmire when it aired at 10:00 PM rather than the taped version the next day. Then I went to bed at 11:00, content with my Father’s Day.