Sunday

I woke up, stiff and sore, at 5:30 AM on Sunday. I made a cup of coffee and then posted the Blog entry.

I started the weekend wash and made breakfast. I watched the news while I refilled my pill box and shaved. The I put the first load of laundry in the dryer and took my shower (in the main bathroom so I could work in the downstairs one without it being wet). After I was done using the water, I put the second load of laundry in the washer.

I was going to water the front garden in the morning, but there is a “slight” chance of pop-up thunderstorms from noon until 4:00 PM predicted. So I decided to hold off on that until tonight, just in case it rains and I can save the water.

But, I still had to water the container gardens out front and the window box on the patio. So, when my shorts were dry, I got dressed and put the second load of laundry in the dryer. Then, I got out the waterer and started. I was adding Miracle-Gro to the jug this time around.

I finished up the front yard and noted some things I didn’t like. I did the window box out back so I could put the waterer and Miracle-Gro away. Then I went out front again.

I used the line trimmer to clean up the space between my north wall and my neighbor’s house. Then I cleaned up around the forsythia bush out front of the row of tiger lilies. I’ve ignored it all year and the grass and lilies were crowding it out. I cleaned it down to the mulch I knew was under there (I would add more mulch if I still had any) and then got my work gloves.

I pulled out as much grass as I could and then watered it with the two gallon bucket, full. It looks better, but I need to get some more mulch this week!

On the way back from the bush, I pulled the few weeds that had come up from under the mulch in the front garden.

Since I had the electric cord out, I decided to do something about the big limb that fell off the maple out front a few years ago. As the tree is technically on my neighbor’s lot, I just put it in the field next door. And, when a guy would bush-hog the lot, he would just drive around it.

But, the guy would does his bush-hogging this year moves it onto my lawn, cuts there and then moves it back. It just seems stupid!

So, I got out my Sawzall and cut it into fireplace lengths. If I see my neighbor, I’ll tell him its sitting there and he can have it (he heats his house with wood). If not, I’ll put it out to the road with a sign: “Free Campfire Wood” and somebody will probably take it.

It was after 11:00 AM, 81 degrees already and humid, so I was sweating on my brace. I decided that was enough outdoor work for today! I went back inside and took off my brace and tried to cool off a bit in the air conditioning (I sprayed the brace with Fabreeze like I usually do, so I don’t offend).

B___ called and we commiserated with each other about the heat, our burnt lawns and what this drought will do to the price of food next year.

I went up into the attic to put away the rose bush Styrofoam winter covers and the tarp I cover my patio furniture with during the winter (both long overdue, I know, but I have been recovering!) Since I was up there anyway, I drilled a hole in the little downstairs hall ceiling for a possible future project. On the way down, I took Jake’s cross country skis and boots (one less item he’ll have to carry down when he comes).

Wow! It was HOT in that attic!!

Back downstairs, I took a break and ate the last two pizza slices for my lunch. A little rest and I was ready to start that shower door. And, yes, I did say “start.” I plan on taking my time and if it gets done today, great. If not, so what? I have two showers and no firm deadline.

About 3:00 PM it did start getting cloudy out (come on, rain!) and 89 degrees F.

I got the bottom sill of the shower cut and installed. It’s only held down by silicon caulk, so there is blue masking tape holding it in place until the caulk sets. I got parts assembled and then temporarily put the two main uprights in place, leveled them and marked the holes with a Sharpie. Then I carefully used a nail set and a hammer to break the glaze on the tile, without actually breaking the tile.

I drilled the six 5/8-inch holes required with a masonry drill bit and cleaned up all the dust with the vacuum cleaner hose. That’s when I ran into a show-stopper problem! I couldn’t get the cheap plastic wall anchors to fit into the holes. Once you got past the tile, the cement backer board and the old masonite (fake tile), there is a wood 2x4 on either side. So, I either need different anchors or longer #8 screws (I presume you would need stainless steel ones so they wouldn’t rust).

I made up a list for a Monday’s lunch-time shopping trip to Home Depot and emailed it to myself at work. It was almost 5:00 PM and still no rain. So, I checked the weather map online and sure enough, there are pop-up thunderstorms, just nothing right around here.

Reluctantly, I went outside and dragged the hose out front. I hooked up the oscillating sprinkler and turned on the water. But, there was a pretty good wind (and a bit tricky, too) so it took several tries and several soakings to get the sprinkler in the exact right place. Finally, I figured it was in the best place it could be (weather permitting) and I went inside. I set the timer for two hours and made myself a cup of coffee.

Since I had two hours, I started in on the old routine housecleaning. It was a little challenging (I couldn’t vacuum the living room carpet as there were shower door parts all over it, for example). But I made a solid dent in it.

When the timer went off, I quit cleaning and went out to turn off the water. I was pulling the hose over the north gate when I saw my neighbor and offered him the wood I’d cut, He thanked me and said he’d get it in a day or two. I reeled in the hose, made sure the gate was closed and buttoned the house up for the night.

I ate two cucumber sandwiches for my dinner. I ate them watching taped DIY shows and then switched to Longmire at 10:00 PM. Then I went to bed.