But I Know It’s There

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I had a few little issues on the east side of the house:  peeling paint and a broken shingle.

The niche between the living room window on the left and the round conservatory bathroom window seems to get a lot of weathering.

No one notices this area except for me because it’s on the dead-end side of the house beyond which there are only 2 other houses.

You can’t see that the paint has worn off the top edges of this window. But it has.

Also it’s hidden from the street by a wooded area.

Not too far from the window a piece of shingle has cracked off.

But I noticed a couple of problems and of course they bothered me.  Painting the window trim was not difficult but I’ve had my issues with reshingling so I took the easy way out.

Look closely and you can see the superglue.

This time instead of removing the broken shingle Charlie found the missing piece lying in the grass.  I applied superglue to the unpainted area from where the shingle fell.

Since the missing piece was barely noticeable, the repair is also unlikely to attract attention.

Then I stuck the triangular piece back on and held it for a few moments until the glue set up.

The repair is on the second shingle down from the top on the righthand side.

To finish up the repair I repainted the shingle to help fill in the gap.

I applied one coat of alkyd primer and coat of exterior enamel.

Painting the window frame was also a small but necessary improvement.

The frame of this window, especially at the top, needed some fresh paint.

I also planned to paint the living room window which I knew would need some scraping.

A metal strip tops all the original windows in the house. Unfortunately it does not stop rot.

When I climbed the ladder to paint the top of the frame I discovered rotted wood.

The rooted wood was revealed.

I scraped away as much rot as possible.  We will need a professional to replace this piece of wood.

The cosmetic approach is a small improvement.

For the time being I gave the entire window frame a coat of primer and a coat of exterior paint.

Before

After

While I had the house paint out to touch up the shingle repair I also painted the wires for the telephone.

The before and after are not very dramatic but I’m glad to have fixed these issues.

That was enough repair for one day so I put away my paint and supplies.  Once everything was cleared away I realized I should have painted the dryer vent as well.

There’s always something else.

Jo

Out with the Old

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When we renovated the house in 2013 we moved our matching loveseats (purchased circa 1981 and slipcovered circa 1991) from the living room into the new conservatory.

These loveseats lasted over 40 years.

They were fine for this room where we watch television —

No longer puppies, these two friends are permitted onto the furniture in the conservatory.

and allow the dogs to get onto the furniture.

We used this loveseat up. Now it’s an eyesore.

Back in 2019 one of the loveseats became inoperable and so we got rid of it.  The remaining loveseat has been serviceable until recently.

I do have a tie-on slipcover in a loveseat size that gives a minor lift to this old piece.

Even with a cover like I used back here this piece of furniture is not a comfortable sitting experience.

I would have liked something lighter in color but feel that is just tempting the devil.

After reading dozens and dozens of reviews and ratings I have finally pulled the trigger on a new inexpensive loveseat to keep the dogs and Charlie happy.

If the new loveseat goes with the rattan chairs already in the conservatory I’ll be happy.

Hope it fits the spot and is moderately comfortable.

Jo

Sprucing Up the Outdoor Furniture

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We’re getting ready for a series of outdoor, socially-distanced parties at The Glade.

Can it be that our last outdoor party was 10 years ago??

We know that we’ll need plenty of moveable seating.

All the chairs needed some soap and water action to clean off the top dirt.

I have ten French garden chairs which I repaired back in 2016.  I think I purchased these chairs circa 1981.  They had rusted a bit and some paint was chipped off.

Although difficult to notice in this photo the garden chairs had lots of rust.

I used 2 cans of Rustoleum white spray enamel to paint the wood and the metal.

We use these chairs with seat cushions for added stability.

They are certainly spruced up. (We can only find 9 of the original 10 chairs.  What’s up with that?)

These chairs had deteriorated in the past 2 years.

On the same day I touched up the green Adirondack chairs we use around the fire pit.  I bought, assembled, and painted these 4 chairs back in 2019.

The seat paint especially had worn off.

They also had weathered even though we store them in the shed during winter.

I painted the front of the back, then the arms, then the seat, and finally the back of the back.

Since they only needed touching up I used a brush instead of a sprayer this time.

Before (Very close to actual color — Tradd Street Green)

After

The color is Tradd Street Green, a former historic color from Benjamin Moore which I had mixed in an exterior paint from by Sherwin Williams. (I originally bought this paint color for the exterior doors at the shore house.)

The newly painted chairs around the fire pit and a hint to our color theme.

Can’t wait to set up the party venue.

Another hint to our 3-color theme.

Jo

August, 2021: Plans

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Whew! August!! The dog days!!!

While I’m not trying to tax myself in what is usually a very hot month, I have added some tiny tasks to my list that need to be finished.  I am committed to lightening my possessions and clearing the clutter.

  1. Get a haircut.
  2. Work on a cool project:  pond at the shore house.

    Hoping to follow suggestions to clear the pond water.

  3. Al fresco get-together.

    Invitations will go out in emails early in the month.

  4.  See a movie: The Long, Hot Summer. 
  5.  Read a book:   The Hamlet by William Faulkner.
  6.  Get rid of 20 books.

    I’m reading then letting go some books that adorn my bedroom shelves.

  7. Repair shingle on east side of house.
  8. Paint trim on round window.

    The exterior trim of round window in the conservatory bathroom needs priming and painting.

  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: COMMITMENT .
  10. Write a goal list for September, 2021.

Jo

July, 2021: Checked

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Whew! July is a celebration of summer from the very beginning of the month. In Maryland it’s hot and sultry.  Thankfully we are partially air-conditioned and have kept our cool.

In addition to the numbered items below:

  • I made reservations for breakfast, transportation, spa, and tour for our first scheduled day in Iceland this fall.

    The plan is to have breakfast under the Viking ship.

    Hope the entry requirements don’t change again.

  • I cleared up and cleaned up the prep sink in our kitchen.

    The sink and counter are tranquil again.

  • I cleaned the front porch and Charlie cleaned the porch rain gutters.
    • The front porch gutters are no longer full of leaves.

Here are the results of the “official” July list:

  1.  Celebrate the 4th of July!!

    Our American flag hangs on the side porch.

    Having given our American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol to its rightful owner, our son, we flew an authorized former version with 48 stars.

  2. Work on a project:  Finish master closet edging.

    Even the shoe towers have been finished with iron-on edging tape.

    Finished — at last!!

  3.  Shred all income tax returns pre-2011. The machine overheated a few times but 10 years of tax returns are now ribbons of nothing.
  4.  See a movie:  Summertime.  This classic from 1955 stars Katharine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi and takes place in a Venice not so different from the one we visited in 2019.

    Much of the movie takes place in Piazza San Marco.

    If you’re looking for romance — this is it.

  5.  Plan a post-COVID party.

    Get Your Game On.

    I have come up with a socially distanced idea which I will implement next month.

  6.  Read a book:  The Summer Book by Tove Jansson is set in Finland but could take place in summer anywhere by the sea.
  7.  See a play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

    The setting for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

    Instead of traditional fireworks on July 4th we went to an outdoor performance at the Olney Theatre performed by the National Players.

  8.  See eye doctor and skin doctor.  Eyes can see very well but need a minor repair and skin is clear of any problems .
  9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: FREEDOM.
  10.  Write a goal list for August, 2021.

Jo

Final Details — A New Septic System

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For over a year we waited for a new septic system to be installed that meets all the criteria of living near the Chesapeake Bay.

This is a large mound.

The sand mound covers a very large area — about 100 feet.

The man near the sand mound is 6 feet tall.

The mound was seeded by the contractor.  Grass is generally recommended as an ideal cover for sand mound septic systems because it has a relatively shallow, fibrous root system that protects the mound from erosion without deep roots that could cause problems.

The small round circle (about 1 foot in diameter) in the foreground is the only access hole to my septic system at The Glade .

In comparison the septic access at the shore house has 5 holes each about 2 feet in diameter.

The septic system has a large holding tank, pump tank, and alarm.

Now a little clean-up is in order. (The oil tank and plumbing vents are new since our purchase of the property in 2019.)

Now that waste water is no longer seeping into the ground near the house we have a few items to neaten up.

The land around the house is generally wet and a little boggy due to its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay.

We’ve been waiting until the septic was fully installed before landscaping the land between the left side of the house and the wooded area.

Now we can get back to more fun and affordable projects at the shore house.

The septic system was a huge project in both money and time and we’re happy it has been completed.

Septic System Posts:

Jo

No Man’s Land

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Our kitchen has 2 sinks — a prep sink on the stove side and a wash-up sink on the coffee bar side.

The wash-up sink is well-used.

The wash up sink has always been Charlie’s and the prep sink mine. We use the wash up sink daily so it stays fairly well cleared up.

The prep sink is used for a variety of tasks.

However I use the prep sink to arrange flowers, wash paint brushes, all sorts of non-cooking activities.  Since it’s on MY side of the kitchen I also allow clutter to accumulate.  After a while I stop seeing the clutter.

I gave the prep sink a good cleaning along with all the adjacent counters.

I decided to tackle it!

Before

After

A basketful of odds and ends has been dispersed.  Now only elements that might be used to prep food or flowers are housed nearby.

The sink and counter are tranquil again.

My plan is to do manage tiny vignettes of clutter all over the house in the next 6 months so 2022 will begin with a lightened outlook.

Jo

In the Master Closet

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Over the past year I have been working on final improvements to the closet in the master suite.

My clothes are on the left.

Unfortunately I am an 80-percenter which means I’m almost finished with a few details left:

  1.  Touch up the ceiling paint,
  2.  Iron on the face frame trim,
  3.  Clear out the tools and paint supplies.

Our old closets opened right into the bedroom. The doors were never closed and always looked a cluttery mess.

This closet has been such an asset considering where we used to keep our clothes.

Basic function for 6 years.

Before

After.

I have finished touching up the ceiling.

Even the shoe towers have been finished with iron-on edging tape.

I have finally finished ironing on the trim.

I used to hang outfits from any empty hanger.

I installed 3 hooks on the front of the closet boxes.

Now tomorrow’s clothes are hung together in easy accessibility.

I hung some hooks for on the front of the towers so we can preview ensembles.

Tools and clutter have been cleared from the back of the closet.

I have made room in the laundry closet for tools and paint I want to keep upstairs.  All other items are now stored in the basement.

Now we both have matching wooden hangers.

And I bought Charlie 50 wooden hangers for his side of the closet.

An organized closet is a pleasure.

These tasks don’t seem like much but having them finished is certainly a load off my mind.

Jo

Celebrate Your Independence!!!

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Happy 4th of July!

Many people — unknown to us — have given their lives for our freedom.

We’re celebrating over a long weekend by:

  • attending church,
  • taking in some al fresco theatre,
  • having a cookout.

Our American flag hangs on the side porch.

So proud to be an American.

Jo

Ponding 1

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Now that the sand mound septic system is fully installed I’m turning my thoughts to the pond.

The pond in May, 2019 — looks more like a mud hole.

The pond is tiny and natural and in need of some attention.  As you may recall last year we put in a bale of barley straw to dissuade algae from growing.  We didn’t see much improvement over the past year.

We can see the minnows and hear the bull frogs.

At the very lease we know the pond is stocked with bull frogs and minnows.

Sticky bladed grasses grow up around the pond.

I emailed the University of Maryland county extension agency to seek help in getting the murkiness out.  I was informed that the green surface color is microscopic phytoplankton (algae) which is supported by nutrients or sediment going into the pond.

My goal is to have greenish rather than brownish water as clear as possible.

After speaking on the phone for a few minutes with the pond specialist I learned that some phytoplankton ( heleoplankton in ponds) is good because it produces oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, a process which converts carbon dioxide and sunlight into sugars the organism can use for energy. (One type of phytoplankton, Prochlorococcus, releases countless tons of oxygen into the atmosphere. It is so small that millions can fit in a drop of water. About 70% of the oxygen in earth’s atmosphere is produced by marine plants.)

Close-up of the grass around the pond — southern cut grass?

He also asked me to take close up photos of any aquatic plants I might want to control.  I’m going to take photos and let the agent tell me if a plant good or bad.

I guesstimate the pond is approximately 400 square feet.

Hoping to make this “water feature” a lovely asset to the property at the shore house.

Jo