Plum Shriveled Up!

Here's a sampling of our first batch of "sun-dried" tomatoes for the year. We've been enjoying the fresh, ripe cherry and plum tomatoes in salads, soups, pastas, etc., but when they start coming out of our ears, I turn to dehydrating.

I don't know if it's just the variety I planted, or the early lack of rain, or some other microclimate factor, but my Roma tomatoes are quite small this year. But that just makes drying them go all the more quickly. My technique is to slice lengthwise, arrange on a cooling rack, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place in the oven at 200 F. It usually takes at least six hours, but with the small ones, I got it done in just over four.

Another little summer treat is homemade peach milkshakes. I still can't get them to taste quite as good as Chik-fil-a, but I comfort myself that they probably use some less healthy recipe or ingredients!

Now you see it...

Now you don't!

Before:

After:

After all the stress and anxiety of getting the new water heater installed, I have eased the memory by erasing the view of that very appliance. Until we know if a tankless water heater is in the budget, this ceiling mount curtain track and canvas drop cloth will serve the purpose of disguise.

In the photos, it looks vaguely like a tiny European shower or a changing booth for Superman, but I think it looks a bit more attractive in person. And certainly better than a large metal tank with pipe protuberances everywhere!

Coop de Jour

Our little "rag top coop" has a new top! (Sorry for the puns; we've been having a lot of fun at the chicken coop's expense.)

One of our last projects before Jeff is back teaching classes full time was updating the coop. It was built badly, un-plumb, out of square, etc. by the previous tenant, but the posts were set in concrete and it had sides and a door. We had fixed the wire mesh several months ago when the chicks needed an outside home, but it still had no roof. We had tarped it for a little protection from the strong winds, sun, and rain, but that was a very temporary fix at best. So using (almost exclusively) scrap materials laying around the farm, Jeff designed and constructed a proper metal roof.

Just a little shot of the joists and roof underside

After all the effort he put in, I'll be reminding the girls daily that it's time they repay him in eggs!

Nothing Much

Not much bloggable the last few days. Still dealing with the stove in the middle of the kitchen floor, so we grilled out on the back patio yesterday and enjoyed the lovely August weather. I would have never thought the adjective "lovely" could modify any Southern summer month, but it's been wonderfully pleasant the last week or so with mid to high 80's and only slight humidity. The open pasture to the west of our farmhouse allows glorious breezes and stunning sunset sight lines, so we whiled away our dinner hour through the twilight.

The nice weather and abundance of rain has been good for the plants. Here is the Cleopatra Canna:

And the wild Passion Flower vine:

And a small sampling of our Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes (and a few random Roma):

When in doubt...

Always wash your hair before the guy comes to change out your water heater, even if he assures you it will only take a few hours!

The gas line is in, but the troubles ain't over. Everything I worried about happened, and even things I never thought to fret over occurred as well. If it could possibly go wrong, it probably did. But with facing the worst comes the realization that it can only go up from here.

The job of installing the black iron for our natural gas line was suppose take about half a day. Wednesday was that day, but the guys came several hours late after having to go to three supply places for the right materials. Then the kitchen floor got gouged while moving the behemoth range out to get to the shut off valve. This I almost expected, so I took it in stride. Jeff had to remove one of the air conditioner ducts for the workmen to get into the crawlspace, so the house naturally wasn't cooling as well. It was very humid yesterday and the men were coming and going and basically had to leave the door wide open, so it was getting uncomfortable fast.

Then there were some unexpected glitches that required the guys to leave several times for more parts, more tools, etc. So it's pushing seven o'clock at night and none of the appliances are hooked up. Then the water heater, that was delivered in the morning and sat there all day, is discovered to be a 50 gallon instead of a 40 gallon. Usually a bigger tank would not be a bad thing, but it's two inches larger in diameter and we don't have any extra room for that. So we tell them to go on home and we'll deal with swapping it out in the morning. Which leaves us with no gas, no hot water, and my stove sitting in the middle of the kitchen. So no dinner, either. But what we do have is a constant leak out of one of the open pipes to the disconnected water heater, which necessitates leaving another faucet on in the "hot" position to divert the small stream of water down a drain (don't ask why this worked, it's a long story).

This morning, after a cold sponge bath, we get the water heater swap worked out. But that means our crew doesn't get started until almost 11 am. Which is okay, since it gives time for the rain to clear up and most of the mud to dry, so it doesn't end up in the house. With the new water heater is a sudden sunny moment. The pressure relief valve, an obstruction that juts out from the water heater at a bad place, can be relocated to an alternative port on the top! Hurrah, this is great news. Except the guys don't have the right socket size to get the nut out. So Jeff volunteers to go to the store and get one. He does, and after quite a struggle, they get it out. Except this isn't an alternative port for the TP valve as the workman thought, it's a very necessary component of the water heater. So the nut goes back in, the valve moves back to its previous undesirable location, and we've spent an hour on this little learning moment. Back to business.

After a few unpleasant discoveries as to the location and orientation of a couple of the new pipes, installation of the lines and appliances continues. Right up until the gas fitter tries to convert the Thermador range and realizes he doesn't have the right tools. And can't get the right tools. No problem, I say. I'll just get the appliance guy to come convert it. Except they are booked up until next Thursday. And the shut off valve has to stay accessible, which means the range can't be pushed in until then. A whole week of tripping over this big stainless steel beast (as I dare not risk additional floor damage by moving it any more than necessary), and no gas for cooking.

It's in the middle of this crisis that we realize something has happened to the hot water lines in the bathroom. They are the only pipes stuck in a concrete slab, so we have very few options for replacing them. Being old and galvanized, every time the pipes are drained and then filled, I think a little piece of them dies. They don't quite perform as well with each restart, and today was no exception. The hot water at the sink faucet is at about half the volume of the cold. Thankfully, the shower is better, but it's still noticeable. Perhaps some of it is due to the kink in the hot water connector off the water heater that Jeff noticed after the installers left.

Oh well, we survived the last few days and I imagine we'll manage the next week or so. Hungry, but clean. Things could be much worse. Every time we go through something like this, I learn to be more thankful for the convenience we do have, and I learn to beat my prayers a little more fine for the next time around!

Newest Addition

Jeff told me today he's excited about our new addition. I had to laugh, because to anyone else, that would sound like we're bringing a baby (or at least a baby animal) home. But no. Our new addition is actually to the home!

We are moving into Phase 2 of the bungalow renovation. This is the chapter in which Jeff and Sarah get a real bedroom and bathroom of their very own.

Since it's only the two of us to begin with, I suppose all the bedrooms and bathrooms are technically ours. But we are currently residing in what should be (and will be) the study. And we are using what should be (and will be) the downstairs hall/guest bath. The upstairs of the house has been mostly lonely, lowly storage facilities. But it's a great space with two semi-finished (by 1920's standards, anyway) bedrooms, and another unfinished space with lots of potential for the master bedroom.

But no bathroom upstairs. And no good way to use one of the existing rooms for that purpose. So the plan is to add a large gabled dormer into the attic space on the rear of the house, like so:

Existing floor plan:

Proposed plan:

When Jeff first saw this version of my plan, he said I was dreaming big. But after getting some quotes, searching for salvaged building materials, and being thrifty, I think we can get the custom tiled shower, the free-standing clawfoot tub, the double vanities, and the tall triple windows all within our cash-only budget. Oh yeah, and the room to contain it all, too!

Inspiration shower:

Tub like this, but under three longer windows (minus the seaside view):

Two vanities, arranged a little like this (or maybe just one long one):

As part of the reno, we will have the whole second floor rewired (or wired, as Jeff says, given that there are only three pull chain light fixtures and one electrical outlet in the entirety of the upstairs). We'll also insulate all the rafter bays and wall cavities, most likely with a new spray foam application that also acts as an air barrier. Not that old houses are drafty or anything; we just feel the need to be on the cutting edge of building science ;-). If I can find a good deal or a gently used version, we'll also upgrade to a tankless water heater to save space in the mudroom/laundry. We are slowly but surely nudging this old lady of a house into a fresh and stylish new lifestyle.

Zoological

Jeff and I took our nieces to the Memphis zoo a few weeks ago on our way to Edmond, OK to meet up with my sister-in-law. Bekah had never been to a zoo before, and I've never seen pandas, so it was a good enough reason to make a special trip! We had a great time and even managed to stay decently cool, given all the shade and water features they employ.

D-I-Why????

Jeff came up with that clever blog post title today after we were about to tear our hair out. It's been a stressful past few days after returning from our trip to Edmond, OK. We had some fun final days with the nieces and a much needed break for the weekend, but now it's back to the grind!

While still away, we received a phone call from our pet sitter that there was a problem with the inground dog fence. The transmitter was beeping the warning tone that something was wrong with the electronic barrier and the dog collar wouldn't work. Thankfully, she caught the problem before DaVinci got out. But that meant he had to go back on the tether, which he now hates after having a taste of freedom.

The tether had accidentally been cut by the limping lawn mower (more about that later) in a necessarily hasty cutting of the grass a few days prior. So first Jeff had to repair the tether. Then he spent hours on Tuesday and almost all day today trying to find the problem. He cut, he spliced, he repaired, he replaced, he tested; and still the problem remains. We will make one last attempt tomorrow after purchasing some needed supplies, but if this doesn't fix it, I really don't know what we'll do. We're just thankful this didn't happen while the girls were here.

Then there is the problem of the lawn mower. Using an eight year old bargain basement push mower on an acre isn't easy. Add to that the rickety bolts and sloppy handle that let the deck either rise up or scrape the ground at inopportune times, and it's a real treat. Then, the rear tire finally fell off while Jeff was trying to get the yard mowed the morning we left town. He had to rig up a chain to hold it on while he finished, and it still meant he had to hop the back end around on every turn.

The (blessedly) frequent rain recently has meant lots and lots of mowing. Jeff told me he has parked that sorry mower at least five times and said "never again", only to be forced to get it out and crank it up to keep the yard tidy. We have been too busy with other things to research and buy a new one, but as we stare at the jungle that is our lawn already, I'm afraid it just can't wait.

Then there is the gas line. Our propane tank is (finally!) almost out of LP, but now is a bad time to try to get the black iron installed. It means temporarily taking out a piece of ductwork under the kitchen, so no air conditioner while the work is being done! And it requires moving my big Thermador range and a base cabinet, which will likely scrape the kitchen floor and necessitate repairing the finish. And it's another work crew tromping in and out, which means DaVinci has to be shut up so he doesn't accidentally escape, and a whole house mopping once they get done.

Oh yeah, and then there's the fridge door repair. The refrigerator handle suffered some abuse while the girls were here, and on a fancy appliance such as ours, it means the whole paneled door has to come off. That's nine screws and a bit of wiggling and finagling. We have gotten that part done, but now I need to do the required touch ups and repair. And then reverse the process and put it back on. Which is guaranteed to be harder than getting it off!

Add to that the undercabinet lighting and backsplash we need to finish. And the two different contractors I'm meeting with this week regarding our bathroom addition upstairs. And the fact that my favorite chicken was killed a few weeks back. I didn't have time to post about it, but Jeff and I were so upset. Some loose dogs came on the property and got Atomic Cluck. If I had seen it, she might have had a chance, but it was too late by the time we knew about it. So now we're trying to monitor the young birds and keep them safe, which means additional upkeep and repairs to the coop, since they are in it more frequently.

If only there were someone we could hire to do these things. But finding a knowledgeable person you can trust and afford isn't an easy task. So we continue to DIY it all. I'm just thankful Jeff has a flexible work schedule and can devote more time to the fence tomorrow. Because Sunday he'll be driving about seven hours total to two different clubs that will take all day. At least I'll have plenty of projects to keep me busy while he's gone!

Bekah's Book

All of my nieces are great readers. Bekah, the almost-eight-year-old, is no exception. So it wasn't a surprise when she started writing her own little story while enjoying some down time with us last week. It's blossomed into full-on book that her sister has helped type and edit and I have helped lay out. Using Photoshop, we designed a front and back cover, dedication, and text pages. I printed it out and showed Bekah how to stitch it together with upholstery thread. Now she's talking about e-publishing and writing two future novels to complete the trilogy!

Daily Doings

To all you bloggers with children, you have my admiration. I'm not sure how to juggle entertaining the kids, catching teachable moments, staying up on the housework, and photographing and posting about it all.

Jeff and I have had two of my nieces for the past week. We will have them only one more week before rendezvousing in Oklahoma to reunite them with their sisters and mother.

So far we have done the following:

Enjoyed a free lunch at Chik-fil-a courtesy of their "Cow Appreciation" day celebration (it required dressing like a cow).

The chicks have signs that read "Just one of the herd" and "No chickens here!"

Prepared a nice Friday night table setting and dinner.


Taken in a baseball game (and the requisite hot dogs, salty pretzels, popcorn, and cotton candy).

Enlisted our assistants in gardening and potting activities.

Arranged flowers.

Sculpted "found metal" (i.e., some yard scraps Bekah unearthed) with safety instructions and equipment provided by Uncle Jeff.

Invited some neighbors over for casual Mexican on the back porch

Eleven Wonderful Years

As Jeff told me this morning as he left for work, we are in our twelfth year of marriage! It's amazing how time has flown. Our eleventh anniversary was Sunday. We celebrated it simply but enjoyably. Neither of us felt the need to do anything over the top. It sounds sappy, but we both said that every day together is such a joy in and of itself that we didn't need much else. It's really the truth. I get hugs, cuddles, kisses, "I love yous", a helping hand around the house, and compliments every day of the year. We note our anniversary as a way to mark time together, but it needn't be a big show when it still feels like we're on our honeymoon! How true that statement was on the window of our get-away car as we departed the reception all those years ago:





To celebrate yesterday, we did do a light lunch out and go dancing. The local DanceSport chapter has a monthly Sunday dance, and it just happened to fall yesterday, right on our anniversary. We had already been dancing Tuesday, so twice in one week is pretty special, I suppose! One of the board members found out it was our 11th and asked us what our song or wedding dance was, so they could play it for us. We had to admit we didn't have dancing at our wedding (for several reasons), nor do we have "a song". I guess we could rectify that now, but it would be hard to pick just one!

In addition to a meal and dancing, we spent some time reflecting. Life hasn't exactly gone as we expected; but it's better! We did think we would have children, and neither of us thought we would be living in Alabama, but we view it all as blessings and opportunities rather than trials. In eleven years of marriage, we have traveled to ten foreign countries; lived in three states; worked abroad; completed two advanced degrees (Jeff); retired (Sarah); bought and fixed up three houses; raised a fairly decent dog; assembled a small flock of animals; grown spiritually, emotionally, and mentally; maintained a fabulous, fulfilling, and enriching relationship with each other; and only gained about five pounds in the process. So far, I would say it's been a successful marriage!

Drum roll, please

Make that a tentative drum roll, that is. Maybe just a little bongo instead of a snare drum. I have to give that disclaimer because I'm not sure I like the results myself, but here it is.

The guest bedroom is painted. It's not done, because I'm still planning the bedding, window treatments, lighting, accessories, etc., but I used what I have on hand to make it liveable. Since my nieces are arriving any day now, I just wanted to get some fresh paint on the walls of their guest room. But I didn't have time to take the doors down to properly paint them and strip the hardware, so just squint hard to ignore the minty green. So here it is, my unusual color choice of...SMURPLE (that is, Sarah's Murky Purple).

 Before:

After:


Before:

After:

This is a very new shade for me. In fact, it's a new shade for anyone, because it's a bit of our own concoction. It was intended to be Sherwin Williams Chinchilla, but due to some irregularities with their formulas, they couldn't get it to match their own sample. Jeff and I had to play with it until we got what we wanted (though I'm not sure now it's what I wanted, or maybe it was and I just don't want it anymore)!

I actually think the color looks better in the pictures than it does in real life. It can take on a very blah brown hue at times. This room has large west-facing windows and gets a lot of strong afternoon sunlight, so I know it can handle a dark, rich color, but I'm not sure this is the shade. I really wanted to make the lovely molding more prominent, and the contrast between the dark background and the creamy trim does certainly accentuate that.

This room is still in store for lots of changes. We haven't even decided if this is the furniture we will use in here. We have an antique iron bed that I would prefer to see, but placement gets tricky because of all the doors and windows. I also have an antique mantle stored in the shop, and one of these days we'll see about opening up the old firebox in this room. The hearthplate and chimney are hidden in the bumpout behind the dresser, but I can just imagine the white mantle centered on that wall, under the pastoral painting. So stay tuned for future developments in the Smurple (or maybe not) bedroom!

Fantastic Fourth

We had a lovely Fourth of July celebration. The house was already festooned with flags, so we enjoyed a relaxing morning around the house, packed a picnic lunch, and headed out to the point for the Spirit of America celebration. It's held on the banks of the Tennessee River at Point Mallard Park and locals and guests alike turn out for picnics, boating, golf cart parades, live bands, a local pageant, and fireworks. We saw Miss Alabama, viewed dancing exhibitions of all sorts (ballet, tap, jazz, impromptu kids, etc.), heard instrumental and vocal music, and feasted our eyes on a rousing  fireworks display.

Woodland Creatures

We really enjoy the antics of the squirrels, birds, chipmunks, and other wildlife around the house. Now that DaVinci has run of the whole yard, I'm a little concerned for their peace of mind. But so far they haven't gone into the hiding and we have capture a few charming photos.

Thirsty squirrel sipping from birdbath

Don't you just want to rub that little white belly?

Squirrel hunkering down as blue jay divebombs

Caulk Talk

I have been itching to paint the downstairs guest room, but it is a daunting job. Painting walls is rather simple; almost fun, when you realize how much of a dramatic change you can achieve with just a gallon or two of paint. Painting the ceiling is not so pleasant, but it goes pretty quickly since it's just one expanse (although you have to keep drips and spatters from furnishings and floors). Painting trim is probably my least favorite job; it's meticulous work, the high sheen paint shows every flaw, and this house has miles of molding (an attractive problem to have, but there it is nonetheless).

But this particular job doesn't just require painting three surfaces three different colors and sheens. It requires a thorough, deep cleaning of years of accumulated debris. And sanding and caulking off years of abuse. Then there are holes to fill, dents to flush out, gaps to hide, cracks to smooth, wood and wall boogers to scrape, etc., etc,. etc. And not just on the moldings, but in the plaster, on the paneled doors, at every juncture and join and seam.

I've been prepping for the past two days, and all I see is a maze of messy caulk. But I have finally arrived at the painting stage, so progress is in sight. I just hope my unusual wall color choice is a success, because I doubt I'll be up to redoing it anytime soon!

Several rooms in the house were painted this identical minty green color in flat paint. Walls, trim, doors, all surfaces in an unflattering, unwashable finish. Now that I have to cut in everything, I'm starting to see why they took the easy route!