Good morning

Some mornings are better than others.  Today, it feels cool and nice outside.  There is a little smoke in the air but the dew point has dropped so the comfort level is high.  Just wonderful.

Now that I have the bird feeders hung again, the birds are back.  One notable arrival is this young male Cardinal.  He has some work to do on his conehead before he will attract a mate, 

but he is young, it will fill in.

 The Chickadees are busy at the feeders.  It is nice to hear their buzzing sounds as they compete with their pals for the best seeds.

Subject change...

I had a nice surprise this morning.  A neighbor stopped by to give me the name and number of the company he uses to reseal his driveway.  I had stopped at his house when I saw him in his garage one day.  He had promised me he would find the info for me. My drive is about to need resurfacing and I want to be sure to take care of the asphalt before it gets too far along.  In the course of chatting with him about the driveway, he said that they like the political signs that I put up to support the democratic candidates.  I was stunned to hear that.  I really did not think there was another Democrat in my neighborhood.  Then we had a pleasant chat about some of our views on the current political situation in our county and state.  As he left (he said he was taking his dog to the chiropractic Vet in Menomonie) he said what a pleasure it was to talk to me.  

Well, I walked back in the house feeling like I was walking on air.

It is a good morning.

Everything is figure-outable.

A few years ago, I found a little wall decoration that says, "everything is figure-outable".  It made me think of Dad, who was part MacGyver and a master at solving problems.  Often working alone making cabinetry or installing cabinets, he would figure out how to lift, prop,  or manufacture a solution. I like to think problem solving was a trait that made me successful at Coors, and also as a single woman who owns a home.

One of my Coors bosses gave me some sage advice one day.  He said you can't schedule your time so tight doing things, that you have no think time. Think time is what makes for good problem solving.  I have gone back to that notion time and again when I'm faced with a problem. Taking time to noodle on the problem, almost always pays off.

The new mattress and box springs were a little taller than my old set & the old set was plenty high.  I have been waiting to make up the bed to give myself some think time.  If I did nothing, I knew I would grumble everytime I got in and out of bed. My choice seemed to be cutting off the legs of the sled bed about 2 or 3 inches.   I knew this would not be easy and had potential for an unsatisfactory result, plus I might need help.   So, I continued to noodle on it. Sleeping in the guest room is not inconvenient,  so I had time to think. 

When I took the bed apart to clean carpets, I did look at the side rails and made an attempt to remove the support for the slats, thinking I could lower it. But I gave up on that idea because the supports were not only screwed on, but also glued with whatever glue is used in China. I tried giving one them a good knock with a hammer, it did not budge.

This morning, I decided I needed to make that idea work. So,  I leaned the mattress & box spring up against the wall & took one of the side rails out to the garage.  With some encouragement from a chisel and hammer claw, I was able to pop that support off, and then reattach it about 2" lower.  It actually went much easier than expected. 

Once both were done,  I was ready to put the slats back on,  that is when I noticed that the center supports needs to be trimmed 2 inches too. Of course. It just had not occurred to me.  So,  I measured and started to head to the garage to use the chop saw, then something made me come back and remeasure. I had missed the 1inch of the supports, so would have had supports 1" too short.  Measure twice, cut once. Another Dad-ism.  That job went fast, and the bed frame was once again assembled. I flopped the box spring down. Now it fits inside the bedframe.

After

 

This bedroom set was in my house as part of the 'staging. It is not high quality furniture, but looks good from the outside.

I gained 2 inches of height by moving the supports. It is exactly what I needed. 

The chisel was the perfect tool.  Once I got some muscle behind it, the rest was easy.

Two inches doesn't seem like that much looking at it, but it is the difference of being able to sit down on the bed versus having to launch up onto the bed.

Before

It is not a complicated problem to solve, but it did take some think time.

I'm really happy I did not have to mess with cutting the legs off.  Not only for the hassle that would have been, but also because now it is fixed and the design of the bed legs remains unchanged. 

Now that all the work is done, my bedroom is back.

It's all good.

I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight on my new Sealy Posturepedic Opportune II.

Might need a step stool

The delivery guys showed up an hour early, when does that ever happen?  Luckily, I was ready for them and trying to watch a webinar about library trustee responsibility.  I missed the webinar, but was happy to get the delivery and pick up done.

 I thought about cutting the legs down on my bed before reassembling, but thought I'd wait and see how high the new mattress set is.  Now I'm pretty sure want to do that.  I'm deciding whether to do it this weekend with my handsaw or to wait and get some help later.  More to come on that.  I need some noodle time.

Yesterday I put my bird feeders back out after a hiatus in feeding recommended by the Audubon folks who were seeing some disease in songbirds that they did not want to spread via contact at feeders.  Just this week the all clear announcement was made.

Today I had a male cardinal, white breasted nuthatch, rose breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker, goldfinch, chickadee, house sparrow, and a hummingbird did a flyby.  Also, the pesky squirrel was back.  I really did not realize how much I missed seeing my birds.

The plants are starting to look like they are about done.  Most everything is taking on their end of the season look.  I picked up some yellow mums at Aldi today to brighten up things.

The morning glory I planted in my hanging pot has finally bloomed.  It is quite a sight against the backdrop of the dead leaves.

It would have been Dad & Ev's 33rd wedding anniversary today.  

That was quite a day.

They had quite a life together.

Random...

Don't believe I was a majorette?  

Here is my proof, out of one of the old annuals that I looked at during our 50th class reunion.  Top left.

The old one thing leads to another deal

I went to Slumberland to pay for a furniture purchase for our senior citizen group.  While I was there,  I decided to look at mattresses.  Found one I liked,  it is going to be delivered tomorrow. 

I wanted to deep clean the bedroom,  much overdue.  

I pulled the old mattress & box spring out to the garage.  

Then I started vacuuming.   In the process of moving the bed frame around,  I discovered that it came apart quite easily.  Once I moved it out,  it was much easier to get the carpet vacuumed good.  Then I decided to pull out the carpet cleaner and shampoo the carpet.

But, the old carpet cleaner would not squirt the water and detergent. It's old,  Laila gave it to me when I moved since she had 2.  I've used it a ton.   I tried some trouble shooting with the help of the YouTube. In the end, I ordered a new one from Farm & Fleet. Picked it up at the drive-thru & got to work.  It was a work out, but I'm pleased with the results.  Hopefully it dries overnight so I can put the bed back in tomorrow morning.  🤞

The new mattress set is coming at 1pm.

 

Before I got the new cleaner, I was thinking about calling the flooring folks about putting luxury vinyl in the master. But now, I think this carpet is good for a few more years.

Now that I'm about done with the bedroom, I'm thinking I can get after the sewing room. I have ideas for a major reorg in there.

One thing,  and then another.

Back in the red

 

Very sad to say, here we go again.

Schools are starting, mask wearing is under debate at school board meetings everywhere and hospitals are facing full beds and ICU capacity limits.

It sucks.

I was hoping with vaccines, this would be over. 

So I'm going back to minimal contact. 

We have taken a hiatus from the bridge group.

I was hoping to go, in person, to volleyball games, but, for now, I'll have to settle for watching the live stream, when available.

I hope that final FDA approval gets some more people to get vaccinated. 🤞

Nearing the end

 I'm not keeping up with water and fertilizer like I was,  so the potted plants are on their way out I guess. 

Coleus has flowered. 

Verbena still looks pretty good. The leaves are turning silvery, but the flowers are still vibrant.

The Memorial Day petunias are waning.  They still look for from afar.

The Morning Glory blooms sure are pretty.

I'm

I went to the Farmer's Market this morning.  Picked up some tomatoes and a kholarabi. It was a pleasant morning & the vendors were chatty. 

One lady had a table of jewelry.  I bought a fun spiral bracelet for $5.

I like it,  I might look for another next week. 

Patriotic duty

 A friend recently said to me, "I didn't serve in the military,  but I serve my country every day when I wear a mask and encourage others to do the same."

I have to agree. 

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Today I picked up my Kenny sign, I put it out by the county road.  As I ran errands today,  I noticed quite a few around town.  I bought an extra one for the Cameron Library, I'll take it there later.

It is not every town that has a Silver Medal winner as one of their own. 

🥈

I had my second Shingrex vaccination on Monday, my arm was a little sore, but that is all.  Yay.  I'm so glad to have that done.  I have a friend who got shingles and she is in pain everyday and the doctor says she will probably have it the rest of her life.  Get the shot.

I had another good appt with my nutritionist. -1/2 lb and now I meet with her again in 2 weeks.  Hopefully I'll have a successful 2 weeks.

Catching up

Today was a beauty!  Summery but this evening was perfect on the deck.  Barley and I took advantage of some time with her in the cat cabana.  What drove us inside was when it got too cool!  

Barley is not learning how to be a lap cat, not at all.  She insists on laying on my neck & shoulder.  This photo shows her stretched across my shoulder & under my chin, with her head resting on the recliner.  What a silly girl.

 

School friend Jeri offered up some Moonbeam Coreopsis out of her flower bed.  I drove up to Shell Lake and dug up about 5 large clumps.  This guy was hanging out on a plant near by.  Looks like a Monarch.

On Saturday, I attended a memorial for Dad's good friend Erling.  After, I visited around Luck a bit and met SIL Lois's new kitten Mocha.  She is tiny and very sweet.

Mocha

Thursday, friend Mary came down to spend the night.  We visited the Country Lane Market in the afternoon.  This is a huge market with a few veggies but everything else under the sun.

Including a train ride.  Very clever.  At $2.50 a ride, this pays for itself in no time at all.

Earlier this summer, friend Carol offered up some plants out of her yard.  These are called Obedient plant (physostegia Virginiana) or false dragonhead.

It has a very pretty flower and spreads readily.

My hops are wounded this year.  It got too hot and dry & I did not get them watered.  There are cones, but they are small and have some brown spots.  I pledge to do better next year.

Yesterday I bought a new string trimmer.  I decided I wanted a gas trimmer to start cleaning up around here.  My battery powered trimmer just wasn't mean enough.

I got it put together and started it up this afternoon.  I did a little work in the back yard and can see it is just what I wanted.  Tomorrow the weeds will be under attack!

There, now I am caught up for a little bit.

Good one

 Sometimes I see something on FB or Twitter that really gets me. 

I saw this today and I really like it, I don't want to forget it so am saving it here.

It seems like it works.

I had a good meeting with my personal nutritionist today.  She is a nice person and quite easy to like.  I'm using the WW tracking to keep touch with my food intake, but I have grown to detest those group weigh ins & meetings.  I like having the accountability and the one-on-one coaching is a luxury.  Insurance will pay as long as I lose 6+lbs per month, I've met that goal for this month.  The check-ins will be every other week after next week's appointment.

Done ✅

  Glenn and I met over at West Denmark again this morning. He arrived about half an hour before I got there and I was a 1/2 an hour early... So when he says 10 o'clock I guess he means 9 o'clock. 

Anyway, his work was done by the time I got there. He had stabilized the legs. Then the 2 of us got busy working on sanding it a bit and then we spray painted it brown.

It is a nice improvement to how it looked before we started and the bench should last for a number of years now that it is protected by a coat of paint and the legs are no longer sitting on the damp ground.

Aunt Johanne and 'cousin' Erling would be happy.  Dad would be happy too, he liked the idea of benches, and this is a nice spot to sit once again.

Before

I should also say that this spot was originally created by my Aunt Johanne and Judy's Dad, Erling Grumstrup; maybe as long as 15 years ago (or more). They had placed the marker. Over the years, Mother Nature had overgrown the flower bed and put some wear on the bench.  Judy brought it to my attention; she did the hard work of cleaning out the old plantings & adding some native honeysuckle. Glenn & I had the easier job of fixing up the bench.