Indoor/Outdoor

Walls after stain blocker has been applied

Ceiling done, walls trimmed. 

Since we have started to see something that could vaguely described as "Spring" outside projects have begun to dominate our time at the house. However, I still have one major indoor project that I really need to wrap up, so I'm pushing forward with the vestibule. Around the beginning of the month I applied B-I-N primer and stain blocker. This B-I-N stuff is a real pain in the neck to apply, very watery and drips everywhere but comes highly recommended. It did a nice job hiding the horrible crime scene level stains that were revealed under the wallpaper and allowed me to more easily apply the final paint coat. To be honest, it still took three coats for the ceiling but I think it could have been double that with out B-I-N. As of this writing I've got one coat on the walls and another is in order. We'll see if a third will be needed. Then, I'm still not done as I plan to add some simple crown molding along the ceiling to finish off the room and hide some sub par repair work by yours truly. There's also the task of finding a new light fixture to replace the hideous $7.99 special currently hanging from the ceiling.

I had already cleaned out the fireplace after our "last" fire of the season weeks ago. Then "May" struck and it was so cold some nights we fired it up again. This left me with a dirty fireplace once more. I love the thing but a damp day will make the old ashes stink up the house with an old burned smell so I once again cleaned out the fire box and put more ornamental logs in the rack (I burned the last ones on a cold night lol). We'll see if we make it through "June" without the need of a fire.

New grass seed. My beloved Charger in the background
keeping me company with music through the radio. 

Outdoors the work is harder but no less needed. Biggest ongoing project is the root mass and weed garden that currently makes up our "lawn" in front of the porch. I spent most of one day with a rake and pick mattock digging thru the root mat the lovely shrubs left behind. When I could no longer lift my arms I decided to try to plant grass using a seed/mulch/food mixture. I'm hoping this takes and I can just allow the mother nature to take her course with whatever's left. Through the day, I had two more neighbors stop by and compliment me on the work we've done so far and how happy they are to see the house improved. It's very gratifying and encouraging.

One of the plantings. They've actually perked up a bit
since I took the photo.

We were generously provided with some outdoor plantings by Mike Kenderes (Cindy's Uncle) and I've managed to plant them. In the spirit of full disclosure, you should know that despite having a father who could plant and grow anything, and a brother who is essentially a truck farmer that is feeding a good part of the poor in Champaign/Urbana Illinois at no cost to them, I am the Grim Reaper of anything green. Undeterred by my past record, I'm nothing if not stubborn and have forged ahead and planted a beautiful ornamental ground cover which I cannot name. It's supposed to be bullet proof and "grow anywhere". We shall see.

Otherwise, the weekly mowing of the loose collection of weeds I call the north lawn continues by hand mower. I am still looking and considering a riding tractor but I really don't mind the hour or so of pushing it takes me with the old mower. Only down side is the backache I get because the damn handle is too low. Being tall can be a real disadvantage when it comes to things that are designed for average size folks. Stooping over to push a lawn mower is a prime example. My 10+ year old mower has been running good, especially considering I perform zero maintenance on the thing. I've never changed the oil, just check to see it has some, and have only changed the air cleaner once despite a twice yearly recommended interval. It has been running rich and surging so I did take the old air cleaner off and was immediately amazed that it was even running. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a dirty air cleaner. I have the parts and will make my second ever air cleaner replacement soon.

Geno update: Cindy's dad continues to make slow improvement, but not without setbacks. She visits him daily and I often so. On good days he converses in full sentences and feeds himself. Most importantly we continue to see improvement and hope to see him back to himself one day soon.

Coming soon: Adams Family house next door is being taken on by yet another aspiring owner. My money is on the house. Also, runs, drips, and errors, a plumbing story.