The spruced up den and other projects

Sometime around 1990 Dad mentioned that he'd like to replace the metal windows in our den.

Instead we bought (and 6 or 8 years later threw away) heavily-insulated roman shades.

Then we installed a ceiling fan to move alternately hot and cold air.

We built a second home that has ceiling fans to move alternately hot... (you know the story)

We built a new room and a garage with his and her closets... his tools and bikes, my gardening toys and tools... they are a bit larger than our clothes closets, and much more fun.

Sometime in 2010, Barby suggested we build a bigger bathroom.

Dad mentioned that he'd like to replace the metal windows in our den.

Generally I figure 2-5 years between birth and execution of home improvement ideas

But... here we are after 20 years, on DAY ONE:

Hope we like it, 'cuz we're in it...deep.

'Course there is that metal window in my little office, so it seemed a no-brainer to replace it too. Right, Tommy?

Oh yes, there's another metal window. The one in the upstairs bathroom. Tommy, you do understand that we must do something about that too, right?

Meanwhile, by DAY THREE, things are showing promise in the den. You may notice that the trim looks new. The room had three different trims. We couldn't leave that the way it was. Course we found a little rotten wood; you can see the replacement door frame in the middle of the next picture:

Well! what do you think? After nine days we've got our den back!

Almost. The cupboards will be inaccessible once we put the love seat back. So, we emptied them, sent tons of paper to recycling, and put new stuff back there. It's the Princess Trail Time Capsule.

My office is ready, it's in it's usual state, a cozy place somewhere between a mess and chaos.

The bathroom will take a little longer. Perhaps I didn't mention that while we replace the window it would be foolish not to do something about the floor. It would be inconceivable not to replace the light fixture and the towel rods. And the medicine cabinets were gross. The wallpaper is in the trash, and Margaret Arthur chose new paint colors.

Almost forgot, I need to do something about those vanity drawer knobs. One more trip to HP.
One last picture. The Time Capsule is sealed (sort of), and here is the other side of our den.

One more last picture and one last story:

The den TV died a month or so ago. I suggested to Dad that we take the TV from that new room we built and put it in the den. Then we could get a bigger TV for the new room. THIS WAS NOT A 2-5 YEAR DEAL. I almost got whiplash Dad got me to the TV store so fast. Another view of the den:

Next project: teach Barby which remote to use.

Thanks, Pops, and, I love you guys.

Beer and Berries and (apple) Blossoms

Last night I put slug traps in the strawberry patch. Mapco doesn't carry screw-top bottles, so after popping open the can and filling the slug traps,

Dad and I, hating as we do to waste anything, frugally finished the leftover hops.

This morning the traps held a dozen plus slugs and snails who had gleefully drowned themselves in a late-night binge, and I picked the first few berries of the season.

To quote a song that I once heard on Broadway: Small pleasures, small pleasures, who would deny us these... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXRPxv77gN0

Tracker continues to earn his right to sleep in the garage, thanks to his hunting and tracking. Besides the occasional squirrel, possum and vole, he brings in three to four chipmunks a week. If you could watch him play cat and chipmunk you would not doubt that the natural world (the world of the naturalist?) is a cruel place and life for most animals in the wild is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. (I admit my role as accessory in this matter and justify it without qualm as I claim the right to keep the fruit of these labors from ones who would take it from me. I remain, Libertarian and Republican to my core.)

And a huge thanks to Pops.
I have wanted a third apple tree for some time. We planted it last weekend. It is a huge job to plant one tree and I have no idea how orchards get planted.

The trees arrive with bare roots and just a 3' tall stick to go above ground. Yesterday after just three days in the dirt, the little stick showed a few tiny buds.

No apples off this third tree for 2 or 3 years, as they establish themselves much better if the blossoms are pulled off before the fruit forms during the early years.

Not to worry, looks like a great crop from the 2 established trees, will give plenty of applesauce for the grands.

Thanks to Debby for a great visit and for the pictures and post of our time in Niceville 1 1/2 weeks ago. Looking forward to seeing the Wilsons and their new property next weekend

love you guys

Hunters and Trackers

Fischer and Tracker observe their world unnoticed by all but the most observant.

This week they brought us a squirrel, 3 baby possums, and a vole. In addition I saw tracker with chipmunks in his mouth on two separate occasions. He must have others with whom he shares his delicacies.

Dad is in western PA for a meeting today; home before bed tonight. Then, we are looking forward to getting in on some of that beach time Debby has me drooling over.

Tea and Parties

I've been a little intimidated by the condescending attitude taken by many towards what is now considered to be a movement.

Well, I stumbled on an article which details surveys by Gallup and the Winston Group. (I copied 3 charts from the article.)

The bottom line is that people who identify with the tea party movement reflect the larger population more than one might think from listening to the news. The tea party group follows the general population by education, employment status, race and age. (There are slightly more men, and the average income is slightly higher)

Although 70% are conservative (30% call themselves moderate or liberal), only 49% call themselves Republican. The remainder are Independents and Democrats.

I went to the tea party meeting in Chattanooga last summer, and i strongly identify with what I have heard of the movement. And I think it is a healthy phenomenon--good for the country.

Don't let anyone tell you it is a racist group or a right wing group. It's just people who think the country has gone too far, and there's too much meddling in our lives.

love you guys

Debby-inspired Bread-making

Now that we've eaten baby bunny bread and it was good, I'll tell the rest of the story. When I was about to shape the dough into a bunny, a light went on and I realized that I had left the honey out of what we call "Honey Bunny Bread" Oops. So I measured the honey and tried to incorporate it into the already-sticky dough. Pretty messy. I dumped it back into the mixer and added a bit more flour. TaDahh. It mixed in just fine and on i went with the process.

And the bread was good.

A metaphor for our lives as Christians? We mess things up good, but there is forgiveness, and when final meal is set, all will be well.

HE IS RISEN. RISEN INDEED.

I wouldn't have made bunny bread this year except that Debby has inspired me to incorporate bread-making into a week's routine.

Now here is a recipe that Debby found and sent to me. Yesterday I started it at 5 p.m. and we left with one of the warm loaves a bit before 7. During risings I was able to shower, clean up the kitchen and get ready to go out. The bread was a hit at dinner.

I adapted it a bit, and it is so easy that I want to pass it on.

Easy French Bread

(It makes 2 small loaves but recipe may be doubled to make 2 large or 4 small loaves. One small loaf serves 4)

Proof Yeast

1T yeast

¼ c warm water

1 t sugar

Mix

1 c warm water

1 T olive oil

1 T honey

Combine

3 to 3 ½ c (white) bread flour

1 t salt

Combine yeast, honey, and flour mixtures. Mix well with dough hook.

Knead 8 minutes.

Cover and allow to rise in bowl until double.

Punch down then allow to rest 10 - 15 minutes.

Divide dough. On floured surface, roll into rectangles.

Roll up from long edge.

Place loaves on greased cookie sheet, make slashes diagonally across top.

Allow to rise until double.

Brush with:

melted butter

Bake @ 400º for 20 minutes

I quit baking bread because of Debby. I was concerned that yeast spores, prevalent in a home where bread is baked frequently, was contributing to a health problem she was having. And now, 25 or so years later, I am having a blast baking bread, thanks to Debby's inspiration.

love you guys,

mom

Easter and Spring and Strawberries

Made Baby Bunny Bread today by halving the Honey Bunny recipe. It looks fine; hope it meets the taste test in the morning.

Wednesday there was no sign of phlox... a favorite spring flower. Thursday a few buds were visible and today I spotted the first signs of blue. Wednesday and Thursday I wondered with the cold winter if there would be strawberries. Friday morning... nothing, by noon there were a few buds, and by the end of the day there were a dozen or more. Today a few of the blooms had already set, as in... you could see tiny berries, the size of a pinkie nail. Now for apple blossoms!

Happy Spring to all. Give thanks to the One who bore our sins and rose again on the third day.

love you guys, mom

It's been worse

Too young to remember, or have you forgotten?

16% Inflation

22% Interest Rate

70% Marginal Tax Rate

14% Unemployment

10 Former Friends Fall to our worst enemy

The Collapse of Iran

for 144 Days 53 American Hostages Held by Iran

41 Republicans in Senate

THAT WAS 1978

In 1979: Revolution through the Ballot. Ronald Reagan elected president

Republicans take back the Senate.

There is hope.

Next time: what I have heard on the dem’s strategy to maintain power.

For Now: We live our lives with a determined confidence that God is good no matter what happens.

Love you guys