We are almost at the end of the decent weather for the
months to come. While it is still mild most of the time, we have had one
snowfall. It lasted less than the full morning that it fell, but there have
been what my family always called ‘hard frosts’ the last few days. And, a major
marker in the year, deer hunting started here today. I have heard a few rifle
shots, but when I passed the hunt camp next door to us this afternoon, there
was no deer carcass hanging, so either that camp has not been successful or it
was another hunter that I heard. I can still go out into the screen room with
some comfort and so I do hear the guns.
Most of the leaves are down, as well. The oaks are
hanging on, but even the tamaracks are pretty denuded. The palette in the bush
has gone to greys and browns with a few notes of rust and, of course, the deep
greens of the evergreens. JG has been sweeping and raking to get the worst of
the leaves off the ‘lawn’ (there is so much twitch grass that it is a bit
presumptuous to call it that). And yesterday was a grey day with drizzles of rain
that did not amount to much. What it did do is wet down the leaves and now JG is raking by hand. I used to be able to help, horrible job as it is, but now all I can do is watch.
But inside things are improving. JG has hired a finish
carpenter to … finish … the bits of the house that he never got around to doing.
Window surrounds and baseboards, mostly, upstairs. And doors, glorious doors on
my office and to close off the storage cupboard in the wall opposite the
brick chimney wall. I will add photos! There was some question as to whether I
would get the office door since there is a bookcase just inside, but the door swings
and clears. And the door to the bedroom is framed in as are the closet doors in
our bedroom. They are going to get a lick of paint, too, in time.
Our presently fully occupied carpenter is a character.
As he measures and installs, he talks to himself, muttering about measurements
and fit. And there are sighs heaved. And deep breathing. I am trying to stay
out of his way but I am on the same floor of the house, and the ongoing chat,
at full volume, is hilarious. Once he gets this floor done, he is going to be
sent down to the television room, an area which is really, really unfinished at
present, needing mudding on the walls, a ceiling and a partition and door into
the furnace and workroom part of the basement. I think we will have his company
for some time to come.
It is past time to have these things done. It will
make a great difference in the ability to sell this house at a reasonable price
and in reasonable time. I don’t want to think about this ending. The house is
the home we built ourselves. Our forever home. Planned just for our needs. Our
sweat and a few tears and smears of blood from punctures have gone into it. But
it is a long way from anything else. And we are getting old and older. I am not
capable of cleaning the inside myself any more, so it is done for me, but JG is
still doing everything outside but the tree cutting himself and finding it more
difficult and exhausting each year that passes. I must believe and act in the
belief that our days here are numbered and few remain.
Change of topic after a pause while I wrote cheques. While looking for something else, I just fished four pens and three snap lighters out of
my purse’s pockets. I swear the things migrate. Next week I will find them all on
the dining room table or in the pockets of my fall coat. This spring I got out
my raincoat and found half of a dog biscuit in the pocket. I think the
last time I walked the YD’s dog and fed her biscuits was 2018, or thereabouts.
Okay, time to stop maundering on and post this.
