A Door Able(s)

  

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.