This happened two seconds after I said “Wouldn’t it be funny if underneath was the same classic black and white hex tile that we just special ordered?”
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Paul was out of town for work all week, leaving me alone with baby. He worried if I’d be able to manage on my own, I worried if four days would be enough alone time for me!
It was so pleasant to get ready in the morning without tripping over each other. The nights, however, were another story. A heat wave is not kind to 90 year old bungalows without air conditioning. We had installed one tiny window unit it in the hallway, in the only window large enough for an air conditioner, as far away from the only usable bedroom as possible. But it’s two BTU’s struggled to keep the attic rooms below 85 degrees.
Viv didn’t complain, but she was a sweaty miserable little thing. The worst was the heat rash from the car seat straps. Because, like everything in our lives right now, the car too is in need of repair. The A/C is out in the only car that the car seat fits in. We raced to daycare each morning as early as possible, and after work I took whatever circuitous route home that would keep the car in motion, hoping the bit of wind might keep us both from frying. The only hotter and more uncomfortable I’ve ever been was during the deadly heat wave in the south of France in 2003.
The day Paul returned, he suffered through only one sweaty night before figuring out how to rip out a window sash to move the air conditioner in the bedroom. That same day, the weather broke with a cool breeze temps in the low seventies. Of course it did.
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My Little Sister Nevaeh moves to Texas in less than two weeks. Today was our last “Big” outing: a long overdue trip to the zoo.
We’ve made plans to keep in touch, but she didn’t think much of my idea that letter writing will improve her penmanship.
I’m more than a little heart broken to see her go.
I’m not usually the type, but I have always had a feeling that the universe gave me Paul and then Vivienne because I first took a chance on the BBBS program and became Nevaehs Big Sister.
I just wish that if the universe were to be good to me again, it will take care of her and turn things around for her and her family.
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Before and After shots of the interior painting in the Tin Can Cottage. What a difference! It’s so much cleaner and brighter. We may have to Kilz and recoat in the dinette area–the smoking decades took their toll–but we are almost done.
Now if only redoing the plumbing were as easy.
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We decided to use carpet tiles in the trailer instead of the cork-patterned vinyl due to both technical difficulties and comfort. Baby Viv will be crawling soon, and it’s much cozier. I found both the carpet tile and the glass mosaic back splash tile on the cheap at HOBO. Gotta love HOBO.
Next task: choosing the laminate for the counter tops (kitchen, bathroom and the bedroom area cabinet). The colors are familiar—BM’s Palladian Blue and Blue Spa paint, two favorites I’ve used for ages. And of course, the never-lets-me-down grey. My beloved LuLu DK curtains will move from our bedroom (where they didn’t really work in the new house anyway) to the trailer, replacing the old plastic accordion bathroom door. Picking colors, coordinating finishes—fun stuff!
Poor Paulie has been dealing with the not-so-fun stuff. Why are pipe fittings always 1/8″ too small? Why are no two caps threaded alike?
And who on earth taught this boy to build a fire? We are the smoky laughing stock of the campsite, I guarantee you.
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We walked to the coffee shop this morning, sat outside and watched the neighbors go by in the sunshine. Then we walked to Atwater beach, pushing the stroller all the way down the new slopping walk way to the water. It was a shame that the water quality level was “Red” (e-coli levels too high); Nevaeh really wanted to dip her toes in the waves. After some testing of the new beach-level playground equipment, we made our way back up the cliff and down the street to City Market for lunch. Nevaeh loves City Market. Of all the things we do together, that is her most frequent request. Then, we had an easy stroll past Viv’s future grade school back to the house. I love our walking neighborhood–it’s the reason I moved to this particular area when I came to Milwaukee four years ago. I can’t believe I own a house here now. Still coming to terms with the bungalow style, but I’m warming up to it, especially the front sunroom.
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Fathers Day part 1 going great! I surprised him with a drop off at the cousins for drinks with his boys and friends –without wife and baby. Stay out late Paulie! Live a little! And let me enjoy the whole bed to myself a little longer.
Part 2 tomorrow—sex and pancakes and auto cross. Not necessarily in that order.
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Despite the dangling amusements at her disposal, the soft cushion beneath her and the simplicity of the task, the existential angst she felt during tummy time was inescapable.
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Grain elevator on Saturday, same location on Tuesday.
We left Edgar on Monday night, said our goodbyes to Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Bunny as clouds gathered overhead. Before heading to the hotel, we stopped at the “Not Dairy Queen” ice cream stand by the public pool in Sutton for our favorite meal of the annual trip–a real hamburger!
The storm really rolled in as Paulie and Dad waited under the little shack’s tin roof for our order. I waved them to come to the safety of the car (and it’s rubber tires as the lightening started to crash), but they waited in the rain. The poor gal behind the counter said, as more customers rolled up, “Where is everyone coming from? Go home. I’m going to die in the Sweet Treat!”. (I’m glad to learn the name of the place–there’s not a sign to be seen that it’s called something other than “the ice cream place”). Dad jokingly said “God be with you!” as he trotted back to the car with the burger bags.
Little did we know that just down the road in Edgar at that very moment, a tornado had touched ground and was pulling up grain elevators and rooftops on the south side of town.
Paulie was up in the middle of the night to take in the storm sights as a second storm front moved through. We didn’t think much of it as we hit the road for the long trip back to Wisconsin at 6am. But at 7pm, when we arrived at Dad’s in Fond du Lac, we learned that Edgar had been damaged by a twister. Everyone is alright, but there’s alot of damage to that little town. The old Hotel roof is gone, which means the Hotel is gone. The grain elevators are tossed to the ground, trees and limbs are scattered everywhere. And power may be out for a few more days.
I’m relieved that everyone is safe and sound….but I have to admit, I’m a bit disappointed that the one time something exciting hits Edgar, we miss it!
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The laundry room is coming together at last! Both machines are working. They hum like an old Chevy; so solid and smooth. I LOVE these machines. When we took the previous “new” washer out to the garage (on it’s way to a new craigslist owner), I was reassured that my choice of 30 year old machines was a good one. The 3-year old new set was tin-y, plastic-y and cheap. These, by comparison, are built like tanks. So appropriate for this little brick house.
I painted the block walls today. Yes, I already owned a gallon of the spot-on oatmeal color to compliment the Maytags. Then I added the grey rug previously in the Wildwood nursery, a hanging rod and a classic chair to hold the laundry basket. Just need the permanent dryer vent hose connected and it’s all set. There are plans to put up “walls” of pegboard in the dark, creepy corner to the side of the dryer, and to paint the entire basement floor, but those projects will wait for now.
Now, I have another (and another and another) load of laundry to do!
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