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| Fern very nice this year |
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| Elderberries ripening |
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| Invasive Honeysuckle??? |
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| Daylily |
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| Yardman— AKA > Rock Wall Builder |
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| New project work |
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| Home patio base |
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| Garden Wall |
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| Crocosmia 'Lucifer' |
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood ... and I should wash the 13 cabin windows! Each one has 6 panes. One is filled with the A/C. That makes it only 12. Oh well, now I will have to have 'someone' do it this Spring. It is a tricky procedure here. First of all you can only clean the storm windows from the outdoor side. To get the inside of the storm windows you have to open the inside window. Sounds easy, right? NOT! Furniture has to be moved. Curtains have to be taken down. The nails that hold the latches tight have to be removed. The sliding latches have to be unlatched - sometimes with a hammer. Then, sometimes the window still won't swing inwards and you have to take a large putty knife and pry the frame to get it to open. THEN... you can clean the inside of the outside storm window, clean the outside of the inside window, shut it and secure it and clean the inside of the inside window. Then put everything that you moved or took down, back! It is a fun job that the Mister always did every year and both 2020 and 2021 it has not been done.
It really didn't used to be so hard but traffic has picked up on the dirt road making terrible dust over the years here and we have sealed the storm windows with putty. The windows are never opened anymore except the inside ones to clean the glass. Enough dust seeps in the old cabin anyway. For fresh air, the front and side doors are equipped with screen doors. Besides all of that, the settling of the logs has made window opening and closing very difficult.
So, here I am, looking out through sunny and hazy windows hoping for a seasonal change that I know will come - in its own time. It could be worse, right? I love my home and I'm lucky to have one!
Once upon a time, in the years of 1970-1972 there was a family of 8. The mother’s parents had built a simple log cabin on a piece of wooded land next to a lake. Her parents worked very hard to make this little mountain retreat a warm and welcoming place. They shared it with many of their friends and family for weekend enjoyments throughout the three warmest seasons. The family of eight often traveled the two hours from their home to this little family place. Sometimes they came when it was winter and had to re-open and start up things to make the visit warm and comfortable.
You see, when the place was closed down for the winter, the water was turned off by pulling up the well head that was in the side yard. Anti-freeze was put in the toilet bowl and tank. The tin shower stall, with the concrete marbleized floor, had a drain that was also a recipient of the stuff, as was the bathroom sink and kitchen sink. The hot water heater had a drain hose which was opened and the water drained into the carport area. The refrigerator was emptied and door left open. The electric power switch was turned off.
When the family of eight started out to have a weekend there in the cold season, the kids brought their own pillows and blankets and wrapped themselves in the back section of the old station wagon for the travel. The mother brought foodstuffs that were easy to prepare for the family weekend getaway. There were a few bags of extra clothing and boots and outdoor gear packed into the car. Upon arrival, one of the first things was to get a supply of water from the natural spring down the bank at the lake edge. The older kids took a sled and pails to the spring and brought water up and across the snowy dirt road and into the kitchen area. A very large bucket was put beside the toilet for flushing. Some went into the teakettle to start off the arrival procedures with cups of hot chocolate while the father started a fire in the yellow brick fireplace. A stack of wood logs was piled high by the grandfather at its side prior to the visit. A bundle of kindling, tied with bailing twine was there to put on top of the wood when it was placed on the andirons to start the fire. The handy long matches were kept in a special container on the mantle. The grandfather had gathered the kindling from his home two hours away, throughout the summer months, and brought to be used to ignite the fires. He usually had 4 or 5 bundles each time they came north. Kindling was important!
As night approached, the many games of Uncle Wiggly, Parcheesi, Checkers, Scrabble, Dominos, puzzles and others were put away and suppers of soups and sandwiches were eaten. Hands, faces and teeth were washed in cold water. The father made sure to drink a lot of it before retiring so he had to get up in the night to pee and feed the fire and keep it going. The children usually climbed the pile of wood to reach the area above the bathroom where there were camp cots set up on the floor there. It was the only room with a ceiling as the other two bedrooms had no ceilings except the rafters of the roof far above.
During the day, wet and frozen clothing was slung over the living and dining room rafters to dry after ice fishing, sledding and ice skating activities came to an end. Sleep, eat, play - that was the routine. What fun memories. Then all had to be undone and the trip back was the end until the next time. The family moved into another home they had built in 1972 just for them across the lake on the hill where they could see the grandparent’s cabin on the other side.
I took a golf car rideabout today as the sun was out and my mood was up! The cabin seedum flowers are not nearly as large and beautiful as in past years. Too much rain I guess.
Our daughter visited today and bought me a lemon cake with lemon icing! (She knows I love lemon!) She also did some dusting and personal care for me.
After the work was finished we all had birthday cake! YUM! (My birthday isn't until Thursday, but they know that I don't care for a lot of hoopla!) Both back bedrooms were cleaned as well but this photographer stayed out of the way!
Our daughter's twin grandsons were going to be visiting her later so she left before the others, and all were planning to do some yard cleanup later on today. The sun is shining and it is sooo good to see. I forgot to tell you that they undressed James in readiness for his repairs!
*For many years (1972-1980) I worked there as well. For more information about the company click on link: Diaz Facebook Page
