Moving to the outside...

Some things you may not notice in P1...
  - The soffit has now been fixed where it was pushed down by the foam insulation.  (Do we get a passing grade now, Randy?)
  - The weeds that had grown up around the foundation are gone in prep for putting up the siding.
  - John is sitting down on the job while he foams around the pipes to the outdoor faucets (so the mice can't join us this winter).
  - And when I took this photo it was still in the shade.  We gave it up when the sun and high temps reached us.

P2 - If you squint you might be able to see the trench I raked over (during the "big fuss").  The weeds from around the "hole" got clipped back this morning and the piles of rocks from the raking got carted away.  One of my flower beds got the first weeding of the season and, in spite of total neglect, actually looks pretty good.  Perennials truly are the "energizer bunnies" of the garden.

Coming up short...

Anyone have a wood stretcher?  We were working merrily away (no grumbles today) on putting up the rest of the wainscoting when, hold your horses, we had no more.  Only 4 pieces short and we couldn't conjure up any more.  So P1 is still an "incomplete" picture as is P2.  You got two today of the same thing because of all the clutter.

On other good notes...
This is our one week anniversary of using only hot water made by our new solar heating system.  I'm also pleased to announce that John & I & the dishes are still clean.

John got out the lawn tractor and "pulled" the scoop for the bigger tractor out of the ditch and back to "safety" behind the barn.

And... we ordered the siding for the outside to be delivered next week.  Fall & winter is coming after all.

A no photo day...

It was an absolutely beautiful day in upstate.  Since we're sure to eventually get some rain from Isaac and today was relatively cool, we decided to rake over the trench and do some filling.  I started the raking while John got the tractor going to get some dirt for fill.  I raked.  John fussed with the tractor.  I raked.  John fussed with the tractor. I raked.  John fussed with the tractor. I raked.  John & Stan fussed with the tractor.  And so it went.
Bottom line - I got the raking done.  John with Stan's help finally got the tractor out of the ditch (you don't really want to know) where it had stopped and refused to start again.
PS - I was not to take photos or make any comments - is this a comment?  However, now it's a beautiful evening in upstate.

MM...

Finally... a little wind, a little sun, a little (but only a little) water in the sailboat.  John was a happy sailor this weekend.  If you really quint and use your imagination you can see him and Terry sailing toward the back of Grindstone Island in the St. Lawrence.  It was all I could do to drag him away to put his nose to the "grindstone" here at home.

MM (that's short for "more muntins", those little strips of wood between the window panes - will they never end?).  At any rate I painted the last of them today although you'd never know it to look at the photo.  Antique white on white primer isn't very showy.  And we got the last two window casings in place.  Don't cheer yet.  We still have a ways to go on our "inner" project.

The bar scene...

After one evening and two stiff necks later, we decided we were too old to "enjoy" the bar scene.  This morning while I wasn't looking, John garnered his strength and brought the TV safely back to earth.  Now we're "exploring" the possibility of mounting it on the wall pretty much where you see it under that little half wall.  This time we're trying it out first on a box before hiding the wires and making a decision.

P2 - John has been busy mending the water pipe to the garden that had to be severed when the line for the solar hot water was run.  And he started filling in the trench where it was left open for him to do bit more work on the connections.  Our hot water is now into its second day being heated solely by the sun and so far we haven't frozen in the shower and the dishes are clean.  (Seems appropriate we get it up and running just as Romney announces his neanderthal energy proposal...)

P3 - Meanwhile the painting crew (otherwise know as me), got the first coat of blue on the trim of the big window and the finish coat (I hope) of antique white (white that one does not expect to look clean & new) on the windows.

PS - Don't expect a post until after the weekend as we have other things going on.

How to hang a TV...

P1 - Take the TV off its pedestal and put it somewhere safe.  If you're really worried have your cat lay on it to keep it from falling.
P2 - Invite a friend over and convince them this is going to be fun.  John is getting really good at this so, once again, be warned.
P3 - Heft it into place.  Yep, you see it right.  We're putting it above the opening between the two rooms.  Just think bar and you get the general idea.
P4 - Heft it down again so you can plug it in.  Bruce did suggest this initially but...
P5 - Walla!  TV - if there was only something worth watching.  Yes, Mother, it's well secured so it won't clunk any of us on the head.  Bertha studied it atop the ladder just to make sure.
P6 - Since the TV went up so quickly and Bruce has been working out at the fitness center and it was so much fun... he also helped John carry in and mount the new radiator for the sun room (white thing on the wall in amongst the clutter).  Thank you Bruce!

Just in case you got so involved with the TV mounting, please note that I did get the trim around the opening painted blue.  If you don't believe me just check yesterday's blog where it was only primed.  And, once again, no pictures of the solar hot water but John did complete the installation today and so far it's working fine. The real test will come when we hit the shower...

Stalking the wild...

P1 & P2 , even though a bit fuzzy because they were taken through the window, are for George & Joe.  The white spot in the road is our little Gus intent on stalking the deer in the field.  Size is no object to his, even littler, brain.

P3 & P4 - our guests are all gone so it's back to priming the woodwork (and making a mess).  Meanwhile it was back to the basement for John.  One would think he's been a bad boy but he's just putting the finishing touches on our solar hot water system. Someday soon...