Quite suddenly, the mechanical aspects of living in a rural farmhouse are front and center for us. In other words, Ed is getting to be very, very busy.
It starts early. The people who do septic system inspections are here to do a three year check on ours. If it reaches a certain benchmark, the stuff has to be pumped out. This time, we're okay. Next time, we may have to go the whole distance and clean out the gunk (to put it nicely).
Over breakfast...
... we discuss the very pleasant topic of septic strategies. Ed proposes we put in a bidet pump into our toilet.
People love it! -- he tells me.
Don't you need an electrical socket nearby?
Oh, we wouldn't have to do the electric version. This one is manual.
So... a burst of cold water comes up?
Well, it wouldn't be ice cold... People say it's way cleaner than toilet paper.
Are we really going to base our future cleaning habits on online reviews?
Okay, that discussion is put on hold. For a while.
As we're on the porch, Ed starts unpacking the new water heating system that arrived in big boxes several days ago. Remember? Our water heater is leaking and Ed has decided to replace the whole thing with an on-demand heater.
It will be different. In some ways that I can't predict.
You mean a hot water adventure? So long as it doesn't shoot up bursts of cold water during a hot shower. I would hate that.
No, it probably wont do that...
He takes out the new pipe fittings. One is chipped.
Will you send it back?
I can fix it. (To Ed, unnecessary disposing of plastic is up there with strangling innocent dolphins.)
We are interrupted with the arrival of yet another person who may be able to help Ed construct the front steps to the house. Note here the words "able to help Ed." The implication is that at least part of the work is done by Ed. Building the landing, filling in concrete -- that's all Ed. The guy does the masonry. As usual, I can hardly follow the discussion. Half the vocabulary is beyond me. But I do catch this very important detail -- this gentleman is a retired mason. He has time. He could do this project (with Ed) this Fall!
He's got my vote.
The afternoon? Spent on looking at patterns of stamped concrete and outdoor tile. We live in a country of too many choices.
Come to think of it, maybe I can just stamp the concrete myself. It's not too complicated. I think. Here's a video... I can do this. Ed clicks on YouTube and we're off, learning about how to decorate your concrete slab.
Oh boy.
And it doesn't end there. Before the evening is out, Ed is looking at boring prefab slabs of concrete which, I suppose in some designer's universe would be called okay looking steps. And thus we've completed the circle of designing the front entrance to the farmhouse: all options are once more on the table.
You know, I have a feeling this isn't the right year for us to put in the 200plus fruit trees in the rear farmette lands.
Here's a nice evening activity! Talking to Primrose in Chicago.
She and I review, among other things, raspberries and mint. I happen to have an abundance of both: the grocery store decided to substitute my requested two containers of strawberries with nine (yes nine) containers of raspberries. As for the mint? It grows abundantly just by the porch. Primrose was cutting and smelling mint in school today. I brought in some of mine so we could pretend-smell on FaceTime.
And while we're on the subject of growing things, did you know that my big beautiful lily put forth a final bloom today?
September 24th. Memorable!
It starts early. The people who do septic system inspections are here to do a three year check on ours. If it reaches a certain benchmark, the stuff has to be pumped out. This time, we're okay. Next time, we may have to go the whole distance and clean out the gunk (to put it nicely).
Over breakfast...
... we discuss the very pleasant topic of septic strategies. Ed proposes we put in a bidet pump into our toilet.
People love it! -- he tells me.
Don't you need an electrical socket nearby?
Oh, we wouldn't have to do the electric version. This one is manual.
So... a burst of cold water comes up?
Well, it wouldn't be ice cold... People say it's way cleaner than toilet paper.
Are we really going to base our future cleaning habits on online reviews?
Okay, that discussion is put on hold. For a while.
As we're on the porch, Ed starts unpacking the new water heating system that arrived in big boxes several days ago. Remember? Our water heater is leaking and Ed has decided to replace the whole thing with an on-demand heater.
It will be different. In some ways that I can't predict.
You mean a hot water adventure? So long as it doesn't shoot up bursts of cold water during a hot shower. I would hate that.
No, it probably wont do that...
He takes out the new pipe fittings. One is chipped.
Will you send it back?
I can fix it. (To Ed, unnecessary disposing of plastic is up there with strangling innocent dolphins.)
We are interrupted with the arrival of yet another person who may be able to help Ed construct the front steps to the house. Note here the words "able to help Ed." The implication is that at least part of the work is done by Ed. Building the landing, filling in concrete -- that's all Ed. The guy does the masonry. As usual, I can hardly follow the discussion. Half the vocabulary is beyond me. But I do catch this very important detail -- this gentleman is a retired mason. He has time. He could do this project (with Ed) this Fall!
He's got my vote.
The afternoon? Spent on looking at patterns of stamped concrete and outdoor tile. We live in a country of too many choices.
Come to think of it, maybe I can just stamp the concrete myself. It's not too complicated. I think. Here's a video... I can do this. Ed clicks on YouTube and we're off, learning about how to decorate your concrete slab.
Oh boy.
And it doesn't end there. Before the evening is out, Ed is looking at boring prefab slabs of concrete which, I suppose in some designer's universe would be called okay looking steps. And thus we've completed the circle of designing the front entrance to the farmhouse: all options are once more on the table.
You know, I have a feeling this isn't the right year for us to put in the 200plus fruit trees in the rear farmette lands.
Here's a nice evening activity! Talking to Primrose in Chicago.
She and I review, among other things, raspberries and mint. I happen to have an abundance of both: the grocery store decided to substitute my requested two containers of strawberries with nine (yes nine) containers of raspberries. As for the mint? It grows abundantly just by the porch. Primrose was cutting and smelling mint in school today. I brought in some of mine so we could pretend-smell on FaceTime.
And while we're on the subject of growing things, did you know that my big beautiful lily put forth a final bloom today?
September 24th. Memorable!
