Author: peterb51

7th December 2025

Another two inches of snow fell overnight, so out with the blower to deal with it. It does look like it be with us over Christmas, the temperature is below freezing most of the time with brief glimpses of the sun during the day.

Kelli had found two dressers in  Hudsonville that were free. From the pictures, they seemed in pretty good shape, so we had our breakfast, then set off. Getting them both into the truck was the subject for discussion on the journey.

When we arrived it was obvious that we would get them both in the truck. 

Now, they say that a picture never lies, but the ones we saw were telling whoppers. They were not the best quality, the tall dresser had a crack across the front, how that could happen? Who knows, but it meant that we couldn’t just tart them up and sell on, that was a drag.

We loaded up the largest one and agreed to return tomorrow for the other, that will be a busy day.

Doing all this made us late for the ice cream fest, but it gave us time to chill before drive back home.

6th December 2025

Was it a great day to do Christmas shopping? No it bloody wasn’t. It was cold, windy and there were lots of Americans about. We went down to the town, a rare thing, because Kelli wanted some incense sticks and she knew exactly where to get them. Unfortunately they didn’t sell them anymore, but whilst we were there we joined the hundreds of shoppers looking around the store. It was a nightmare, it felt like an obstacle course with displays of fair trade merchandise blocking any way through.

“ Let’s get our Christmas tree ornaments “ she said cheerily, so we waded through loads of items mainly made by five year old infants until we found appropriate pieces, mine was a black sheep and hers a rabbit. 

The next stop was to look for a kitchen shop. Kelli had pulled Brenda’s name for her present.

She wanted a bread scoop because she had started baking her own bread. If the truth be known, she had made one loaf, and half of that was thrown away. This news was given to us by an anonymous person ( Kelli’s mum) 

Anyway that was on the list, so one was purchased.

As it was lunch time we headed to the small eating section of the cheese shop we found a week or so ago.

Last time we were impressed with the place, but this time when my toasted sandwich arrived it got lost amongst the crumbs on the plate. 

My piece of sourdough must have been the knobby on the end, I was not impressed, so I had two bowls of soup instead of one. 

Then we moved on to a place called Seedlings, a place that is indescribable. It has all sorts of stuff, stuff and more stuff, and when you move that stuff there is more stuff behind. The only way to fully explain what stuff is there is, imagine piling up books, paper, fabric, clothes and small ornaments and then blowing them up.

Then take all the fragments put them in a small building and sell them to the public.

I had to buy something for Alyssa, Cameron’s girlfriend. She wanted something crafty, and some old and “cool” stuff. We left there with a pile of bits that could be considered crafty and cool.

By now we had enough, it was time to tear ourselves away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Holland and get back to a warm house and hungry dogs.

5th December 2025

I thought it was about time that I went into the garage and did a bit of work. 

There was a long buffet and a cedar chest that needed sanding, my favourite.

Actually I was enjoying it, I had got the work lights out of the storeroom, and they worked!.

The heater was on, and so was my music.

There were nine drawers that I sanded, I wore my gloves trying to avoid the cracks in the fingers that hurt like hell.

Then it was time for the cedar chest. It had seen better days, the little shelf attached to the closing strut was damaged, that will need replacing. The latch plate was also missing, that will be difficult to replace. There was some missing trim on the front that will have to be replaced, but I did the same thing on a similar one that we had a few months ago.

Dharma seems to be a bit perkier, although she sleeps a lot, there was more activity around food time, although I have said that she would run back over the rainbow bridge it there was a treat at the end of it.

We are thinking seriously about getting another dog to fill the gap when Dharma does pop her clogs. Hopefully it won’t be like the disaster we had two years ago.

Day 3033

4th December Thursday

It was a bad night, Kelli didn’t sleep much, worried that Dharma’s life was coming to an end. Greer even drove down from Grand Rapids at 1.00am to be with her.

It was difficult, although I can empathise, someone has to stay calm, and that was my job.

We had to call the vet’s office at 08.00am to get an emergency appointment, not knowing if she would be coming home with us after.

When we left her last night she was wrapped in a blanket on the sofa, fast asleep and breathing heavily, by the morning she had left the sofa and found her was to her basket. She certainly was a bit more coherent, and got up to do her business outside, it definitely was night and day.

By the time we had to go to the vet’s she looked her old self, I lifted her in and out of the truck without incurring her wroth, so something had changed.

The vet checked her over, and found nothing really wrong with her, the heart and lungs were normal, and generally for a dog of her age she was doing well. 

That was good to hear, all thoughts of losing her evaporated, but it served as a trial run for the inevitable, not that Kelli would see it as that.

But it was a great relief to leave there with just a pot of antibiotics and an old dog.

I managed to still keep my appointment with Lloyd. I did notice he was growing his hair, I think I must be setting a trend. 

3rd December 2025 

I had a strange experience today, one that left me speechless, and concerned for the future.

I went to the bank that I recently opened an account with. I had some money to pay in, and this would be my first time. I walked in and looked for a smiling face. I said that I wanted to make a deposit, this smiling lady then took me to a machine. She asked for my ID then placed it in a small scanner, the next, a young girls face appeared on the screen and the smiling lady started to have a conversation with her. I looked in disbelief, “are you real?” I asked. Apparently this girl works in the main branch and is linked with all the smaller branched in the state. So the bank I joined doesn’t have any tellers, just a girl in a box, I find that horrible, I dislike self checkouts for the same reason, replacing people. Technically the girl in the box is a person, but she has replaced a few others that are no longer employed. It won’t be long before she will be replaced by AI.

I left the bank numb, and a little depressed.

Next on our list of places to go was a thrift store, not our usual one, but where Kelli found a few things she can sell on, whereas I lost the will to live.

Then we drove to the upholstery place to return a fabric book and to take drawing of the cushions for the chair. I included pictures of furniture that had the style of upholstery we liked.

Things will begin once I get the chair shell to him,

I’m sure it will be good to get that part of the project going.

On a sadder note, Dharma, out oldest dog is getting near the end of her time. She had been slowing down over the past weeks, and her hearing has gone. She has had fourteen years as part of this family, so it’s a difficult time for all.

2nd December 2025

Back working with John the wood. Driving up to his barn was a bit tricky, no one had been there since it snowed, so I was venturing on virgin territory. 

I swung off the main road and ploughed into the fresh snow bank, the truck twitched and started to slide, but it managed to grip, thanks to four wheel drive.

The barn was remarkably warm, even without anything being done.

That included the work he was doing for the church. Apparently the person who is helping John has not been around for a while, even though the first deadline was Thanksgiving, I believe the next is Christmas.

My structure was still on the trolley where I left it last week.

I explained what the objectives were, and set about preparing the workspace.

First I decided we should have a coffee and a piece of pumpkin bread that Kelli had baked, and that was very well received.

The first job was to add wood pieces into the pocket holes. These are available in packs of fifty, and in the same timber, so this was John’s job.

I was hoping to finish the chair body today, but I wasn’t going to rush it.

All that is left to do is fitting the leg frame and sanding all the joints flush.

It was already thirty minutes later than usual when we set off back to John’s home. The forecast was another two inches of snow, I did not want to be caught out in that.

I do enjoy the drive, although it’s almost automatic now, but John has to have people with him when he’s at the barn, and I would go more often, but I have things to do in the garage.

I have a list of projects that should keep us going for a few months, including actually building the sofa, if the weight of the chair is to go by, it will be heavy, really heavy.

1st December 2025

The snow is still here. 

We ventured out because it was shopping day, and whether it was rain, shine or snow we had to do it.

We have also decided to be more calm, not get annoyed if someone cuts us up on the road. We would just smile and say “after you”. 

Well that all went to cock when we got to the ATM to get some cash. Both machines were occupied by slowcoaches, and I couldn’t help myself from getting annoyed. My point was, if you want to have a conversation with the teller, go inside, don’t squawk at the machine.

After being reminded by Kelli, I calmed down, we had plenty of time, and I shouldn’t waste my energy. 

Finally, one moved, so I jumped out of the truck and pushed my card into the machine. I looked back to see that there was a line of vehicles behind ours. I imagined they were getting pissed because of me, taking too long.

The rest of the trip went smoothly, I did forget to get the milk. I think I got distracted, so I had to go to the corner store to get some.

We had a customer coming at five to collect the dresser to posted a couple of days ago, at a Black Friday special price.

Kelli was in the kitchen busy cooking and baking, the smell was wonderful, I was looking forward to sampling the results.

30th November 2025

Between eight and ten inches of snow fell overnight, so there was a lot of clearing to do.

I had to dig a path to the shed where the snowblower was, then drag it back through the garage. I inserted two fully charged batteries into it and opened the garage door with the intention of bursting out in a frenzy of grunt and snow.

Well that was my intention, but what happened in reality was completely different.

Ten inches of snow was far too much for the farty blower, it would move a foot and stop. 

It was a struggle shifting any quantity of the white stuff. What didn’t help was my head was not capable of keeping a hat on. The first was a Beeny style that slowly rose up on my head until it just rested on the top. The second choice was a balaclava, all that did was slip round blocking out sight from one eye, my third choice was a brimmed hat with side flaps that worked better.

I continued to push the blower hard, finally the power was spent, it was time for new batteries.

The ones I took out were quite warm, so then I inserted them into the charger the indicator light flashed red, meaning they had to cool down before the charging could begin.

With a fresh set in the blower I continued. The hard part is where the snowploughs have past and built a tall wall at the end of our driveway.

That proved to be the Everest for my feeble machine. Now with two sets of batteries exhausted, I had to find any others, even if it meant robbing other appliances. 

I found one in the strimmer and another in the drill, although they were only half of the capacity required. They didn’t take long to die on me, so the only option left was a snow shovel.

I did think I was going to die in the process of moving the mounds. There is nothing glamorous about popping your clogs slumped over a heap of snow and ice.

Just as I was having a rest, leaning on my shovel, a city snow removal tractor was coming up the road. I obviously saw this sad old bastard taking a break, so he decide to help.

He lowered his large shovel and collected a large amount for stuff and proceeded to push it on to the side of the driveway, but in the process also scooped a chunk of grass and soil at the same time. I know he was only trying to help, and I did put my thumb up to thank him whilst quietly seething under my breath.

By now some of the batteries had a bit of life in them, I now was able to neaten up the edges, and then decide to quit. I was exhausted, but I had survived, no frozen corpse was going to be found,  victory for me.

29th November 2025 

We at last sold the mid century style dresser, after, what seemed like ages. Things have been slow, usually thanksgiving is to blame, but once that is done it stands a better chance.

However, the long dresser has had many inquiries but no one had committed to buy.

It snowed all day, the really fine stuff that gradually builds up, it is expected to continue all night, it will be snow blowing day tomorrow.

Kelli is pleased because the guy across the street, the one with the loud jeep is moving out.

He should be gone by the weekend, now hopefully she won’t get woken up by him every morning.

We did venture out to take the dogs for a walk, I’m not sure they had much fun, dressed in their winter coats, with an expression of embarrassment on their little faces.

28th November 2025

The thought of food was furthest from my mind, but I was due to meet Lloyd for breakfast, so I forced myself to go.

There was snow and ice about, so the drive was slow and careful.

A farmer’s platter and numerous cups of coffee ensued plus conversations of Herman Miller in the 80’s, I left the controversial subjects alone this time.

Kelli had the urge to go thrifting again, reluctantly I agree to go along and to try to be happy about it. 

The first place we visited was a place on the north side, I looked through the vinyl section, and it was depressing, apart from looking ragged,  I had never heard of anyone, not even Kenny G was there. I was tempted to buy one of them just to feel depressed, but I resisted. We did find an old radio called “model 88” by someone call Henry Kloss, apparently it was a good quality machine, so I bought it.

We moved on to the second place, a more upmarket thrift store, where again the record section sucked nearly as much as the first place.

I couldn’t wait to get out of there, Kelli came away with something she could sell on.

We also managed to take pictures of a small table and a dresser.