Author: peterb51

25th June 2023

We decided that it was about time to go to another supermarket to do our shopping.

Before we would get everything from two places, Aldi and Nature’s Market, now we wanted to see if we could get what we needed from just one.

We drove to Meijer the colossal store in Holland. Not having visited it since before Covid we weren’t sure how we would handle it.

First it was finding a parking space, not as simple as it sounds. Normally with a place that big there would be ample parking, that is if you want to be in the same state, but eventually we found one, after waiting for someone to pull out. In through the self opening doors to be met by the greeter. “Welcome to Meijer” he said cheerfully, “ I think I could do that job” I said, “ no stress, and I could employ my English accent”, Kelli was not impressed.

Set out before us was a vast cathedral of fruit and vegetables, it was difficult to know where to start. People were like ants rushing all over the place, it was scary.

We started filling the trolly, although finding the specific items was difficult. It would have been simple if all the special foods that Kelli needs were in one place, but there seemed no thought given to that. After about half an hour of fighting against the tide we looked at each other and concluded that we didn’t want to be here.

Kelli was in favour of leaving the trolly and walking out, but with some frozen items that we had, that would not be good. So we retraced our steps and putting things back. To those viewing the CCTV instead of shopping, we were restocking, a totally unknown concept.

We then drove to Aldi our familiar territory, and although not so much choice, we felt safe.

By this time we had used up half the day, so stopping off at the corner store to top up our supplies we were able to start jobs.

Then the storm hit. The wind got up, the thunder and the lightning flashed through the dark grey sky. Kelli heard a crack, as a portion of tree fell on South Shore drive. By now the rain was falling like stair rods. A police car arrived to assist with traffic control, the blue and red flashing lights piercing the darkness of the small wooded area, later to be joined by the green and yellow lights of the city tree squad. The sound of chainsaws and tree munchers then concluded the afternoon entertainment

24th June 2023

There are often signs that a sale is going bad when a customer pulls out every drawer, every door, sides, back and top, then decide “to pass”. This happened today.

We were trying to sell a large dresser that had been advertised for a few day with no takers.

Then there was one offer that came in thirty bucks under our price, I said “tell them to go away” or words to that effect, Kelli went back splitting the difference, but that was refused.

Later, desperate for a sale, Kelli went back to the person accepting the low offer.

Later in the afternoon a large white open bed truck with big exhausts backed into the drive.

It had essence of Trump wafting around it.

Out got a mother and her two daughters who promptly opened up the tailgate as the mother started her inspection. Everything was scrutinised, “ looks like it had water damage” she croaked. She had that vocal fry that a lot of girls have where the sentences descend into a deep vat of fat. We knew there wasn’t any water damage, and Kelli lost interest and went to take the cover off the pool, leaving me to face the frying.

“ I think I’ll pass, sorry to waste your time”

“ I think you wasted your time “ I said in reply, and got on with my scraping.

I did think she would use the water damage as an excuse to drop the price a bit more, and I was ready to tell her to get her truck off our driveway, but that didn’t happen.

The truck started up and all the smell of Trump disappeared with them, good riddance.

“I’m going to block her so she can’t see anything we advertise in future” Kelli announced. I would have blocked her entering our driveway if I had known.

Later we had another interested person who said they would Venmo the payment in the evening, but we heard nothing further.

Then another person asked if they could come over and look at it, it was nine o clock by now, but we said yes.

I had to move the piece from the garage again and set it on the driveway.

At the slotted time a small SUV turned up and a tall guy with ginger beard got out.

He did the full check over, trying all the drawers, even pulling one out to check the runners. I did think this was going down the toilet until he said that he liked it, and if he could get it into his vehicle he would take it.

Man, we will get it in even if it kills me, and it nearly did.

That had been an interesting day, you can never predict the outcome, but thankfully the money was in my hand, and it was on to the next one.

23rd June 2023

The end of the week is here, it was warm but cloudy. We cycled to see if any eggs were outside of the house on south shore, but there were none, so we turned around and rode to the park. On the way back we went to the cemetery to retrieve a small vase of wild flowers that we left on Fathers Day. That was missing, but the flowers were laid on the headstone, apparently the staff had removed it as it didn’t conform to the strict requirements of cemetery policy. They must patrol this place with the same intensity as they do at the southern border. What a load of crap!

So disappointed, we rode home.

We unloaded the mid century pieces from the truck and started to remove the paint. What was underneath was a pale veneer that I didn’t recognise, but there is a heck of a lot of scraping still to do.

22nd June 2023

It was a sad day with the loss of the five people on the mini sub visiting the wreck of the Titanic. What should have been a trip of a lifetime was also the end of theirs.

It’s a grim reminder that everyone is vulnerable, regardless of wealth or position, when your time is up there no escape.

There was a lot of coverage on the various networks, it was more relevant than the constant crap Trump has been spouting.

Kelli found a free mid century dresser in Zeeland it had been painted black, we suspect there is something good underneath.

The house itself was a mid century style, recently renovated, the red brick contrasted with dark grey siding looked stunning.

The two furniture pieces were waiting in the carport, a feature common to this type of architecture.

Although painted, there were parts of the drawer case that teased as to what the carcass finish would be, I can’t wait to start on them.

First we had to finish what we have started. I had to repair one of the desk pedestals that had damaged to the base that had to be replaced, whilst Kelli finished the large dresser so we could take pictures and post on Marketplace.

21st June 2023

Well I don’t know where the bloody ladybirds went. I saw a few on the cherry tree, but if they eat fifty aphids a day, with the infestation on the tree it will take them forty seven years, I’m sure it won’t matter much to me by then.

Kelli went off to spend time with Greer planting stuff in her small garden whilst I could play my old git music to my heart’s content.

However I did have a meeting with Tom Newhouse in Grand Rapids at three thirty, so I was hoping she would be back by then.

Three twenty nine she still wasn’t home, so I was getting annoyed. She finally got back ten minutes later than we agreed. I was pissed because I had to stop at the bank and get fuel, and all that was eating into my travel time.

I hate being late, I sent off a quick email to Tom warning I would be late. Then set off.

This might have been the first time I had driven there on my own, so I was a bit apprehensive.

Our meeting site was Brewery Vivant, a converted chapel that served a great selection of German/Belgium beers.

I found a parking space, but had to hunt for the venue. Eventually I found it with Tom sitting outside under a large umbrella.

It was good seeing him again, the last time was pre Covid and I was eager to find out how his sculptures were developing.

That, he explained his sculptures had gone down the toilet due to the lockdown, but he had gone back to his fine art background and a few industrial design projects.

His artwork was primarily using Prismacolor pencils and was exquisitely delicate.

We lamented the past, the characters lost and the direction that Herman Miller was taking. He no longer does work for them, which he doesn’t regret. He found that the environment was toxic and was happiest working with small companies.

He then order a selection of beers from the list, I thought, “Hang on there Tom, I’ve got to drive home afterwards”.

It turned out these were small samples called a “flight” which were delicious, and I could easily have had the full size glasses and promptly fallen over.

It was great seeing him again, we made a tentative time to meet again, and then a quick walk round the interior of the bar, which was amazing, a quick handshake and it was back to the truck.

Stuck on the windscreen was a bright green envelope with a parking ticket inside. In my haste to find the place I forgot to pay for parking, oh well, at least they didn’t tow the truck away.

20th June 2023

After another difficult night we both tried to make the best of a beautiful day.

Kelli had found a small desk for sale that we could convert to side tables. So we drove out into the Michigan wilderness to find the place.

When we got there the barn was full of stuff including some Action Office and Steelcase panels stacked on the floor. The desk itself was okay, a little beaten around the edges,but nothing we hadn’t seen before.

We heard back from Lakeside Surfaces about our worktops, they proposed to remove everything and return it to the factory for rework for six hundred bucks. That went down like a fart in church with Kelli, I was not a fan either. That would mean losing the sink and tap for about three weeks, not to mention the possible damage to the wall ripping it out.

So we went back to Stacy to find a local person who could make the modifications on site.

In the meantime I started sealing the beech worktop with the first of many coats of wax oil.

It was a great afternoon for floating in the pool, the water was warm, so no instant heart attack getting in to it.

We had delivery of a package of live ladybirds.

These are an attempt to rid us of aphids that have infested the cherry tree. Apparently ladybirds feed on them, I found that I could get them on Amazon, so I thought I’d give it a try.

I opened the box and inside was a pouch of the little beauties. We waited until dusk and released than at the base of the tree.

It was fascinating to watch them scurry about climbing anything they could, hopefully they would find their way to where the aphids are.

19th June 2023

It was an interesting night, Kelli had problems going to sleep, I,on the other hand, had an issue with staying asleep. The reason, was the air conditioning. Kelli likes it cold to sleep, I don’t. I like a bit of cooling but not to the extent that I have to put woollens on.

The temperature did soar to close to ninety F so it was great to work in the shade, and it gave my legs a chance to get some sun, but to then freeze to death coming inside was not pleasant.

Kelli thought that her sleeping problem was due to us have potatoes for dinner. For reasons of health, initially to help reduce my blood pressure, they have been off the menu and replaced with sweet potatoes. We both thought that we could have some as a treat, but when she checked with her doctor, he said that could have been the reason, however for me it was the bloody cold.

Being nice and hot was the excuse we needed to use the pool, it was great, watching the birds washing themselves in the small pond whilst we were doing a similar thing in something considerable larger was a wonderful indulgence.

Then it was back to work. Kelli was working on the large dresser, and I was finishing off the last few drawers for our kitchen.

Our friend Jill and her hype daughter Morgan came to collect the dresser we had just finished, output and sales have been slow this month so anything was welcomed.

18th June 2023

Father’s Day USA started with messages from Damian and Ryan, so they hadn’t forgotten me at all.

We had a breakfast of French toast made with cinnamon bread, on the deck. The air reminded me of holidays as a kid, there was a smell that was different, and here it was again.

We decided to do our shopping today, mainly because we were out of everything.

It was not a day to work on, I did a bit of polyurethaning, but that was it. There were the plants that we got yesterday to put in the metal bins, but first we had to remove the pebbles that were in there. It was a lot easier to pour them in than to take them out. At times were we’re removing them one at a time, but after a time it was handfuls, dead leaves as well.

There were eight bags of new dirt to fill the bins with, and even that wasn’t enough.

There was also an appointment to go to Kelli’s mum for a Father’s Day dessert with Matt and Brenda, and Greer and Dylan. Greer gave me a card that was lovely and had a touching message in it.

Afterwards we rode our bikes back, this was our ride for the day, then it was back to the planting.

We both managed to sit on the deck at the end of the day, very rare, but it was nice to have nothing to do, listening to the cars and the birds, a Sunday treat.

17th June 2023

Walked around the garden centre this morning looking for plants that would brighten up the three galvanised bins that we have at the front of the house. Originally they contained wild grasses, but recently I noticed that some of them looked a bit sad. So we decided to spruce them up a bit, and take out the sad grass and move them into intensive care and see if they can be rejuvenated.

You can never go to these places and spend just a few bucks, oh no, it alway much more than that.

Kelli made a start on the big dark beast, sanding all the surfaces and filling all the nicks and scratches, whilst I inspected the drawers from the other dresser, and knocking apart the half eaten one.

I think we have sold the latest dresser to Jill, our regular customer and new friend. Kelli had been making subtle hints to her as it would be a great addition to her Bristol Cottage collection.

Then we took a bike ride and visited a community garden set up by a local church. These buildings usually have bags of land, and it’s good to see some of it going to good use.

16th June 2023

It was clearing the poison ivy from our borders day. I cut all the stuff growing through the fence, and Kelli was digging up all that had taken root in the bed.

We had a late start to the day, mainly because it was Friday.

I had stuff to spray on the grass, Kelli finished painting the two unit cabinet.

Larry was having a second yard sale, so people were turning up at various times.

He then gets into his truck and drives off, only to return a few minutes later. We hypothesise that he’s getting change, paying a drug dealer or repaying a dept. Whatever it is he must be spending any profit he’s making on petrol.

Kelli is so curious that she threatened to ask him.

We made a trip to Kelli’s mum to collect another large dresser that had been stored since last autumn, a heavy bugger with a dark finish and laminate top. The body looked like it had been attacked by hordes of cats covering the every surface.

I pull the three drawers from another dresser that I knew, at least one had been chewed by squirrels. This will need a total replacement.

We managed a bike ride along Southshore drive to buy some fresh eggs from a house that has a box outside. The house is set back from the road and has always be one of Kelli’s favourite. The lady who owns it has seventeen chickens on the one acre plot behind the house, so we will make this a regular stop for our fresh supplies in future.