Another Lifetime to go

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 48

3rd May Sunday

I was all set to assemble the arbor, everything was strapped on the top of the truck. The customer wasn’t around till after five. So we worked in the garage sanding a dresser top and a bit of gardening. The weather was good, although not hot, it was warm in the sun.

Kelli had decided that my hair needed a trim, she had watched a YouTube video, so now I was the experiment. Armed with scissors and a comb, with the video playing in the background, she took the first cut. It was the lesser of the two evils for me, it was much easier to go along with it that to defend my loopy shaggy style.

In no time there was clumps of hair all over the floor, I didn’t realise I had so much to spare. Clip, clip, clip it went on. Normally there is mindless chatter about holidays and sport, but not this time. I watched for the tell tell signs of horror on her face, but there were none, she had done a grand job.

We headed off to fit the arbor, we carried the sub-assemblies around to the site. I fitted the first of the end frames, and then I noticed that the main bridging section looked a bit short. I ran the tape measure across to raised bed and it was not the dimension I was given, it was ten and three-quarter inches short. I checked the paper the lady gave me, and sure enough I had made it exactly as instructed.

There was no way I could make it work as it was and my only option was to make a new bridge frame. We loaded up the tools and the incorrect woodwork and headed home. I had some timber at home I could use to make a new frame, but it was a bummer.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 47

2nd May 2020

We had a bit of a trek driving to Grand Haven, then on to Allandale, and finishing in Muskegon. Dropping off the bookcase was no problem, and the collection of the TV cabinet was easy too as it had wheels, so no staining of the greens on that one.

The Muskegon leg was a bit more dodgy. We ended up on a trailer park, which can be good, some of the mobile homes look well kept, and there are others that aren’t. This happened to be one of those. We were picking up a pair of side tables, so we tried to do this as quick as possible as the seller was not particularly good at social distancing and kept mentioning that he had artwork that I might be interested in. As I slid back into the truck I explained that it was only furniture we were there for, and Kelli hit the accelerator. We bathed ourselves in hand sanitiser as we do out of habit now and took the highway back to Holland.

We now have a shortage of room in the garage, so when we got back we cleaned out the shed and managed to get a few pieces of furniture stacked, including those side tables.

Our thinking was after a few weeks anything that might be alive on them would be dead.

As the lawn mower was out I thought it would be a good idea to cut the grass. I set off on a leisurely pace trimming the grass that Kelli had cut the week before. Then I came to the areas where she had adjusted the height, which was much taller than what I wanted the grass to be.

The pace slowed considerably when I entered this part of the garden. I wanted it to be a common height so I had to take a run at it. I was like a long jumper preparing to launch himself into the air. I hit the patch, grass cutting we’re going everywhere. I hit the fence and gasped for air. “This bloody lawnmower will be the death of me” I thought. Kelli would find my lifeless body covered in sweat and grass and think “maybe we should have got that rechargeable one instead”.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 46

1st May 2020

Well technically this is day one of my overstay on my visa. I am told that I am in the “system” and cannot leave until the process is over and I am granted residency. It still concerns me that although I originally sent my papers in during February, I have had them returned for various reasons, so I hope the advice I have been given is correct and I won’t get a knock at the door and bundled into a black van and never seen again.

Kelli has had many telephone conversations with someone from the USCIS and they have reassured her that I am safe.

Even with the latest Trump initiative to stop all immigrants, I should be fine as I am already in the country, so I must sit tight and not worry.

I put the finishing touches to the Arbor, and started on some of the repairs to the dressers that we bought yesterday.

Kelli finished the bookcase we got a couple of days ago, so that went on Marketplace before it got dark, and we got someone interested. Of course they wanted to offer less, which often we are prepared for, but this was lower than even we we prepared to go. Eventually we settled on a figure, but then realising the buyer lived in Grand Haven which was outside our free delivery zone. Fortunately for her we had to go to Allandale to collect a TV cabinet that Kelli had found, so it worked out good for all.

As I was tinkering about in the garage, Kelli announced, and I’m always ready for these, that we had to drive to the North side to pick up a dresser that “needed a bit of work”.

Off we drove, finding the place easily. From a distance it looked quite good with curved drawer fronts and elegant legs, but the top was beyond saving. Part of the veneer was missing meaning that it would have to be removed, not a five minute job.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 45

30th April 2020

Where has the week gone? We were sitting last night and both of us had missed a day, it was a shock to think that today is Thursday.

Kelli had done her wheeler dealer magic and secured a couple of dressers with mirrors, and a double bed frame for $50 a steal, unfortunately it was in Grand Rapids.

We also had the electricians in to run a new power line into the garage, but once they had finished we headed off.

There were two guys heavily masked clambering around the garage roof space shouting things to each other.

I had tried to clear up as much as possible but there were things I needed to work on.

After an hour and a half the new circuit was live and ready for use.

We were then ready for the drive to Grand Rapids.

We arrived at the address, all the pieces were in the garage, I wasn’t sure if we could get everything in the truck, but with careful stacking and delicate manipulation we got it all in. Sure there is a bit of repair work to do, but things have been a bit scarce lately and with the thrift stores being closed we have been forced to pay a bit more for our stock.

Kelli was convinced that she could sell the mirrors and bed frame off quickly, and get a good profit on the dressers.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 45

29th April 2020

My residency paperwork was returned again.

Thanks to Donald Trump the process has been tightened, and I’m in the middle of it.

This time there was another form to complete to ensure that I would not become a burden on the state. So this form contained the same information that is on the other forms, it is driving me crazy at times. So I spent the morning filling it out and copying my documents, then sending the whole pack back again.

This messed up the whole day, and I wasn’t really in a good mood to do anything.

In the end I pushed myself to start on the Mid century furniture that we had been sitting on for a while.

The dresser had a horrible green stain in the middle, out came the sandpaper and on with the stripping.

After about half an hour it was done, the green Mark was still there, the next step was hitting it with oxalic acid and leaving it overnight to fester.

It is funny what we find in these pieces of furniture when we pull the drawers out. There is never money hidden away, which we hope for every time, but there have been greeting cards and notes.

In the dresser I’m working on we found a plastic sachet called “Passion Fruit” I thought it was a child’s sweet until Kelli shrieked, and I saw that it was a lubricating gel. That went straight in the bin, and I rushed to wash my hands.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 44

28th April 2020

We loaded up the truck with the dining table to head off to Hamilton, but first I had to wax the top to get the smoothness I wanted.

This I do with fine wire wool and beeswax, this is the best time, it like meditation for me.

Kelli just sees me laying on the top rubbing the surface hard, like someone attempting the breast stroke.

Once the mirror like finish was achieved, we st off on our journey.

The couple were over the moon with the finish product which made me very happy.

I know that professionals would probably charge three times what I did, but I’m happy to improve my skills, and make people happy at the same time.

I am expecting more work to come my way through word of mouth, so I wait with my breath bated.

On the way back we stopped off to pick up timber for the arbor that is due at the end of the week. We went into Menards with our masks on and ordered the material. We then have to drive round to the yard to collect it.

It is well laid out, but a little confusing, it took about half an hour to find everything, and then to strap it to the top of the truck for the drive home.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 43

27th April 2020

We both realised that yesterday was the first anniversary of signing of the house, and what a year that has been.

There is still a lot of things to do, but all that can be done at our leisure. I need to get back into lawn maintenance mode and do some serious scarifying.

I put the last coat of finish on the dining table, and did more work on the drawerless dresser, once I blew the dust off.

Kelli worked on the bookcase with the Barnwood top, although not a masterpiece, it should be to someone’s taste.

That went on Marketplace in the evening, and had a little interest.

We settled down in the evening with our glasses of wine playing our drinking game.

I am getting used to the format, it is so predictable and the same formula is repeated every time, which makes the game so funny.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 42

26th April 2020

The sun was shining, and it was quite warm, so like most people, we were drawn to do some garden work.

We wanted to extend the flower bed which will be behind where the new patio will be, so a bit of vigorous digging would be required.

But first we needed a new lawn mower. Kelli did not like the petrol one as it made all clothing smell of exhaust smoke. So she got rid of that one and bought a push mower from Marketplace. Unfortunately that one had the roller missing, so the cut could not be adjusted. I had decided to get a cordless machine, as I thought trying to push a grass cutter would finally finish me off.

After a lengthy discussion I agreed to buy a new push mower, the point was to see if a new model would be easier to push.

So we drove to Menards where they had a decent model on clearance. I had checked on line and found they had two in stock.

We applied our masks and headed into the store.

It is strange that you do not notice the people wearing masks, you see the ones that don’t, and they stand out.

After getting this young lad to find the tall ladder( the box with the mower was on a high rack) we successfully negotiated the checkout and home we drove.

We started on the digging, soon there was turf and dirt everywhere, soon the patch was all dug and ready for some top soil and fertilizer.

Then it was time to assemble the mower. This turned out to be a simple job, and even I was able to do it without instructions.

I carried it out into the back garden ready for Kelli to take over.

The back garden does not have the best grass, but there is an area where it is thick and lush, and that was what Kelli wanted to tackle first.

She lined up to start the first cut, setting the depth to midway. She set off well until she hit the first clump, this stopped her in her tracks, like she hit a brick wall.

I re-adjusted the cut depth to maximum, she still struggled to make much progress. I took over, remembering how my mother used to do it. The trick, I thought was to take a run at it. I set off well, I was determined to make it to the end of the garden. Sweat was pouring off of my brow as I cut a swath through the thick grass. Triumphantly I turned to make a return run. I got to the end where Kelli was standing barely able to speak.

“Was this your idea” I gasped.

Still I had broken the back so to speak, so Kelli took over to finish of the rest of the grass cutting.

I’m sure this will keep us fit, or at least let us qualify for the shot put in the next Olympics.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 41

25th April 2020

We had to deliver the latest entertainment unit to a place in Holland. It was a heavy bugger, and you really realise it when we tried to load it into the truck. When we got there we were confronted with six steps to get it into their porch. This was definitely a bad start to the day, and a lot of strain on my poor knees.

Poor Kelli took a lot of the weight, but we managed it, and fortunately the customer was delighted, now it is their problem to move it into the final position.

We stopped off to meet the person who wanted the Arbour built to support grape vines. I took a look at where vines were, and agreed a few final details, then it’s down to me to make the thing.

We picked up a coffee table from Kelli’s previous sister in law, and yet again it was bloody heavy. We struggled to get it in the truck and I managed to get a splinter, I hate splinters. Even though they are small, they feel like a piece of four by two and hurt like a bitch.

However nurse Kelli managed to remove it without drawing blood and making me faint.

Pete and Kelli’s social distance day 40

24th April 2020

The day began with the arrival of our food boxes from Imperfect Foods. This meant that some for our breakfast ingredients were in those boxes.

We watched as the FedEx truck pulled into the drive, we saw the driver carry the boxes to the front door, and we waited till he got back into his vehicle and drove off down the road before we retrieved our spoils.

With the meatless sausages sizzling in the pan my taste buds were in ecstasy.

We planned to complete the entertainment unit and get it on Marketplace, and I wanted to start the finishing of the dining table.

We were thinking of ideas for the bookcase we picked up yesterday. I had some old Barnwood in the shed that would make great new top for it.

Kelli had arranged for an Electician to visit because there was an issue with a circuit breaker tripping.

I knew it was because there were a number of high current drawing devices on the same circuit in the garage. I had a heater and work lights on during the winter, and as soon as I used the heat gun, biff! It tripped.

After a quick inspection, it was agreed that I needed to increase the gauge of wiring in the garage to deal with the power requirements.

The news was alive with Trump’s latest breakthrough plan for curing the Coronavirus by drinking disinfectant and purging the body with UV light, honestly, where does he get these ideas from, he is the American joke.