Another Lifetime to go

18th August 2024

It was great to do nothing, a time to relax even thought the country is heading towards a cliff edge.

I have spoken before about how divided America is, you are either in one team or the other. This has caused families to be divided where compromise and an exchange of views are unheard of. You are either in or out, not a position I like to be in.

This uneasiness is troubling to me, the mainstream media pronounce that Kamala Harris will solve all America’s future problems whereas the independent media are pointing out all the failings.

People are confused, there is talk of disruption of the country’s grid and infrastructure prior to the election so that martial law can be imposed and therefore cancelling the election. The Democrats will stop at nothing to stop Trump, Look what they have done so far.

There may also a second pandemic of bird flu or monkey pox where enforced vaccination and mandates will be imposed. 

There is something in the air, Kelli is worried that if I go back to England, like I’m planning to in October, something might stop me getting back.

This is now imposing stress on me, I bloody hate this country, I hate that Americans have to choose between the corrupt left and the radical right. I hate how politics controls every aspect of our lives, and, as important as the constitution is, “the people” have little say in how things turn out.

They don’t trust the CIA, they don’t trust the FBI and after the Covid debacle they don’t believe anything the NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) advise and publish.

So the next President will have to deal with those  or the people won’t trust them either.

17th August 2024

There was a lot leaving the garage today, it’s how it goes, no sales for a couple of weeks, then bingo, activity.

We had a sale last night, that piece was collected today, but we also sold the TV cabinet.

I had fears that we would be sitting on that for a long time, but what do I know?

I also finished the cherry coffee table, the lady picked that up this evening, she loved the red streaks, and she later sent a picture of the table in her sun room.

I made a start on the greenhouse base frame. I bolted the pieces together, and it was reasonably square.

I then ventured to open the big box of pieces that the greenhouse was delivered in.

I dug down and found the instructions, and discovered that there was even a pair of protective gloves supplied.

I was quite impressed with the quality of the aluminium extrusions, they were thin wall, but well defined. The plastic mouldings we really well made, these fitted into the extrusions snugly.

I thought I would build all the parts that connected together, firstly checking the bottom frame that sat on the wooden frame.

That is when I discovered that the greenhouse was six inches narrower than specified, so I would have to cut the wooden rails to fit.

It is going to be fun taking down the old structure and building the new one, but I’ll save that for another weekend.

16th August 2024

There was one heck of a storm last night, thunder and torrential rain, by breakfast time it had stopped, which was good, as I had add the finish to the coffee table.

We took pictures of the dresser that Kelli had repainted. The original colour did not receive much interest, so that’s the cue to repaint.

I manage to seal and get a coat of finish on the coffee table, the cherry wood exploded with its red streaks, the top will need another four coats to obtain the finish I want.

We also managed to finish the rough pine dresser that I had to cut off the crap at the bottom and replace it with a leg frame and a new stained top, it certainly looks different.

We took pictures, posted and sold it within hours, brilliant result.

We had another float in the pool, I feel the summer hasn’t been so warm as it was last year, the forecast for the next week is mid to top seventies, hopefully a bit more pool time to come.

Kelli’s knee wound is healing, she is going through the stabbing pain at the moment where the nerves are rebuilding, every so often she shouts out, but is assured that it is going in the right direction.

I was just sitting down for the evening, when she had a text from the egg lady that two dozen were set out by the roadside. I changed back into my working clothes and cycled there as soon as I could, it’s dog eat dog in the world of roadside egg collection.

15th August 2024

It was going to be a shitty day, with rain forecast all afternoon.

I went to my favourite DIY store to pick up supplies. The whole place feels like home, the size no longer surprises me, I know where everything is, and all the staff say “hi” to me.

Realistically they say it to everyone, a bit like they always say “ have a nice day” I’ve got used to that as well.

There are places I haven’t ventured, like the ducting section where bright shiny tubes and brackets live on dark deep shelves, the closest I get to those is when I need a filter for the boiler.

The white goods area is also a mystery to me, the washing machines are large, big enough to wash an entire family. They are ugly in design, reminiscent of old sixties automobiles with two tone finishes and large bulky controls that Flash Gordon would be proud of.

The building section is familiar, even though most of the time the computers are vacant, and when someone appears they look like they’ve just woken up.

The fencing section is outside, although covered, it is alway cold, no one stays out there for long.

I like the wood section, it is broken down into three sections, one, two and yes three.

I have my own description based on the quality.

Section 1 is shit, section 2 is less shit, and section three is acceptable.

If I wanted timber to build a giant corkscrew, section 1 is the rack to head for.

If I want timber that is eighty percent knot holes then section 2 is the one.

If I want something that is straight and not sourced from the USA section 3 beckons.

When I head for the checkout, it’s become a race to find a shortest queue, but don’t be fooled, that one person will have something the assistant doesn’t recognise, so then requires assistance from a higher level, it’s no good choosing another register there will be a builder moving the entire stock of plasterboard.

I have to adopt a zen posture, and drift away until the conveyor belt starts to move again.

14th August 2024

Shopping day again, it comes round so fast, Tuesday’s dinner reflect what is left in the fridge.

We can take advantage of the tomatoes we’ve grown, but Kelli wants to store some away.

We’ve had some success with our vegetables, but we need to plant more next spring to cover the ones we loose.

We first had to pick up a free dresser from near Saugatuck. We were driving on fumes because we thought we would easily get to the petrol station, but the route took us away so now we were in uncharted territory.

Deep into the wildlands we came across a mobile home park, some looked reasonable, but typically the one with the dresser was not. There was a double bed frame in the front window and the place needed a good clean. The dresser was waiting outside, and not in a bad condition, we’ve had worse. Quickly loading it into the back of the truck, we doused our hands with sanitizer just to be safe, then it was off to do our shopping.

We found a petrol station eventually, much to my relief, I wouldn’t fancy walking to the nearest one, I’d be never seen again.

Once we were back home we took the dogs for a walk, necessary physio therapy for Kelli’s knee.

Then I set about  cutting half lap joints for the base frame for the new greenhouse. After twenty minutes and a mass of sawdust later they were done, just in time for a dip into the pool.

13th August 2024

Kelli had a doctors appointment where she reports her progress. 

She had taken the decision to reduce some of her supplements. She had done this a week ago without any detrimental effects.

This is a sign that she is taking control of her condition, which is part of any healing process.

She also had some realignment of her leg and hips that should help with some of her knee pain brought about by her recent injury.

This is all good news, and should help to lower the financial burden.

On the way back I had a dental bill to pay and we had to drop off some revised drawing to our interior designer for some blinds for the house.

Being out half the day meant a bit of catching up to do. 

I finished stripping the cherry coffee table frame and stained a top for the crappy dresser.

We even managed a dip in the pool, that still feels great floating watching the birds fly from the holly bush to the other trees in the garden.

The US presidential campaigns intensifies, Trump was interviewed by Elon Musk, but Kamala Harris was giving a speech where she will “lower gas prices, lower the cost of food and housing, and secure the border” which was bloody offensive, because the Democrats are in power, they could do that today!

Honestly, why is is so hard?

12th August 2024

I want to tell you a story about a piece of furniture that had sat in the Bulthouse family home for many years.

Just as homemade quilts have been a favourite item that are handed down through the generations, so have well crafted wooden cabinets.

This tale is about a piece made many years ago.

Home in the mid west cannot be called a home without a gun cabinet, where hunting weapons are stored properly, like pieces of art, so the enclosure had to be a thing of beauty.

This piece was made of solid walnut with glass doors and crafted by Kelli’s grandfather. I looked at it, envious of the joints and perfect mitres, no gaps no filler, just perfection.

For many years it had pride of place in an upstairs room which will be soon occupied by Matt and Brenda who will look after their patriarchal mother.

It was I that helped move it into Kelli’s old bedroom last weekend.

A family tradition is that may appear strange,is that most items in the house have been selected and noted to be passed on.

Since Dave’s passing, most of his possessions have been sold or given away, but the gun cabinet and a desk had been earmarked by Cameron.

This cabinet had been upstairs for the last six years hidden away and almost forgotten.

 Now everyone knew that the gun cabinet was Cameron’s but he made no effort to move it out, so Matt took it upon himself to sell it to a friend, who paid two hundred dollars for it, and collected it last week.

Roll forward to yesterday when Cameron finally learnt that the piece had been sold.

He went ballistic, cussing and shouting storming out of the house, it almost made me stop eating my ice cream, but it didn’t.

Matt had already left so did not witness the drama.

Kelli’s mum got upset, because she thought everything had been agreed, but now everything unraveled.

There were phone calls and messages flying about, I urged Kelli not to get involved, but a plan was hatched to get Matt to phone his friend and explain the situation and hope that the cabinet could be returned. 

Matt refused to do it and gave Cameron the guys number, so he did it.

The result, Cameron effectively bought the cabinet back, now he had to find a place to store it.

Luckily his girlfriend has a large basement so that’s where it will go.

Now I’m sure the atmosphere between Matt and Cameron will be a little frosty, and I will have to resist the urge to stir things up, I’m just glad there is never any alcohol about, because you never know.

11th August 2024

It was a no work day, well not in the garage, I had a job to do at Kelli’s mums house. 

Last week we moved a sofa up the stairs, but I had to cut the legs off, today I had to fit them back on.

During the week I was trying to find a safe way of squaring them off, but each one was tapered with very little flat area, so I abandoned that idea.

It just so happened that we had four old short legs that we salvaged from another piece. They were much easier to cut square. I fixed a four inch square wooden plate on the top which I intended to screw to the base of the sofa.

I took up an assortment of tools including my oscillating saw.

It was just as well as I needed to cut and level the remaining stubs where the legs were.

I started up the saw, almost immediately I knew this was not as simple as I thought. The timber used in the frame was ash so it was bloody hard.

The saw started well, but soon clouds of smoke arose from the cut. I had visions of the sofa catching fire with no easy way of putting it out, as the bathroom was down stairs. After more cutting, and a lot more burning I got through the first leg. I had to wait until it cooled down before I could fit the first new leg. 

It took a while, and a lot of effort to level off all remaining stubs. All around there were chunks of blackened ash, the pungent smell circulated downstairs causing a bit of panic, but as no fire truck were needed, I repositioned the sofa in its place and called it a success, now it was time for ice cream and a rest.

That didn’t last long, Matt now wanted help with getting an armchair upstairs.

I stood back, I didn’t want a repeat of the sofa debacle.

I took my measurement stick measured the doorway then went back to check it against the chair.

“ It isn’t going to fit Matt “ I said showing him the amount of  interference.

“Man not again” he said despondently.

“I’m not cutting the legs of this” I was quite firm on that.

I looked at the chair, it was one that reclined, so there was a metal structure inside.

By removing two bolts one complete side could be removed, then it could get up the narrow doorway, but that was for another day.

 But that was not all, the lady I refinished the record play for wanted me to refinish a cherry coffee table, so she brought it round in the evening, that will be fun to do.

10th August 2024

I was determined to get the carcass of the crappy dresser completed today. I had cut the broken side panel down and made a new support frame. Fixed to that is another frame with four legs, it looks a lot different now.

So that was done, but it will need a new top.

There was a lot of activity over at Larry’s yard sale, people were coming and going pretty regularly, it seems a lot of Hollanders are after a bargain. He was including some tools which tempts a lot of older guys, happy to trawl though boxes of rusty items which it what most of his tools are covered with.

We took a short walk with the dog mainly to get Kelli moving again. A lot of her leg muscles were not being used properly, so it reminded me of playing football after a long lay off, when the next day I could hardly move. Every muscle and tendon ached for a week easing off just in time for the next match.

Kelli painted some carved wooden boxes she had been keeping, hoping to find a space in the house. The benefits of having a small house is a lack of space for such things. We took some pictures and posted them on Marketplace, sales have been a bit lean, although we have a few pieces in stock now awaiting the right person to realise they need furniture.

9th August 2024

It was not my day today. 

There was a lot to do today, firstly I had to pay my phone bill, then we were going to the range to make more holes in plywood panels.

On the way we stopped off at our local hardware store to load up on ammunition and a couple of targets. I like this place, it’s an old style store where you can buy a single nut and bolt, or you can equip an entire militia group.

I noticed an elderly lady in the process of registering a hand gun, a monster of a piece, I hope I don’t get on the wrong side of her.

We drove off,  stopping for fuel, then came my bad decision, I should have listened to my wife, she is alway right, and I know it, (she tells me). and it will haunt me for weeks, or I will be reminded of it for eternity.

Outside an engineering works, standing in the car park were two large wooden shelving units, typical industrial, and in the words of my wife, “cool”. Well they were going free, and she wanted to grab them. 

I was not so keen, I wanted to get on and get to the range, I said we’ll see if they were there on the way back, after all who would want two wooden shelf units?

We got to the range, two of the three ranges were occupied, the third suffered from being waterlogged after the storms of recent days.

We made the best of it, avoiding the muddy pools in the middle.

Kelli as alway shot well and her grouping was consistent, mine was an improvement of my last visit.

However it is clear that I’m a better loader than shooter, I leave that to Kelli.

After firing about a hundred rounds we set off back to see if the shelving units were still there.

Of course they weren’t, so that is where the guilt started, and remained for the rest of the day. I must make a sign to hang around my neck that says. “ Kelli is alway right”.

We did get two things finished, a coffee table and a tv cabinet, they were posted on Marketplace ready for the weekend rush.

Larry had a stream of visitors to his yard sale, earning him enough cash for more cigarettes.