Another Lifetime to go

9th May 2024

One of my all time favourite sitcom was Only Fools and Horses. I liked that Del Trotter was a wheeler dealer, and every episode had their flat decorated with different furniture, inferring that everything was for sale. Sometimes I feel like I’m living in a similar place.

A case in point, Kelli saw a small table and chairs that was being sold by a neighbour friend, and thought that would be perfect for our sunroom. However we already had a set, a glass topped table and two chair that were ideal for our breakfast. These immediately went on sale and was snapped up. So out they went and in came the new. We’ve had it for a few weeks, so today Kelli showed me a picture of another glass topped table with two chairs, telling me they were classic, and she could sell the current set and only pay a small amount to get them. It seemed that the deal had been done. Next I was told that someone was coming to get our current set, and we would pick up the new one tomorrow. Sometimes it’s hard to collect my breath. Anyway, if the truth be known I wasn’t a fan of the old set, the seat was hard, and a bit low, being used to a slightly higher and softer seat, I ending up dropping down hard, not a good thing.

I think I shall tie these to the floor to ensure they don’t move for the foreseeable future.

8th May 2024

Another turbo cycle ride before breakfast to see if there were any eggs available, only to be met with none. However the lake looked wonderful and blue, there were no boats out, probably too early for the water people. Fortunately we had enough for breakfast which was just as well because as soon as I returned home we had our weight exercises. We had continued with these for quite a while as I was determined to get rid of my chicken arms. Some days they look to be tightening up, others times they still look stringy.

The session that Kelli picked out was a twenty minute dumbbell workout with body movements as well. That is challenging for me as I lack coordination, and the desire to do any movements that could antagonise my weak knee. My eight pound weights were certainly put to good use, up, down, across, and out, it feels like hell. As the final exercise finished there is still the accomplishment of still being alive, that in itself is a positive.

We had the usual outing to the supermarkets, but the added excitement( sarcasm) of going to Plato’s for yet another selling of unused clothing from Kelli’s tardis-like closet (more sarcasm) it did give me the opportunity for another coffee, and the opportunity of hitting an old lady who had forgotten to ask for syrup in her coffee. This caused a delay that I had not factored in to my already tight schedule. I had thirty minutes to leave Plato’s, get to Starbucks, order and drink my coffee, nibbling at my blueberry scone between slurps. This delay used up several precious minutes. I certainly would have got really annoyed if they put the wrong syrup in altogether. I did calm down eventually, I set my timer and devoured my beverage.

I returned to Plato’s with three minutes to spare, this of course is a self imposed timing, designed to stop Kelli walking around the store picking out things she would then try on and eventually purchase. I think I did well, she didn’t buy anything.

7th May 2024

There was a tornado alert on my phone this morning, the forecast was for rain and thunder most of the day, hopefully that would be all.

I cycled to see if there were any eggs at the house along South Shore, but I was disappointed, we seem to go through a lot of them in a week.

I then prepared the garage for the oncoming storm by moving the bikes deep inside so Kelli could do a bit of painting.

I worked on preparing the second side table for painting then headed off to Menards to get some supplies we needed. The highway was particularly busy, because of major road works around the town. Why this time of year? people shout, well most of the damage is done during the harsh winter, but they seem to be changing over from concrete slabs to tarmac, we’ll see how that works.

I collected a small dresser from our storeroom in Kelli’s Mum’s garage, as we may have a buyer for it already, nothing like a pending sale to focus the mind.

6th May 2024

Kelli wanted a small freezer that we could fit into the storage room so that we could store any vegetables and other things for the winter.

Ideally it would be a 3.5 cubic foot unit that wouldn’t take up all the space and we don’t intend to keep a deer in it. So Kelli searched Market place and found a free one, but in my opinion it was too big, but we agreed to go and check it out, so that was the first thing on our agenda for the day.

We found the place, it was relatively close, and it was a duplex. This is two houses joined together, we would call it a semi-detached. We were told that the owner would leave it on the drive for us to look over it, but it wasn’t there. All that I could see was a brown sofa that looked like it had been attacked by a werewolf, not something I would like to sit in.

So we left to go on to the next port of call, a house that had a bag of knobs and handles.

That was easy, next was a hardware store to buy some edging for the lawn. We knew the kind we wanted but did not see any on the shelves.

I decided to ask for assistance, there was an old chap at the end of an isle but he had his back to me. I tried to make as much noise as possible in my approach so as not to frighten him to death.

I asked him for some help, nothing. I asked again this time a bit louder, still nothing. I noticed he had an hearing aid, I guess it wasn’t working. I decided to walk away and try and find someone else. The next person had perfect hearing so we explained what we wanted. Unfortunately they didn’t have them in stock but assured us they would be in stock on Wednesday. With this promise, we set off back to the house.

We finished the large dresser dragged it out and took pictures, Kelli posted it and within a few hours we had a buyer. The bench that we posted yesterday hasn’t had much interest, hopefully that will change soon.

I spent time weeding the garden, filling the wheelybin up to the rim, that will take a bit of lifting into the truck, it’s amazing how heavy grass and weeds can get.

5th May 2024

Although I enjoy what we do, and every furniture piece is different, I long to something unique.

I miss the engineering and the design challenges of making a new piece. Not that we need any furniture apart from new seating in the house, but I need the time.

I should have all the time I need, but in reality, not having the strict working day restricts me.

I have my CAD software where I can design things in space, but I crave the freedom to create these designs in reality.

I still have the back garden to work on, and that should soak up any spare creative juices, and for now that may have to be what I focus on.

There was an interesting observation in the garden this morning, it looked like a scene from a Dali painting. The siding of the neighbouring property was all warped and distorted. We hadn’t noticed it the night before, so we were concerned that something may have happened during the night. We saw smoke coming from the side of the house, so all sorts of scenarios were going through our heads. It turned out that was coming from a grill, but anyway I walked round to check.

It turned out that they knew about it, apparently they were burning rubbish a bit too close to the wall and the heat melted the plastic.

Now that could be an expensive job, they will inquired if it could be covered on their insurance, good luck with that.

Today was a little cooler, not a tee shirt day, so back on with the flannel shirt.

We took pictures of the bench, a striking yellow against a grey backdrop, it’s not a masterpiece but it looked good.

4th May 2024

It’s so nice to feel the heat from the sun, it’s not guaranteed as the temperature does go up and down from day to day so it plays havoc with Kelli’s dress routine. Not that I bother too much, I have my work attire that I wear until it stands up on its own, or when she comments about them, whichever happens first.

We took a morning bike ride, taking a slightly longer route determined to fight off the pain, and make the ride pleasurable rather than uncomfortable.

The scent from the lilac trees are all around, it’s still fresh, shame that it doesn’t last the whole summer.

Then it was back to work. There was repair to a drawer, start on the second side table and paint and reassemble the bench.

As I was working outside, I remembered my cap, and Kelli even managed to get twenty minutes of sun bathing in.

3rd May 20244

We drove to Hudsonville to pick up a free dresser. I think we would go to Timbuktu if there was something for nothing, but the new owner of the house just wanted to get rid of it as it was left in the house. It had a solid maple top with a few scratches but otherwise it was solid and the drawers were in good condition.

Once we were back I attacked the top of the white dresser with my scraper. I fitted a new blade,and the old paint finish came off easily. As the piece was manufactured in Indonesia the timber, although solid was not a timber I could recognise, but once sanded it will be quite beautiful.

Whilst I was in the scraping mood, I did the new dresser as well.

While I was engulfed in shavings Kelli managed to get a sale of the dresser she repainted yesterday, the only issues we had to drive to Zeeland to meet up with the buyer. By that time Kelli was worn out, so it was down to me to do the deed. I set the GPS and headed out into Gods country. The destination was the car park of a Burger King, the buyers liked what they saw and the deal was done and dusted.

This clinched the first sale of the month, but with two other pieces in progress along with a bench, it’s going to be a busy week ahead.

There was a bit more traffic on the roads probably because I was hitting the going home rush hour, or maybe there were more visitors arriving in the town because…… next week it’s,… Tulip time. When people travel from all over to see the flower displays.

I was travelling behind a vehicle that had a bike rack that extended out passed the back of the rear bumper, but because there were no bicycles strapped to it, it was almost impossible to see. These things should have reflectors or something, if I hadn’t been observant I could easily have hit it.

Kermit, previously known as Frog, is getting a lot of attention, it was basking on a rock, taking full advantage of the sun. It seems to be making itself at home, and will soon get its own Amazon deliveries.

2nd May 2024

Kelli was very excited, she ran into the garage to tell me that there was a frog in our pond.

She showed me a blurry picture of the creature, so I was fascinated to see it.

We’ve had the pond for a couple of years, and most of the time I’ve not paid it much attention. There is a solar pump that keeps the water moving, but now there’s life, it will be much more interesting.

However it’s going to be a lonely life for “ Kermit” until he can find a female, although we’re not sure what sex it is.

We also had our inaugural bike ride, and we will feel it tomorrow. The ache in the buttocks where the cheeks are forced apart to fit the seat takes a bit of getting used to, but we tell ourselves it’s doing us good.

Now it had been a couple of days where our last dresser hadn’t attracted much attention, so that is when Kelli decided that the colour might be the factor, so she decided to change it. Now there is no point in arguing because she has alway proved to be correct, I just let her get on with it.

I amused myself by refilling the garden waste bin minutes after it was emptied, there is so much stuff still to clear, it will be full all through the summer.

I also do the futile task of reseeding the bits of the lawn that have been destroyed by the dog piss, although I have also connected the hose so I can follow them around and water the grass after them, a kind of human flush.

1st May 2024

Five months in and what have we got? Well it was a warm day well into the mid sixties and just the job to go shopping. Kelli had arranged to collect some cushion covers from an address close to the edge of Lake Michigan, in other words the stonking rich area. Some of the houses are vast, and really over the top. People rarely have ten kids anymore, so it’s more like showing off.

The place we were looking for had a copper roof above the entrance, very nice, just waiting to be stripped off in the middle of the night and taken to the local scrap metal dealer. Not that it happens here, I’m amazed that building materials are left overnight without fear of them being stolen.

We did our usual shopping trip at the two stores, I had joy at finding another cart with the coin stuck in it, well it’s only twenty five cents, but it the feeling of getting something for nothing.

We returned home, had some lunch then got straight into doing some gardening. It just wasn’t worth starting any furniture jobs, so it made sense to clean up the front area where the wild flowers are, although it looks a bit sad except where the bluebells are starting to flower.

I even managed to cut the grass at the front and back, I was on a roll, and at the end felt quite an achievement.

30th April 2024

It really feels like we’re heading into full spring, the sun bursts through the bedroom window, and the dogs cannot wait to rush out and water the grass.

I made a start on the two bedside tables, scraping and sanding, wait a minute, that’s what I do on every piece, it’s about time I did something special.

Over breakfast we listen to any alternative news, I am sick and tired of the Biden/ Trump crap, both are useless old men, and if that’s the best that’s on offer, load the fan up now.

There is a lot of news filtering through of the potential damage done by the Covid vaccine, most countries around the world have recorded surges in unexplained deaths, more of this will come out I’m sure.

We made the decision to have dinner out, we invited our friends from up the road Scott and Karen to join us. We went to the Paisley Pig just along the road, when we arrived the car park was very full, and when we walked in we could see why. It was around five thirty and there were old people everywhere, the late afternoon sun was glinting off the mass of white and silver hair, I had to keep my sunglasses on whilst being led to our table.

However we all blended in well, and had a fun packed dinner.