When we bought our new recliners, the plan was to take the old ones over for the the grandkids to use. But, it was raining….for a whole week. Then it was too cold. Then we had to mow. Then they were working shift work. Then Covid started spiking like crazy. As time stretched on, I couldn’t imagine how I was going to fit the Christmas tree in the family room with all this extra furniture. Finally…yesterday was gorgeous and the kids had the day off. They came out to pick up the chairs and we had a little socially distanced visit sitting on the tailgates of our trucks.
My step-daughter’s boyfriend climbed the antenna tower to the roof and checked the openings of the chimneys. This is where the chimney swifts have been nesting and I want to put an end to that. Somewhere along the line, Mr. FixIt came into some wire baskets that had been used in the locker room of the local swimming pool. From what I could see, these baskets looked like the perfect size for the top piece of the chimneys and would keep the birds out. The first one slipped right on like it was made for that upper pipe. But the second was about a half inch too small so we’ll have to come up with something else.
I haven’t heard a single critter up in the attic since Mr. FixIt and Harry fixed the soffits last week under the eaves of the house. That’s a blessed relief because sitting here writing these posts in the evenings and hearing things scurry around over my head was disconcerting, to say the least. I know…we live in the country, and this is what happens but if you can do a little preventive maintenance, you can keep this things at bay.
The garden has been cleared and the tomato stakes put away till next year. The pool has been cleaned and treated, the ladder removed, the filter disconnected and emptied, and the deck furniture battened down agains the winter winds. The leaves have been mulched. The vines and excess vegetation from around the house has been removed and placed on the woodpile. The last thing to do is clean the lawn tools and treat the fuel tanks so they don’t get gummy over the winter.
We worked so hard over the summer, it’s been a treat to kind of kick back the last week or two. I’m heading to the farm tomorrow for a day or two. I need to do laundry and get things prepared for winter out there, as well. I like to decorate for the holidays so the home place looks cozy and inviting. Undoubtedly, there will be ladybugs and stink bugs that made their way in through the inevitable cracks of a nearly 100 year old house. Those will need swept up. I want to make sure the rain gutters are cleaned out and the downspouts lead away from the house. The dehumidifiers need cleaned and put away. The electric space heater needs to be pugged in and the thermostat set to kick on should the gas go off and there’s no heat. We don’t want the pipes to freeze, even though I do keep the pump unplugged when we aren’t there. And, I need to set up the little gas stove in the bathroom by lighting the thermostat and testing it.
The bathroom was added thirty years after that house was built. It’s nothing but a cinder block room with a cement floor. It doesn’t have a furnace vent. So there has always been a small gas stove in there with the thermostat set to kick on when it gets really cold. We’ve been having some unseasonably warm weather this fall, but it’s not going to last too much longer. Besides, I need to have a little R&R at the farm. I haven’t had any time there on my own for months and I know my days there are numbered at some point.
The Covid numbers are climbing ever higher, dear ones. I know we are tired, but we must stay the course and think of others as well as ourselves in this next season before a vaccine becomes available. I want you all with me next year because there are lots of adventures to be had and lessons to be learned out there! Please wear your masks and encourage others, as well. Wash your hands. Keep your distance. Stay away from crowds. You know the drill.
I hope you have a blessed Sunday and enjoy your day of rest. I’ll be back this evening with the Sunday Evening Prayer Circle. See you then!
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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NIV