Projects

Nothing about this summer is quiet, not even the heat.  James has his first paid summer as a teacher and the money we are saving in his not driving to work an hour and a half away five days a week is being returned into our home.  I've been amazed at his drive to improve things in the most frugal and beneficial way he can.  He started with the cold storage room.  It has been like a long, dark hall where we put winter clothes, fabric, costumes, and some food storage.  There was a single light bulb on the near end with a long string attached to it.  One always had a hand out searching for the string when entering the room and the sad, lonely bulb could not reach to the back corners. 

Not anymore.  There are now two long fluorescent lights radiating through and a switch on the outside wall next to the doorway.  It's a little bit of a miracle really, the way that light spreads, filling the whole space.  James drilled through concrete, ran wire, and everything.  He's been collecting wood and parts for shelving as well.  I can't wait to have full use of the room for storing things. 

He also added his and her lights to our bedroom closets.  They are semi-walk-in and were too deep for the bedroom light to shine well enough to make sure you weren't pulling out one navy blue shoe and one brown.  Of course, with my random fashion sense, no one would bat an eye if I had appeared in public that way. 

The first project he began has required the most patience.  James tilled a new garden plot.  We are hoping this will become the permanent area, but only the harvest will tell us whether or not our fourth choice of location will be successful.  We all had a hand in tilling in mulch and sand (hoping to break up the clay) and planting seeds.  The fantastic part about it is that the sprinklers automatically water most of the area.  We've been out to give extra water to the tomatoes that don't get quite enough and to weed here and there.  There are blossoms on the squash and the pumpkin plants look healthy.  I'm so excited!

James has also worked to move the woodpile away from the wall of the house to reduce spiders and wasps.  This seems to be helping a great deal.  I'm glad of it though my allergies and work schedule prevent me from going outside as much as I like. 

It's been a long few years, and I feel like things are "coming together" now.  Of course, there are a few clouds on the horizon.  There isn't a teaching job for him to return to in September, but there is a very good prospect in the private sector (his third interview is coming up next week).  So, those clouds may never gather enough energy for a storm.  In fact, they may just be something to keep the sky interesting.