Furnishings

 Chuck is making chairs this winter.  He hasn't tried it before, but he wants his daughter to have some, to match the table he made for her a few years ago.

 I am documenting the process, not only for fun and this blog, but also because he is using West Systems Epoxy for the gluing.  I think West Systems Epoxy is hilarious.  They have a magazine!  Epoxy World!  When we get an issue of Epoxy World, I pore over the stories of amazing projects done with West Systems Epoxy.  Boats!  Kitchen remodels!  The wonders of really good glue.  When this project is finished, I plan to submit it to Epoxy World, and I will be published for the first time ever!

 In other news, everything old is new again.  When Marianne lived here with Chuck, she had a blackboard screwed to the laundry room door, and she wrote her shopping list on it.  When she moved out (to the cabin next door), the blackboard went with her.  When she tore her cabin down, with plans to build a new one, she discarded the blackboard in the dumpster.  I saw it there and pulled it out.  The things people throw away!  Still has her shopping list on it:

Notice the last item:  new cabin.  I certainly hope that works out for her, since she has destroyed the old one.  You can't see it well anymore, because I smudged it when I put it back in its place on the door; but under the "New Cabin", she added "Septic" (hers had failed) and "Cloaking Device for Neighbors".  I guess that is a Star Trek reference.  Unfortunately for Marianne, that is a problem with her decision to continue her life as Chuck's next-door neighbor.  Chuck will be there, and so will I:  enjoying life; having parties; playing the stereo and laughing on the porch swing.  All that baggage, piled up only a few feet away.

This is what I prefer.  A clean slate.

Six Word Saturday

Old Izuzu Trooper:
our "new" snowplow.

Six Word Saturday

Frozen wood.
Slippery chop-block.


Splitting Headache.

My Beetle Can Beat Up Your Beetle

A really big moth is competing with me for the monitor, here.  I keep swishing it away.  Chuck is not the only wild animal with whom I share this bedroom:  plenty of bugs; plenty of bats. 

The bats are amusing.  They flit awkwardly around in the rafters while Chuck and I scramble to turn off the ceiling fan.  Once or twice I have heard the tell-tale thunk that means a bat has bought it.  I found one in the bathtub, not long after we moved in - bludgeoned in flight.  I like bats!  They're cute!  And they eat bugs.  I feel bad about the fan; but Chuck tells me it is worse when they survive the fan and decide to hang around for a few days.  They like to roost in the peak of the roof, right over the bed.  I woke up a few weeks ago to a little droplet landing on my face.  Bat pee.  SO glad I did not have my mouth open... Anyway, I think that if the bats are going to live in here, they ought to earn their keep.  Why not eat all these moths?  Especially this little bastard who keeps dive-bombing my fingers.

Two nights ago, we had a beetle.  By American standards, this was a substantial beetle:  as long as my finger.  Capable of loud buzzing while in flight, and freaky hissing if he got flipped on his back.  You know the scene in Harry Potter IV, when Mad Eye Moody demonstrates the Cruciatus Curse?  Just like that.  I named the beetle Harold, and Chuck and I played with him for a few minutes before he wandered off on his beetle business.  Which was, I soon discovered, to terrify children.  After a few minutes, I heard excitement from downstairs and Sara ran up to report the biggest beetle she has EVER! SEEN!  (She needs to live in Australia for a little while.  All the bugs are bigger in Australia.) 

"Harold!  Where are you, Baby?" 
"HAROLD?!?  You call that thing HAROLD?" 
"Yeah, he's my friend!"  I made a production of scooping him up in a piece of newspaper and talking to him in googey-talk.  "My Pwecious Pet!"

The kids were both dancing with disgust. 
"What are you going to do with him!?!" 
"Make a brooch out of him."  Everyone looked at me, confused.  Even Chuck. 
"Sure.  Haven't you guys seen those brooches made from live beetles?" 
Chuck said, "You're bullshitting me!" 

Here you go, Honey!