A New Look For The Old House July 23, 2008

Granny Grumps and I, (mostly Granny Grumps), decided that we needed a new roof and other costly improvements at the old homestead. So far we have (mostly me) begun rebuilding the deck , and contracted to have the roof replaced.

The plans are for us (mostly me) to remove the screen from about 20 feet of the back porch and replace it with windows. I found six 3 foot by 5 foot insulated glass windows on Craig’s List and bought them, but we (I) won’t start working on the porch until after our September trip.

The roofers will finish the roof tomorrow, and I should finish the deck within the next few weeks.

Homer Simpson and Ta Da! July 14, 2008

I have been startled many times in my life, but this past week has been a doosie!

First, Saturday after Ken, Lisa and the herd has left for Denver we needed our quite time. That evening I decided to work in the shop and prepare my fishing rods and reels for my next fishing trip. All was peaceful and quite as I concentrated on my work.

Robert, Pam and the boys had sent me a talking birthday card and as normal I had stapled it to the shop wall. The tip of my rod moved the card and Homer Simpson said in what I considered a booming voice “You know when I was a boy”. WOW I almost jumped out of my skin. Took me a minute to recover and discover what had happened.

Then yesterday Evelyn and I were riding to Crestview Florida to pick up 6 windows for the new sunroom that I had seen on Craigslist. We were using my Tom Tom for directions and as we pasted a Good Sam’s Campground it suddenly said “TA DA” very loudly. Both GrannyGrumps and I jumped as I jerked into the left lane. Thankfully there wasn’t another car beside me.

We are getting too old for that kind of stuff

Well, I can relax now. Darn it. July 14, 2008

The chicks are all in their roost and are safe from the bad fox. I am geneticly predisposed to be a worrier. I come from a long line of worriers. So I am always worried when any of my “kids” are somewhere in the great unknown. I don’t know why I think they are safer in there home towns, but there it is. Ken and his brood have arrived back in Thornton and have dutifully reported in by email so all is well.

We had a wonderful visit with lots of happenings. With 10 people in my little house, it is no wonder we are seriously thing and planning on enclosing part of the back porch and making it an all weather sunroom.

Das Boat July 1, 2008

Well the pontoon boat is gone and I am ready to go fishing.  Sonny gave me his old boat, it’s a 1987 VIP with an 85 horse power Suzuki motor.

Granny Grumps and I went to Montgomery last week to pick it up.  Sonny had bought one new tire for it and we thought the other one would make it home.  Thank goodness we had a spare.  We had a blowout about 30 miles north of Saraland, and I have to tell you that changing a tire on the side of I-65 isn’t much fun.  Luckily the lugs came off easily and the GMC jack worked good on the boat trailer.

When I got it home, I went right to work on it, then I discovered a problem.  There was nothing to fix!  One lousy piece of rotten wood was all.  The hull is in good shape, the trailer is good, and the motor looks like new.  The gas in the built-in tank  was old and bad so I haven’t cranked it yet but knowing Sonny I am sure it is perfect.

I am taking it to the shop tomorrow to have the water pump replaced and the lower unit oil changed, then it’s off to the river!