summer project

the garage is on my mind. all of my extra time is going to the old structure. i've had help moving the tool shed from directly to the south - moved it out from the garage wall about 5 feet. i excavated a good cubic yard of dirt away from the wood (!) siding. i found someone who was getting rid of gravel and got a truckload to put down in the space. and now i'll start removing the brittle, water-damaged siding.

finding wood siding is not so easy. i may have to use trim that i found with the same basic profile.

this will be a really big project, but it means i get to go to the hardware store! not the big, 40-foot ceiling, manned by college students who have never built a birdhouse, let alone re-sided a 1950's era wood garage sort of hardware store.

no, i mean the quickly disappearing owned-by-a-human-being local hardware store named for the guy behind the counter, who knows exactly where a certain widget is located, plus the nut that goes with it, and you'd better take a washer with you too. my local joint has Al and John, who have gently guided me through replacing a screen in 2 of my storm windows, building a truly dog-proof garden fence, and now, The Garage.

not only do i need the right lumber, but the right nails, tar paper for behind the siding, a decent saw, and these corner covers, made of aluminum.

hardware stores are full of potential. the smell of fertilizer and weed killer and motor oil; the little drawers of screws and nails and bolts and weights; the tools of every shape for more and more specific jobs; heady stuff, this.

and advice. advice is their most valuable item in their store. they are respectful, despite my assumptions that they would treat me like a stupid girl who couldn't possibly know how to swing a hammer. if anything, i think my regular trips and open questions have shown them i'm to be respected. plus i spend a lot of cash there.

and now, off to Al's Ace!

pu in the park

what a lovely evening we had! went to the park, picnic-ed with m, who gathered a great feast for us, and puppy was the star, as usual. so many people coming up to scritch her. Lots of kids, too - they love her, and she them. we walked a bit, then listened to a couple of great groups. well, one was a single, but lovely music, floating on the cool breeze. a really lovely, romantic evening.

i've not been able to give pup much socialization, so this type of evening is wonderful for her. her immune system was so compromised for the first couple of years, my vet discouraged taking her to parks and having interaction with too many dogs. finally, she's in great shape, so these outings are going to be more common. plus i have a new bigger auto to tow her around.

i'm hoping we'll be regulars eventually. i've never been a regular anywhere, so maybe pup will get me there.