An honest day's work
Today was a good day.
We had unexpected last minute renters wanting the cottage, but they needed to use the double/twin bunk bed that we recently bought (and advertised as having), even though I still had a twin bed installed there. I figured I'd bring the new beds up some winter weekend after the car ferry rates dropped.
But car ferry rates are low on Wednesdays, too, albeit with very limited availability and long lines. It turned out that Eldest Son was available to drive the two hours to our house and go up with me on Wednesday. He arrived Tuesday night.
We got up at 6 this morning to make the 9:30 ferry onto the island. I only just made it because I already had a ticket in my pocket and I ran. Eldest Son stayed behind to try to get our pickup truck full of furniture onto the next ferry.
Once on the island I took apart the old bed, washed the floors and baseboards, and waited for the new beds to arrive.
Eldest Son made it onto the very next ferry, so he arrived within about five minutes of me being ready for him. Next I washed the bed frames and got started putting them together with allen wrenches. E.S. kept going on that while I did some mattress deodorizing and vacuuming.
Once the beds were together and the mattresses were installed, we made up beds everywhere for updated pictures.
Eldest Son, like his younger brother, is really professional about bed-making. (He literally is, having worked in housekeeping in a grand hotel!) Having his help turned a chore into a joy.
Then we had lunch on the deck. We opened cans of soup from our shelf stable store of food, and I picked some herbs and kale from our planters to healthy them up.
Eldest Son spoke of his interest in going to grad school for accounting. We talked about the merits of an MBA program, too. (I am not surprised by him but his sister surprised me by applying to an MBA program. Apparently my children took something away from being raised in a family business.)
It was a gorgeous day. Eldest Son mowed the lawn while I did some outside work next. I found and killed all Black Swallow Wort that is about to go to seed. A call went out on the local listserv telling all the residents to spend some time eradicating this invasive from their yards this week, and I was glad to be able to oblige.
Next I cleaned out the basement, taking a summer's worth of redeemable bottles and cans to the grocery store since I had the truck. My next stop was the transfer station to leave all the recycling..
Back at home it was time to climb out onto the first floor roof to start scraping the exterior of the second floor to prep for painting. We worked until our shoulders were about to fall off. Then it was Blueberry Beer O'clock.
I had a nice moment out on the roof watching the ocean on a warm sunny clear blue sky day.
We went out to dinner at the Pub. I can be done with the Pub now. The food is so much better at the Gull.
I did my nails, had a luxurious shower (and then cleaned it from inside) and ice cream for dessert.
It was a good day.
We had unexpected last minute renters wanting the cottage, but they needed to use the double/twin bunk bed that we recently bought (and advertised as having), even though I still had a twin bed installed there. I figured I'd bring the new beds up some winter weekend after the car ferry rates dropped.
But car ferry rates are low on Wednesdays, too, albeit with very limited availability and long lines. It turned out that Eldest Son was available to drive the two hours to our house and go up with me on Wednesday. He arrived Tuesday night.
We got up at 6 this morning to make the 9:30 ferry onto the island. I only just made it because I already had a ticket in my pocket and I ran. Eldest Son stayed behind to try to get our pickup truck full of furniture onto the next ferry.
Once on the island I took apart the old bed, washed the floors and baseboards, and waited for the new beds to arrive.
Eldest Son made it onto the very next ferry, so he arrived within about five minutes of me being ready for him. Next I washed the bed frames and got started putting them together with allen wrenches. E.S. kept going on that while I did some mattress deodorizing and vacuuming.
Once the beds were together and the mattresses were installed, we made up beds everywhere for updated pictures.
Eldest Son, like his younger brother, is really professional about bed-making. (He literally is, having worked in housekeeping in a grand hotel!) Having his help turned a chore into a joy.
Then we had lunch on the deck. We opened cans of soup from our shelf stable store of food, and I picked some herbs and kale from our planters to healthy them up.
Eldest Son spoke of his interest in going to grad school for accounting. We talked about the merits of an MBA program, too. (I am not surprised by him but his sister surprised me by applying to an MBA program. Apparently my children took something away from being raised in a family business.)
It was a gorgeous day. Eldest Son mowed the lawn while I did some outside work next. I found and killed all Black Swallow Wort that is about to go to seed. A call went out on the local listserv telling all the residents to spend some time eradicating this invasive from their yards this week, and I was glad to be able to oblige.
Next I cleaned out the basement, taking a summer's worth of redeemable bottles and cans to the grocery store since I had the truck. My next stop was the transfer station to leave all the recycling..
Back at home it was time to climb out onto the first floor roof to start scraping the exterior of the second floor to prep for painting. We worked until our shoulders were about to fall off. Then it was Blueberry Beer O'clock.
I had a nice moment out on the roof watching the ocean on a warm sunny clear blue sky day.
We went out to dinner at the Pub. I can be done with the Pub now. The food is so much better at the Gull.
I did my nails, had a luxurious shower (and then cleaned it from inside) and ice cream for dessert.
It was a good day.