Water...Water EVERYWHERE...I didn't do it!

More Farm Images

Water...Water Everywhere...I didn't do it!
Merde! Merde! Merde! (That's shit, shit, shit in French) Off in the morning yesterday to the Swamphouse to do more moving chores and cleaning as we have been doing for the last months. My neighbor Vern had called just before we left our new abode to tell me there was a giant puddle of water in the front of the house. Oh grrrr. So upon arriving at the house sure enough here's a running stream going down the street to the drain at the corner. After entering the house I could hear the roar of a waterfall in the distance. I openned the rear sliding door to find a torrent of the precious stuff crashing against the wall and valves of the automatic watering system. The problem was somewhere IN the exterior wall of the house and the stream was shooting out with much force and noise. Grrrrr. The main turn off valve at the house was right there so I turned and turned it until I finally got it almost off...almost. Not just a drip, drip, drip either...still a running leak. A pair of pliers did little to help. Grrrrr. So I went to the street and found the main water connection and the meter as well as the main valve and was able to shut it off entirely there. Good. So upon further examination I determined this was beyond my ability or interest to fix. It would be good money after bad if I took it on certaiunly, me being, by all measures the worst plumber in the United States if not the World. So off to call Joe The Plumber, whom has done ever so much incredible and inventive plumbing work for us over the years, mostly at the old houses in downtown Suisun but he has been to the Swamphouse upon occassion as well. I trust him, he's highly skilled and is fairly priced too...the best kind of Plumber to know. Hours went by and I finally decided that he was on vacation or ???? knew enough of us to avoid our problems at all cost...but no...he had just missed the message on his message machine. He called a few minutes ago and we set up a time for his examination and subsequent work...tomorrow at 7:30am. I get over there to meet and show him the waterfall then get out of his way.

Oh My Aching Back! Another Complaint...

The Farm 07-19-2010

Maybe we reached a crossroads yesterday about noon...maybe. You see EVERYTHING we own has been moved by us with a bit of help here and there from our trusty, lovely, intelligent and STRONG daughter Audrey. Every single item in this house has been hauled here from across the great divide...Suisun's Turning Basin aka "Waterfront". Every single thing lifted, pulled, shoved, hoisted, ensnared in ropes and straps into the back of my trusty ol' 1997 Ford Ranger for the 1 mile ride to Morgan Street. My neck is sore, my lower back tight and in pain, my arms ache, my wrists creak and snap and my fingernails broken...all in the efforts necessary to move in. Worth all of it? Oh yes, we love the place, the location, the neighbors, the batty older man who holds whole conversations with an invisible companion who answers his every comment as well. It is an INTERESTING place to put down roots. I've never lived in a place that had so many folks riding around in motorized wheelchairs, even our bestest politico J drives hers down the middle of the street to sit in front of our place and chat about the happenings in our dapper little town. It's all so warm and cozy.

I've taken to being attacked by bugs unseen in the last few days. I have raised, itchy bumps all over my aging torso and I don't like it one bit. Being a Trustee on the Solano County Mosquito Abatement Board doesn't have No Bite cards so I am picked on without fear of reprisal...while I sleep. Grrrr.

Just back from the morning run to the Swamphouse...guess what, now a file cabinet, a small but extra heavy one that has drawers that will not stay put, they fly out at the damnedest of times. Crunch! There goes another finger and fingernail. Ouch! We hoisted it into my truck and I drove slowly home contemplating the next step...which is getting the thing upstairs into the office. Grrrr again.

Home and the cabinet is at the bottom of the stairs with Kelly going through it NOW...?!?!? so it will be lighter for The Big Lift to come in a bit. Outside I refill the birdfeeder, water the north side bushes and tree and peer around the corner at the sliver of land nicely planted by our now long-gone neighbor. It suffers from lack of care, water and everything else...pruning included. I guess I'm adopting it if I give a damn at all about the plants and the appearance of that west side of the house. Maybe they think it's mine anyway. Who knows?! They're rarely home to ask.

Well down to bring the infernal cabinet upstairs. Bye for now!