Saturday, June 24th

[Colliemom]

Morning all. Sunny and 66°. Mid 80’s and a bit humid predicted today. Rain and thunderstorms for tomorrow afternoon and rain showers Monday and Tuesday, followed by cooler weather. Maybe an inch and a half to two inches. Very welcome news here especially with 4th of July coming up and people wanting to do fireworks.

Martha, me take a day off! You know me better than that Actually I was out at a bit often 7 a.m. doing a final run with the sander over the deck area I have been working on since Monday, to get ready to put the primer on. With rain in the forecast, I wanted to get some protection over that bare wood. I got some help from mom nature on Thursday in the form of a very hazy, smokey sky, which cut the sun heat down and I was able to work on it all day. It’s been on/off off sessions all week between hot afternoons making the deck too hot and couple of appts. I have to say I’ve been working like a demon out there. In the morning cool and after supper in the evenings. And fighting a summer cold besides. I primed it yesterday morning, went grocery shopping and then put the first coat of paint in it in the afternoon. After the rain passes and things dry off again then I will run a roller over for a second coat next week. . It’s time to stop and take a rest, throw off the remnants of this cold etc. . So other than doing a quick vacuuming in the house, watering the flowers and cleaning up the pile of paint strips/chips I scraped off the deck. I’m not doing anything for the rest of the weekend.

Pat, hope your sister continues to improve and can get into her new home. Keep the faith. My cousin by marriage has A-Fib issues, hopefully it will turn out your sister doesn’t. Like Anita sad, seems to be too common these days. I think our eating and lifestyle habits have a lot to do with it. Sorry, you had to let the 5er go, but you are creating a future lifetime of memories for your grands and have a lifetime of memories for yourself. . Maybe you can find a camper van and go that route or rent a camping cabin if some parks have them. And hopefully you will get some rain.

Shirl, quite the day you had trying to go shopping. No fun there. But you made it, so now you won’t starve to death

I guess I had better get moving here. Get those flowers watered and pile of junk picked up. Will vac after I accomplish that, won’t take long. Have a nice day everyone.

[Cudedog]

So other than doing a quick vacuuming in the house, watering the flowers and cleaning up the pile of paint strips/chips I scraped off the deck. I’m not doing anything for the rest of the weekend. . . Get those flowers watered and pile of junk picked up. Will vac after I accomplish that, won’t take long. Have a nice day everyone

Good news, Sue!

Glad to hear you are taking a break!

Anne

[Colliemom]

Yep Anne. It’s time for one. I ran the vac first, LOL, then picked up the scrapings. Filled up almost a whole 33 gal trash bag, so you know I was scraping a lot off. The original plan was to just scrape off the loose edges here and there, but it just kept coming off and I decided if I’m going to do it, I might as well do it right. It’s been couple years since it was done last and it takes a bit of a beating during the winter because of shoveling off the snow and stuff. And as I worked along, the original paint or whatever it was coming off off too, and there was never any primer put on from what I could see. Despite the fact that this deck is 30 years old, wood is an extremely good shape, but it’s because it was maintained. Flowers are all watered, including the sub entrance. This is what I have been working on all week. Dogs aren’t happy cause I blocked off that section of deck, There is another section beyond the tarps but that is in good enough shape to just get touch up some areas with primer and give that section a fresh topcoat. Will touch up few spots here and there on the railings at same time. I have my porch railings done and just need to touch up a few places on porch floor. Being under the roof, it holds up very well. This is one of these years where I just have to put a bit of extra effort into exterior house Maintenance and then it’s done.


Shirl, I have a question about your lamp. If the socket is the issue, why do you have to run a wire through the whole arm etc? Everything I have seen in installing new sockets, say to just remove the wires at base of old socket and then attach new one one to said wires. Are you trying to replace the whole thing down to the plug?

[Shirlv]

Sue, if you lived next door we would have the lamp fixed. Replacing the socket is an easy fix. The problem has been to remove old socket (pull the cord out to cut off old socket) the cord runs through the swing arm and is caught until you loosen each turn. The bowl is giving me a fit. Glad I bought my tools, finally found adjustable wrench to remove nut holding bowl together. Now think the top of bowl needs to be twisted loose from arm and I am not strong enough. Waiting for some muscle to visit. Lol Ask Beth to post a picture of the mess. I said I wasn’t going to mention the $&#* lamp again, sorry.

[BarbaraRose]

Good morning gals!

Wow! Sue! I am exhausted reading about all you have been doing! You need a break for sure!

Yesterday, nothing got done because I got food poisoning from something I ate. So I spent the early afternoon in the bathroom, then slept for several hours after all that! Just watched a little TV last night. Am feeling better today altho a bit tired yet.

Still need to get to WM, which I am glad I didn't head there yesterday before all hell broke loose! Not much else planned for today unless I get some energy and motivation back.

Judy, do you run into a lot of places that only have 20 amp sites? You could get a Soft Start unit to attach to your AC that will allow you to run your AC from 20 amps. It just eliminates the initial surge of the AC when starting so it can be run on 20 rather than 30 amps. Would be worth it if you run into that problem quite a bit.

Have a good day!

[Colliemom]

But your support group wants to be kept in the loop. This gets my brain going trying to find a solution for you, it’s the only entertainment out there right now . Always lookng for the latest chapter in “Shirl and the Uncooperative lamp” I think you have given me the courage to try to fix one of mi etoo, but no arm involved, but mine Haven’t attempted as yet though.

[Cudedog]

Sue, if you lived next door we would have the lamp fixed. Replacing the socket is an easy fix. The problem has been to remove old socket (pull the cord out to cut off old socket) the cord runs through the swing arm and is caught until you loosen each turn. The bowl is giving me a fit. Glad I bought my tools, finally found adjustable wrench to remove nut holding bowl together. Now think the top of bowl needs to be twisted loose from arm and I am not strong enough. Waiting for some muscle to visit. Lol Ask Beth to post a picture of the mess. I said I wasn’t going to mention the $&#* lamp again, sorry.

Shirl, I for one absolutely enjoy reading about your lamp adventures.

Please don't stop!

Anne

[Bethers]

Good thing I read first. So off to email and found one from you, Shirl, with the request there also to post your mess lol. Sue, maybe the picture will help you help her. I'm no help at all, except in posting the picture.


Every day this week I've been showing we'd hit and surpass 100 degrees. So far it hasn't happened. I think I'd bet on today happening. But it was gorgeous when Ty and I walked our 1 3/4 miles this morning. I've been using the swamp cooler but don't think I'd purchase it again. That said, it gives the AC in here a break mornings and uses way less electricity. It just doesn't cool the room, just me. And I guess it's just me that needs it lol

I've also been cooking in my pressure cooker. I've got 8 to 10 freezer meals so far and will do another batch today or tomorrow.

[Shirlv]

Sue, you and Anne are as weird as me. Lol. The rod from the bowl looks like it screws into the arm. It’s the last obstacle and I don’t know which way to turn to unscrew/loosen. I used two pieces of nonskid cabinet liner to try twisting but guess I need more muscle. Plan B is throw it off the second floor balcony. Geeezzz

Thanks Beth

[JudyJB]

Barbie, this is the only place I stay where they have only 20 amps. My son lives in Aurora, OH, and there is West Branch SP 20 miles southeast of his house and this place 16 miles north of Aurora. Since I can stay only two weeks at each, I alternate these two places. There is another place east of here called Mosquito Lake, but it is about 30 miles away, and it tends to be more muddy, except for the few newer full hookup sites, but those are quickly taken. (Not a very positive name for a state park, either!) Frankly, I don't really like any of them because Ohio state parks have narrow sites, to the point where if you are in the older sites, you step out into mud, except for the few newer sites. There are a couple of nearer commercial campgrounds, but the one is pretty awful and too woodsy for me. There is a nearby KOA, but I hate KOAs, although i probably need to check it out in case I have an emergency someday that requires me to stay a longer time. Frankly, like a lot of state parks, the Ohio needs to spend some money on updates and redoing what I call "ski slope" campsites.

I have the first two weeks in August and the first two weeks in Sept at West Branch in a newer and larger, full hookup site where I can get satellite. Can't stay at my son's house because of homeowners association rules.

My project for this morning (or afternoon) was to go through the folding storage box my DIL in CA gave me for Christmas. It has been sitting on the floor of the passenger's seat, and if you give me a container, I will fill it with junk. My two granddaughters will be camping with me next week, going to Columbus Zoo, so one will be sitting there. I also cleaned the windshield and the passenger's door window and side compartments. (Need to wash all the rest of the windows, but I am getting there.)

Also today, plans are to go through the plastic box I brought back from UK last year. I have a bag of booklets I have not read yet, so need to read them and add to box so I can add to storage in son's basement.

Chilly and damp here in northeast Ohio. High is supposed to be 73, but it is more like 70 right now, and cloudy.

[Colliemom]

Course Anne and I are weird. . We think alike. We both have inquiring minds, Are you replacing the socket at the very top or the part where the switch is? When something screws together, you always screw it to the left to loosen up and screw the right to tighten, you probably know that. . Doesn’t alway work if one doesn’t have strength to do it tnough. I have encountered the same thing sometimes, but fortunately I have a couple of vises here that I can stick my stuff into, to to hold them so I can put my leverage behind whatever I’m trying to unscrew.

Can you tell I’m not doing anything today. I’m making posts all day, But I am heading out to pick up pizza in a short bit. Anybody ant to join me.

[Shirlv]

The old socket with switch is still there at the end because I can’t pull it out enough to cut off the cord. Grandson is coming for a visit next week. Do I have a surprise for him or what. Lol

[Colliemom]

Judy, MI State Parks are in multi year renovation/construction/restoration projects that is going require closure of campgrounds, day use areas etc., depending in what’s slated for work, over the next three years. Not all at once. But will inconvenience campers and park users depending on where and what is being done. Will be great and long over due. The list is very extensive as you can see.

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/sta ... oject-list

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/news ... astructure

[Redetotry]

Sue, you and Anne are as weird as me. Lol. The rod from the bowl looks like it screws into the arm. It’s the last obstacle and I don’t know which way to turn to unscrew/loosen. I used two pieces of nonskid cabinet liner to try twisting but guess I need more muscle. Plan B is throw it off the second floor balcony. Geeezzz

Thanks Beth

Shirl did you read where my lamp crashed and the metal post broke? We both have decided we like the room so much better now that it is gone. It really wasn't that big so it is surprising the difference. But hope you get yours fixed.

[Shirlv]

BJ, I did see your post. The switch on my lamp was wobbly and dangerous. Time has taken a toll and sometimes I need that bright light over my shoulder. It jus suits and a shame to get rid of it foe a switch. Well that was my thought when I started on this project. Lol