In a Frenzy

With the help of Gracie, I painted two walls in the living room (Sherman Williams Soft Green). Two coats on one wall Wednesday; 2 coats on the second wall Thursday. She inspected the paint, thought about climbing the step-stool with me, and attacked my brush when I was cutting in the baseboard. She was uninvited after that. Only one small painted paw print to wipe up, but I could imagine disaster. Still such a curious kitty.


After I’d offloaded the bookcase, we scooted it out of the way to the hall, then shoved the rest of the furniture to the west end of the living room. Today it all gets put back without my culling any of the stuff I longer need or want. I don’t have the time right now. I’m in a frenzy to get the house and yard in as much order as possible before our Rocky Mountaineer trip in June. Two days after we get home, we host Grant’s 80th birthday party. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. When our new living room furniture arrives, the living room is ready.

Yesterday, Grant and I salvaged wood from the dock for a new pen for William and 2 plant stands. It’s marine grade so should last as long as we are likely to need them. We got all the pieces cut in the +90° heat. That was enough for one day. Afterwards, I took a float (no energy for a swim) in the pool. There is a 6” warm layer on top with cold water below. Delightful. I had declared the pool open a couple of weeks ago and forced myself into the then cold water one time, but hadn’t returned. Now the nights are in the low 70°s, so the pool water is starting to warm up. Swimming laps is in my near future.

Today, we finished William’s pen except for one triangle of plywood I need to cut for a shade area on the front edge. The wood is just too soaked for our little saw to chew threw. I’ll let it dry out for a few days and try again. He also needs a new winter hut, but that can wait until later. (Prioritize…) After I put him in his new pen, he spent much time exploring the piles of fresh cypress mulch. Perhaps I can get some dehydrated crickets to throw on it and let him find them. Turtle stimulation? Do their pea-sized brains need that?

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