Train, Tribulations and Spending Money

CC came Monday this week to finish digging out the torpedo grass that has taken over part of my front flower bed. I had culverted a big area of swamp twinflower (Dyschoriste humistrata), but while we were away, the grass covered and killed it. Nothing to be done but start over. While she dug, I cut back salvias to encourage new growth. We began hearing the beep, beep, beep of heavy equipment backing up.

The house across the canal was being torn down. Diane, the previous owner, sold when she couldn’t get a variance to put in a pool closer to the canal than current regulations allow. Assuming the new house will be the usual 2-story, I wonder if the new owner will figure how to fit in a pool. Much speculation among the neighbors. 

Wednesday, we sat over at the Orange County courthouse all day while Stephanie spent more time and money getting divorced. I wasn’t allowed in the courtroom because I was a potential witness about how we had bought her house and who paid what. I was never called, and at the end of the day, Stephanie and Enrique were declared divorced. The judge still has to issue a final ruling, however that seems to be a formality. My teeth gnash whenever I think about the thousands of dollars wasted, but what’s done is done. Forward.

At least for the $1,300+ I spent with my plumber Troy I got a new kitchen faucet, workable drain plugs in the bathroom sinks, 2 outdoor faucets on the south wall, and a faucet with a handle on the east wall. Of course putting in the kitchen faucet was a bear. To get to its hardware, Troy had to cut a hole in the cabinet box built under the sink. Even then, he had to finesse the bolts to hold it on. Evidently behind the sink is the original outside cinderblock wall. Means the kitchen counter is really supported, but no room for some little drawers I thought I could have coming into the dining room.

Troy is coming back someday, soon I hope, to change out the cutoff to shut the water to the whole house. That would be nice to have when we go on vacation. He figured out the city water to the sprinkler system comes off the entrance line before the shut valve, so I can still run them if need be. Unfortunately, the faucet for my mist system to the vegetable beds is on a house line, so I will have to figure how to move them over to the sprinkler line if I want to shut the house off. Probably an opportunity to throw money at Cooper, our sprinkler guy.