August 28, 2009

We were up by 8:00 - and I had a horrible headache. We got our things together so we could get on the road. Before leaving, Carlo took guy-like precautionary safety measures by installing a fire extinguisher and the smoke alarm under the cabin.

I watched the turkeys until they decided to run off into the woods.

The weather on our trip home wasn't as bad as going, but there were bouts of bright sun, then dark skies, then a bunch of rain. We made it home safe and sound and look forward to next Thursday!

August 27, 2009

After almost 12 hours of sleep (Carlo would like me to point out it was me that was sleeping and not him) we were up by 4:30 am. We had our yummy McDonald's breakfast out of the way. I couldn't cook any of the food I brought because I forgot there would be no water to clean up the dishes!

The turkeys filled the lawn as the dawn broke. I'm sure they are very appreciative of the squirrels who tip the feeders for them to eat. It's odd, but neither of us noticed or heard any raccoons and we are not sad they are not around.

Ron and Tommy arrived around 8:30 and got right to work. They disconnected the water supply to the toilet and installed supply lines, faucets and connections. We have shut offs, and rough ins and all types of plumbing ware...oh my! What a huge change / difference from the octopus of pipes that are now a memory! A much appreciated distant memory!

Because I am not a plumbing apprentice or wanna-be, I continued to read The Time Traveler's Wife. Those of you that know me best, know that reading is not a favorite past time for me, but i am really enjoying this one!

By 3:15, Ron and Tommy were packed up and on their way...they soldered, they glued, they worked with copper and PVC, they rerouted a heating duct, cut a hole in the roof for and installed a vent, they added spigots and drains, they drilled lots of holes, and they gave us a tutorial on opening and closing and emptying any water from the pump housing - Ron used his ruler as a pointer! For some reason, I found this to be pretty funny!

After they left, Carlo plugged four holes in the cinder blocks from old piping...in hopes to keep any critters from coming in the crawl space...although there is still gaps in the doors...hmmmm. Everything was put back in the maintenance room and under the sink and by 4:00 I was back to my book. Carlo ran to Ace - it's the place... - for some last minute "supplies"; hose fittings, a hose, nozzle, smoke detector and more flashlights for his already immense flashlight collection!

Our plumbing issues are now manageable with (in the summer) 2 switches and no going under the cabin. Even in the winter, opening and closing will consist of 1 lever and 2 switches - and to think there were over a dozen before.

For dinner, we went to LaTolteca and had another great meal. The left-overs were fed to the critters and we called it a night shortly after. Not even a suggestion of sleep is needed for me...I can fall asleep in the midst of a conversation...just like this convers - - - zzzzzzzz.

August 26, 2009

I was able to leave work at 3:00 am so I could get an early arrival in time for the plumbing crew to kick off their first day!

A quick stop at home to pick up perishables and change clothes and I was out the door by 3:20. Much to my chagrin, after checking my trunk and backseat empty of stow-aways, I got on the highway as the rain started. According to the GPS, my ETA at O'Wich was 6:27.

Between a few sections of construction, the darkness, the bright headlights reflecting on the wet pavement, the horrible downpour and the onset of me being tired - I decided to stop at the oasis for coffee and a potty break. Actually it was a potty break and coffee! I got back on the road and dealt with more rain and wasn't comfortable driving the speed limit due to the poor visibility. And one the coffee was gone (which didn't taste too good in the first place), I did everything I could to stay awake - thank goodness for the few phone calls I was on because once they all went back to work, I sang, screamed, talked really loud, sang and screamed some more. Outside of giving myself a headache, it worked along with blasting the A/C.

After I got off the highway, there was a lot of fog...so, with that, the darkness and the wipers which were acting like a hypnotists pendulum; swinging really really fast with a side of water - I was moving right along and arrived at 6:45 - only a 17 minute weather / oasis delay - and when I pulled into the drive, I noticed a brand new red and white fire marker (address sign) and a front yard full of nearly 20 turkeys. They quickly scurried away into the trees. I unloaded the car, got into the cabin and watched more turkeys out the back and a chipmunk on the deck. There were even hummingbirds fluttering around like crazy. All gone by the time I got my camera out - how do those National Geographic Photographers capture those wildlife photos??? I will forever be amazed and perplexed!

Ron and Tommy arrived and had everything old removed by 11:00 am.

They, by the end of their day, installed the new pump, filter, pressure tank, hot water tank and partial lines for the draining system. Carlo arrived around 2:00 after fight the weather and a bunch of traffic. During all of this time (during the morning and early afternoon hours), I started reading The Time Traveler's Wife and attempted to capture pictures of the hummingbirds. I could hear them coming but geez...they are so fast and were either a blur or gone again by the time I could even lift my camera, let alone focus it!

I cleaned up a bit of the plumbing mess - yep, I know, and they ended their day around 4:15 - and to my excitement, although nothing was really fully running or even connected - they did supply water to the toilet for me. They will be back tomorrow to (hopefully) finish this phase of the job.

I was exhausted most of the day - yep, I know, and by 5:00 I was well on my way to sleep. According to Carlo, I slept through dinner, through the evening and through his emitting his definition of fun!

August 20, 2009

It rained most of the night. We started for our departure with me having coffee, straightening up the inside and packing. Carlo stocked the bird feeders and straightened up the outside. He picked up the fallen bird feeder and reattached it.

I decided to snap some pix before we left.

I think I may have begun a new interest...with rocks. I placed this rock on top of the broken bird bath...

It reminded me of the time I was in Aruba at the site of the Natural Bridge. On the land near the shore are gazillions of rocks and tourists pile them up and place them in different formations and then they make a wish. This area is referred to as Wishing Rock Piles. Here is a picture of mine and of me in front of the Natural Bridge - which collapsed on September 2, 2005.

So, the next time you're at O'Wich, why not pile up some stones, make a wish and let me snap your photo!

We hit the road and ran into some crazy skies on the way. To the left were dark low clouds and to the right were bright blue skies. At least we had safe storm-free travels and got home in plenty of time for someone to work tonight :/

August 19, 2009

We got up early - at 6:00 - so we could have breakfast and be ready for our 8:00 am appointment with Gary; the plumber. He was right on time. He answered all our questions, addressed all of our concerns and said he will do his best to get his crew to the cabin next Wednesday to start what we will call Phase I of the plumbing upgrade. Our goal is first to rid the maintenance room of the "spaghetti of pipes". These pipes are mostly useless as are the abundant amount of shut off valves that seem to have no obvious purpose.

Phase I will consist of a new hot water tank, new pressure tank, new water pump - all to be mounted under the cabin. This is what it looks like under the cabin now...

We will get new supply lines, shut off valves, service for a lav (plumbing talk for a bathroom sink), new shower faucet, outside faucet and a system draining feature. There is also talk of some venting system through the roof. Phase II will be done in the spring and will include the new lav - yep, you know what I'm talking about now, don't you???? Also, installation of the vessel and the faucet, new shower stall, new toilet (to be moved away from the wall 3") and a new septic system. I'm sure there will be more, but this list is pretty much complete! The best is after next week, there is going to be peace of mind knowing that the water mechanics of the cabin will be running without incident and we knew it was needed and were lucky to get three years out of the "ized" system that is there!

After Gary left, we hung the wind chimes that Rick and Katie gave me for my birthday and we hung the hummingbird feeder that Laurie gave us, in the front. While we sat on the porch, a finch came to check out the newly hung feeder - now we will waiting for the hummingbirds! After that we emptied out the maintenance room and had lunch.

Carlo ran to Ace to look for something for the roof edge, Tractor Supply for feed and seed and the fruit stand for fresh corn and veggies. When he got back, we drove down to the river - dropped the feed along the way, checked out the tree damage and took some pictures.

We didn't do much else outside of "izing" the roof void - and if it works, I'll be sure to share our materials list - just in case you have the same problem! Hmmm, wonder if this will keep the frogs out - or whatever else has been crawling in there!

We watched a little TV and then enjoyed a scrumptious dinner at LaTolteca. I had Pollo Jalisco meal - the "J" is silent - Every time I try something new, I forget what it is called, which is a problem, especially if I like it...so I need to make a note of it!

The evening ended early for me for the second night in a row...picture a recliner, a toasty throw cover and me! Nighty night!

August 18, 2009

We decided to schedule another appointment with the plumber so we could clarify some concerns before signing a contract. The plumber couldn't get us on his calendar until Wednesday which worked out good for us since we couldn't leave until 9:00 am (Tuesday). We took our time, stopping at the oasis for gas and at Culver's for lunch. Anyone have a taste for "Caramel Pecan Tacos"? I thought not!

Once again, the colors of the scenic farmlands along the way were bright and vivid. It's hard to believe how quickly the seasons change and before long everything will be white with snow. But for this trip, the sky was a beautiful shade of blue and full of white fluffy clouds!

We got to the cabin in time for GH and while I watched it and unpacked, Carlo ran to the store for a shut off valve since the one on the pump is leaking. He got back, "ized" the parts he bought, scraped his knuckles, put it all back together and got the water running. He loaded up all the feeders for the possibility of a show later on in the night!

We sat on the front porch and enjoyed the swarm of birds that seemed to appear from nowhere. I'm sure they were pleased Carlo made the trip and brought all the goodies for them to indulge in! While we were checking on an opening at the roof edge and trying to figure out an effective way to close it up, Carlo noticed a frog in the space. We're not really sure how he got up there - but he's gonna have to go!

Although we were both exhausted and close to hitting being up for 24 hours, we decided to run down to visit Paul and Betty for a bit. Steve was home too and showed us some photos of a trip he had been on. Betty bagged up some fresh pickles, beans and cherry tomatoes for us from their garden. When we got back I fell asleep on the recliner and stayed there well into the early morning hours.

August 6, 2009

Concerned with another issue with the pump - now it's a leaky prime access funnel and valve, I didn't sleep well. I was bailing out the funnel every 2 hours and had to do so three times! Around 2:00 am, during one of my plumbing service bailings, I noticed that the moon lit up the back as though a light was on. I got up around 5:00 am and it was darker than it was three hours earlier...Amazing!

The cranes started whooping it up around 5:30 and within five minutes it was like a symphony. Birds chirping in the front, in the back, at a distance and near. Truly a wondrous sound.

We spent the day watching movies and having lunch before we packed up to leave.

We took a few minutes for some photos opportunities and then hit the fruit stand. We drove through the Dells to pick up some chocolates and cheese and then headed home. Once again, a great time and some much appreciated R&R!

Soon I'll be back and enjoying it - all over again!

August 5, 2009

I checked on the pump during the night - I think. Was it a dream??? It was working.

6:45 am the birds were chirping like a bunch of roosters. Nothing better than a wilderness alarm clock! Wondering if my checking the pump was a dream or not, I flipped the switch. It did work and after a few (although a long few) minutes, it cycled off. Now my thoughts are to talk to Carlo before I call for service.

With the birds still making a lot of noise, I thought for sure there would be birds everywhere. I grabbed my camera and headed out to the front porch. The front was loaded with....squirrels! They were reaching to the feeders from the trees, they were on the ground and there was even one completely on a feeder! There were a couple of birds and they seemed happy when I came out since I scared the squirrels away!

The shelf over the stove is great! It looks great and is fully functional.

Basically, it was a cool, relaxing, nice, quiet day other than for the plumbing drama that was mixed in. Things got better when Gary, the plumbing guy showed up and said the pump was in fine working order. He said whatever caused the problem most likely corrected itself - but now we're waiting for him to give us an estimate to getting the plumbing fixed - once and for all!

Laurie and I left after Gary left. We went to Tractor Supply to look at wood burning stoves, we went to Fashion Bug to shop, Walmart to shop some more and finally to the farm stand for more of the tasty corn like Paul had given us. We grilled burgers and had veggies for supper and it was scrumptious! Afterward we watched Valkyrie - actually slept through Valkyrie - it was the credit that woke us up and prompted us to call it a night!

August 4, 2009

Laurie joined me for a little O'Wich R&R for our days off. We were on the road by 8:00 am buy the time we loaded the car, stopped for coffee and for houska. The drive is always the same number of hours and minutes, but the time flew due to our involved conversations - we can always find something to talk about!

We drove straight to Walmart to pick up our "supplies". I was happy to pick up some Cricut accessories that were cheaper than at home...not to mention the taxes are lower. With our "supplies" in hand - or in the trunk, we were at the cabin around noon. It was super easy to open since Carlo just left yesterday and all I needed to do was flip a switch! After everything was put away, I went down to visit Paul and Betty and to deliver the bread I picked up for them.

When I got back we had lunch. Paul had given us corn from the farm stand and we made our pizzas. All in all, a very yummy lunch.

Laurie read her book and soon after she decided to take a nap. My rest on the couch turned into a deep sleep until I was awakened by the ongoing noise of the water pump...AGAIN???? Again!!!!! I opened the door and was instantly met with a gazillion degrees of heat (add-on, but it was hot). I shut the pump off and called the repair guy ~ Carlo said the running pump could only be one of three things. One: Pressure switch / Two: water leak / Three: Check valve - He had already changed the pressure switch and I check for the water leak. Great! Time to bring in a local professional - I'll be calling the plumber in the morning.

For some reason, the pump totally shut down during the evening. No water...no electric - this cannot be good. I shut it all down and we watched Gran Torino. When the tear jerked was over, we watched a couple of raccoons hitting the seed pile. They were lame compared to the wilderness sounds we heard earlier that were either owls or some other angry animal. They were loud but we never were able to see them.

And that's it for this day!

August 3, 2009

Let the Interrogation Commence: by Detective Casper
*
*

*
*
Where were you during the hours of 10pm and 6am?
Trying to sleep through the storm

What time did the storm start?
Maybe around midnight

Were you watching TV?
No, I told you I was sleeping

No you did not say you WERE sleeping, never mind that...did any visitors attack the feeders?
Yes, 3 raccoons

How's the weather now?
Cool, cloudy and misting

What are your plans for the day?
Paul is stopping for coffee and coming home later

What else is going on?
Nothing

*****See how difficult this ghost writing is?????


I was told about all the turkeys on the grass this morning. These are wild turkeys - known as a rafter or gang of - that were most certainly appreciative of all the seed that was on the ground thanks to the tipping of the feeders by the midnight bandits! Oh, and yes, wild turkeys can fly!


Now I would like to speculate what Carlo is doing today, since he asked me where the new fluorescent light was. This is the light going under the new shelf that is going over the stove - could it be that this will be done on Tuesday and that I will get to use the new microwave??? (I am jumping up and down - I hope so!!!)


As luck would have it (yay), Carlo not only hung the shelf, but the light and put up the new microwave! I can't wait to see it. Thank you, honey!


~ Well this gumshoe is shot. Finishing up my review of the notes of the interrogation, I kick back in my seat, feet up on my desk, my hat falling tipping to the bridge of my nose (I know, I'm getting a bit carried away on this!), I think, I'm gonna have to check all of this out for myself. I'm gonna head to the scene of the crime in the morning. But for now this case is on hold, pending further investigation ~

August 2, 2009

Boo! Another ghost writing entry~

~Things must really be broken - I keep clicking my heels together yet I am still at home. I suppose if I click hard enough I'll be in O'Wich by mid-morning on Tuesday - until then, Casper will need to translate the events~

Carlo said there hasn't been any memorable photo opportunities - he's wasn't even sure what he wanted to do when this day started...hmmm, where is that silly list I thought I had?? I could help from a distance!

So, back to reality: Carlo took a couple of pictures of the river and his signs. He worked on cutting the grass between the easement and the river. Let me tell you; that's a lot of grass! Paul drove by and they chatted for a bit. Rick also stopped by. Carlo was quite the socialite. I guess these people don't know him too well! After his people-fest ended, he cut up the tree limb and finished up the grass.

In the late afternoon, he went down to visit with Paul and Betty. When he got back he noticed the pump was running...and running...and running. It was hot to the touch. (This was sounding very familiar to me.) He changed out the pump switch. Hopefully this will resolve the last two incidents. I think we need to move that plumbing renovation way up to the top of the list!

Other than that, Carlo advised the day was "uneventful". So I will shut off the interrogation light for the day ~ there's always tomorrow!

August 1, 2009

Again with the ghost writing ~

~As though there's a bright light over his head, he sits on a chair in the middle of a dark empty room, with beads of sweat dripping from his brow - I nearly need to beat the information from him...
Where were you on the night of August first? Well, something like that...or nothing like that!~

Carlo made it to the cabin mid-day after having worked on Friday night. He said there was a little rain and quite a bit of traffic along the way. So, he tells me (in absolutely no specific order) that he opened the cabin, changed the water filter, fixed the running toilet, fed the birds, visited with Tom, Judy and their grandson and that he picked up supplies from Walmart. Further interrogation led to the translation that for the mention of supplies from Walmart that he meant food shopping - not sure when food made it to the category of 'supplies' ~ but it is what it is!

Carlo has a new phone and attempted to snap a photo of some cranes he encountered - did I mention that Carlo got a new phone???? (imagine an image of a crane here!) Actually, the lack of photos is no fault of his own...it's the way they need to be sent. We're gonna need to figure that out!

I'm not really certain if Carlo is at O'Wich or on a ship - he mentioned 'poop deck'. Unless he was referring to the animal feces on the back deck - okay - he was - poop ON THE deck; crazy animals! They probably got the poops from eating the shrubs, flowers and the bird seed. Sounds like an imported special to me! Now what are those damn raccoons doing on the deck?!?!