It's been a day, so far...

When one is so grimy that the bar of Lava soap whimpers at your approach, then one is truly, truly grimy.

I spent my morning under the deck installing a guttering system to direct rain water away from the foundation. Using off the shelf corrugated plastic panels and vinyl guttering, the water that falls between the boards now is re-directed into the rose garden. I didn't do the entire underside of the deck - not at $15 a panel - but did enough that we should get fewer leaks into the garage. We'll see.

It's pouring down rain right now - seriously heavy though short-lived bouts of rain, the remnants of hurricane Alex - and there is a tiny trickle through a known trouble spot. I'm not sure where the water is coming from - the drainage protection is pretty thorough, an eight foot square  "roof" - and I wonder if the water is using mole or rat tunnels to get back to the foundation. I dropped poison down a couple holes while I was working.

It took three hours, working in savagely cramped conditions. I spread a large tarp so I wouldn't have to lie on the hard packed mud that is the ground under the deck, and my neck is still cramped from the many times it had to lift my head so I could see. I went out during the rain with an umbrella and looked at my handiwork: it's doing its job.

Tonight I have a concert. With the holiday weekend and the rain, I have a feeling I'll be playing for an empty house. Strangely, I'm okay with that. After my exertions below deck (Ha! Titanic reference, if you're paying attention) I'm feeling a little off my game.

Tomorrow, we've friends coming over. I hope the rain will be sporadic so we can fit in fireworks during the un-rainy bits. At the very least, we will eat well, and have fun catching up.

And now, off to make the other half of supper. Michelle's already cooked the bacon - now I'll do the chicken. Ahhhhh...

It's been a day, so far...

When one is so grimy that the bar of Lava soap whimpers at your approach, then one is truly, truly grimy.

I spent my morning under the deck installing a guttering system to direct rain water away from the foundation. Using off the shelf corrugated plastic panels and vinyl guttering, the water that falls between the boards now is re-directed into the rose garden. I didn't do the entire underside of the deck - not at $15 a panel - but did enough that we should get fewer leaks into the garage. We'll see.

It's pouring down rain right now - seriously heavy though short-lived bouts of rain, the remnants of hurricane Alex - and there is a tiny trickle through a known trouble spot. I'm not sure where the water is coming from - the drainage protection is pretty thorough, an eight foot square  "roof" - and I wonder if the water is using mole or rat tunnels to get back to the foundation. I dropped poison down a couple holes while I was working.

It took three hours, working in savagely cramped conditions. I spread a large tarp so I wouldn't have to lie on the hard packed mud that is the ground under the deck, and my neck is still cramped from the many times it had to lift my head so I could see. I went out during the rain with an umbrella and looked at my handiwork: it's doing its job.

Tonight I have a concert. With the holiday weekend and the rain, I have a feeling I'll be playing for an empty house. Strangely, I'm okay with that. After my exertions below deck (Ha! Titanic reference, if you're paying attention) I'm feeling a little off my game.

Tomorrow, we've friends coming over. I hope the rain will be sporadic so we can fit in fireworks during the un-rainy bits. At the very least, we will eat well, and have fun catching up.

And now, off to make the other half of supper. Michelle's already cooked the bacon - now I'll do the chicken. Ahhhhh...