We started redoing the upstairs bathroom Friday. 

April 19, 2013 – Friday

32 degrees/calm/rain-snow mix

Pentoga Road

The past two days have been filled with rain and snow. I wish I knew how much rain has fallen; it’s been a considerable amount. Thankfully, we’ve had a slow melt this spring and the rivers and streams aren’t flooding. It appears as though all the moisture is soaking into the ground rather than flowing from our property to the Brule River and eventually, into Lake Michigan. Sorry, Milwaukee and Chicago, we need the water up this way.

Mourning Doves and other birds cleaning up what had spilled under the bird feeders

Wednesday was spent grading papers. I took time out from my academic duties to go to town and get a haircut. For whatever reason, I was sleepy and managed to snooze at Barber Bob’s while waiting for my turn in the big chair.

While in town, I stopped by the animal shelter and found the dog of my dreams… and he’d just been adopted. Ryder, the American Bulldog, was the ugliest, most laid back, friendliest, four-year-old pup I’ve seen in a long time. What a personality. Since playing with him, I’ve doubled my efforts to find a companion that is similar. I want one that will tag along with me during the day and not necessarily be off running around when I need him. I want a watchdog, one that would scare the poopies out of a stranger, but know the difference between a visitor and an intruder. Most importantly, I want a dog that will love little children and allow them to good-naturedly chew on his ears and otherwise abuse him in the way that small innocent children can do to a family dog. I’ll keep looking. There’s a big ol’ ugly doggie out there with our name on him (or her) who needs a good home and a constant companion. He just hasn’t found us yet.

Sargie was off Thursday and as with the day before, the weather was lousy. After a trip to town to purchase supplies, we came home and started stripping the wallpaper in the upstairs bathroom.

We just taken off the towel racks and other accessories.

I really liked the previous owners. Older folks (like we’re so young) they kept the house in wonderful shape, but I’m also finding there were some shortcuts taken along the way. One of them was hiding a great amount of water damage around the sink and tub by putting layers of wallpaper over the rotted drywall and surrounding area.

I always wondered why there was very wide, cheesy, plastic trim around the tub. Each time I’ve perched upon the porcelain throne to concentrate and think deep thoughts, I’d look at that trim and wonder why anyone would use something that ugly in a bathroom.

Yesterday, I found out. It covered water damage. Rather than fix the drywall, the previous owners just covered it up. It’s meant to be floor trim. They not only used it around the base of the tub, but also around the top along the wall.

Sargie and I pulled paper from the walls, scraped, danced to tunes blaring from an oldies station, and removed one layer of wallpaper. I’ll begin on the next today. This bathroom exercise is going to be a project, not a mere paint job. Our timing appears to be perfect as the weather forecast for the next ten days is for more lousy weather.

Sargie opens today. She’ll take the Blazer as the weather forecast is for a mixture of snow and rain. I see there were several end-of-the-semester papers arrive in my in-box overnight. I’ll read and grade them this morning and spend a bit of time after in the bathroom. Maybe I’ll emerge with new ideas. I’ve always done my best thinking in the bathroom.

Meanwhile, it’s time to get another cup of coffee, throw a log on the fire, and get this uploaded. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Darn straight. That's why I love her, she's a true Yooper girl. Sargie is wearing a heavy coat and gloves, says she's cold and yet, she brings ice cream bars as snacks to eat on our way to town. Hmmm. Hmmm.