Two sides down, two to go

July 16, 2020 - Thursday morning

56 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's a short one today as I overslept this morning and want to get the sunny side of the garden house painted before it gets too hot.

We really picked 'em up and threw 'em down Wednesday. Arriving home from my walk, I immediately covered Jambo's Dutch doors with a heavy canvas drop cloth to protect them from any errant splatter of paint later in the day. They are my pride and joy of this whole project.

I began painting the trim around the last front window and door. I should have purchased stock in the company that makes green painter's tape. We sure used enough of it yesterday.

It wasn't long before Grandma Sargie and Hambone joined me.

I'm tickled at Hambone's tenacity for completing a job. He stuck with Sargie and me all day even though I told him he could play in the sand, in the pond (with us being right there), or whatever he wanted to do. Each time, he said he wanted to stay and paint.

Grady's required to wear his life jacket any time he's in the garden area. It's become such a habit that he doesn't even realize he has it on and wears it all day regardless of where he is.

 The boy got a bit creative on the back side of the house and proudly painted a cross, then demonstrated his ability to spell by painting the word "cross."

Not bad for a boy who is going into kindergarten.

I kept busy painting the overhead sections or doing trim work.

It was a great day. The three of us had some good talks, laughed, and tried to keep out of each other's way.

Hambone loves his fresh veggies. The boy took the occasional stroll to the corner of the garden and plucked a handful of sweet peas for a snack.

 It was late afternoon before we called a halt to our labors. Two sides, the two most difficult, were completed. There were three tired, but happy, painters who trudged to the house and marched through the shower. 


We had huge salads with fresh chopped peas and baby zucchinis for supper last night. We love our salads, especially this time of the year when everything that is ready from the garden can be included.



Remember when I said Hambone likes his fresh vegetables? That also includes raw onions. He picked a large one before coming in and asked that I clean it. Without any hesitation, the boy picked it up and chomped on it like one would an apple.

I not only felt, but smelled, my buddy last night as we snuggled on the couch while watching tv. In fact, the entire house still has the unmistakable odor of garden fresh onion.

For those who asked, Sargie says her back feels much better. My pleas yesterday morning that she stay inside and rest fell upon deaf ears. My bride spent the day alongside Hambone and me with a paint brush in her hand. She told me a bit ago that she slept much better last night than the night before.

I'm heading out the door in a few minutes to begin painting. With Sargie and Hambone's help, we should finish the garden house early this afternoon. The crowning features, the cupola and weather vane that will sit high upon the roof will be ordered later today. I'll be working on finishing and painting the window grids in the shop, but those are fun, little, things. I'll also be fashioning a front stoop from treated lumber.

I hope to get the tools put away today and begin thinking about other things around here that need to be done before winter arrives. Honestly, I don't know how I ever got anything accomplished before I retired. There simply aren't enough hours in the day.

Oh well, are we surprised?

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...