September 21-22, 2013

Sally was in Salt Lake City, so just a me and Tender here for the weekend. Thankfully,we had received two inches of rain. Temperature was in the mid 80s both days.

Pella Window

Friday afternoon I picked up the replacement window Pella had built for us. The wood is not stained, so I was somewhat worried about getting a good match with the frame and other windows. But I remembered Eddie had used Flood cedar tone CWF (clear wood finish), even on the inside of the house. I tested a bottom part of the window and think that is it, though it would take two coats. I sent a picture to Sally to get her approval. I won't be able to hang it until she is out with me since it is a two man job.

Hot Water Tank

Once again I had to drain the hot water tank due to the rotten egg smell/iron bacteria. I brought a socket to use to get the old anoid out, but I couldn't budge it. So I called Rex and he came out with his electric drill/driver. I had been using my long handled torque wrench, which registers up to about 140 foot/lbs. He said his driver would excerpt over 400 foot/lbs of pressure. He had it out and replaced in no time. The problem is, he said the old one was also aluminum/zinc, so I don't expect any better results. What a pain to drain the tank every time I am gone for two weeks or more.

Door Weather Seal

I also picked up a new weather seal for the back door, since the old stuff was broken and unsightly. The new stuff fit right in and is working well.

Paint

Working around the door, I decided to put a fresh coat of paint on part of the frame. After that door, I moved on to the two doors under the porches. I think those frames came primed, and Eddie (nor I) ever put any paint on them at all. They look much better now, and it didn't take that long.

Garden

No need to water, but I did some weeding and picked green beans, kale, some chard, and lots of butternuts. Many of the butternut squash vines were dying and the squash beetles were really bad.

Trim Iris

I took some hand clippers and cut back the dying iris leaves, pulled out the dead ones, and did some weeding in the bed out by the deck. Looks much nicer.

Cutup Cedar

I took my Sthil down and cut up the tornado downed field cedar that I had drug down by the pond. I was thinking I would just need to get it into a few pieces, but I ended up limbing much of it just so I could then drag pieces up into the edge of the woods (so Larry could brush hog). Most of it will have to be burned, and just a little of it used for fish habitat.

Mow/Weedeat

Of course a little of this, though the season is near its end.