Splinters are great motivators

July 6, 2008. Smatterings of cousins are enjoying a traditional July 4th gathering. Johanna, a guest from Germany, suggests we take a group picture before parting ways. It is a beautiful sunny day so we decide to group ourselves on the deck for the picture. Mel warns, “put some shoes on or you’ll get splinters”. Clustered and smiling the shot is snapped. Johanna, seated on the deck, stands up and immediately reaches for her backside exclaiming, “Ouch”! No amount of brushing or wiggling brings relief. In the privacy of a bedroom she drops her pants to reveal 8-10 splinters piercing her bottom. Ouch indeed! Donning my magnifying reading glasses and armed with tweezers I went to work extracting the beastly quills. Betsy brought in hydrogen peroxide. Gratefully, we were able to get them all amid nervous laughter mingled with painful squeals.

The deck has been a booby trap of splinters and breaking rails for the last several years. Seldom used because of it, yet inspired by splinters, Mel & Betsy made a call to Tom for collaboration. The family decided to act and reclaim the deck from age and weather.

The following is an account of projects and improvements.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Lighting

July 8, 2008
While Dave, Wyatt & Edgar were working outside, I, Susie, was working inside the cabin. I am happy to report five new lights were installed and I only got shocked twice. Four matching fixtures are now in the main room.


One over the table, another at the end of the overhead cupboard, a single upstairs outside M&B’s room and the last on the wall between the entry and the piano.




A similar fixture was chosen for the bunk bed room. Unlike the other 60watt bulb fixtures, this uses a 100watts to give the bedroom more light.

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