A Job "Well" Done

Or is that "All's Well That Ends Well"? Either way, the new pump works and we have water. I couldn't be happier...
On Tuesday afternoon, after the mayhem of Sandy the SuperStorm had blown by, the Pump Crew reconvened and the new pump (see above photo) was connected and ready to be sent back down, all 250 plus feet into obscurity. You spend hundreds of dollars for a part that you'll hopefully never see again... Not like conspicuous consumption!
Anyway, feeding the pipe back down was easier as you're not hauling the pump up, but the pipe had to be cleaned so that the well isn't contaminated with leaves and boogers and junk. Dumping a bottle of chlorine in helps, too.

That's Bob laughing at my attempts at "photo ops". I was yelling from my position as caboose to "hold the line" as I ran into the house to get the camera. But this picture does give some sense of scale. This is a good 7/8 of the way through the threading the pipe back down. Fortunately, no disaster like kinking pipe or frayed wiring occurred.
About an hour later, after refilling the tank with air and testing, we had water. It smelled like chlorine and I can't say I'd drink it or cook with it yet, but flushing the toilet was sheer joy.

What to do in Event of a Hurricane

There we are (I'm on photos) preparing to hoist the pump approximately 250 feet out of the ground. The day is stormy but not totally woolly yet; winds picking up with light rain. More blustery than actual hurricane.
Time is certainly of the essence as our power is still on and there's not much sense in fixing the pump if we can't even test to see if it works!

Here's a small section of what the pipe looks like. We hauled and hauled and I was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the end of our driveway, lugging the very end. Bob and Joe were closer to the well head and Andy pulled the pump up from the ground. The pipe is only like three inches around but over 260 feet long with several wires running down to the pump. How this stuff works to bring us water is beyond me!

Here's Joe in the carport (my future studio) cleaning out the pump housing. The pump is indeed shot- it's old and tired! But as luck would have it, Andy called the plumbing supply place and they were just closing. But the highway was being closed, too, so we would never have gotten there in time anyway. 

We're on track to complete the project today as the weather has held off, Sandy seems to have spun herself away from us and there are actually patches of blue sky!

Storm Surge

Ironically, the buckets to flush the toilet are not due to Sandy but that stupid blown well pump. Despite major efforts to rectify the pump's demise yesterday in the face of the burgeoning hurricane, closures of plumbing supply houses and highways prevented completion of pump replacement. But we never lost electric power...
The wind sang and shrieked and pushed and pulled and threw assorted sticks, branches and other leavings. I'm sure we all experienced some aspects of that hilarity! But we played Scrabble and sipped gins and tonics and slept like babes. I had some truly peculiar dream about James Taylor proposing marriage to me and saying how he had wanted to marry me since the first time he saw me (when I was like 12 years old). I kept suggesting reasons why this was just not feasible (like I have been committed to Bob for over 20 years and I never liked folk music in the first place and James Taylor liked cats and I liked dogs...) Plus James Taylor kept trying to serve me odd milky drinks in strangely shaped plastic cups. Weird.
Anyway, we're on course to repair the pump today. Wish us luck.
The next posting will begin the saga of pump repair. Stay tuned..

Smell-O-Vision

I'm seriously tempted to paint a white stripe up Jules' back. It's Day 2 with no water and both Bob and I woke up in the middle of the night smelling skunk. Our friend Joe said that the bag that Bob gave him a loaf of bread in smelled. too. I just came back from the store and can't imagine what others think! God bless anal gland expressions!
Jules and I  took a truncated walk this a.m. Up to and bit down the dirt road, but no heroics as the wind was started to swirl and tear pretty powerfully.
So this is a preamble to the valiant postings to follow. Our afore-mentioned friend Joe and his friend Andy have come over to help in replacing our well pump. Such valor! We're just hoping that the plumbing parts store is still open. And that no one gets blown away. Repair efforts will be suspended if the storm gets suddenly worse today. So far, not too much rain, just that constant tug of wind.
Another thing that stinks is the "perfect storm" that reporters are brewing about the possibility of an electoral college tie. How can this be? How can there be so many stupid, hateful; people? Maybe they're just drumming up worst case scenarios to keep the the populace interested. Can it really be that close? And I've heard so many things leading to the conclusion that it's almost impossible to have a clean election anyway. Mitt Romney's son owns part of a voting machine company. Didn't we go through this last time?? How come we can't fix this situation? We try and bring democratic elections to third world countries and monitor their results, and here we subscribe to a different set of rules!

A Big Fat Milestone

This is officially my 200th blog posting. How can that be? A milestone! A blog that began on a whim- to document Bob and I on our householding/homemaking adventure- and here I am creating my 200th posting!
The bridge above, which spans our little stream, seems an apt metaphor for the crossing of so many bridges in this going-on-two-year journey. It has been such a great time!
But I will admit that today erupted with less than stellar events. First, Bob and I woke even earlier than usual as we were really hungry. We'd attended an opening last night (good show!) and never really ate dinner; just picked at appetizers. So we had coffee at 5:00 am and when I took Jules out, it was 6:00 and still totally dark. I turned on the back light and crossed the yard to talk to Crisco the Stallion, who always greets Jules and I.
But then I realized the yard smelled truly awful, like a chemical dump had occurred on the nearby highway.  I saw Jules rolling and Hey Presto! he had been sprayed by an accommodating skunk. Oh hell!!
I bathed Jules as best I could in tomato juice that Bob had whirred in the blender and then hosed him off. (Jules, not Bob). But by now, the whole house and Bob and I smelled less than sweetly. I guess I'd never smelled brand spanking new skunk spray, as it has a different note than the regular octane. The good news is that after a few minutes of being surrounded by the odor, you kind of don't notice any more. But if you
go away and come back, you just can't miss it... Bob went to help a friend batten down the hatches in preparation for our annual October Weather Event and our friend Joe assured Bob he did indeed
smell ripely.
And then, what with the already frenzied frenzy that has been whipped up around the arrival of Hurricane Sandy ( united in unholy union with not one but TWO other weather patterns), I'm feeling jittery and stinky and I finish washing the dishes and go to fill a bucket to sponge mop the kitchen floor (thinking to make the house smell more wholesome) and there's suddenly no water.
Of course, I first suspect power outage as our kindly utility has sponsored robo-calls to pre-announce wide spread power failures, in advance of the storm but it dawns on me that the lights still on. So a friend confirms later in the day that the pump on our well has blown. Perfect timing!
Tomorrow, in the face of 75 mile an hour wind and torrential rain the pump is due to be hauled out of the well head and replaced by heroic heroes (me included). Anyone care to join us for fun and games?

And yet the stream looked lovely today. Peaceful and serene and awaiting true havoc and chaos in the form of Storm Sandy.

Another lovely microvision to leave you with, before all hell breaks out in the morning...

Road Side Archeology

Often when I take my morning walk with Jules, my eye is drawn to something; a rock or a very colorful feather or even a random bit of plastic. It's remarkable only in that of all the hundred million leaves, rocks, twigs, birds, and discarded fast food bags that I encounter on my walk, one thing will have that major impact on me to stop and examine the cause.
Today's find was the above stone that looks like the fore finger of a statue. See the fingernail and even the slight cant to the right? Bob thought so, too. Maybe tomorrow, Jules and I will find the rest of the hand.

Ah! Domesticity!

In our household, we fortunately share a rather comfortable- and somewhat organic- delegation of domestic chores. In the kitchen, Bob rules and does 90% of the actual cooking, preparing the "real food"; things like vegetables and meats and things that don't automatically come in cans. Generally, I do more baking, embracing our sweet teeth, preparing the unnecessary but anticipated desserts. Never met a cookie I didn't like! Bob does bake seriously, though, as his bread is justifiably famous. Just ask anyone who has been the lucky recipient of a loaf or stick.
So, I may not cook much, but I do most of the dishes and gladly! Bob is a swell cook and it seems a more than happy trade off. But I am particular when  it comes to washing. For one thing, I never mix silverware and plates or cups. Hate it! I detest the feel of cold metal things that have been sitting and soaking in nasty, greasy cold water. First thing is to separate all the flatware from everything else. I always do plates first, then cups then glasses, then silverware, the pots and pans. Hmmm. This makes me sound sort of neurotic and anal (which lord knows I'm not!) but I guess it simply makes it easier and far more pleasant. And hey! If I don't mind doing dishes, who cares if I have rules and organizational oddities?

This is what inspired me to post this particular blog. I really liked the shades of blue and the subtle layering of patterns. They pleased my eye- despite the fact that they're dirty dishes from breakfast- and I don't dread doing them. Now drying and replacing them in the cupboard is another whole story...

Seasons End But New Beginnings

Last of the flowers! Gigantic dahlias that just started coming into their own- in time for that famous first frost. I picked them the night it was going to freeze so that at least we can enjoy them while we dine.
Beneath the dahlias is Bob's new bumper sticker. I really like the fact that what was originally a pejorative- "Obamacare"- became a positive label. And I believe that Obama does care... more than that odious and mean Mitt Romany and his evil sidekick Paul Ryan.
Another reason that I am putting up this particular posting is that my blog seemed be be altogether too beige and monochrome. It needed some real color. This particular arrangement is pretty primary but better than off white and endless drabness and beige beige beige (enough of that to come now that it's fall into winter...).
Here's a great thing about this time of year: garden centers are all offering truly remarkable discounts so that they can off load left over nursery stock. Just this week, I purchased a Sambucus nigra at 75% off and with my remaining grubstake, I was able to buy a really chunky White New Dawn climbing rose for (gasp) $4.25! (Okay, with tax it came to like $4.53...) Now to find the time to plant.
And get an eyefull of this find:

That's the real color! Need I add that that was love at first gander; got a good buy on this shrub, too. I was so impressed with this "Amethyst Beauty" Callicarpa and I chortled happily to myself about being the first kid on my block to have one of these in my garden. Then I stopped at a Dunkin Donuts to use the bathroom and there was one planted in front of the drive through. Ha! Looks better at out house and our coffee is
better, too.

Happy Anniversary to Us!!

Oh boy! It's Bob n Rita's 24th anniversary! Hard to believe we've been alive that long, let alone TOGETHER for 24 years! And as many of you may know, there is the Legend of the First Frost to celebrate.
It is tradition that we leave a basil plant in the garden when doing fall clean up so that we know exactly when our anniversary occurs. See, the first time that Bob and I "hooked up", we were going to make pesto, but it got cold and the basil froze and no pesto, but heap big whoopie anyway, if you get my drift. .
So despite not being married (and believe you me, many of our married friends have been divorced waaaaaaaaaaaaay before their 24th anniversary) we actually celebrate on a rotating calendar, because the frost happens on a different day every year. It's so appropriate that Bob and I, as two dedicated gardeners, acknowledge our relationship in an organic way. Some years, we celebrate several times, as we expect frost, but the basil doesn't die. This year was a slam-dunk sure thing as we were hit hard by a frost last night.
So happy anniversary to us! And many more...

Other Life Forms and Us

Because we're all friends here. I will share the following portfolio of images. Due to extenuating circumstances- such as work, crazy scheduling that allows little "free time", multiple time-intensive art projects and the like, Bob and I have done very little cleaning of late. This means we have "interesting" environments being created by other species in nooks and corners. If cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness, then Bob and I are fast speeding our way to Hell.
As I was describing to my sister Beatrice this morning, I have a size imperative when it comes to insects cohabiting in our humble abode. Small spiders and Daddy Long Legs' are more than welcome but when they approach (or exceed) the quarter-pounder rule, it's them or me. I just cannot sleep think they may decide to share the bed with us. The spider that resides behind the washing machine is a good example.
Bob has apparently struck up quite a friendship with this bug. When he first introduced me to the fact that we had a large arachnid living near the washing machine, I sort of brushed it off. It's not near anything that I spend quality time doing (such as in the bathroom or my studio), so I thought, live and let live. But then one day, as I vacuumed the downstairs bathroom and hallway (that had to have been pre-party as I have bee remiss of late as referenced above), I felt as if I had company. It's a coy spider, though, and it kept ducking behind the machine preventing me from getting a good look. But I have now encountered this spider a few times late at night, and I need to tell you that he/she is rapidly nearing critical mass. I admit that they're eating other bugs and doing good, but this puppy is getting BIG.

Oh boy. Here's another (equally filthy) corner, directly above Jules' place mat where he eats his meals. I think the some what spider-like decoration in the lower middle inspired a spider to move in. That thing dangling in the web isn't the resident spider, but it's meal for the next month or so. Seems the little spider that lives there snared a much larger spider.

Here's a close up. As you can see, I have no shame what so ever and am  more than happy to share our less than stellar house keeping with you. Remember that the next time we invite you to dinner!

No Skeletons in MY Closet!

There's no skeletons in my closet because they're all sitting around in my studio... and the living room. And hanging around in the carport! I also have bags of heads and random body parts stashed in once empty corners. What, you might ask, are they all doing here?
They have emerged from storage- some in our horse barn, some in the attic, some previously exiled to a friend's factory building- to become newly re-animated. And they're all excited to know that a "pod" awaits them in Hartford...
I have been asked to do an installation at the Envisionfest on Saturday. Five other artists and myself were chosen by the artist David Borawski to create a work in one of those storage units that get plunked down in people's driveways when moving or renovating. A great idea! Hit and run pop-up art projects. I'm pleased to have been asked as my history of showing in Hartford has been limited to a distant association with the now defunct Artworks Gallery. The skeleton extravaganza- loosely titled "The Down Town Bone Shop" is my resurrection of a project I started several years back that was only seen in a limited capacity in New Haven during an Open Artist Studio. I thought it called for a closer viewing...
The motivation behind this project came from a student I had long ago in a mixed media class. She spied a skeleton (real human I presume) in the corner of our classroom and mentioned how cool it would be to have one. I replied, "Let's make our own!"
Of course, I'm not one to make one piece and move on: no, I made several complete skeletons, experimenting with different papers and tapes. (Cheap Staples mailing tape is the best and I now exclusively use New Yorker magazines for "content" although I toyed with craft paper and newsprint). Then I made heads. The skulls were fun because they inadvertently looked like different stages of human evolution. I made a Cro-Magnan and a Homo Habilis and Neandertal... and a few "ancestors" that we probably never knew existed; they are the missing links!

Here are my exquisitely well-behaved and compliant skeletons ensconced in their temporary home. The event was a success as weather held off and people came out for food, fun and festivities. For a first-time event, I felt like everything was nicely planned and executed.
Here's a last shot. I love the expression on the young art appreciator's face. (I also approve of her purple togs). My skeletons had a lovely time. They are now available for Halloween appearances... got a party in your future?

The Great Debate

And so the great debate persists: To repair and use the skylight, or just fill it in and make it part of the ceiling...
I am sort of mildly anti-sky light. I am preoccupied with the increased light that spills in overhead. I never feel like it's really dark and private in the bedroom. Someone could be flying overhead with one of those Google Earth hi-def cameras... do I want my picture snapped while catching an illicit nap? And it's always a shade or two lighter than the ceiling even in the depths of night, so that when I can't sleep, I fixate. It's also really hard to find our particular skylight model. I think it's old. Most are now narrowly rectangular and ours is square. I can think of a million more uses for the money that it will cost to replace it.
The proponents of skylights (that  would be Bob and a host of friends that seem to think sky lights are swell) believe that the increased light is a good thing. And that when you crack the sky light open by way of long metal hand crank, there is greater air circulation and it vents the hot air trapped in the bedroom. Those are pretty good arguments for!
In the meantime, we have this picture above our heads. Bob rigged a screen so as to keep flying insects out (just what are they doing that high up in the sky?) and it presents an interesting moire pattern in a quirky green. Is this better than the previous incarnation of a black insulation panel> I'm undecided.
Oh, and the great debate allusion WAS to the first of the presidential debates last night, but I'm too perplexed by what transpired. President Obama should have creamed that shape-shifting Romney, who attempted to paint himself as some sort of centerist! We all know Romney'll change his positions depending on which way the wind blows. Don't get me started....