A Yearful of Patches and Projects

Re-roofing The Toolshed

It’s not news that we patch-patch-patch more frequently and rapidly as we advance in age.  And so it is with our belongings — our homes, our vehicles, our clothing.  Although in this day and age does anyone actually mend and darn any more?

As I look back on this year, I realize that we, along with many of our friends, have had more than the usual quota of projects going on around home. Some are of the repairing and renewing variety; some are of for-the-first-time-ever variety.  And why not?  It was the perfect year to pay attention to the home front, being here for most of the time as we were.

Tucker and The Apple Tree Stump

Most of our projects were of the outside variety.  And, given our aged and infirm status, most involved friends and worker bees.  We had the finials on our balcony re-made and replaced, the roof to our toolshed re-shingled, the west section of our picket fence re-painted, our unhealthy apple tree removed, and our rhododendrons to the west and east seriously pruned.

New Woodshed

New projects included replacing our old vegetable garden with lawn and the installation of a wheelchair-friendly back patio and walkway.  In addition, at long last, we had a new woodshed constructed.  It is now ready for a few cords of wood which will, no doubt involve another project of sorts.

Many of our friends have also been busy with projects this year — most far more glamorous than ours:  Mark and Elo, a kitchen remodel and new lighting in their dining room; Pam and Tom, a new garden shed; and so many more.  We hope that they, too, feel that sense of satisfaction knowing that they’ve “used their time wisely” (as I used to advise my 1st-2nd-3rd graders.)  When the time comes that we can kick up our heels again, we’ll be able to do so with wild and reckless abandon and feeling totally guilt free!

 

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