Maggie the Unnailer

Today I feel like Rosie the Riveter, in my oversized and wonderfully loose bib overalls and steel-toed shoes, hammer in hand, standing on the ladder pulling nails out of wall studs. Pulling out nails while standing on a ladder is tricky business. Erring on the side of caution, I hold on to the studs for dear life, as I muscle those nails out of the wood. I have discovered that I very much like demolition, particularly when I can take my time.

Maggie the Unnailer, enjoying the golden years. Removing nails left behind by the fake wood panelling; doing the prep work to install drywall.
Maggie at work

August has begun as it will continue. Yesterday Attila visited the Dermatologist and will spend the next three weeks following a routine set out by the doctor. Next week I briefly visit the hospital for my every-five-year, routine colonoscopy. The month of August ends with five days of work. The money is needed, but I’d rather not go there, really I would rather not. It makes me more than a little unhappy. I will go though.

One bright spot in August is a promised overnight visit from Luna, Janus and the three Grandbabies.

Luna, Janus and the Grandbabies haven’t been here in years, so this is a very rare and special occasion. We are planning to have the Grandbabies help us bring firewood out of the bush; nothing strenuous or dangerous, and just enough effort to be fun. It will be an experience for them, because they will be helping with the full-blown, heating-exclusively-with-wood job; this isn’t just cottage or summer camp fun. If it is not raining we might have a campfire, complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and s’mores.

Janus has a new job which will find them all living seasonally in Europe, for several months each year. We will see them a lot less than we see them now, which is about twice a year. The Grandbabies are growing up so fast! I think I’ve made my peace with not seeing them often enough to know them as people; we usually only see them at family gatherings, large, happy, hectic times. It hurts to think about it, so I don’t; it is what it is.

The weather today is perfect, from where I am standing. Sunny, a few clouds in the sky, mild, breezy and quiet but for the sounds of things that grow.

Worldly Distractions

Weather

20°C
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 101.1 kPa
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: 19.6°C
Dewpoint: 13.4°C
Humidity: 67%
Wind: W 11 km/h

Quote

“Nothing in education is so astonishing as the amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts.”
Henry Adams

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Bex

You’ve got some muscles there, Mags. Pulling nails could be a new way to pump iron for gals!

Sarah

That is such a fabulous picture. One to share with grands when they are old enough to appreciate it; they have an awesome grandma!

What is it with demolition? My housemate enjoys it, too. There is nothing that will make her happier than pointing to something that needs ripping out, tearing down, dismantling and say, “Sic em!” The sound of nails being ripped out is heard in our land–and voila! an old, old spa (or pond) is revealed in the back yard. Who knew?

My daughter and grandson are far, far away now, too. It is a sadness, best not dwelt upon, since there’s nothing for it, but to let it be.

Colonoscopy. Ugh.

Kate

Such a treat to see you!!!!!