(Okay, so it won't technically be Summer 'til the Solstice in a little more than a week. It still feels like it though!)
It's been a sultry and sweaty week in Northern NJ. The temperatures have soared into the 90s most days and thunderstorms sweep through in the afternoon and evening hours just like it was Florida.
Through the heat the new lawn I seeded in the rear of the house has mostly died. Part of that is due to the application of weed-and-feed after the third cutting last Friday. The books all said that was a safe time to apply the W & F treatment, but the blistering sun and mid 90s temperatures on Saturday and Sunday took their toll also. I'll have to reseed much of the 5000 sq. ft. and then be sure to let it grow much longer between cuttings and truly establish a root system before adding any chemicals to it.
We drove out to PA on Tuesday to clear some brush on the property and then visit with the General Contractor and review the preliminary plans for our log home with him. He will be contacting an excevator to work on the driveway and look over the building site in preparation for digging a foundation. We discussed the layout of the house, heating system (radiant floor for the basement and first floor, hot water radiators for the second floor master bedroom), water system (possibly boosted by the installation of two reserve bladders holding 200-300 gallons of water since the well is only 130 feet deep and yields 2 gallons per minute), the foundation (9' basement walls of poured concrete), and fireplace/wood stove installation.
We stayed overnight in Mansfield before driving south to the Cabela's store on I-78 and Route 61 in Hamburg, PA on Wednesday. Even if you are not an outdoors person, the Cabela's stores have got to be seen. Each one is unique and offers displays of wildlife that is museum like. Every time I go into one, I am reminded of entering the Museum of Natural History in NYC. And if you like to hunt, fish, hike, barbecue or shoot there is something for you to buy or just look at.
We have been to three of the stores now (Sydney, Nebraska, Mitchell, South Dakota, and Hamburg, Pennsylvania) and will definitely stop at others as our travels take us around the country.
Back in NJ I have been dismantling the 10' x 20' deck in the backyard in preparation of its replacement. The deck was over 25 years old and insect damage (as well as a very large oak limb that fell on it 10 years ago) was starting to weaken the structure. The surface itself was redwood and much of it splintered when I pried it up. The heat and humidity dictated the pace at which I worked and it took me all of Thursday to just remove the decking. Friday was a day of rest as showers swept the area. Saturday I cut the decking into smaller pieces for easier disposal and/or transport to The Bolt Hole for reincarnation as outdoor tables or bird feeders or such. Today (Sunday) I dismantle and salvage the 2" x 10" boards that make up the frame. Monday will be shopping day for new lumber and materials. Then the reconstruction begins.
Working in the heat and humidity makes me happy that I'm not in an unairconditioned computer lab trying to teach 24 kids.
During this, Terry went to Carlisle, PA Friday and Saturday for a class in Crewel Embroidery. She wasn't feeling well on Thursday so I had to push her out the door to join her friends Friday. She came back Saturday night sounding like she was glad she went.
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