How I Spent My Summer Vacation - Part 2

Putting a new roof on the house! Actually I watched 8 hot, sweaty somewhat neanderthal men put the new roof on the house and I had the pleasure of writing a check for $13,000.

Apparently, while we were in the Cape my roofer called to verify that the roofers could begin on July 5th. Ian did not think this information was worthy of passing on to his mother so I was scrambling to confirm this date on the 4th of July....the day after we arrived home. The roofers started on the 5th at the butt crack of dawn and my week of hell began.

(Although I do have to admit the unsightly blue tarp covering really kept the house cool.)

People who crave order and cleanliness should take a vacation when having three layers of asphalt shingles and 1 layer of ancient cedar shakes removed. All the windows had to be closed and every inch of the yard (including flowers, grass and pool) was covered with a layer of cedar dust. The shakes come off in little pieces and create quite the mess. Every evening after they left I would hose off the concrete and plants.

I felt bad for these guys sweating and shirtless on my roof in the hot sun all day so I supplied a steady stream of lemonade and grape kool-aid and they ended the day with a swim in the pool. It was amusing to watch them strip to their shorts and dive in. Never has the pool been more appreciated.

Luckily, the roofers finished on Friday and were all cleaned up by 4:00. That left me almost 3 hours to clean the pool, yard and house before Hilary, Chuck and Joey arrived.

The roof was expensive and I don't really appreciate the new roof at all. All the neighbors stopped by at some point to talk to me and the roofers and I am told that the roofers did a professional job. I never really look at the roof...never...so unless there was water pouring into the bedrooms through the ceiling and a new roof stopped the waterfall...I just can't appreciate the craftsmanship. I think about the money and envision a trip to Prague to see Cyndy and Tom or a new Stickley dining room. Oh well.

Of course, the roof looks so damn good I want the old aluminum (.80 cents per pound) siding ripped off and new siding or repair and paint the clapboards and put in new windows. I have quotes but just how does one save $14,000 dollars?

How I Spent My Summer Vacation - Part 1

Mere days after school ended for the year, Rob and I traveled to Provincetown for Rob's opening at Alden Gallery. We lucked out and found a great place to stay on Commercial Street that was a healthy walk to the gallery, restaurants and P-Town events. Our room at the Watermark Inn was pretty reasonable, cheap even by Outer Cape standards and was right on the bay. Well, the Inn was on the bay but our suite was around 15 steps away. I could hear the bay, smell the bay and be in the bay in a moment's notice. Good enough. The season rates didn't start until July 1st so our suite cost less than the skanky hotel we normally use in P-Town. Next year, I want the suite overlooking the bay.

During the days, I read on the beach while Rob painted. Painting takes a lot of prep work, including adding gesso to the canvas. I guess this wasn't a vacation for Rob. But more paintings = suite upgrade.

One of the finished paintings drying in our room. I spent a fair amount of time coveting the house that was right next to the inn.......and their birdhouse....
and their deck and view. Our room was on the 1st floor just past the port cochere on the right. Rob was cleaning out his brushes at the back of the car one afternoon so the rear hatch was open. I stopped to get something from the car and immediately said, "Oh my god, you have to see this!" I wonder how many times I said those exact same words because Rob looked at me with the face of death. (I bet you didn't even know Rob had a face like that, did you?) I persisted, he relented and agreed that my excitement was warranted. This baby sparrow was hopping around the front seat. Of course, I had to get his picture before carrying him to safety. I always hoped I would get a seal while on the Cape but they never appear suddenly in my car.
Only 4 days. Always so short and so much fun.

Object Permanence

Did you know that everyone else was blogging while my blog was dormant? I just got caught up with my family. Who knew?