Christmas Light Hooks

The biggest post-holiday pain in my ass is setting up the ladder in a snowbank to take down Christmas lights. The tiny teacup hooks were all bent and rusty, so they got pulled out in preparation for the painting of the eaves. My new system lets me install and uninstall Christmas lights from the ground. I now have 23 evenly-spaced hooks, and an extending pole that reaches up to hang the string lights.

• 1.25” Vinyl-Coated Hooks

• Handy Hook

• 6 - 20’ Telescoping Pole

Back Yard Floodlight

The back yard floodlight had been installed on the same line as the exterior outlet, so that the switched controlled them both. I wanted to be able to power exterior string lights without wrecking the ambiance with bright floodlights. I opted for a hard-wired floodlight camera from Ring, which means I can control it with my phone or set it to operate on a motion sensor. No light switch required.

The old floodlights.

The new floodlight camera.

I was on the verge of getting the pergola built, so I knew it would be my last chance to get the light replaced.

Simple bracket

Wire had been pinched and slightly cut

Plus, it has the added advantage of allowing me to keep tabs on what’s going on in the back yard.

Sadie’s Luxury Cruise

As an elderly lady, Sadie signed up for the all-expenses-paid luxury cruise lifestyle. She got to have the primo-fancy food (seriously - you could add breadcrumbs and serve it up as meatloaf), of course served in bed. Walks in the stroller, like her own princess-style carriage. Endless adoration. All of the cheese topping from Mom’s Panera danish.

As I knew it must, the time came for me to say goodbye. I spent the night snuggling with my little girl, trying to ease her suffering… but in the morning, I was certain of my decision. She had told me she was had had enough, and I needed to be brave enough to listen.

Good bye, my sweet girl. I adored you every single day. I love you more than I thought possible, and will continue to treasure your memory for as long as I live.

Breakfast in Bed (for 2)

Wall decal in the quiet room at the oncologist’s office.

She Is Gone

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and lose your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

-- Author Unknown

Solar Driveway Light

Related: Entrance Lights

Well, no WONDER the circuit trips every time there’s a heavy rain. Ugh.

The guys who installed the underground tubing for the irrigation were perplexed why the buried wire for the driveway light didn’t offer more resistance… normally they’d feel it and navigate the machinery up and over. I suppose that would have been true if the underground wiring was properly installed… in a PVC conduit buried at least 18” below grade. Oh, no… not at this house.

This wire was not encased in anything, and probably only 6” below the surface. Even worse, it had already been broken and crudely patched back together in several places. It doesn’t take a whole lot of common sense to know that a giant wad of electrical tape is NOT the way to fix a broken underground wire.

Giant wads of electrical tape

Even after splicing the wire with a kit made for this job and confirming power on either side, I still wasn’t getting power at the light post. I chased the wire until it went under the maple tree, and then I gave up. I ripped it all out… and found three more breaks (also crudely taped) closer to the light.

Yeah, so solar will have to do for now. I’m not trenching through my yard today. At least I can get rid of the string of Romex that is loosely draped under the front door.

Big Sink

Time to stop washing paint brushes and putty knives in the bathroom. This utility sink is big enough to fit any tool that needs cleaning, as well as the dogs. Sadie is unimpressed, but I'm thrilled!

Mustee 28 SF Utility Tub

Glider

Country Cottage Furniture
717 NH Rt 104
New Hampton NH 03256
https://countrycottagefurniture.com/outdoor-furniture-made-recycled-poly-new-hampton-new-hampshire/poly-benches-and-settees-made-recycle

Green, Burgundy, Weatherwood, Cedar, Chocolate, Black, Gray, White, Turquoise, Red, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Patriot Blue, and Purple.