GOODBYE TO MY FRIEND, DR. GEORGE FISHER

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals.

Unfortunately, today's post is a farewell to yet another fallen friend.  Interestingly enough, I would have never known this friend had I not returned here for the time I am needed.

So... when I had a need for a local dentist, I inquired about referrals from my friends who had lived here for a long time.  One of my friends suggested I contact Dr. Fisher's office.  I did so and found myself facing an absolute BEAR of a man in the standard-issue white coat and gloves.  I don't know the actual statistics for this bear but he was tall enough to make my 5'10" frame seem short and could have easily engulfed me like an amoeba surrounding a meal!!  Yep.  Dr. George (he hated it when I called him that!) was a big ol' boy.  Oh... and I did quit calling him Dr. George in favor of referring to him as "Curmudgeon."  :)  Don't think he was really fond of that either but it was all in good fun.

Turns out he was a big ol' Teddy Bear with a wonderful and quick sense of humor.  We got along famously.  He persisted in teasing me about my "escape" to Texas from this town (if you don't know the details, ask me sometime).  I persisted in harassing him about his age and slow pace.  I believe we both enjoyed our witty repartee' and looked forward to the few occasions we would have the opportunity to engage in it.

In addition to providing dental services, "Curmudgeon" was the catalyst behind my Bucket List Stearman flight!  During a random conversation (which he made difficult by asking questions at the same time he had his "bear paws" inside one's mouth!), it came to his attention I loved the "twin" Stearman airplanes I had seen at the local airport during the annual "Wings and Wheels" festival.  He knew the owner and arranged our meeting which led to the eventual Bucket List flight for me.

Medical challenges in 2011 had him "down" for a short period but he popped back up quickly, ready to move forward.  There was nothing indicating a cause for concern.  Unfortunately, 2012 brought a medical challenge from which there was no escape.  So, I lost the "Curmudgeon" too soon and the entire town lost a fun, friendly, professional with a heart of gold.  He was well-liked and respected in the community.  His legacy will be a good one here.

I hope each of you has the good fortune to have not just one, but many "Curmudgeons" in your lives!!  They make sometimes unpleasant tasks more pleasant.  They make you laugh at yourself... a very healthy thing to do.  They also make you laugh WITH them.

I'll miss you, "Curmudgeon."  Save a joke for me!!

Until next post...

HGTV - LIARS, I TELL YA'!!!

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies.  I know how long it has been.  I have a reason this time so bear with me.

First, let's play a little game.  I like to call it "What IS That?!?!?"

 I was heading out to water the bird baths the other day when I noticed there was something apparently "hanging" from the bottom of one of my hanging baskets.  What went through my mind?  (Say it with me here!)  "What IS that?!?"

So, I wandered closer to check it out.  Although there had not been much rain here for the weeks prior to this day, I had faithfully been watering my hanging baskets.  Clearly that was working since a lovely little mushroom had chosen to grow... upside down... from the hole in the bottom of the basket.

Alright.  Enough game-fun.

So,... let's talk about why I am ranting against my very most favorite cable channel, HGTV (Home and Garden Television to the uninitiated).  I have been watching this channel ever since I broke down and paid for cable television.  (Don't laugh... it hasn't been multiple decades!)  I have come to know many of the designers and their styles.  I love the "transform" programs where an ugly duckling property is revamped into a fabulous, wish-I-could-live-there environment.  I have been known to watch the "Design Star" show, amazed at some of the things the competitors come up with to turn a blank slate into an inviting (and sometimes an uninviting!) space.  Yep.  I'm hooked.  Everything was fine... up until a couple of weeks ago when I made the mistake of BELIEVING that some do-it-yourself projects really WERE in the realm of my doing.

I have had issue with my kitchen ever since actually viewing this house before buying it.  When I arrived, the upper cabinets were white, the countertops were white, the lower cabinets were white, the appliances were white... need I say more?  I felt as though I had been engulfed within a loaf of Wonder Bread every time I walked into the room.  Did I mention the trim was white?  I was surprised the tile floor was not white (how did THAT happen?) although it is very light and neutral.  Sigh.  I went about replacing the sink, range, and dishwasher with black appliances but was "stuck" with the white refrigerator for the time being due to the too-long upper cabinets above it.  My beautiful black fridge is too tall for the space.

Fast forward three-plus years.  I'm over this.  I will not deal with this Wonder Bread kitchen any longer.  Nope.  I have the time.  I have some skills.  I am going to get those too-long cabinets over the fridge cut shorter, cut off two other long uppers over the peninsula to open the kitchen up into the den, and paint the stinkin' cabinets!!  Can I do it?  Well, HGTV says I can!!  LIARS!!!

That last statement was not really accurate.  HGTV was correct that I could actually do the job... it just did not say it would take me half of my life.  I CAN do this... but it appears I will be in my mid-90s before this is ever actually finished.  Sigh.  The time-killer is not the painting.  Nope.  That actually goes rather quickly.  I should have known.  I know that television chefs have a horde of helpers who do all of the slicing, dicing, shopping, chopping, and all other preparatory duties before the chef ever steps onto the kitchen set to prepare a fabulous dish.  Why would painting be any different?

So... I have pulled every single object from cabinets and drawers, removed the god-awful sticky contact paper lining the drawers and shelves, used a marvelous product (thanks, Sherwin-Williams, for the recommendation!) called "Krud-Kutter" to get the sticky (and other yucky stuff) off of the wood, completely cleaned the shelves/drawers, sanded the whole mess to provide roughness for the paint to adhere to, cleaned the sanded surfaces with TSP-PF (look it up), taped off everything that was NOT intended to be painted, and then... finally... spent a couple of minutes painting.  Putting a "fresh coat of paint" on your kitchen cabinets to "update the look" is NOT a simple, weekend-only needed project!!!  Do NOT let them fool you!!!  I started this project on June 25th and have worked for some period of time every day since then.  I am not quite halfway through and am still waiting on someone to come shorten the two sets of upper cabinets.  Sigh.

So you will not think I am just whining without cause (which I have been known to do... but not this time!), take a look at the following.

WONDER BREAD!!!

First Section targeted for paint.

Painting done. Awaiting new pulls

In progress now.

Prep work finally done.  Ready to paint.

I realize the photos do not provide a truly accurate color for you.  The upper cabinets are a light grey... battleship variety... while the lower cabinets are a deep bluish-grey.  Sherwin-Williams colors "Uncertain Gray" (upper) and "Gray's Harbor" (lowers) are the choices.

The hero here is the spousal-unit... again.  No, he is not helping me clear, clean, or paint.  What he IS doing is painting the hinges for me.  I tried to find "standard" replacement hinges but these lovely mid-70s model hinges were just a WEE bit different from the testers I bought to try.  When I had reached the end of my patience (a very short distance, I assure you!), he offered up the solution and has been painting both hinges and screws as I have worked on the actual cabinets.  The new pulls are on order and will hopefully arrive the week of the 16th.  No rush, obviously!  :)

So... if you thought I was just slacking off and not posting, you were wrong.  I have been more busy than I ever intended and am now trapped in a need-to-finish state! Maybe it will happen before I'm 90.  Who knows?!?!?!?  Anything is possible, right?

Thanks for nothin', HGTV!!!

Until next post...