It was a productive day today. While I was away enjoying Grandma time, Mr Romance ducked out and surprised me with a truckload of mushroom mulch. Which was actually very sweet.
I spent the day shoveling it into my raised beds, which will be tarped off for the winter. This gives the mulch time to break down and age. I am hoping that the tarp will keep the soil in those raised beds free from blight. The black tarp will also absorb the sun's heat next spring, baking (and killing) weeds.
I will untarp the beds when I am ready to plant next year.
So...that's what I was up to today.
It was a windy day, but not cold. I worked wearing just a sweatshirt, and I was completely comfortable.
I got five beds weeded and mulched and smoothed out. The wind picked up and it began to spritz rain. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I will throw the rest of the mulch on the flower bed and get the vegetable beds tarped.
Tim was busy too. We have snow in the forecast late Sunday. We went shopping for a storm door. We stopped in to a family owned building supply store first, just to see what they had. We found a door we were both satisfied with, nothing fancy, but practical and utilitarian. The guy said, 'I have that door out back. It was a special order that was returned because of a scuffmark." We saved over $200 on that door, and it came with all the hardware and the hydraulic tube that allows the door to shut without slamming.
So that was what Tim did while I shoveled. When he needed an extra set of hands I was there to jump off the truck and 'hold this right here like that' (my special talent).
Tim decided that he needed to order another part for his truck, a spider/fuel injector tube set up. It is the last part he can replace for the fuel assembly. Everything else has been done. If that doesn't solve it, he will begin looking at the computer system.
He could not find the part on Rock Auto. He was getting aggravated because either they didn't understand what he was talking about or they did not know what they were talking about. He finally reached a store that understood what he was looking for. They pulled it up on their computer and said they could have it delivered to the store by 2. He knew it would be expensive but he flinched at the $795 price.
"Let me think about it," he said.
I interrupted him on the phone, something he hates.. "You order that part! It is false economy to have a truck sitting around that you can't use."
He ordered the part, and went in to pick it up.
You know, I was pretty upset that he bought another truck with problems, but he has been patiently and methodically replacing parts and studying the situation for quite a while now.
I was worried about him after his stroke. When he gets tired there are glitches in his logic. Sometimes he stutters. Working on his truck is good exercise for his brain. When he gets tired, he can set it aside and watch a few youtube videos or read up on it. It is something he has loved all his life.
I need to STFU, as they say.
At least it is not another house.
I love the two memes. You guys really have a knack for finding bargains! My Mr Romance took me on a midweek date today, to the home improvement store again, second trip this week. I picked out the paint color for the bathroom in record time. There were three grays in the super expensive brand he thinks we need to use and I went by name "Mystic Moon". My theory, after comparing the chips to the cabinet and tile in my guest room, is that it looks different in every light and shadow and I am just going to have to see it on the wall in that windowless room. So I might as well pick a color with a great name.
ReplyDeleteWe have always been so very lucky with our finds. That scuff? A shot of bathroom cleaner and a magic eraser took care of that I do not know what color the gray is in our bathroom, but with the white beadboard, it just always looks fresh. I think you will love it.
DeleteSome people do jigsaw puzzles for a hobby. Tim just likes REALLY EXPENSIVE jigsaw puzzles. But then again, his are a whole lot more useful when (if?) completed than a cardboard picture! And definitely better for his brain, as you said! 😆
ReplyDeleteCertainly more useful than my hobbies!
DeleteI'm always so amazed at all the work you do. I had to look up STFU. Too funny!
ReplyDeleteOh no. I hope I haven't corrupted you.
DeleteSounds like a good day all round. Fingers crossed that he gets that truck running well!
ReplyDeleteI think he will eventually. It is just tracking things down. In the process, a corroded coil wire broke. Another time a vacuum line loosened. Those were heart stopping moments. The problem got waaaaay worse. But through it all, he patiently puzzles it out, fixes that and continues on.
DeleteWhew that's a pretty expensive part! But it's good you DIDN'T "stfu", Tim needed to hear you tell him to buy it. I do like him :^)
ReplyDeleteImagine if we were paying a mechanic. Paying labor on top of the part would be eye wateringly expensive.
DeleteYour ending is precisely what I was thnking as I was reading.
ReplyDeleteWith a house, there is more of a push to get it completed and back on the market. Plus the fact that I am expected to be part of the process. Trucks are more of a solo project, and something he can walk away from before he is exhausted.
DeleteGood to get that gardening done..it is just very very wet here.
ReplyDeleteConcentrating on the truck is good for Tim..good problem solving.. keeping his brain and body active...and as you say at least it isn't another house!!
I am very pleased with that project! I guess we all have our priorities!
DeleteI had to google STFU, too--lol!
ReplyDeleteAt least it's not another house--makes me chuckle each time I see it. Well, I guess you could look at it as you saved $200 on the door...
I really hope this fixes that truck...and he doesn't find another one he wants. ;)
Have a really good day with no snow. :)
There is always something, I guess. Snow predicted starting Sunday. Accumulations possible north of I-80. That is us, although I don't expect this to be anything major.
DeleteHad to think about stfu, made me smile but only a tad, after all I do have my reputation for grumpiness to maintain.
ReplyDeleteI think it is indeed good for your better half to have something to engage and challenge his mind, a great part of the healing process I believe.
It is. The brain can rewire itself, so to speak. (Neuroplasticity). I think doing familiar things can help with that.
DeleteWhat will he do once the truck is fixed and running??
ReplyDeleteOh Jaycee. He has a Baja truck waiting to be worked on. A dump truck, which would be useful. Once those are done, there is an old Mercedes waiting.🫣
DeleteSounds like you make your own good luck searching for good buys and being open to fixer upper materials.
ReplyDeleteAnd the truck part sounds like a good life investment even if this particular truck never runs.
And mushroom mulch - how I would love a couple truck loads of that for my miserable depleted clay soil! It doesn't seem to be available down here but I was telling the kids up near Lake Ontario that they should hunt some down.
Ceci
I feel your truck pain. I understand your patience.
ReplyDeleteI need to have more patience. Life has changed a great deal for him. It is frustrating to both of us.
DeleteIt's good that you can see another side to the truck problem and it sounds like Tim enjoys fixing them, plus it keeps him busy. Are you going to open a truck repair shop:)
ReplyDeleteAm I? No way. Nope. No guarantees about what Tim will get up to though.
DeleteI didn't catch on to STFU until I reached the end of your post, then I realised. Love it!
ReplyDeleteOh dear. I hate to think that I am teaching gentle folks rough language. Do as I say, not as I do.
DeleteYou two are so busy doing things I would never, ever think of doing! But you do make it sound productive and almost fun! ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I would label it as fun exactly. But the thing is, there is a certain satisfaction to putting a garden to bed, weeding it, mulching it. The empty beds wait patiently for another planting next spring. Hopeful, isn't it?
DeleteTim working on his truck fleet is a good thing for him methinks, I have a dear friend who had a stroke a number of years ago, she uses projects to help keep her mind engaged. As least it's not another house. STFU? nah, not horrifying, one of my favorite expressions. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah...so far I have managed to keep it mostly in my head, but gotta say, as often as I think it, I noticed that it has (unfortunately) been uttered.
DeleteThat’s mushroom mulch romance if I’ve ever heard it—true garden love! Five beds prepped and tarped? That’s some serious fall hustle, and next year’s plants will thank you. Tim’s storm door score is a win, and you’re right: keeping his truck project moving is worth every penny. Cozy, busy days—always something to celebrate, and at least it’s not another house!
ReplyDeleteI have never tarped before but our old garden plot became more and more unproductive due to blight. I would like to see that not happen with the raised beds, so I am being proactive.
DeleteI actually have "STFU" taped to my laptop at work, as I have to do a lot of talking on the phone and it is an open plan office and apparently I have a voice that carries well.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what a storm door is but glad that you got a bargain.
https://youtu.be/jn5Skle77Lc?si=eduSvV8nBD3L1dqz
ReplyDeleteA few posts ago you mentioned making apple butter. I said I do it in the crock pot and you showed some interest. Here is a YouTube site that has the recipe for it. The site is The Hillbilly Kitchen. It is a very good site for older recipes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellie. I have some apples to use up. Sounds like something I can do while I am doing something else, which is my very favorite thing about crock pots!
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your last line. That is true! As you said, there's a lot to be said for the hobby/recreational value of repairing the truck. It's not just about the cost of parts and the monetary value of the outcome.
ReplyDelete