Blog in the time of Coronavirus

Dear All:

So how is it "social distancing" in Racine?  Actually, quite the same as ordinary days.  We are retired introverts, so we don't get out much in normal times.  We did make the effort to do some shopping before everything shut down; our big project this year is fixing up the fireplaces.  I'll try to add photos later when I am on my tablet - getting photos from one device to another is not my forte.  Frankly, not even my understanding.  Anyway, we got the mason to come out and inspect the chimneys and he gave them an A+.  Said they haven't been used for a very long time.  However, the bedroom fireplace (doesn't that sound luxurious?) is missing a damper.  That might explain the cold draft.  That fireplace also has a rusted out screen and the living room fireplace doesn't have a screen at all.

So, off to the fireplace store.  We got lucky - the one we liked was a demonstrator and they sold it to us for less than half price.  The other one is full price, but that still is to our advantage.  We brought home the one, but the other will come later.  Since our living room is full of beautiful dark wood molding, we thought maybe we should redo the mantelpiece while we are at it.  And the mason will definitely be replacing the bathroom tile that someone thought would be good on the fireplace!  Rick bought some low stink paint stripper (I know there's another word for it, but old age gets me once in a while).  He has been working industriously at a piece that can't be seen and has taken it down to the bare wood.  That surprised us; we thought there was just one thin coat of paint and then we would be down to the lovely dark wood. Nonetheless, the plan is to go ahead with the stripping and then stain it dark to match the other woodwork.  Fortunately, it is a very sunny room (when the sun shines) so the darker wood shouldn't make the room gloomier.

More later.  If they sun will come out, I can take photos of the crocuses in our grass.  Right now they are hard to see as they are all closed up.  The daffodils and giant allium that we planted last fall are poking their stalks up, but it is too soon for flowers.

Stay healthy!
Love,
Gilly