26Sep2006
Filed under: Homely
Lately, I’ve been spending more time at home puttering around and thinking about our house. Here are a few of the things going on at the Chateau Fetzlings:
- I’d always thought that the way it worked with fix-it-up projects was that you had two options: you do it yourself (hard but cheap), or you pay someone else to do it (easy but expensive). Little did I know that it’s actually NOT easy to hire someone to work on your house. We’re on house painter option #4 this week, and if he doesn’t work out, then we’re just waiting until next year.

- We have so many asian pears on our two trees in the backyard. I keep bringing them to work and begging people to eat them, take them home, please! I’ve made crisps and salads and eaten them by the handful. Harvest glut! Someone, eat my asian pears! PLEASE!
- Andreas is starting our bathroom remodel this weekend. It’s been a longtime coming, and it’s gotten to the point where I’ve taped up garbage bags in the shower to keep the water from leaking into the walls. I’ve also learned that I need to stay the fuck out of any and all construction planning. I makes me go crazy.
- Much to Andreas’ chagrin, today I sent in my application to get on the waiting list with the local rescue squad for Boston Terriers. This sort of leaves it up to the fates — will the right dog come along? When might it come along? Will Andreas crap his pants the first time he sees me put a sweater on a small dog? It’s all quite unsure at this point.
* Recently, I’ve started fantasizing about having two homes, one for workdays and one for weekends. One that’s funky and tucked away in the woods (yurt?), and one that’s hyper-urban and in a walking neighborhood (condo?). Neither of these fantasy abodes have a lawn. Regardless, unless my book becomes a best seller, this fantasy is not becoming a reality for many many years.
brodie
September 26th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
you find a way to box and ship those pears to flagstaff and i will eat as many as you can muster
nani
September 26th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
you could preserve them in nice mason jars and give them away as gifts.
Or better yet, bring them to a homeless shelter or food kitchen or something like that.
Ariel
September 26th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
Yup, we’ve canned and we make schnapps, but there are still more pears. And sadly, I haven’t yet found a foodbank that will take perishable food.
Jenny Rough
September 26th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
Yurts rule.
nancy
September 26th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
A quote from our best dog book: “the boston terrier is long-lived (15 yrs), susceptible to infections…eyelid/eyelash abnormalities…also problems are respiratory difficulties and heatstroke because of his pushed-in face, and tumors….learns quickly. fairly obedient. gentle with everyone. may be hard to housebreak. wheezes and snores. slightly nervous but responsive, devoted and adaptable to city or country.
Good luck!
wendee
September 26th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
We had the same problem with our shower too. Except we used suction cups and shower curtain liners on three of the four sides of the shower for several months. And OMG, when would I accidently leaned into one of those cold, wet liners when shaving my legs it totally freaked me out. The newly tiled shower is still at the top of my “favorite things” list.
Lori
September 27th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
We’re having the same problem hiring someone to do our bathroom. We loved the contractor who did our kitchen, fixed our closets, and replaced our front door, but he’s on a massive ($$) project right now and not returning our calls. No one else seems to want the job, either… so that leaves us. I am not looking forward to replacing the tub. :-/
Re: the pears, I’ll take some.
Of course, I’m in Philadelphia, and shipping’s a pain. Is there a Second Harvest in Seattle? The one in SF took perishables…
Tami
September 27th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
Until we gutted our bathroom, I hung a cheap circular shower rod designed for clawfoot tubs over the shower, and put a shower curtain all around the shower so as not to further damage the wall. Not pretty, but all the poorly tiled walls dry.
Serene
September 27th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
I do hope that a cute lil Boston finds his/her way into your home. Having a rescue as a companion is really rewarding. I’ve had other dogs and there is something very unique about the bond you share with them. I’m crossing fingers and toes for you.
Steve Habib Rose
September 28th, 2006 at 12:37 pm
I’ll be happy to take some asian pears off your hands. My wife and I love them, folks at work devour just about anything that you give ‘em, and, if there are any left, I can probably find some folks in my neighborhood that would be happy to take some. That’s what neighbor networking is all about
Please email me or contact me at Jobster so that we can figure out logistics, ok?
Thanks!
in community,
Habib
Jen
September 29th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
I can sooo relate to so much in this entry. The house, the overabundance of produce…
How honorable of you to go through a rescue. Be strong and patient, sometimes rescue dogs have issues that need time to work through. But the end result is incredibly rewarding.
My boyfriends aunt rescued one from a puppy mill in Missouri. Lucy spent the first 7 years of her life having litter after litter. But with much love and patience, Lucy is living the spoiled life she deserves.
I wish you much luck!
Jen
September 29th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
I can sooo relate to so much in this entry. The house, the overabundance of produce…
How honorable of you to go through a rescue. Be strong and patient, sometimes rescue dogs have issues that need time to work through. But the end result is incredibly rewarding.
My boyfriends aunt rescued one from a puppy mill in Missouri. Lucy spent the first 7 years of her life having litter after litter. But with much love and patience, Lucy is living the spoiled life she deserves.
I wish you much luck!