A Typical Day on Stauffer?

• Up at 6:30 a.m. – handyman carpenter coming to put weather stripping on front door.

• Small home means the west porch needs to be cleared of some furniture so carpenter can work.

• There is an option of an extra door stored in attic for the front door, if needed – the attic steps are used as my pantry and need to be cleared.

• Dressed and enjoyed oatmeal before 8:00 a.m.

• Coffee and cookies put out in the porch for a confab with carpenter when he arrives.

• Start a load of laundry.

• Open a piece of gum to offset coffee breath.

• Seeing stars as I realize what just hit the floor is actually the crown that was on my center tooth on the bottom.  Having to accept a dentist date two weeks forward as the original tooth will need to be extracted with an additional tooth added to my bottom partial.  Ma Kettle, whistling while she talks, on board for several weeks.

• Carpenter reports the original door is so warped weather stripping will not be sufficient for a good seal.

• Dennis and carpenter up in the attic to check out the solid door that has been stored.  Thank God I had cleaned the steps off and neither one put a foot through a bag of oatmeal or got bonked in the head by the kettles I had stored on the walls of the stairwell.

• Stored door is exact opposite in setup and has worked with skeleton key; would need a lot of revision.  We fear a lot of wood putty would be used and it would not represent a good front door.

• I shed a quiet tear knowing the lumberyard fellows are anticipating getting some Stauffer Avenue funds.

• New solid wood door is ordered and will arrive in three weeks, complete with correct sawed length with poly finish.  Purchase and labor estimate at $500.00.

• Carpenter will come back when door arrives to do the hinges and key hole.

• All pantry items need to come out of storage under my computer desk and return to the attic steps.

• The neighbor gal may one day get tired of me running over for help opening jars. The answer for me is to never twist them tight.

• I thought I had a firm hold on the popcorn jar . . . not.  Popcorn flew across the laminate flooring as if it were smooth ice.  I could not believe how many kernels one jar can hold.

• Popcorn left on floor as I took a cup of coffee to the porch.

• Working hard to get Butter Ball to make friends with the pet carrier as he needs to go to the vet sometime soon.  After a lot of coaxing and begging, that was given up for the day.  Butter on the lip of the carrier may be tried.

• Dennis needed to make a trip to Mankato and I would be riding shotgun.

• Dennis sat on the bench outside as I corralled popcorn from the living room.  I am sure some will be found in days and months to come from hiding spots.

• Trip to Mankato was successful and I found my head bobbing on the way home.  Oh, those sweet instant naps.

• Laundry needs to go into the dryer for the finish on a day well done.

Anticipating sleeping in tomorrow morning.