All the Trimmings

I slept later than I had all week , not waking until close to 8am. I started some coffee then did sit-ups and curls. Enjoyed coffee in front of the PC for about an hour before my run. Ran three miles, just as I had all week. It was fairly comfortable, only 71 degrees with relatively low humidity (about 60%).

Mindy had a doctor's appointment set for 1010am. She was up and preparing to depart when I got back from my run. She asked why I didn't wake her. Not long after she headed off to her doctor's appointment I headed out to get started on replacing the master bath window trim. As it was, I thought I'd only be replacing the one vertical board. Because it's a bit higher I knew I'd need the fiberglass extension ladder. The older I get, the heavier that damn thing gets. :) I filled my Home Depot bucket with the tools I'd need to remove the old trim, including the oscillating tool with narrow wood cutting blade, then hoisted them up with a rope.

The oscillating tool made quick work of cutting around the nails. It took no more than 15 minutes to remove the board. Soon I was greeted by Bella, who asked where her momma was. I reminded her of the doctor's appointment. She headed back inside. Once I had the vertical piece removed, I noticed that the board below the window had a little bit of rot on it too. And since I was there and had enough new board to replace it, I cut it away too. The other two boards were still in decent shape.

I measured twice to ensure I'd be cutting only once. I cut the vertical board to length first and planned to try it out before giving it a coat of paint. It was just a butt hair too long, but also seemed to catch on the side in a couple places too. That could mean only one of two things, either the window wasn't installed perfectly square or the old board wasn't square. Sure enough, after shaving off an extra butt hair of length, I couldn't get it to seat easily in the recess against the window frame on one side and the stucco on the other. Crap. I'd have to rip a smidge off, which is no easy task with a circular saw. Mindy was home from the doctor and at the foot of my ladder at probably the most inopportune time. I wasn't in the best frame of mind after struggling to get the board to fit in the opening. On top of that, I was sweating like a pig (do pigs sweat?)

She offered help to which I quickly declined. I went even further to share that I didn't want an audience watching me toil. A few minutes later I came to terms with the need to rip about 1/16" off the board. I went for my rip fence then went inside to request Jacob's assistance. He willingly came to help hold the board steady. I calmly shared the goal and even went as far as to show him what it would sound /feel like so he wouldn't get too nervous. He did good holding the board steady as I ripped away the fine edge.

As expected, the board was now a tad loose in some spots while snug in others, but I was able to get it to fit into the recess and planned to caulk the edge against the window frame anyway. Cutting the bottom board was a bit easier. I took both pieces to the garage where I hit them with a coat of primer then let them sit for an hour. While the primer dried, I used the time to refill my grease gun with marine grade lube then filled the barring buddies on the boat trailer. Both sides were low and needing greased. That went a little easier than I expected. I headed in and made a little snack, a leftover hamburger. It was delicious!

Once the primer was dry I put a coat of paint on the trim boards. Still not wanting to waste any time, I decided to replace to the two stair treads on the deck that were splitting. The one on the high traffic middle step had been replaced twice before due to and excessive overhang (about 1.5 inches). This time i planned to tack up a narrow support board underneath. I had a 10' x 5/4" decking board stashed under the deck leftover from last summer's decking work when I decked over the hot tub recess. Mindy left to fill a prescription while I toiled on the deck. While removing the old, splitting boards, I was careful to preserve the angles of the old boards so I wouldn't have to recreate the pattern. One of the four cuts I made was a smidge long. I needed to re-cut the angle. Doing it freehand with a circular saw isn't so easy, especially when you're dealing with as little as an 1/8". I managed the cut but it as clean as the first, but I made do. I used the new 20volt driver and drill I was gifted for Father's Day to fastened the boards. They worked exceptionally well.

Back to the trim boards. The paint now dry, I headed again to the ladder to nail up the new trim boards. That went fairly well. I caulked all the gaps then let it set for a while before going over the caulk and boards with another coat of paint. Pretty much finished the job start to finish in just one day. So, to some up my completed chores, I finished the window trim. lubed the boat trailer tires, and replaced the worn deck step boards. Not bad!

A shower felt terrific. Our evening plans were to attend the baseball/t-ball games for the g-kids at St Mary Magdalene. We weren't entirely sure what time Rocky's game started but knew that Olivia and Landon's game began at 7pm. I think we got there close to 630pm, or early enough to see most of Rocky's game. We ran into Mrs Dent, who was there with all three of her boys as well as her husband, Bucky. She and Mindy talked for a while.

Lindsey left for a meeting leaving the kids temporarily under our watchful eyes. While watching the tail end of Rocky's game, Bella asked to site on my lap. When I pulled her back against my body it snapped my Oakley sun glasses right in half. I had them hanging from the middle of my t-shirt. Damn!

Ashley, Stephen and Olivia didn't show until just before their game started. They showed up with Stephens' father and step mom. I can't recall her name. It was our first such meeting. They also had one of Stephen's sister's kids with them. Olivia and Landon were too cute in their t-ball game. Landon was often distracted and off playing in the dirt, while Olivia was busy being the social butterfly. I snapped up a handful of photos.

As promised, Lindsey was back from her meeting before the t-ball game was over. It lasted no more than 3 innings or about 30 minutes. While the kids were waiting in line for their free snow cones, Rocky asked if he could spend the night. Why not? We offered Landon the opportunity too but he, at least initially, declined. But by the time that he and Lindsey were about to pull away he changed his mind. However, because we drove the Accord, Lindsey agreed to bring him by after stopping home for their PJs.

Meanwhile, Ashley, Stephen, Olivia and family were all headed to Minelli's. We were invited too. We opted to head home having eaten dinner before we came. Once Olivia caught word that the boys were staying, she pitched one. Ashley didn't relent. Stephen's dad drove for 5 hours to come see her.

As soon as we were back at home the kids all ran off to play. As hot as it was during the heat of the day, a comparatively cool breeze kicked in from the east making sitting on the deck more than enjoyable. It felt so cool that Mindy and I both opted for some long legged pants, something I hadn't worn outside of work since early June.
In fact, Mindy even donned a jacket. I checked the temperature. It was still 71 degrees.

We got a little lax and let Eiknarf out to play with the neighbors dogs at dusk. Eiknarf and Shamrock ran out back to eat goose shit. Darkness set in fast, and before we knew it the dogs were nowhere to be seen/found. We went on a hunt. While Mindy went towards the O'Connell's and Gardner's she happened upon Bella. Once Bella learned that Eiknarf was missing she started crying relentlessly. It was bothersome. I asked that if she wasn't going to help look then perhaps she should go inside. She headed inside. :) Based on past experience, those two dogs run off either in the woods behind the house. I headed back there in complete darkness but with my mini LED flashlight. Back behind Kenny's shed I called to them both then quieted down to listen for any movement in the brush. Sure enough, I heard something. And within a few seconds one of the dogs appeared. As hoped, it was Eiknarf. I carried her back towards the house. I could still hear Mindy calling for her out front. I put her inside then headed around to tell her.

Kenny saw me out looking and was now out looking for Shamrock. He found her back in the same woods, but down closer to her own home. Crisis averted. Needless to say, Bella was elated to learn that Eiknarf was safe and sound at home. Now after 930pm, we made the kids come in for the night. Jacob attempted to inflate the air mattress in his room for the two boys to sleep on but once again couldn't figure it out. I had to do it. He's definitely not the most mechanically inclined kid to come down the pike. :)

I enjoyed two beers through the evening but no more. I stayed up watching TV after Mindy headed to bed, but not for too long.