Round tuits
Of course not all boomers are slowing down, mentally or physically, and as long as my brain stays ahead of my body I’ll be grateful. I’m very aware of my pace lately as nice people ask me if we’re all settled in to the new house yet. I jokingly reply that we might be all settled in by Christmas, except I am not really joking.
First of all an embarrassed and sincere apology to Ted Rowe, the author of two fine books about the history of Heart’s Content. I mistakenly called him Fred Rowe in last week’s column. Who knows why? I have both his books, and would have double checked my fact about the railway and of course discovered my error except my books are in Heart’ Content. I knew the difference anyway so there’s no excuse except to hide behind a phrase that is becoming all too familiar; a senior’s moment.
Of course not all boomers are slowing down, mentally or physically, and as long as my brain stays ahead of my body I’ll be grateful. I’m very aware of my pace lately as nice people ask me if we’re all settled in to the new house yet.
I jokingly reply that we might be all settled in by Christmas, except I am not really joking.
That’s definitely more a symptom of the body than the brain. We had the major jobs done by a contractor but then there are all the little jobs, organizing and decorating touches. Aside from my being colour challenged, I do get all kinds of décor ideas, especially, and unfortunately, when they pertain to re-purposing or up cycling or restoring or whatever you want to call not buying new stuff.
These things almost always involve some extra effort on my part and, where ‘settling in’ is concerned, I am happy if I get one new thing accomplished every day.
There is a distinct shortage of towel bars because I have a can of ‘hammered silver’ spray paint to redo the ones that got taken down for the painting.
The concrete block on the lower half of the sunroom hasn’t been painted because I want to get thermal curtains for two sides of it for the winter and I want a pattern and everyone knows you should choose your pattern before you commit to a paint color, and certainly you wouldn’t spray paint your wicker rockers before you have your cushions, and I just haven’t gotten ‘a round tuit’ yet.
In fact I’ve noticed that round tuits are in much shorter supply than they were when I moved into previous houses.
The office/slash studio is still in slings because I consider that to be September work.
Call it a boomer back-toschool mind set or arrested development. It is what it is.
A vanity, various frames and a few pieces of furniture to paint, spray and/or distress (as if we need more distressing ha ha). A Newfoundland-made sideboard gifted to me by the late Canon Honeygold now makes a bar in the kitchen (he wouldn’t mind) and is just waiting for new handles and paint.
For purists, don’t worry, the existing paint is not original. The hardware is bought but isn’t installed because I’m still waiting on the round tuit.
I thought about just installing the brushed nickel handles anyway; taking four pieces back off to paint isn’t a big deal even for me. I’d end up with four sore thumbs in the kitchen that might spur me to finish the job. And I won’t be at any of it this weekend. Along with my two sisters, my two daughters and my grandson, I’ll be touring 11 greater St. John’s area gardens as part of the fourth annual Mystery Garden Tour.
Daughter #2 and I have been going since the beginning. Grandson has been in her belly, in a carrier and in a stroller. This year he’ll walk as much as we let him.
It’s a wonderful family tradition.
Mystery Garden Tour passports revealing the gardens’ locations and a brief description of each garden’s features include one free adult 2016 Adult Admission pass for MUN Botanical Garden and the chance to win one of seven prizes donated by event supporters.
You can visit the gardens at your own pace, and in any order (but they do provide a suggested route map) today and tomorrow 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine.
Passports are available at the Botanical Gardens and many local garden centers. Check the MUN Botanical Gardens website for more information.
“The concrete block on the lower half of the sunroom hasn’t been painted because I want to get thermal curtains for two sides of it for the winter and I want a pattern and everyone knows you should choose your pattern before you commit to a paint color, and certainly you wouldn’t spray paint your wicker rockers before you have your cushions, and I just haven’t gotten ‘a round tuit’ yet.”