We are in the home stretch towards getting Irene in her new space. She has gone to visit in Michigan beginning on September 3 and returning on the 15th. We are desperately trying to have her MOVED before she returns home. Given how hard we have been working and where we are, I’m not sure we will make deadline.

The Monday she left it rained an inch and a quarter.

Michael and I worked on “adjusting” the studs in the closet so that the box I made would fit without twisting and leaving a half inch gap on one side (and all the shelf holes twerked). We also made a run to town for materials.

The shims don’t hardly show!  We still need to cut, router, sand, finish, install drawer pulls, and attach the drawer fronts. — The shims don’t hardly show! We still need to cut, router, sand, finish, install drawer pulls, and attach the drawer fronts.

Tuesday saw me crawling in and out of the drawer spaces, measuring and cutting shims, shims, and finally shims the correct width. I needed a proof of concept before I measured and cut the rest of the drawers. Michael mowed a lot of grass, so when it came to cutting boards, I wouldn’t have to wade through a jungle. I also put veneer on two drawers I measured and cut and put together. Four drawers completed (except for drawer slides).

It took us the best part of Wednesday and Thursday to cut the 55 boards that will make the 11 drawers in addition to the 4 I already made. My architect daughter wondered why I was making the carcase full of drawers rather than shelves. I gave her a design answer: when you get old you don’t want to have to bend down and rummage in the back of a 23” deep shelf near the floor. A drawer pulls out and is so much more accessible. She could appreciate that answer.

Friday and today were spent with Michael sanding boards and me varnishing them. Finding sufficient horizontal space has been a challenge.

It’s amazing the plants are still alive, if only just. So many things are suffering from neglect.

Oh hey, Michael did get the replacement sculpture parts painted and installed. The sculpture is now both beautiful and functional!

Now there’s room for a coffee cup or a book on that shelf, which had been full of extra TP rolls.

Michael and I are taking a break, sitting on the back deck and surveying our realm. We will have tomatoes for dinner, then I will sand some more while he is putting the birds to bed.

We are missing having the Little Apple Eater around, but are looking forward to having her and her parents back in December, should we all make it that far. Sheesh, I am tired!