SRS, Thank you for providing us with a fresh thread. The light on the living room step is a very good idea. I wonder if turning off things in your son's room while he's away will offset the the power it uses?

Alice, "Cabin In The Pines" is another lovely image. It's amazing how much detail and expression you manage to work into your tiny paintings.

Today I was able to accomplish a few of the tasks on my list but added a few more tasks, too, so I'm no farther ahead.

Began converting the "guest room" temporarily back into my sewing and storage room, decided to move the large furniture and thoroughly vacuum under and behind it, discovered a few patches of something on the outside wall which may be mildew. I need to find out how to remove that without damaging the wood panelling or the carpet.

Reassembled the children's overhead ladder, adding a washer to each lag bolt to enable more tightening without pulling the bolt head into the soft wood. That helped a lot. Added corner braces and bases under the legs. If tomorrow is warm and dry enough I'll try to apply the final coat of paint.

Nailed two boards on the outside of the deck railing to make it difficult for the neighbours' cat to jump and grab one of the squirrels who come looking for fallen bird seed and peanuts.

Updated several pages of information about who is to do what when and where, to be photocopied and distributed at a meeting to members of a women's group to which I belong, printed up some other materials for that group, removed old pages from my information binder and cut them in quarters to use for grocery lists and notes to myself.

Drastically reduced the size of my "may need this someday" box collection. There is a huge pile of boxes waiting to be flattened and taken to a recycling bin.

rags