Projects and Resolutions.

I've been absent from my blogging for a while.

I think part of the problem is being busy and tired, 

and the other part has to do with the winter blahs.

On the busy end of things, I've been doing small projects around the house.

On the To-Do List is getting the attic organized.

So far that task hasn't been crossed off the list.

Part of getting the attic organized is getting the garage organized (also on the list).

We need to get stuff put up in the garage storage loft

so Big E can get his workshop space organized 

and get the tools from the attic out to the garage.

Not only do we need to get the garage ready for tools, 

but we also need to make sure the car can fit in it again.

We've also been putting up closet doors 

so the brat child can have a closet that will magically help keep his room clean

(Yeah, I don't buy it either).

  And of course with the New Year came resolutions.

Or rather, just one resolution.

This year, I resolve to be selfish.

Yes, I said selfish.

What I mean is that this year I'm not putting my plans or ambitions 

on hold

for other people.

2016 was not a great year.

It brought a lot of unwanted drama

and an immense amount of stress.
It was a year that showed me that volunteering
just isn't something that's worth doing much any more.
And it's not just me.
This was a post from a volunteer fire department,
and what was said sums up my thoughts completely:
 Erie County Fire Depts

October 25, 2016 ·

The biggest killer in the volunteer service isn't the calls, it's the egos, the drama, the he said she said. That's what's killing the volunteer service. Can you imagine what it'd be like to drop all that, to come do your job do what needs done and worry about yourself? It would make this service a very beautiful thing. The passion and desire to belong and be involved in a department would thrive! The passion for some, many, is slowly dying because of these reasons, that's why volunteers don't care to volunteer, or to continue volunteering.

So, I'm going to be selfish.

My time belongs to me and my family,

and I'm not going to give it away easily.

I've been saying for 3 years I wanted to go get a library card 

and hang out at the library. 

I finally did that this past week.

I managed to get a rewrite done on the Georgia section of my book

and started on the next section.

And this summer, I have several backpacking trips planned,

and some adventures waiting in the wings.

So, yeah, I'm making this year about me

and about enjoying my life.

Better Than Tut's Tomb

Really, my attic is way better than King Tut's Tomb.

There's no poisonous air,

and there's no deadly curse.

But it still has good finds.

Like this find.

Poking around behind the area where I found the piece to the banister, 

I saw this metal box. 

At first I didn't really think much of it, 

but when I looked again while showing Big E

my treasure trove,

it dawned on me what it was.

It's the original milk delivery box for the house.

And it's in excellent condition.

The box says:

Property of Bupp's

877 York St

Rich- Whole

Clean Milk

I, of course, looked up Bupp's Dairy.

It was owned and operated by Walter Bupp 

from 1949-1968.

Mr. Bupp served as a Staff Sergeant in the Army

during WWII and started the dairy after the war.

The milk box is back out on the porch

where it belongs.

I'm still in the process of digging around in the attic.

Hopefully I'll have some other interesting finds.

Attic Archaeology

 I've always said my favorite thing in the house was the banister.

Every time I walk up the steps, 

I think about how many hands must have slide along the railing.

 When we tore down the walls that separated the upstairs from the downstairs

into apartments, 

we discovered that the end of the railing had been sawed off.

It was rather depressing, 

more so when we were told it would cost around $400 

to have that section replaced.

 So we slapped a piece of wood on the end to keep every thing as stable as possible.

Rummaging in the attic,

I found one of the missing spindles in a box.

I thought for sure I'd find the piece of the missing railing too.

But Big E said that was unlikely, 

and in my rummaging, we didn't find it or the other spindle.

So just this past Monday, the day after Christmas,

Big E finally installed a second light in the attic.

He too rummaged around, but didn't find anything.

Then yesterday evening, 

I went up to the attic in search of a door for the old kitchen.

There are several old storm windows, 

old fashioned window screens, 

old windows and old doors

piled on one side of the attic.

Armed with a measuring tape, I was determined to find the door for the room

that was once the upstairs apartment's kitchen.

I had to move all of the windows and lean them against the chimney.

Once I did that, I saw that there were some panes of glass

with something under them.

I couldn't quite tell what it was, but at the same time, 

my brain was registering that it was something to get excited about.

 It was the missing railing piece!

I can't even begin to describe the excitement about finding this.

Plus, I also found the other missing spindle.

While it has been sawed, 

beat up, 

and missing about a 2 inch chunk,

I definitely want it reattached.

The abuse it has suffered only adds to its story.

I can not wait to have it back to its original glory.

And...

there were a couple other finds in the attic too.