June/July 2023 Island Trip – Day 6

Let me start at the conclusion of the day… We had a lovely late afternoon and evening with our tenants. We cooked, but had dinner at their place. They have the cool deck after all. Conversation ranged from politics, to our local wildlife (in evidence), to business ethics. The mosquitos drove us in despite repellent and citronella. Fireworks started at 10:15. After a moment on the deck, we hiked up to the slope above Stella where the view was somewhat better. We were able to see the top halves of many mortars in the sky to the east. There might have been better, and far more crowded seats closer to the port, but the company was better than close up sparkling lights.

After an hour of careful excavation, at the direction of our AN, I came to the conclusion that we’re going to have to put in a new pressure tank for the ground well. The copper pipe he asked me to excavate took a dive under the sewer pipe as it exits from the house. Not going to involve that plumbing in this quest! We can put a new pressure tank in the lower barn, and hopefully in the pump room. Should know by the end of of summer.

My DH moved the light switch for the upper barn. It used to be on the opposite side of the door handle as you leave the building… This means it’s easy to NOT turn off the switch as you leave. When I arrived, the lights were on. Pretty sure my tenants left them on… I left the lights on once about a year ago, and ever since have been militant about turning all lights off when I leave. So, moving the switch to a more natural place to slap it off when leaving the building was a good improvement.

I spent time trimming the grasses around the fruit tree trunks. Sadly, I discovered that half of each apple tree’s trunk, low to the ground, has no bark. I can’t do forensics on this state of affairs. I just know that it’s not a good indication for their longevity. The plum, on the other hand, is looking good. No bark damage.

I replaced the ‘scary’ red & black no trespassing signs with much larger signs: black lettering on a white reflective background. I ordered these some time ago. The sign on the east entrance is mounted on an old fence post further on to the property. The sign on the west drive is mounted below the ‘Private Drive’ sign on an Alder tree.

Lots of other things, pricing for the estate sale among them, got addressed. It was a good day in lots of ways!