March 2024 Island Trip – Days 4 & 5

The tenants expressed interest in using the drier/tool shed as a practice space for his brass horn studio. I was game as long as we discussed some sort of accommodation for heating the leaky structure during the colder months. I set about removing the encroaching rose from the inside of the building, and from the exterior eve of the building. Who wants a rouge rose in their music studio?

They, wisely, decided not to use the building for this purpose. Too drafty, even without a rose trying to take over… The building comes with the rental, and while it is on my list to tighten up this structure, I will/can not make promises about when that will take place. Brass instruments are far too valuable to store in the drier shed.

We had that wind Monday night. Tuesday morning the rose was on the ground! I did this to myself! It is for the structures own good to remove the rose from the building’s framing. And now I had another project to attend to.

The remaining rose canes are free of dead wood, and are 3ish feet high. The rest of its impressive tangle is in the growing burn pile. Now…

I need to measure the length of the building, price new shiplap siding for it, remove the old siding, insulate, and install the new… The existing siding appears to be original, and it’s likely the rose that protected it enough from the weather that it’s not currently a pile of rot on the ground.

In the last two days I:

• Had dinner out with my neighbor to the east. It was really good to spend some time with her.
• Did some birthday shopping for my DH.
• Used the push mower to clean up smaller areas, particularly after cleaning up from the rose.
• Texted extensively with my AN about our options re the new trailer, it’s utilities, and order of operations. He’ll be here at 9 tomorrow morning. This means I have to get up extra early so I can be ready to head out shortly after 11.
• Watered the newly planted trees, and will do so again tomorrow.
• Paid an acquaintance for glass buttons she made me for an antique coat.
• Reviewed my departure checklists, and delightfully found that I don’t need to work so hard because we’ll be in three days! With our cat!