A fixture in our house

Vicky said, "How about a toilet next? Not to unplug....to paper piece!"

Okay, Vicky. Here is a foundation for a 4-inch paper pieced fixture. Click on the little graphic below so you can print the foundation for your own personal use.

Now, I am going to get out of the bathroom and start on something new.

Bathroom dreams

Last week, on the second day of our struggle to clear out our bathroom sink drain I almost gave up. I thought the sink overflow was permanently rusted shut and we would have to buy a new sink to replace the old one.

I went searching on the web to find a replacement sink. After looking at hundreds and hundreds of sinks and vanities I came across one I loved. It is called Catania Modern Bathroom Pedestal Sink. And it was on Sale for only $699.99 (regular price $2,450.00).

If we bought the sink it would mean a complete re-do of our bathroom – out with the plain toilet – it would not look good next to this modern sculpture. The walls would have to be refinished after tearing out our old 1925 Kohler wall hung sink. New chrome fixtures would be needed, too.

But what about our old claw-foot tub? I didn’t want to give that up. Cast iron tubs hold their heat and I’ve had many a long soak in that comfortable, long tub. We have an on demand water heater so we can run hot water for hours on end.

Bathing by Robert Lakstagala

That’s not me in the tub. Paula the Quilter had the tub picture on her blog the other day. Click on the picture to read her post about it.

Of course, on the third day of frantic work on our sink, the clog disintegrated and everything started flowing again. No new sink is necessary so there will not be a bathroom makeover around here.

That sink-ing feeling

Life has been pretty dull around here. There has been nothing to blog about.

Our big project this week was cleaning out our bathroom sink drain. It took three days. We poured vinegar and baking soda in and then used various things to poke into the overflow area. We got some chemical called CLR (calcium, lime, rust) and poured that in. We got a bottle brush thing and Robert used that too. A lot of plunger work and suddenly it started to flow again. Whoopee!

Now I have to get busy with Brasso and shine up the faucets.

I made a block to celebrate this momentous occasion. It is called Old Sink.

If you would like to make a 4-inch paper pieced pedestal sink block, click on the small graphic below and print out you own copy of the foundation for personal use.

Let’s hope something more interesting happens tomorrow to inspire a new block-a-day. (I have not made one since my sandal block on October 16.)

Better and better

Robert, you just get better every year. Happy Birthday.

Eventful day

Photographer: Manfred WernerGNU Free Documentation License

After Judy’s funeral and burial yesterday, several family members were heading for home on the San Francisco Bay Bridge. They were on the bridge at 5:30 pm when a crossbar and rods came loose. The incident was on the westbound deck, just east of the new S-curve.

Sylvia reported to me that Catherine, Rick and Susie did get caught in the tie-up but they were far enough on the bridge that they didn't have to turn around. They told her it took about half an hour longer than their normal trip.

News reports said, “An occupant of a Ryder Truck sustained a minor injury due to shattered glass from the fallen debris. No other injuries were reported.”

(There were 300 people at Judy's funeral.)

I want to move to Portland

Terry Grant posted some gorgeous fall pictures on her blog today. She called it “Annual autumn color.” Here is one picture:

Go visit her blog and enjoy the colors. I am going to savor them. Here is what we have here:

Our leaves just turn brown and fall down. So dull.
I love it here on the island the rest of the year, but Fall is not pretty.

Judy, Judy, Judy

We met riding the bus to high school in 1955. Judy was a loving, faithful friend and stuck with me all these years. My parents thought Judy was the best person I ever met. We were always at her house up the hill or my house further down Loma Vista. She backed me up and bucked me up when I did stupid things. I only remember her getting really mad at me one time, and I deserved it.
In 1964, I married her cousin Robert and became part of her wonderful family. My parents were right; she was the best person ever. She died this morning at 3:25.