Week after next for the Brick Mason

 

This is the most obvious part of the "brick renewal" project.  Most of it is what they call tuck-pointing.  But those two pillars at the two ends of my skirting wall?  He's going to completely re-build.

The ground beneath the pillars has settled over the 45 years the house has stood here, causing them to lean like the tower of Pisa, away from the wall.

Friday morning pre-sunrise we had a little shower.  Not much but refreshing.  I could feel the air quality starting to improve.  The AQ alert ended about noonish, and that improvement is welcome!

The brick guy came to the door without calling first Friday morning.  I was home anyway, so no problem.  He left samples of the brick he intends to use to build the new pillars.  Instead of being varicolored as the old ones are, the new pillars will be a single color.

Lighter in color, but matching one of those many varied colors, I believe it will blend nicely.  He says a week from Monday (and they will call or text first) they can get started on the tuckpointing.

I heaved a sigh of relief... that gives me more time to finish my de-forestation project!  Not starting until a week from Monday means my eye appointment to get my new prescription won't get in the way, nor will my Wednesday review with the financial guy interrupt the process.  

Because I was not scurrying to finish the defoliation, I promised myself I would go get rid of things (if anyone wanted my cast-offs) at the Community Free Market.  My daughter in law and her parents are part of the group that put this event on, monthly.  I haven't been in a couple of years.  Last time I went we were pushing little plastic guards to make masks more effective during the pandemic.

I put out a whole bunch of clothing that I've given up on ever fitting into again, a varied collection of books, and those odds and ends that constitute, "I ordered one, they sent two"; "these were freebies from the dentist, but I don't use that kind/brand"; and "I accidentally bought the wrong thing".  On the whole, I managed to get rid of more than I found to bring home.  I brought home two books, one by John Grisham, and one by Tom Clancy.  And a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle that the people giving away had labeled as "Missing 1 piece".  

I am declaring the morning a success!  One of the things I most appreciate about this event is the personal connection.  Those receiving whatever they choose often are also given the story of how it means something to the giver.  One woman was collecting clothing for the residents of a nursing home where her aunt lives.  She chose a kimono from another woman's offerings, but somehow did not get the belt.  The woman who was giving the kimono away chased her down to make sure the belt went home with her, too.  She shared the story of how the kimono (purchased in Japan) came into her possession.  The woman receiving the kimono shared that it would be going to a woman who does not have night clothes and who shares a room with her aunt.

A couple of people asked me if I knew how often these were held, and I knew, so shared that information, plus pointed them toward the Facebook group where they could find out when and where future free markets would be held:  "It's like a garage sale, but everything is free."

In any case, Life is Good.  Spark on!