This and That

Some of you may remember that when we were rebuilding the house, the builder wanted to use exterior-grade MDF (medium-density fiberboard) for the body, bases, and capitals on the front-porch boxed columns. I was apprehensive about MDF, but was told the exterior grade would hold up very well. We took a sample piece to our Sparks apartment and soaked it in water for a couple of weeks and it did seem to be impervious to moisture, so we did it. Well, Mother Nature has her ways and the base of the northernmost column began to swell and split open. I caulked and repainted, but after 5 years it was a mess.

Rich Johnson has removed the bases, cut off a couple of inches from the bottoms of the columns so they won't wick moisture, and replaced the bases and moldings with solid vinyl, similar to the material Katy used to make frames. The project is finished and looks great. Rich did a fine job and we should be almost impervious to moisture. Water is clever, though, and can find it's way into everything over time. But for now, we are cautiously optimistic about the future of the columns.

Friday we had dinner at the Millers with our dinner group. It was delicious, as always, and the discussion only drifted into politics once for a brief period before moving on to movies. If the Christophersons and Freestones see this, we missed you.

This morning on my walk I was keenly aware of how beautiful our valley is. So later I went back out to get a few shots of the aspens on the mountains that are now in full color. Earlier on the walk I filled my pocket with acorns from various places along my walking route. On Thursday, walking home from Design Review, I picked up a beautiful horse chestnut in front of Berg Mortuary on Center Street. While gathering acorns this morning, I had a brain storm that a bowl full of nuts would be great this time of year, and so I drove down to the mortuary and gathered a bunch of conkers (horse chestnuts). Kris thought I had taken leave of my senses, but once she saw what I had in mind, seemed less concerned about my mental state.

Inner columns with old bases removed

The newly replaced bases and moldings

Stephen, Ann, Allen, Nancy, and Stan

Kris, Sharon, Stephen, and Ann

Me: sprouts, Nancy: sweet potatoes, Sharon: rolls and turkey,
Vicki: apple pie, Stephen and Ann: ice cream

I love these mountains

The aspens are glowing

These give the French their name for the color marron

That's all for now.

OXO

D.