Category Archives: Home

Mailboxes

Posted on January 22, 2020 by sputterpub

Five units here: two vacant; two in use whose residents have gone away this week. The property is mine – I can cut loose or not. The solitude I daily seek is here without an effort or a plan. I … Continue reading →

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Dactyls on Home

Posted on November 25, 2019 by sputterpub

It’s stunning to sit here and know that the work is complete. Disrupted for months I’m accustomed to sharing my space. At last I’m alone with no tradespeople stamping their feet to minimize dust from construction all over the place. … Continue reading →

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How it Feels to Have My Place Back

Posted on November 22, 2019 by sputterpub

When I was 35, catastrophe beset me and my body nearly quit. They hooked me up to drips, did surgery two times, and scanned for an appropriate response to symptoms dangerous no doubt. I carried on, reacting brave and wise, … Continue reading →

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Done

Posted on November 18, 2019 by sputterpub

The job’s not perfect but it feels complete. I see some minor damage and some flaws, but I’ve declared it’s fine enough, and sweet my solitary residence, because I’m living now what I dreamt months ago. I had to use … Continue reading →

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Window Washing

Posted on November 8, 2019 by sputterpub

Tomorrow I’ll be out of bed by six, to grunt and cough and ready for the man who cleans the glass because he knows all tricks of squeegees and detergents. That’s my plan for Saturday, too early to be fun, … Continue reading →

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My Garden

Posted on October 29, 2019 by sputterpub

I never was a gardener. That niche was filled by others in my family. My thumb was tan; my body didn’t itch to plant or prune or weed topography. I didn’t savor earth beneath my nails, no matter how my … Continue reading →

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Preheat Not Needed

Posted on October 10, 2019 by sputterpub

In classifying new stuff good or bad, depending on performance and design, the dishwasher’s a joke, the stove is sad, and manufactured doors are out of line. The ceiling fan is handsome and works well, the custom bed and closet … Continue reading →

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Exampling Spider

Posted on October 8, 2019 by sputterpub

A three-month project, overrun to eight, is nearly at an end, but truth be told, the bulk of it was not accomplished late. I hung at ninety-five percent, controlled by winter trains and summer-found defects, by workmen moving on to … Continue reading →

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Soot

Posted on September 26, 2019 by sputterpub

As soon as all the work was done, I booked the window washing and the maintenance my fireplace deserves. The unit looked as usual – I never had the sense of something off. The ceiling fan was on. Was that … Continue reading →

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The Damp Deck

Posted on September 24, 2019 by sputterpub

I’m well aware the weather could be worse; we pay a lot to live around this bay. But atmospheric rivers are a curse for me – extreme humidity today will not allow my just-sealed deck to dry. Evaporation is on … Continue reading →

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