We started today not with work, but with a little fun by treating ourselves to the Green Market in a small park in downtown Dunedin. A "green market" is what we know as a Farmer's Market, and this one was a tiny treat. We found everything from a man selling cheese to a man selling gorgeous orchids. A lady was weaving and selling baskets while others were hawking pickles on a stick, herbal medicines, matted photographs, and, of course, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Our hands were soon carrying bags filled with just-picked peas, tomatoes, pickles, and a freshly-baked broccoli and cheese focaccia which we devoured for lunch today.
Then we were off to the grocery store for a few more staples. We did not want to get too much since early Monday morning we will be heading out of the house for four days while we get the floors refinished.
Once we buckled down to work, we tore out the vanity and sink in the main bathroom. We are down to one working sink in the master bath. I fulfilled the obligatory wash-the-dishes-in-the-bathtub to become fully initiated into the Sisterhood of the Remodeling Wives Club. I have no kitchen cupboards, no vanity or sink in the bathroom, and only a bed on the floor.
We also took a trip with our upholstered couch and chair cushions to Steve and Chris' house for safe keeping. Our neighbors warned us not to leave anything in the garage that was upholstered because fruit rats love to nestle right in. We continue to battle the little varmints, so the couch and chair went to the OTHER Anderson home in Dunedin. (Thanks for letting us store our goods at your house, Steve and Chris!) While we were there, Rick refilled the toilets with water, and we swept the porch, sidewalks, and driveway to make the house look lived-in again. We will continue to check the house every week or so while we are down here throughout the summer.
We have not had to check anyone's house for storm damage since we have only had rain twice since we arrived. We had one day of rain, and the only other rain was a severe but brief storm after 11:00 p.m. on day. Dunedin is experiencing a drought while the poor folks in Polk Country (two counties to the east) have been hit with bad storms for the last three days.
Before we got into the bathroom destruction, Rick installed our new, white, metal mailbox. He took out an old blue and red plastic mailbox shaped like a barn. Whoever thought that a barn fit the design of this house ought to get a subscription to Architectural Digest! The plastic barn started by being disposed of into the dumpster that graces our driveway once again, but as we filled it with vanity parts, I took it out and put it next to the dumpster. The cracked, germ-laden pink sink from the main bathroom also would not fit into the dumpster, so I told Rick to put it on the magic curb. The neighbor lady (Missy from Dallas) across the street was having a rummage sale, so I figured that someone would take it away. Sure enough, less than 10 minutes later a man with a pick-up truck was loading it into his truck bed. Then he came to the door, knocked, and asked if he could have the plastic mailbox. I told him to help himself. The next thing we knew, he was peering into the dumpster! Rick was taking more debris out, and the man said, "Do you mind if I look through the dumpster?" Rick replied, "Yes, actually, we do mind. There is no metal in there, so you do not need to get into it." Imagine the nerve! At least he asked our permission before he began to dumpster dive on our property! People down here really are different... and I am not sure that is all good.
Since we are now down to two chairs, two end tables, and a TV, we have only that and the bedroom furniture to move tomorrow. I would like to go to church tomorrow. We will have to see if we can roll out of bed in time to make the 9:00 service.
Being empty, Gladys looks really big. I hope we find her equally as big and inviting when her floors are shiny and the furniture is all in place.
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