After

Yesterday was mostly about recovering from a nasty chest and head cold. It never seems to fail. My extended relatives make me sick at Christmas (literally) and then I have the second busiest week of the year as everybody comes back for winter quarter.

At any rate, even though I never really made it out of the PJs I decided I needed at least one project for the day that would be more meaningful and lasting than doing the dishes. I decided to spiff up the woodstove, which while doing admirable duty in keeping us at a toasty and uniform 68 degrees F. was looking decidedly shabby.

I threw out two of the three fire pokers we had accumulated. Who needs three hot pokers? Has a three headed fire hydra ever menaced us from within the firebox? I can see the headlines, though if we had kept these three dangerous objects in the house (man runs amok with three fire pokers). I generally wiped down and spruced up. Lastly I applied vinegar and scrubby pads to the two copper boilers we use for storing firewood. My parents have had one of them since before me. I got the other one off Ebay a couple of years ago when we put the stove in. I've been meaning to give them a good scrubbing since and yesterday was their day. In spite of that, I only gave them a partially good scrubbing. Completely pink copper will have to wait for another day to really shine.

Note for any of you guys out there who might be looking for a great way to ingratiate yourself with your spouse; spend 45 minutes flicking green verdigris laden vinegar all around the kitchen with a scrubby pad while the copper boilers make really loud and annoying pop can crinkling noises. Then get yourself an electric drill with a brush bit attached and head back to the kitchen. She'll love it!

posted by Scott in Washington at 5:29 PM |