practicing for france. five weeks.

I guess I'm not happy unless I have a project or 2. and task lists. *chuckle* I am currently residing in a seaside cabin until I depart for France. I've only ever stayed here for a few nights at a stretch, having been too caught up in my old life of 9-5 and lots of work travel. Fortunately, friends and family used the place enough to make it seem viable to me to keep.It was a pretty ramshackle little place when I bought it. In 2006, I put some work into the interior, ripping out the floors and walls and a window and a door ... (well I should say, I hired someone to put some work into it). I reworked the design layout, and we also added a nice deck to the front with two french doors (a favorite of mine) that can be thrown open in the rare event the sun emerges from those Oregon clouds. Not much else has been done to the exterior ... a few plants here and there but no major landscaping. I like the natural effect, my neighbors less so I imagine.Now that I've been here full time for a whole week ... I assembled a list of tasks that need to be done. I feel so industrious today after visiting my local hardware store (I adore local hardware stores ... so more appealing than those nameless big box places). I am now equipped to take on some maintenance issues. Living in coastal weather is an ongoing battle between human and the sea air. Moisture, in this case, is a woman's enemy! Little water stains and mildew bordering on mold spots spring up seemingly overnight. My hardware man advised on an anti-fungicidal spray remover and inhibitor. Next, a primer with stain blocker. Finally a new coat of fresh paint. Wait 3 months. Repeat!

I also have some new household pets, I mean pests. Monsieur Carpenter Ant awaits to carry off my little abode, crumb by crumb. My hardware man armed me with an anti-Monsieur Ant spray for the perimeter and interior of the house. Apparently it creates an invisible wall no ant dares to penetrate. Take THAT! hoh-hoh-hoh!

Then of course will come a couple of applications of weed & feed to my oversized lot to curb weeds, mosses and encourage the grasses to thicken. A goat would be in heaven with my knee high grasses. I've "weed-eated" some paths and clearings, but left grasses as well ... I refuse to give in to clipped lawns and edged beds throughout the neighborhood.

I'm flexing my DIY muscles in advance ... little projects these, which will build my confidence towards the bigger challenges that await me. This may all sound rather mundane to most of you. But after all my many years in cubicleland, these small projects are actually fun and seem more satisfying when accomplished. Look out Brantôme, here I come!