THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: home


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Rooms

Home sweet home. And boy is it after 4 decades away from it far too often. I’ve developed a real love for it in retirement. Yeah, it’s old and small and needs some things, but it’s HOME.

My Favorite rooms in the house in descending order.

The Bedroom – It’s not the room I spend the most time in, but it’s the room the most fun is in. And some sleep.

The Office – No not the TV show. Not the work office. I was thinking of my home office. I used to spend some time in it before I retired but now it’s my full-time space.

The Workroom – This moved way up the list in retirement. I’m spending more and more time in it working.

The Basement – Where some of the exercise equipment is. Where the big screen is. Where a lot of the power tools reside.

The Kitchen – Always a favorite. I thought it would be getting more attention because I hope to cook a lot more but that’s only increased slightly.

The Decks – I’m out on the Decks quite a bit. I take breaks from doing yard work. I lay in the hammock or lounge chair from time to time catching some rays. Sometimes to chat with my better half when she is outside. Plus, there is a firepit there now so that is some extra time also.

The Family Room – When we watch TV together upstairs. Or have a fire.

The Living Room – The only time I’m in there is when I’m passing through or we have company.

The Dining Room – Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Laundry Room – Contains a couple machines I’m not familiar with and most importantly my fridge full of drinks.

The Furnace Room – Storage and Equipment. Nothing but work in this room. And every 25-35 years a huge hit with a new furnace and A/C.

Garage – WISHING I HAD ONE.

The Shed – It’s not that I don’t like it. My back has a hatred of it because of the work it means and the pain it gives. Otherwise, it’s the proud parking space for the old John Deere. Both the shed and the JD need replacement.

And being winter is over, I’ll be spending a lot more time getting tools out and back into the shed from now on.

My trusty shed. Photo by Mike Hartley


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A Dip

On this morning, where the temperatures are in the freezing range, it’s hard to think about taking a dip but that is exactly what I thought of when I ran across an old shot of my long-gone pool. I should have used it more when I had the opportunity.

It’s been gone for quite a while now. But I still miss it. I got the most use out of it in the family. Rightly so, because I spent the time keeping it clean and open and closed. With a little help from my better half at the beginning and end of each season.

But it seemed like I spent more time maintaining it than enjoying it. And the saying that they are money sinks is true. It was there when we purchased the home. Well, let me rephrase that, it was a hole in the ground with a ripped liner and things living and growing in it and out of it. Some of the concrete backing had cracks, it had an oversized pump that blew out the small filter system and landscaping that looked like it hadn’t been landscaped. There were some beautiful azalea bushes and a weeping cherry tree. A fence in bad shape and a falling retaining wall. Oh, the thin concrete walk around it was surrounded by pea gravel.

What a mess. Built a retaining wall, thousands, in pool repairs, more concrete, new fence, new filter, remove planters and tree because they made a mess of the pool. Removed the gravel and added concrete and then removed the water and filled it in. The life and death of a pool.

But doesn’t that water look inviting.


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Tuesday’s Gone Again

That was one busy day. I haven’t seen my to-do list that long in a while. Good thing I got an early start yesterday. My better half helped with many of them.

I tried my hand at some watercolor painting yesterday morning in between posts and some research early before sunrise. I’m going to get back to that piece this morning.

Took care of several other scheduling logistics. Had to pick up sticks before mowing. Also cleaned out the shed and stored some more summer tools and furniture. Some of which is on its last leg. I picked out one chair to go to the dump.

Just a few branches from the oaks after those winds. Photo by Mike Hartley

Looked at another task and realized the quote from Clint Eastwood in a few of his movies was appropriate for the situation, “A man’s got to know his limitation” so I called a plumber.

Everything is cut and trimmed but the lower back by the woods which I’ll knock out today. I’m making this the last mowing of the season. Congrats to my old John Deere for making it through season 27. I think the day is coming and that machine will fall apart like the car did in the movie The Blues Brothers.

I’ll wash my car and maybe detail the interior this morning. There is a club meeting on Sunday, so it better be presentable.

Sometimes when you pass what has been a bland view before, something new catches your eye. Photo by Mike Hartley

I have to call Verizon about a problem with FIOS for the 3rd time in a few months for the same issue. I’ve had to calm down for a day or two before calling them.

I don’t why they haven’t caught it because after the second time they said they were putting a network monitor on it. I guess that aspect of their technology needs some perfecting. My first thought was to do my John Wick with a sledgehammer impression and pound all their equipment into dust. I resisted that urge. I took another day to practice not cursing at them.

I think I’m ready to call them and give them a try at a 3rd strike. That is if they want to start by cancelling next month’s payment because I feel I’m working for them and not getting paid and paying them at the same time.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • I wonder what the RUSH tour will sound like with a new drummer.
  • Each time I trim my beard I think I should just let it grow and enter the best beard contest.
  • Angus and Malcom can wear out a pair of speakers.
  • Batten down the hatches, it’s going to get windy later today in the northeast.
  • It’s depressing storing summer furniture away.


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Finally

I spent the last few years debating what firepit I wanted, and I finally ordered one. And after spending a few hours in front of it last few nights, it’s money well spent. It gets me outside more and I need more of that. I should have done it many years ago.

Plus, it’s nice sitting by the fire with my better half.

A Solo Yukon pit. Photo by Mike Hartley

It’s also going to be good exercise splitting and moving wood. I have a few more evenings of old wood, but beyond that I’ll need to order a cord.

I do know one project will be putting in pavers around the area in some interesting design. Probably sooner than later.

I’m not sure how much I’ll be out in the dead of winter. Who knows, maybe I’m turning over a new leaf.

The second thing that finally came was the replacement lighthouse that covers our wellhead. I have no idea why it was left so high off the ground. It had two big bushes that had engulfed it when we moved here.

They were ugly bushes that each year seemed to attract paper wasp nest. We eventually cut them down and put up this black and white lighthouse over it. Here it is below a few winters ago.

And here it is this past winter. It had finally bitten the dust. It separated from the base. The wire railings at the top had broken or fallen and the wood was rotten. It lasted 11 years, maybe 12. The solar light was still working.

We finally got our new lighthouse and the solar light connected. Balanced it and working on the stone surrounding it. Got a few more buckets to bring out. And this one is impervious to rot so it will outlast me.

Photos by Mike Hartley

Improving the homestead, one step at a time.


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Home

The daily writing prompt asks – What does your ideal home look like?

Like the one I’m living in now. I do need a 2-car garage added though. And a new shed.

This home is good for aging in place. Except for the large yard.

It’s a small brick rancher that I loved from the day we pulled in the driveway to look at it many decades ago.

Funny thing, I can’t imagine moving from this home. It’s almost 4 decades now so leaving all those memories behind isn’t my idea of aging gracefully.

But if I did get a second home this might be it. No yard to mow, great view, easy access to water.

Choptank Lighthouse and a beautiful blue sky/water. Photo by Mike Hartley

View others ideas of ideal here


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More love

I’ll stick with the answer I gave last year to the question – What do you love about where you live? – in my post titled “Living.” It’s still all the things I love dearly and why I’ll always live here.

But I’ll add a few more.

  • I’ve met a lot of great people.
  • I like the roads at late night/early morning.
  • I’ve worked with a lot of great people who live here.
  • I like the Patapsco and Patuxent rivers.
  • I love all the great sports at college and pro levels available to see.
  • The Maryland Miata Club is cool.
  • The Nation’s Capital is an hour down the road. (without traffic)
  • I love photographing the area.
  • Lots of great places to eat and exercise.

When we moved to Howard County in late 1960, the population was 36 thousand. Google also tells me the estimated 2025 population is 337 thousand. So yes, there has been change. And I’ve been witness to all of it and it’s breathtaking.

The sheer number has changed the land and created neighborhoods. What was once rural farming communities changed quickly with the town of Columbia (Maryland’s second largest city) into a constant construction site. But not just in Columbia, the whole county.

It’s amazing so many parts of it have come together so well. I’m not going to get into the rough parts along the way with all that growth. I’m sure there is no shortage of voices that have issues with the county. Some who haven’t lived here long and sometimes from those who have, that have trouble with all the change or how it’s been done.

Our experience has been a good one.

Farmland Forever. For without it, what would we eat? Photo by Mike Hartley

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Twisted Home Study

We have lived in this house a long time. I thought I’d give myself an assignment to try to make some interesting shots of our interior or items within in a quick walk around this morning.

From a stone and brick hearth in the basement to the dining room table.

To my energy sources of the furnace and A/C to the Treadmill.

Shedding a little light on our homestead and the bathroom vanity.

I hope your a fan. We try to stay cool here.

Our kitchen was our latest renovation.

And while it has some new angles.

It’s filled with old treasures like these old bathroom tiles.

And a mix of old books from my father and father inlaw and my limited collection, that I hope to build on.

I think we need some pictures on our mantle over the fireplace.

All Photos by Mike Hartley


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Take me Home

The song Take Me Home came on last night as I started the car to head home from one of my best friends. It brought a smile to my face with that warm thought on a cold night.

I don’t believe I could be comfortable in another home at this point. This place has become so much a part of me that I can’t imagine moving.

Moving would hurt my children I think. I always remember going to my Mom’s house as an adult and there is just something about wandering around the house you grew up in. I can see their comfort level when they come to visit to this day.

We hope to live out our days together here. I hope we can make that dream possible. Because it will always be home.

I’m eventually going to have to hire someone to shovel/plow the driveway though.

I figured this was an appropriate shot being we are getting snow tonight. Photo by Mike Hartley

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Music moves me to move.
  • Time to change the look of my office and workroom today.
  • I’ve got to start pushing myself a little harder in my new profession. I’m not satisfied with the results in the first 45 days.
  • Time for some snow shooting tonight. Now where did I leave my snow boots?


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Dream Home

Write about your dream home. So ask the daily writing prompt.

The sun comes in my bedroom window in the morning and I watch it set from my front porch.

It has loving pets.

A home that raised children and grandchildren and has the height marks on the doorways as evidence.

It has a brick front with a warming entrance.

A deck that gets both morning and afternoon sun and a nice breeze. And large enough for family meals.

A large bay window to overlook nature and wildlife.

A basketball hoop in the driveway.

A fireplace in the family room.

A basement office with an outside door and window.

A large front yard and a sloping hill in the back.

A roof that keeps us dry and a furnace that keeps us warm.

A pool to cool and play in during the summer.

One where laughter and joy can be heard.

This is pretty much our home from the mid-80s. It’s not much, but it’s home. A 3 bdrm Rancher, the pool was filled in years ago after the kids grew up because it needed too many repairs. I’ve always longed for a garage but never had one. So I would add that to this dream home I live in.

Yeah, it would be nice to have that dream home on the beach. But my family and friends don’t live at the beach so there you go.

Having a huge dream home of the imagination is nice but in reality, you either have a ton of money for a staff to maintain it or you become a slave to it. And a small home on an acre is more than enough for this guy.

The warm sun of morning on the back of my home. Photo by Mike Hartley