Doorknob

This is just a silly little musing, but we have been having a bit of trouble with our doorknob. Irritating!

To prepare for this blog entry, I needed to do some studying. In my endless quest for knowledge (hah!) and my zeal for knowing how things work (if they affect me in a major way) I found the above diagram of doorknob parts and vocabulary. Many thanks to http://www.et.byu.edu/groups/cmfac/acuppett/Lessons/Hardware/DoorknobDiagram.gif for their great picture.

The problem was that our deadlatch was not springing into place when we released the doorknob. This was of concern as the cat and wind would push in the door at the most inconvenient times (which is anytime). Allan and I decided that it was time to get a new front door assembly. When Allan priced these at Home Depot, however, the least expensive one he could find was SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS. He decided, and I agreed, that $75 was simply too much to pay for this problematic piece of hardware.

Now, this may seem unrelated, but bear with me, since I promise you it will all come together. Allan has been on vacation this week, and has been working on home improvement projects galore. We went to Builders Bargains-Habitat for Humanity, which is a thrift store of used and sometimes new (leftover) building materials. We were looking specifically for white exterior paint for the deck (didn't find) and tile (found!) for the counters we are putting together in the laundry room. I happened to find some other stuff I liked a lot, like some brackets for shelves I plan on putting up in the laundry room, as well as some lovely knobs to complete the cupboards and cabinets in (you guessed it) the laundry room. While I was pawing through the knobs I noticed Allan in another section playing with doorknobs. He had spent some time working on what we have in the door, trying to make do. We left without anything, but Allan had memorized some doorknobs in his quest to figure out the problem of ours.

Last night he decided to make the incredible investment of $1 for one of the doorknobs he had seen at Builders Bargains. I was on assignment to pick one up (after a cursory lesson on what to look for) while I was down at that end of town. And lo and behold, our doorknob, including deadlatch, is working perfectly!

I love recycling, making do, repairing (or at least having Allan repair), and finding ways to save money. And learning new vocabulary words. So, so satisfying.

First 5K

Yesterday I ran in a community event for the first time in my life. I have been to many to support others in their running, but I have finally felt like doing one myself. The Race for Literacy, a fund-raiser for Kitsap Literacy Council, was a very small run, but had a very personal feeling to it. My good friend Melanie came to support me and run, too. Allan and Silas were waiting at the finish line, a total surprise. I finished under 35 minutes. Now I have a time to beat. Melanie is encouraging me to run in other 5Ks around the sound.

One interesting thing that we did after the run was visit the local author, Gregg Olsen, who was present for a book-signing as part of the event. He was so interesting! He had written a book I had read, called Starvation Heights, along with some fiction. He is also working on a book about a Bremerton murder in the 1990s. I love doing things like that with Melanie, because she asks questions that I would never think to ask.

I feel good about running that hilly course, happy about the event, and hopeful that more interesting and fulfilling things are ahead for me.

ADDENDUM 8-17-09: I received a call from Kitsap Literacy's Kay this morning informing me that I "ran off" before the awards and that I had received a ribbon and book. I stopped by the center and picked up my third place ribbon and copy of a compilation of short stories, signed by Gregg Olsen, one of the contributors. I came in third in my age group! One of the big plusses of running in a small race, I guess.

Volunteers and Surprises

These johnny-jump-ups popped up out of nowhere in the rose garden.

Have you ever had the chance to do meaningful work for no money? Besides within your family? This past year I have delivered groceries and/or frozen meals to the disabled in my community once a week, along with tutoring a lovely young mother from Thailand in English. I have met a great group of people through the food program, both needy/disabled and other drivers. And the literacy/ESL work has been really interesting and fun. It has made the world seem like a smaller place. We are all so alike.
Along with my volunteering, I have worked my little yard hard. Last year I took out an invasive rose bush, which had little pink blossoms on it (before I took it out). I took some cuttings of it and stuck them in some pots, since those little flowers had been so lovely, and in the spring set them in the newly formed rose garden in front of the house. And look at this! The first to bloom! It makes me feel like I have a real green thumb.

The other day while watering the garden, the little greengage plum tree I planted last year caught my attention. It has a beautiful form, though a few of the leaves are holey from pests I found in springtime. The tree had some blossoms, but no fruit formed. As I was enjoying the sight of the little tree I spotted an actual plum there. No pressure, now, little fruit.

Strolling/trolling in the back yard one evening I lamented all the work that needs to be done back there. This summer has been particularly dry, and I have waited for moisture to plough up the beds I am preparing for herbs and flowers. Then at the border, on the grass side that needs trimming very badly, among all the dandelions, I spotted not one but two tiny volunteer rose bushes. How did they get there? Have they always been here and have just been mowed regularly? They are many feet from the (possible) original bush, which is now gone. Who knows? Today they will find themselves in their new potted homes in the front rose garden.

The cooler weather has arrived, and I love soaking in the refreshing, moist air. Plants that need cold, like lettuce and greens I need to plant for fall and winter harvest, will love this next few days. Will my melons fruit if our sunny days are limited? Stay tuned.