August 11

Kat, Chris, Marie, and I went for a bike ride this morning down to Vineyard Haven.  While Chris could have picked a shadier spot to have a tire blowout, there at least was a decent view to admire while he changed the inner tube.
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August 9

This is the inside of Lis’s garage door opener.  You’ll note the fine white nylon powder all over everything, and the almost-toothless main drive gear that the powder used to be. 
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Fortunately, parts are still available for this model, so I’ll be able to repair it after the Vineyard.

August 8

I took apart and reglazed one of the bedroom windows today, so that the glazing compound can cure while we’re gone and I can paint it upon our return.  Imagine my surprise when I lifted the shade and saw what I at first thought was a hummingbird affixed to the outside of the screen.
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This is some sort of sphinx moth, probably either a five-spotted hawkmoth or a Carolina sphinx.  These species spend their caterpillar lives as a tomato or tobacco hornworms, respectively, and as such are big crop pests.  But it was cool to see this very cooperative adult moth up close.

August 6

Tools of the trade:
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This saw is used by flooring installers to cut the bottom little bit off of trim, like around a door, so they don’t have to scribe & cut the flooring to fit.  It’s little tricks like this that make the pros efficient, while it takes weekend handy guys twice as long.

August 5

We have been getting Boston Organics deliveries since shortly after we moved in.  But we were growing concerned that, with the summer weather finally upon us, the goodies within would wither in the heat.  So we purchased a “deck bench” and I lined it with rigid foam insulation. On delivery days we can put in a freezer pack, which with luck will keep the veggies comfortable until we can get home.
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We hope it will also keep stuff from freezing in the winter.