Our casement window is treated with a preservative. But, that's today. Back then, the common practice was to paint the exposed, visible areas that get weathered. The top and bottom of the sash should be painted. Apply a thin coat. Build up will cause the window to bind. The mechanism housing is always left bare wood. Except, again our windows today are treated. It's fine to apply poly in that area. Two coats is a good preservative treatment. The easy way, the way I do it, is to remove the mechanism and spray the poly. Michael

OMG, this is why I love my job. Zebra shades, hands down. You get the whole convenience factor attached to roller shades, especially if you go motorized, PLUS as an added benefit, Zebra shades act almost like blinds where you can adjust the panels to modulate the light entering the room as well.

I'm so far behind with you all, I'll never catch up. I posted this in last week's instead of this. . . so will just go ahead and post it here. And now back to read up on the past week's. Elderberry bushes in bloom are so pretty! I have two out front but at the corner of the yard, so we don't ever really see them. I am SO sorry about your uncle--and all the grief in every way for everyone. The grasshoppers are on their way to two wins in two years. Bad deal. However, I'll count my wins--a yard full of butterflies, too, at this point. Blueberries, blackberries, peppers, a couple tomatoes, garlic and onions. Kind of a strange harvest! I don't know if I'll ever get my laptop debugged so I can sign on GW on it. For now my indoor big computer's the only access. Well. . . cell, but I don't use the cellphone for this stuff. And I'm out on the deck from morning til I fall asleep in the evening, for the most part. It was quite nice here yesterday and the day before, Larry--it would have been great gardening weather, but the lake is finally down low enough so that we can launch the boat, and the high was just below 80 for most of the time were were out there--morning--beautiful weather. Fishing no good. Zip, nada. Jennifer, your garden looks just beautiful, as did your kraut! I'm going to wind mine down--easy stuff like the strawberries, onions, garlic and asparagus. We really need to get together one of these days, Rebecca, here or there with the others. My beets didn't turn out either. ONE. One great beet. lol Crazy busy here. Been working at the school garden--and right now John and I are working up an inventory--he started it and I've been filling in the blanks. I laughed--Rick, I hate morning glories, too. John has been very conscientious about getting them out of the beds--BUT. we have this 8' tall fence all around the property. . . I've been planning to get the fence obscured along one long side by elderberries, blackberries, clematis virginiana, coral honeysuckle, and crossvine. And then John had the great idea of moving the morning glories into pots with bottoms removed and setting them against the fence. If there's one place we're fine with them, it's there. Fun idea, actually. And that's about it from here. Take care, all.

All I see in our forecast is 90s and no rain. However, 90s are a lot better than 100s. We're also taking it easy and staying out of the heat, Larry. I'll go out and water in a few minutes. May try to take a short walk. I have a cold--but just a rather insignificant one. Cough, which is improved by taking night-time antihistamine. Awesome about our cucumber production, Kim. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around your garden. Is it mostly in containers? I clean the way you do, Jennifer, when I'm cooking. I actually learned to do that after my DIL's example, only about 30 years ago. And I don't like sharing the kitchen with anyone while I'm cooking, I've learned. I guess that's understandable since I was living alone for 30 years. Our pets don't really act up when we get home. They're pretty snuggly. Titan--hard to say. He's always glad to see us, but quickly calms down. Tom's the only one who shows quite clearly that we were missed. What a psychol. Meow, meow, meow!!! Neurotic "Where WERE you" meows. I don't plan to plant anything, or do anything outdoors, until it cools down a bit more. And then, mostly, only plans will be to weed, though I definitely will need greens, if nothing else. HJ--your question about where we'd move stumped me! Never even considered THAT. Good question. No doubt would only be one of three places--back to Wyoming, back to Minneapolis area, or here in NE OK. That will be something fun to think about.