The Adventures of Geo Beane: Day 10 of Renovations

It might have been a negated Sunday in our schedule of repairs and renovations, but Humphrey kept us on task in other ways. We did some sightseeing in our City, in a restoration of its own, and we foraged even. Humphrey knows how much I love fresh fruits and vegetables! We picked mulberries, strawberries, and sour cherries. We even found some oregano, basil, and thyme.

Then we went for a walk through in the new place in the very evening. We hadn't seen it yet in this time of day... Humphrey paused here and there trying out different switches, heading to the second floor.

I noted that the Sun traveled from the kitchen directly over to the front hall of the house. It set behind the great big hill, on top of which the grand residence hall of the University next door perched like a mansion. The geographical orientation was very favorable for keeping the house cool in the summer. It was hot outside today, but here inside, even with no fan or air conditioning, we didn't feel it at all.

"I love the light fixtures, Geo. There not at all ordinary. Did you notice? There are no overhead bulbs in the bedrooms. Three have a wall sconce. A wall sconce, so old fashioned!! And the fourth, the smallest, has a spotlight, and a track light like in a gallery... That's the one that will be my studio/office."

He turned the hallway light on and this (an overhead light in the center of the corridor) warm glow emphasized the ten-foot height of the ceiling.

"Ten feet! Beanie, nine would have been wonderful, but ten is majestic!"

Then we wandered back down the stairs to the front hall. I marveled at how Humphrey had painted up the worn-out floor. It was simply grand the way the faux finish he had devised shined like it was part of the original plan. Almost oriental.

Downstairs, there were also no overhead bulbs either in the living room, dining room, nor den. Not even in the kitchen. The fixtures were hidden.

"It's called Recessed Lighting, Beanieboo."

Humphrey fiddled with some black rod poking out from the light switch panel.

"Missing the turn knob... hmm. We'll have to see if we can pick that up next time at the hardware store. Aha!"

Maybe he pushed it in or something, because suddenly the lights came on! In a slow and steady rise like the sun; then setting as he turned in the other direction.

"Dimmers!!"

There were two identical rows of lights like this, three bulbs hidden behind rectangular frosted glass panels in a slight drop-down box along the far side of the ceiling, just above the windows. In the kitchen, Humphrey found a third turn switch, which activated three round spotlights in the middle of the eat in kitchen.

"Beautiful."

Then Humphrey hemmed and hawed over whether or not to finish the floor in the study the same way as the front hall.

"Aarff! arrrff!!"

"Alright then, Boo. We'll do it. It'll take a bit extra, but it'll be worth the effort. And I'm definitely thinking we'll rent a floor sander and refinish the wood planks in the music room and living room with a nice fresh varnish, too."

Today, I should mention was Father's Day and I knew it was weighing on Humphrey's heart. Exterior and Interior Architecture having been such an important part of his growing up. Of his Dad's life. Of Grandpa's life. I knew he didn't trouble himself over things like would they be proud, but others might likely remark on that. Owning a place was no small matter in his estimation. He knew the cost.

He visited the gravestones, in his heart. I could tell by the seriousness of the expression that weighed upon his face throughout the day. An expression very far away.

"Whmm.. wmugh... uhp."

"Ok girl let's go home," he said abstractly, pulling me to his collar bone, and we headed down the narrow rear stoop to the SUV in the carport.