I skipped last month’s update, because we were mostly traveling and hadn’t gotten much done.  I don’t know what the excuse is for this month.

The San Antonio House:  We got basic yard work completed.  We trimmed the alley hedge.  We trimmed the front hedges.  We downed a tree by the driveway and got about half the stump removed.

The Central TX House: Yard work got completed and needs to be done again. We had a hailstorm the did some minor damage and knocked a few more shingles off the garage. (Side Note: The contractor we had build the garage advertises on the local radio station during football games, and he uses roofing contractors not being insured as an example of why people should use his firm.  The way shingles are falling off this five year old garage — and have been doing so for three years — ensures I’d change a fly-by-night job over his “guaranteed” one any day).  So far, the house roof seems fine.  We want to replace it and the garage with a metal roof at some point, but we haven’t decided what that point is yet.

The Store:  Grass is taken care of for now.

The Shop: Half the showroom is cleared and scaffolding moved in preparation for ceiling painting. We’re doing a little work on the back downspout to get a better seal — interrupted by my need to make a run to the doctor this morning for a scratched cornea.  We also cleaned up leaves and other debris from the one third of the behind the building we’ve managed to clear in the four years we’ve owned the building.  The Pepsi machine we bought last month is working great.  If only we could find Mexican Pepsis by the case to load into it.  The Mexican Cokes, Sprites, and Fantas are all doing well, though.

The Ranch: We’ve not done any further work out at the ranch.

That’s about it for now.  We’re looking forward to the cooler weather of winter to get some other things done around here.  Mr. L wants to get windows made for the garage.  He wants to make progress on the showroom ceiling painting.  He wants to fabricate replacement period windows for the shop.  He wants to lubricate garage doors.  He wants to replace rollers on the big door at the shop. He wants to get the Jeep drivetrain rebuild completed.  I have a list equally long of things I want to get done.  I want to get glass inventoried and planned for sale.  I need to do the same for polar bears.  I need to get rid of stuff I no longer need but have not been able to bring myself to part with.  For me, it’s a tough process.  I need to begin making progress with it, though.