10/12-14/11 I went up to Camp Serendipity for 3 days: Wednesday through Friday.

On the way, I brought a load of stuff to store at Priscilla's and I picked up a twin box spring we had stored there. I proceeded on to Haight Carpet in Monroe where I talked about ordering flooring with Judy Haight. She gave me a price on 500 sq. feet and a picture of the pattern. I told her I would review the pattern with Ellen and then call her to place the order. They have enough stock in their inventory so I should be able to pick it up at their warehouse on my way up next week. I want to get enough flooring to do the kitchen and dining room up in the cabin while I can still drive up to the upper roadway. Winter may be here before we know it.

The leaves were beautiful on the east side of the pass and there was snow on the top of Dirtyface Mountain and on Nason Ridge. I arrived at Camp Serendipity at 2:00. There was a fair sized widowmaker down across the road, so after I opened the gate, I dragged the big limb out of the way so that I could drive past it.

Bert and Ernie showed up so I parked at the hairpin turn, turned on the water, and went up to the cabin to get the dogs their biscuits. While I was up there, I tied up Rosy, the rose bush.

Then I drove the truck up to the upper roadway. I had to use 4wd because the ground was pretty wet and slippery. I used the porch crane to lift the box spring up onto the porch. And I used it to lift a metal tool chest Chuck had given me. I backed down the roadway, parked the truck, and placed the electronic rodent repeller under the hood. Then I carried the widowmaker up the concrete staircase and put it with the firewood stack.

After lunch, I set up the bed and folded up the cot I had been using ever since I moved into the cabin at the beginning of the year. The cot, with a mattress, had been comfortable, but the bed will be much better.

I also set up a table frame I had gotten from Chuck and used it to hold up the big table top I had set on two stools and two paint cans on a chest. That will work out great for a table. Some day I will fasten the frame to the top.

Next I went into the woods to check on the giant sequoias. It had rained quite a bit and the ground was wet, but I just wanted to make sure that all the trees were in damp ground. They were and they looked healthy and happy. I did some clipping of the trails while I was at it. When I got back, I limbed the widowmaker and cut up the limbs into firewood lengths. I'll buck up the log later.

Before I quit for the day, I tested the AFCI and GFCI breakers, since it was a new month, and I read the event counter in the septic pump. It had run three times in September.

On Thursday, I masked the hall and painted the base coat on it before lunch. While I was cleaning the brush and roller, Bert and Ernie showed up for hugs and biscuits.

After lunch and a nap, I went back into the woods and tried to find pine cones for Priscilla. I didn't find any good dry and open ones because everything was so wet, but I collected a bag of cones anyway and brought them inside to dry. Maybe they will be OK once they have dried out. Now that I know she wants them, I'll keep my eyes open for good cones when I run across them.

Next I masked and painted the base coat on the kitchen ceiling. The masking is what takes the time, so I should be able to paint the second and third coats a lot quicker now that the masking is done. I think you can leave the masking in place between coats, at least that's what I plan to do.

After I cleaned up the tools, I took a shower and quit for the day.

On Friday morning, I masked the utility room. I also moved the refrigerator out of the utility room and put it near where it finally goes. The refrigerator has done a lot of traveling inside the cabin as I have moved it out of the way for one project or another. Once I get two more coats on the kitchen wall, it will finally move to the right three feet and stay put.

There wasn't enough time left to paint, so I went down and loaded into the truck the remnant logs from the old snow shelter that the scouts had taken the nails out of. Bert and Ernie showed up for more biscuits and hugs so I took a break for them. Then I drove the load of logs up to the upper roadway and unloaded and stacked them in my firewood pile under the eaves. I'll let them dry out there and some day I'll buck them up. I left for home at 2:00 feeling good about seeing the end of the painting tunnel. Painting is one of my least favorite projects and I will be glad when it is finished.

10/15/11 (Saturday) Called and placed the flooring order with Haight Carpet. I will pick it up next Tuesday in Woodinville.