Maybe it's just because the year is ending that Art decided to take care of our leaking faucet in the kitchen and the deteriorating window screens as well.
I guess we'd just been avoiding going out to the hardware store.
Well, Art really did need to get that faucet fixed. There was no question on that.
Going to Home Depot required some planning. The store is always crowded with contractors or people like us fixing breaking parts of our homes.
We first checked the operating hours. They open at 5 AM! Seriously! We also checked the people traffic at the stores.
So yes, we got up EARLY and headed out the door. The store was empty at 5 AM.
They had hand sanitizers, wipes to disinfect the cart and even masks. We had our own so no need to use theirs.
We found the parts needed to build screens and parts to fix the faucet leak.
I asked Art what other people did to fix their screens. They all deteriorate with Hawaii's salt air and are not warrantied.
He said, "Oh, the store will build screens for you or you can hire a contractor to do it."
"Uuum... really? Then why don't we have these professionals at the store do it for us?" I asked.
"Where's the fun in that?" he answered.
🙄
That's truly being an early bird. Too bad it wasn't the needed part but glad it wasn't crowded where you had to go for a replacement. I see other repairs have been in order recently along with the screens. Seems like there is always something in our homes that needs fixin'! Helps if the fixer gets some pleasure from the fixin' as Art seems to do.
ReplyDelete"Where's the fun in that"--haha, love Art! It's a bit surreal reading this right now, we got over 7 inches of snow yesterday and only in the mid 20's right now. I think I'd rather be working on window screens in Hawaii :^)
ReplyDeleteI sure miss my "fix it" man. He died ten years ago last May. Don't take Art for granted. You never know....
ReplyDeleteNot every American retail chain makes it to Canada, but Home Depot certainly has. Walmart too. Target tried but failed.
ReplyDeleteGetting up to go to HD for 5:30 a.m.is not something I ever see doing myself but avoiding a crowd is certainly appealing.
ReplyDeleteIt does look like you had the place to yourselves. I don't even go inside Walmart. My groceries are ordered online and brought out to my truck.
ReplyDeleteLOVE Art's response! Sounds like the City Mill might be the secret place to try; think you just got a part there but it cost a tad more. Maybe City Mill might have a website to check. Linda in cold Kansas.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that Art's puttering is keeping him (and you!) busy.
ReplyDeleteI find the big box stores busy Monday morning with contractors and then from mid morning on with run of the mill shoppers so I try to hit them early on any weekday but Monday to avoid the crowds.
ReplyDeleteFor something like a faucet cartridge, I wouldn't have been very optimistic about finding one at Home Depot. For that kind of thing I usually just look up the model number online and order it but I know in Hawaii, that is probably the most expensive option. Here it rarely is.
Glad we don't have your corrosive problem. I have bought window screen from time to time for new projects but I don't think I have ever had to replace any due to rust.
Moving has required several trips to Home Depot. We went one Saturday and it was too crowded. Discovered that late afternoon is a good time. Store empty then.
ReplyDeleteNow that is early. I thought 7 AM at Walmart was early. I only do that when there is something I want to pick out like produce, other wise I use their pick up service. Being retired sure is handy.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I enjoy those early morning adventures when it seems like I'm the only one in the world. Getting to early flights comes to mind. Plumbing projects are the worst; parts routinely don't fit. I had a guy do my screens and it wasn't cheap. If Art can (and wants to) do it, that's great!
ReplyDeleteI always go to City Mill first. Locally owned and they have almost everything I want. Home Depot is a bit too big for me.
ReplyDeleteWhen go to the stores these days, he goes in and I read a book. :) When he get's back too the car, he disinfects everything with alcohol wipes. He does faucets too, but last year the "Quieter Home Program" did all our screens. In the past, he did them. Right now he is ignoring the main drain pipe from the washer which is rusting through.LOL
ReplyDeleteWe were at Safeway this morning at 7:00. That's early for us. There were very few customers. I thought we were getting everything we needed to get us through Christmas, and then, alas, I discovered that we will need one more thing. There's always something making the best laid plans go awry.
ReplyDeleteshopping's not like it used to be...we try to go get groceries just once a week and that's about it for our outings...
ReplyDeleteWe are the super early shoppers, too, the few times that we do go inside a real store.
ReplyDeleteWhen we go in, I feel sort of panicky and can’t wait to get back out. Here, Home Depot will bring out your items to you and that’s what we do as Paul is always fixing something, too.
I prefer late afternoons, myself. Hubby usually goes at 8 a.m.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing, 5 a.m.!
Great to have a personal fixer. My youngest son and his talented wife fix stuff for me. She redid all the baseboards in my condo before I moved in. I' so lucky.
ReplyDeleteGetting the right cartridge replacement it the hardest part.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got the part.
ReplyDeleteI've been so careful about going to stores when they are not crowded, then last Sunday, without thinking, I went into the grocery store. One aisle later it was so crowded I barely could escape.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got your repair parts.
Hahaha! Of course Art would not have someone to do a task that he could do himself? Glad to know you were able to get almost everything without having to be in a crowded store. :-)
ReplyDeleteFirst thing upon store opening! That's my policy!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! That is early!
ReplyDeletePleased you got the part though :)
All the best Jan