8/28-29/13 I went up to Camp Serendipity for 2 days: Wednesday and Thursday.

After dropping Tianna off and then returning a book to the library, I proceeded on to Monroe where I visited with Uncle Charles. Then, at the rest stop on the other side of the pass, I helped a family who couldn't start their car. It still wouldn't start even after jumping the battery from my truck. I called Mike Tutino who gave me some options for getting a tow and finding a repair shop. He also suggested we clean the battery post connectors, which we did, and which worked.

I arrived at Camp Serendipity at 12:30 and was soon joined by Ernie who got his usual hugs and biscuits. There were no mice in the traps which was nice.

After having my lunch and a nap, I went into the woods to check on the giant sequoias. There had been some rain and the ground was damp so I didn't water any of them except for Brian which I did by opening the valve on the porch.

I spent the rest of the afternoon replacing the hose connectors to the kitchen faucets with 3/8" copper tube connectors. It took a little doing because I also replaced the upper shark bite connectors by sweated joints. That meant that I had to remove the faucets in order to do the soldering. I found that I couldn't easily remove the maple half log base because it was siliconed to the granite countertop. Fortunately, I could remove the valve assembly and leave the wooden base attached. I was super glad I had decided not to glue the wooden spout to the base, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to take it apart like I did.

I ruined one 3/8"x1/2" reducer and had to do some jury rigging in order to be able to make up the tube assemblies, but I got it done. The tube assemblies ended at the bottom with 1/2" copper pipes which then engaged the upper shark bite connectors on the shut off ball valves.

The whole thing was put back together by 7:00 and worked the first time without leaking. That was a relief. I wasn't sure I was going to get it fixed at all before quitting for the day, and I was dreading the prospect of getting all my water from the bathtub again.

On Thursday morning Ellen called and told me that Priscilla had fallen at home and was now in the hospital getting checked. Marilyn had already left to be with her so we agreed that there was no need for me to rush home right away.

I spent the morning installing a telephone on the kitchen wall. Shortly before noon, Ellen called and told me that Priscilla would probably be discharged the next day so we decided that I should cut my trip short and leave for home so that I can give her a ride home from the hospital. I closed up and left for home at about 2:00, happy at least that my kitchen plumbing problem was fixed and that I now had a telephone in the kitchen. Little by little things keep getting better.