Tooth Extraction, Sold Clay St

418 Clay St, Watertown, NY, sale closed today.

 Closing on the sale of our Clay St apartment house was today at 3:00.  Selling that was an education. Wasn't happy how all of it went. Had North Star Realty as our agent. Not pleased with them. Too tired to go into it now. The Better Half had a tooth extraction today. Aslo learned that my ex, the mother of my children, has entered into hospice care. I am saddened about that. It was mostly cool and cloudy day here but it got warmer and more humid as it progressed.  Currently at 11:30 it is raining. 

418 Clay St, Watertown, NY, sale closed today.

Clay St Outlet Wiring

   Yellow 12-2 romex house wire. This is what caught my eye today as I was working at Clay St apartments.

It was a sunny day here in northern NY with some wind and a high temp of 32 degrees. spent about  5 hours at Clay st apartment house doing some wiring. Specifically activating a couple of electric outlets that were installed many years ago but never had electricity going to them. They needed to be wire into a circuit.  Could have taken the outlets out but then would need to fill in the holes in the wall . Anyhow, project was a success. This was also first time in better than 2 weeks that I could raise my right arm overhead to do the job. My shoulder wouldn't permit it. I feel I may have overworked it so will take it easy tomorrow. 

Wiring outlets job

Wiring outlets job

Wiring outlets job

Clay St Gas Meter Damaged by Falling Ice

Clay St apartment house gas meter damaged by falling ice.

Saturday, March 1, 2025 I discovered the gas meter at our Clay St, Watertown apartment house was damaged by ice falling off the roof. The boiler has been running ok. I called National Grid THIS morning which is Monday March 3. They had a man out there within a half hour. He called and said the meter was not damaged, not leaking gas. All repaired. We think the damage happened a month or so ago because our most recent gas bill showed zero use. We knew that wasn't true. 

Gas meter damaged by falling ice. Note damage to vinyl siding also.

Gas meter damaged by falling ice. 

Pieces of gas meter damaged by falling ice. 

PHOTOS: Snow Plow Truck Damages Rear Stairs at Clay St Apartment House

Plow truck driver pushed snow to extraordinary distance, plowing almost entire backyard.

Friday February 7, 2025 a snow plow truck was moving snow in our Clay St house driveway and hit a corner of the rear stairway. Very upsetting. This past September or October I rebuilt a portion of the stairs and I now need to do it again. I'm trying to sell the place and don't need such setbacks. I don't provide snow removal which is partly why we keep our rents a little lower. Tenants fend for themselves. However, I do go there and shovel snow anyway. As a result I've had some tenants over the years get friends with plows to do the driveway. Such was the case on this day. I have noticed my whole life how snow plow truck drivers like to show off by moving lots of snow in a short amount of time. They go to extremes plowing beyond the driveway perimeter, often tearing up the lawn and doing other damage as well. Such was the case here. 

Stairs damaged by an aggressive snow plow truck driver. 418 Clay St, Watertown.

Stairs damaged by an aggressive snow plow truck driver. 418 Clay St, Watertown.

Stairs damaged by an aggressive snow plow truck driver. 418 Clay St, Watertown.

I Take 11,000+ Steps Shoveling Snow, December 2, 2024

 

Clay St apartment house during lake effect snowstorm.

I shoveled snow at our Watertown apartment houses after the lake effect snowstorm dumped about 4 feet of the white stuff in the city. This would bee the big storm right after Thanksgiving Day. I spent three hours at Clay Street cutting through the snowbank and clearing section of te driveway. Then I went to our Franklin St place where I helped my daughter S shovel section of her driveway. I spent better than an hour there. It was satisfying work, great outdoor exercise. I truly enjoy it. My iPhone recorded that I walked 11,979 steps this day. 

Clay St. snow shoveling Dec.2, 2024

Clay St. snow shoveling Dec.2, 2024

Clay St. snow shoveling Dec.2, 2024

Our Franklin St. house,  Dec.2, 2024

Daughter S shovels snow, Franklin St., Watertown, NY.

First Wood Fire of Season

 

It's been a beautiful Fall this year. This is the view from the driveway of our Clay St Watertown apartment house. It is looking South at Keyes Ave

We lit a fire in our wood stove today, the first of the season. Usually we start using it much earlier than this. The weather has been very mild and warm this Autumn season so we have been using our oil furnace. This morning nephew Tim, the realtor,  came by and talked to us about the ins and outs of selling our Clay St property. In afternoon I raked leaves while the Better Half went to a dental appointment. While raking leaves neighbor kid across the street came over and was selling tickets for a Chicken Bar B Que dinner, $15.00 apiece. It's a fund raiser event for the Lyme Central School class of 2025. I bought four tickets.

It was a beautiful day today, high only reached 50 degrees but it was wonderful for October in the North Country.

Lit first fire of the season today in our Regency model FM2400 wood stove.

Tickets for Chicken BBQ Fundraiser for the Lyme Class of 2025.
My neighbor's son was selling them. I bought four.

Sunset On Wilson's Bay and New Work at Clay St.

 September 5, 2024

Sunset on Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY.  photo copyright Gary Walts September 5, 2024

We hired a builder/contractor  Keith Scoville, Copenhagen,  to replace/repair the soffit and facia at our ClaySt, Watertown apartment house. He started yesterday, the 5th. Much needed repair should improve the buildings sale appeal.

I finished repairing the the cellar door threshold. 

In the early evening we drove to Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent to photograph the sunset. The photo above is one of them. iPhone app says I took 6,405 steps.

Dinner was pork chops, mashed potatoes, carrots and a tomato salad made with our garden tomatoes. 

What I Did Today: Faucett repair, molding, baby mouse

 What I did yesterday, August 22, 2024, a Thursday.

Baby mouse found in our garage.

I was busy. First thing was go to Watertown City Comptrollers office and pay the city tax bill for our property at 418 Clay St. That was $621.31. Then I was busy at Clay St just doing more little jobs ,prepping for sale and or new tenants. I repaired leaky kitchen faucet in Apt #2, put together one of 3 windows that I had repaired for Apt #1, painted the window sills, and did a minor repair to the threshold of the new stairway door. I also put down some 1/4 round molding along the baseboards in the 2nd bedroom of Apt #1.

On way home I bought some charcoal at Sam's Club, 2 20 pound bags for about $24.00

In the evening I discovered  baby mouse in our garage. It's eyes were not yet open and it moved very clumsily & feebly. At first I thought it was dead. I showed it to Better Haf and our visiting granddaughter A. I returned the mouse to where I found it. This moning it ws gone, it's fate unknown to me.

1/4 round molding in bedroom at Clay St Apt #1

Leaky faucet repair at Clay St Apt #2. Removing damaged plastic washer.

Leaky faucet repair at Clay St Apt #2. 

Leaky faucet repair at Clay St Apt #2.  Stem of the ball was bent. 

Leaky faucet repair at Clay St Apt #2.  The damaged washer, left and the new one.

Someone obviously damaged the ball and washers of the faucet, maybe through frustration trying to stop the drip. This is a Delta faucet, repair kit included the ball, washer, springs, seals, o rings. It cost $30.00 at Home Depot. 

Sink Cabinet Repair, Club Sandwich, Beer May 11 2024

Don't let the glass fool you. It contained Sierra Nevada IPA. I would NEVER drink Michalobe Ultra.

What I did Yesterday, May 11, 2024. 

BEFOR: Under the kitchen sink, apartment no 1, Clay St. 

I repaired the floor of kitchen sink base cabinet in apt No. 1 of our Clay St house. I used some scrap plywood to crudely replace the missing particle board of original cabinet floor. I then cvered it with some left over flooring planks. It is sturdy and looks good and is sealed up against bugs, mice and any other vermin that might show up unannounced. 

Couple scraps of 1/2 inch plywood to cover most of hole and support new flooring.

Final result: Strong, clean, attractive. 

About 6:00 pm we decided to take a drive, no place special, just toward the lake. Next thing you know we were at the Shangra La bar / restaurant on Point Peninsula. They just opened for the season. Musician Adam Netto was playing there. Nice surprise. I had a couple beers and a garlic pizza with chicken and bacon. The Better Half had a turkey club sandwhich. The food was delicious. Tab came to $51.00

An excellent turkey club sandwich served up at Shangra La on Point Penninsula, NY.

It was a quite pleasant day, mostly sunny, 55 degrees or so.

My iPhone says I walked 4,704 steps for the day. 

Ice Fishing Sunset Photo, Chaumont NY

 I snapped this ice fishing sunset a couple weeks ago, Feb. 4 to be exact. It's Chaumont Bay, Lake Ontario. Lens was a Minolta AF 500mm f8 mirror ( catadioptric) lens. Sony a6600 camera.

Lens was a Minolta AF 500mm f8 mirror ( catadioptric) lens. Sony a6600 camera.

Today I took care of some business related to our apartments. Had some confusion & mixup with tenet electric bill and ours fora vacant apartment. Then I I did some work there patching holes from a wiring job I did as well as replacing some soffit on the front porch.

Clay St Door Trim, Jigsaw Puzzle,

 Saturday, January 27, 2024

Eggs & Croghan bologna for breakfast. 

Weather was nice today with sunny afternoon and high of 38 degrees.

Cut & placed pine trim boards around stairway door, Clay St.

Worked on door repair project at Clay St apartment house. Cut some pine boards to train around the new door. Took them inside and coated them with some white shellac to block stains from knots in the wood.

Took trim boards inside vacant unit to prime them with white shellac.
Blotch on floor caused when I knocked shellac can onto the floor.

Spilled the shellac on the living room floor. Not big deal. Carpet is horrible and needs replaced. 

At home worked on a jigsaw puzzle with nice fire in wood stove. Later watched Walter Matthau & Goldie Haun movie from 1967 titled Cactus Flower. Very funny & enjoyable. 

At home worked on a jigsaw puzzle with nice fire in wood stove. 

The Better Half has been sick all day & evening with stomach issues. Hopefully she is better in the morning.

Jan 19 2024 I Shovel Snow at Clay St Apartment

Back stairs and basement door at our 418 Clay St apartment house, Watertown.

We have had quite a lot of snow here in Northern NY. 18 to 24 inches fell in Watertown. I spent a couple hours this afternoon clearing a big portion of the driveway at our Clay St apartment as well as cleared it from the back stairs. I started at 1:00 and was finished by 3:00. It was pleasant work, outdoor temperature was about 10 degrees. As I write this it is 11:00PM and temperature here in Chaumont is 1 degree.

Back stairs and basement door at our 418 Clay St apartment house, Watertown.

Back stairs and basement door at our 418 Clay St apartment house, Watertown.

Back stairs and basement door at our 418 Clay St apartment house, Watertown.

I also changed the low beam bulb in our 2019 Kia Sorento today. Bulb cost $19.00 at Wal-Mart. 

Chatted with brother Mark in Florida. He gave some wild news. 

Wind Storm Damage: Clay Street Door Replaced

Tuesday January 9, 2024, big wind storm tore door off our Clay St, Watertown apartment house.

It also caused wide spread power outages. My tenants on Clay St were fortunate that their power never went out. 

My brother Alan helped me replace old wooden door that was torn off at our
Clay St apartment house during wind storm January 9, 2024

Door was torn apart leaving the hinged side intact.

The rest of the door lying on porch floor.  

New steel door purchased from Home Depot in place. Waiting for better
weather to do the trim.

Receipt for steel door from Home Depot 

I bought a steel door from Home Depot for $364.00 plus $29.12 tax.