Looking at the Faucet

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We have very hard water. We had lime buildup around the shower head. But it was especially bad at the kitchen sink. Sparky decided to de-lime the sink using that all natural and disgusting smelling substance known as vinegar. It worked great. The lime around the faucets on the counter top disappeared. Sadly the lime was acting as a sealant holding them in place. Upon further examination, we discovered that the nuts holding the faucets in place under the counter top had corroded to the point that they are just ornamental! So I had a free floating faucet and spray attachment! Everything was “loosey-goosey” and we needed a repair. It was a foregone conclusion that we needed a new faucet assembly. That was the easy part. After discussion, consultation with the wider family, and some investigation, it was determined that our choices were DIY installation or pay a plumber $$$. Sparky procrastinated but managed to install the new faucet. He used some colorful language and required a little assistance from me but managed to get it done in one day. I’m very pleased. A few years ago we had an issue in the bathroom off the master bedroom…

The rhythmic sound will drive me mad
Echo from the water dripping
You can’t hear it so it’s not bad
Call the expert to fix the thing
All your fixes are not working
The tap is broken and I weep
The plumber comes, my hands I wring
Please fix it soon so I can sleep!

This is a Huitain, a French form consisting of a single stanza from a Ballade. That is a single 8 line stanza with 8 to 10 syllables per line and a rhyme scheme of a/b/a/b/b/c/b/c.

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78 thoughts on “Looking at the Faucet”

    2. I grew up with “hard” well water. There is definitely a difference but because we get so much of our water from the aquifer it is also very hard with lots of minerals. On the plus side I think it is better especially when washing! The soap comes off and you don’t feel “sticky”!

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  2. Love it~! But now I am challenged to write a “Huitain”~! Wow if I keep reading your blog and learn something from it, I may some day be considered a poet. Though only cowboys have a lariat~!

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    1. Hehe! I’m tickled that you are enjoying these and learning new poetry forms! Have I “roped” you into becoming a poet?? They say that writing poetry keeps the mind sharp!

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      1. You may have, I am truly always interested in learning. I see that you got my play on words~! So check this one out an give me a grade~!! If under a “C” I will go back into my hole, but anything better I will either improve where I went wrong or be ready for another lesson.

        POET LAUREATE

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        1. Finally got a chance to go read your post! I’m not into giving grades (I tossed my red pen when I retired!)… but I’d give this one a big star and a smiley face!!

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            1. Yay! I hope you’ll join in the End of Summer scavenger hunt where we challenge ourselves to write different types of poetry on a variety of subjects… It starts August 1st. Stay tuned for the particulars!!

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  4. We have hard water too. Wrangler takes the shower head off and soaks it in vinegar all week while we are gone a few times a year. We never call a plumber. Wrangler has replumbed a camper. And fixes any problems we have.

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    2. I’m glad you have a handy husband. Sparky is not a handyman. He can fix some things but he is willing to admit to the limitations of his abilities… Vinegar really does do a good job with the lime build-up. But I hate the smell!

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                    1. There was even a section on “beauty” aids. The prevailing idea was for ladies to have very pale skin so they made a concoction of lemon juice to “lighten” the skin and fade freckles… It doesn’t really work but was a good astringent!

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                    6. I get stung by wasps often. I am a little allergic but my whole body does not swell up like someone deadly allergic. Well her remedy is the best I have found so far.

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    1. Thanks Dodi! I knew Sparky could do it. His brother replaced all the faucets at his house, 2 of the BILs had done the same for their houses. And to top it off saintvi’s daughter replaced the kitchen faucet for her. If she could do it then surely Sparky could manage!

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  7. Sparky with his vinegar dissolved the limestone mortar that held the faucet (and not the fauquet ! 🙂 )
    The best is indeed to change the tap and maybe buy a water softener, Val.!
    Love ❤
    Michel

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    1. Thanks Michel! And that is the very sad part – we have a really big and efficient water softener. It is set to cycle every other day and still the water has so many minerals that we get lime build-up!!

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        1. You sound like Sparky! Any garden issue and he’s on it – but the house repair makes him hesitate though he did replace an electrical cord and has put in flooring (after a tutorial by a couple of experts). He then went on to put in new laminate flooring in the boys’ kitchen!

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  8. I always laugh when people comment about how expensive plumbers, electricians, or any tradesmen are when they show up with a truck load of tools, years of training and experience, and perform feats of contortion-ism that would strain a five-year old and charge $50 an hour. Then when the computer guy shows up with a brief case, and charges $85 an hour they don’t blink an eye. I’ve never understood why blue collar workers are considered less valuable than the guy who doesn’t get dirty. Just ask any homeowner what he would rather do, fix the faucet or clean-up the computer and guess which gets done first. Kudos to Sparky for getting it done!

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    1. I tried to get son#1 interested in plumbing – those guys make excellent money! If I am ever widowed, I’m going to go looking for a plumber or electrician! hehe! Anyway I haven’t had to pay for an IT guy since I have one of my own – but he is mostly a software guy. Son#1 has replaced fans, drives and CD-ROMs (back in the day) and he helped me get my new mouse and keyboard situated. If only one of them would become a plumber I’d be set!!

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    1. Thanks Martha! I’m glad you thought it clever! Sparky is very proud of his achievement. It hasn’t gone to his head but he can now state that he’s successfully replaced a kitchen faucet!

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  12. That’s interesting. I like how you are limitless with limited poems. I think the structure helps you think. I am often distracted by rhyming in longer works, but your poems are short and sweet like fresh water. I’m glad you got that taken care of.

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    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one!! There are long forms and short ones. The key is being able to convey your message and choosing the form that fits best!

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth! I’m thrilled you liked this one! As for the leaky faucet, perhaps someone can google the fix?? If Sparky can do it then almost anyone can!

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  17. I have generally managed to do my own plumbing, for the most part-and we have a Master Plumber, in our faith community, who is all too glad to help with the rest. Hard water is something I know very well-both here and in Maine, where I once lived.

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