Our new upstairs toilet is ready to use. We need to go through the instruction packet. We have packets of Coco Coir Compressed and organic Coco Coir bricks to absorb the waste, which can then be used as compost.

A highlight is the old door found in the barn, almost certainly an outhouse door from a couple of hundred years ago. You can tell by the breathing holes up near the top.

About six months ago, I slid down the stairs, rushing to get to the bathroom downstairs, the only one in the house. I have no problem with stairs as a rule, but the episode reminded me that stairs can be hazardous to people when they are in their 70’s and beyond.

Broken limbs heal slowly for older people, if at all. They often lead to infections, even death.

We’ve had one mishap after another this year, from getting rushed to the hospital with a head injury,  to urgent repairs to the foundation of our barn and other parts of the house. I had several surgeries on my foot and a broad bleed in my brain.

We were just out of money, and our friend, a true angel, graciously offered enough help so that we could proceed. She understood the dangers of falling down in old farmhouses.

The most significant change was getting a compost and odorless toilet, a new and increasingly popular idea for people who came or care about climate change and want a waterless toilet. The compost toilet costs about $1,200. The labor isn’t tallied up yet.

The new toilet house has an electric light and ventilating hose that leads outside. Maria and I are going to paint it a light green, same as the bedroom walls.

Compost toilets are increasingly popular for camps, RVs, and people with tiny or old houses built without plumbing in mind.

We said yes to the help, but searching for someone to build a small room in our bedroom took months. Some carpenters said yes but vanished when more lucrative work appeared. Some said yes but then disappeared without explanation.

There were conflicting ideas about how to do it and how much it would cost; it dragged on until we found Dan Rogers, man of all things and honest and skilled. I had to postpone the work for health reasons; I couldn’t handle construction while recovering.

Dan stepped in and saved the day. We couldn’t be happier.

He did this toilet and the walls around it in a week or so. He charged much less than many of the people who gave us estimates. He’s friendly and comes when he says he’ll come and does the work he says he will do.

We also really like him. I don’t understand much of anything he says, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Maria is around, she talks stuff with him.

We are very fond of him, and he’s become a friend.

A close friend, blog reader, and supporter encouraged me to build the upstairs bathroom. Maria and I agreed, but the estimates were way beyond our budget and involved tearing down the foundations of the hose connected to the plumbing in the basement.

Building a bathroom made great sense,  but we soon realized that would tear the house apart and cost a fortune. Our friend offered to help, and with her help, we went to plan B. Buying a compost toilet that is odorless and uses various mosses

The room that Dan built is surprisingly in sync with the bedroom. We love the look of it, and it’s a lift to see the old outdoor door back in use. We’ll spend the weekend reviewing the pamphlets and instructions, and the toilet should be ready by Sunday.

Bud loves Dan and is eager to supervise while he works. Bud has always had a weakness for big men in trucks.

This is a big day for us. It is one of the most significant improvements we’ve made to the house, other than paint and wallpapering,  and something that may save a broken limb or worse down the road.

I’ve had my fill of hospital visits for now; it’s time to get on with life.

Many thanks to our friend who helped make this possible. She has a heart of gold. And we have abatroosmmk