Sleuthing

Today’s search had nothing to do with this train, but it’s such a colorful one.
Our search was for the house that had a pile of old siding in the alley behind it. I discovered the lumber on a walk last summer; it was a perfect match to the wood on our own house where we were repairing an outside entrance to the crawl space. We asked the owners if they’d sell some of it to us, and took as much as we needed then, but lately, we were thinking how useful it would be to have more of it since we plan to rebuild our back porch. 
The sleuthing part was how hard it was to find that same house. Mostly because the first two of our three walks to look for it were cut short by having to get home for something. But the third time worked: we found it! Now for the next step which is to ask if the remaining boards are still available. I’m looking forward to that because, if it is, I’m going to come bearing gifts. The family has three kids who charmed me when they answered the door that first time. We negotiated for the wood (“take all you want”), then gave them a pan of raisin bars in thanks, which were well received. This time I’ll make something in the Easter tradition, but what? Fun, huh?!