The Truck, She's Ka-PUT, The Saga Continues

We got up this morning and awaited the arrival of Dad, who was bringing up his Bravada for us to use to go pick up the kids in Chicago. When Dad arrived, he brought a big "tester" thingy, on a tripod with wheels, and hooked it up to the battery to see if he could get a reading. He then surprised us by offering to change the alternator for us WHOOT! Maybe the Ancient Ones are still looking out for us, after all!!

We made the trip to Chicago in good time- Igor was beside himself with joy at seeing E. and J. and just could not contain himself, running first from one to the other and all around the rest of the small group. It was so good to see them, what a long year this has been!!!
DH got the kids' luggage packed up, and waited for the goodbyes from family members. It is always tough; we only get to see them once or twice a year, as it is....then we crammed ourselves back into the Blazer, ready to head back home. Igor lay down, content in his small space beside the ginormous suitcase that E. brought with her.

We made it back home in good time, unpacked the Blazer and got everyone settled in. We were all starved and realized we better eat something before heading into town for the evening's dinner fixins: French Bread Pizza, and breakfast stuff for in the morning. All we had in the house was a bag of authentic Mexican tortilla chips, some salsa, sour cream, and some french fries DD19 had baked just before we got back.

After dinner, DD19 and DD17 wanted to take a ride into town to get desert. "Surprise me!", I said, when they asked what we would like. They came back with a Sara Lee French Silk chocolate pie, YUM!

After dinner, we settled down to watch This Is Spinal Tap on DVD, a tradition in our family, when the kids come out. What a great movie!! Half-way through, just about at the Stonehenge scene, (my favourite part)  we got into the pie.

When the movie was over, E.& J. settled down to watch some music videos on E's laptop, which I had set up to access our wireless. It worked like a charm; is that Macbook FAST! I want one!!!

We have to get up early to go pickup Grandpa in the morning, 9am. He called us to tell us his car's brake line broke today, so now they are without a car!!! I feel horrible for them being stranded, after loaning us their truck, so we have to make sure they get their truck back, in any event!! Dad is going to come over and change our alternator, and then we'll take him back home. I'll stay here while the kids go with, so they can see their Grandma.

Tomorrow comes early, so I'll sign off for now, with a promise of pictures soon!

The Truck She Went Ka-PUT!

Today was fun-filled excitement from the minute I got back from my 5-mile walk. The weather was fine, I just got fed up with swatting at deer flies that attacked us in hordes as we walked. The sun beat down on us; we were both wiped out by the time we got to the last mile...but I was glad I did it. I missed 2 days in a row, and payed the Fiddler for my laziness.

We replaced the battery in the Blazer yesterday, when the "Battery Low" light came on. Sure, why not? The battery was 7 years old, and we suspected it was about ready to go. The dome lights had mysteriously begun to flicker on and off sporadically a few days ago, and the Volt meter started to drop little by little within the past week.

So, new battery in place, we got in the truck for our normal evening ride around the area, glee in our hearts as we watched the Volt meter steadily rise back to the halfway mark. DH was happy. We stopped and looked at a 1974 GMC Sprint with a for-sale sign in the window, parked at the gas station on Hwy. A. DH took some pictures of it, what a beauty, and we oogled it for a while before heading back home.

Aint she a beauty?

We started to pull out of the gas station when DH said, "uh-oh...". ???, I asked. He said, "The battery light just came back on and the Volt meter just dropped." Groooooooooannnnn. We headed back home, all the while keeping an eye on the meter, watching it drop like a lead balloon, along with our spirits... By the time we got to Hwy H and turned onto our street, the speedometer and all other gauges went flat-line. Then the Seatbelt Off indicator started flashing...we were in a near panic, hoping the car would make it back to our house before stalling completely. No sooner had we pulled into our driveway and braked in front of the garage, the engine sputtered and died. That was all she wrote.

I called the garage and spoke with the mechanic. Yep, that whistling sound we heard right after replacing the battery, that was the alternator. That much, I remembered from past experience.  Charge the battery overnight and bring it in next day, he said. Cool, except tomorrow is Sunday. So, we'll wait and take it in on Monday- no need to let it sit at the garage doing nothing, when it's safer here.

Tomorrow comes early. Dad will be here at 9am with his Jimmy as a loaner, until our truck is back.

I really need to give my knitting needles a workout-the Rose Parade doily is about 5 roses from the next stage, attaching all the motifs will be fun.

Tomorrow, we will rest and relax. No need to stress over things out of our control. I read on Yahoo News tonight, Truckee, CA. is one of the best lake towns in the US. I was surprised Lake Geneva, WI wasn't on the list. It's one hopping tourist town right now. I'd love to go back and visit Truckee or at Lake Tahoe, my other favorite lake spot, where I practically grew up. The crisp mountain air and smell of Ponderosa pines would be so rejuvenating about now.

Thank you, Sis, for sending me these photos. They help in more ways than you can imagine!! ♥♥♥

Sweet dreams of Emerald Bay and the Ponderosa pines ~and good night.

Atlanta Rhythm Section Another Man's Woman "Are Your Ready"

Paul Goddard's bass solo absolutely rocks!! DH says this is the one he remembers, was humming it all day- he's a HAPPY CAMPER! ♥♥♥

Atlanta Rhythm Section - Champagne Jam (LIVE)

DH was reminiscing today and this song kept popping into his head (and my air space), a song he hasn't heard in over 20 years. Can't wait to share this with him (and you, my adoring fans!)-the bassist is ubber AWESOME!

TGIF, y'all!!

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Humidity in WI, seriously??????

Ok, I am all done bean happy with my new 'do. The party is over, the curls are back and they are baaaaad.

Really, that is what I loved the most about my TBL hair, before I got the INSANE notion to cut it off and go all 80's. GAH, what was I thinking. I think I lost a few brain cells whilst re-designing my tresses...someone take the blow-fryer away from meeeeeeeeee!!!

The tiniest tree frogs I think I've ever seen are clinging to the office window, hoping for a random moth or Green Hopper Thing-they won't be disappointed tonight-the Woods are alive with the sounds of Peepers, and every living thing is attracted to the light from within our confines. It's like something out of a Stephen King novel, or Sci-Fi thriller like Frogs...owait that was The Mist, where "things" came out of the fog and dragged you off kicking and screaming, then spat you out like a wad of chewing tobacco...BLEEECGH!

DH saved my crochet basket from being saturated by a misting rain. I left it outside on the lawn chair when I came in to find something to eat. I've got 10 of the 16 roses done, so far. I am so wanting to start on some socks again, my crochet hook is flying. Once I start attaching the row of rose motifs, it will be a cinch.

just a teaser...


The corn is already chin-hi. "Knee-high by the 4th of July", yep, we're there and beyond. I can't wait for some of our Corn Lady's yummy Indiana sweet corn stand to appear over at the Courtyards. DD35 says the Indy corn is doing great and right on schedule. YIPPY SKIPPY!

Froglet is inching toward a large moth-moth is posturing, raising and lowering it's wings in an attempt to look much larger than it's piddly 40 mm's (that's roughly 1 1/2"). Froglet was intimidated and fell off the window. I'm sure he'll fine a yummy morsel on the ground. or become one...
 
It's been a week since a tornado ravaged Eagle, WI and destroyed an old cemetery. I posted pictures on my blog, for anyone who would like to see. It was not pretty, and I came away with a great sense of sadness. It wasn't so much for the people-they are gone for this earth. It was sadness for the beautiful 100+ year old hemlocks and spruce that lay ripped and torn from their roots. The town is trying to raise money to help with cleanup-no insurance on the property left many families wondering how they will be able to restore their loved ones final resting place to a semblance of normal. Houses across the highway stood mute, tarps over their rooftops, praying "no rain, please."
They will rebuild, but who will tend to those waiting for a return to peace and tranquility in the Garden of Broken Trees...


Time to head upstairs, to Memory Foam Land. I am sleeping so much better these last 3 weeks since we bit the bullet and bought a new mattress set. I even like the crazy foam pillows, warped as they are. They smell of Green Tea extract, embedded in the foam for deodorant affect- the Green Tea aromatherapy works as it lulls me to sleep. There's no cold spot, but I'm no longer awake long enough to even need one...first time I've had 6 straight hours of sleep in I-can't-remember-when....

G'night, and hoppy trails to you~

Eagle, Wisconsin Tornado Aftermath

Our neighbor and good friend Linda, came over and we took a ride over to Eagle, WI, to survey the damage from last week's tornado.

We were not prepared for what lay ahead. Literally.

The photos will tell the story.

Leave no stone unturned

toothpicks

Fallen Giant

for size perspective...

Iron fortress in ruin

Rest in pieces...

The cemetery association did not have insurance. Families are relying on help from various town disaster relief groups, so they can begin the process of repairing the damage to individual plots and stones. So many have volunteered to help with cleanup, the town had to reluctantly turn people away.

I was moved by the whole experience, the loss of such magnificent mature hemlocks and spruce, the likes of which won't be seen again for decades. I have a picture in my mind of how it looked at one time, the many times we drove by and admired the beauty of the park. We would say, "what a beautiful final resting place...."