RAINING TODAY..............

but, that's OK.  I was a heathen and mowed the yard yesterday.  Couldn't get to it on Saturday as Fred came down and we split up all of the wood I had stored behind the wood shed.  But not before we replaced the fuel line on the splitter.  Crappy gas.  We got to the store and I remembered I had no money, neither did Fred.  I asked if Dave was there, he's the owner.  When he came over, I told him I had two problems....I need a new fuel line for the splitter and I forgot my money.  He just smiled and fixed us right up.  When we were walking out, he told the girl, "They're OK, they are just stealing from me."  Impressed the heck outta Fred, who said, "Wow, couldn't do that up where I live."  I told him there are perks to living in the country. 
Then Matt and Sarah arrived in his beautiful Ford Diesel towing a trailer, and took home the '35 Dodge cab I'd been storing for them for the last 10 years.  So, after they left, it was too late to mow, as I had to get over to Dad's.  Archie needs his Pop-Pop fix every day.  
Sunday morning, worked on cleaning out the shed getting ready to sling wood, leveled up where everything was stored and built a rack, and moved the recycle bins there.  Sowed some grass seed, then mowed the yard.  This rain is a blessing for sure.  Suppose to do it tomorrow and the next day.
I'll work at the wood like a mouse eats an elephant............one bite at a time.

Later.................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM.............

Mom was born on this date in 1918, the fourth child of twelve, in rural West Virginia.  She started working at the age of 12, cleaning house for a neighbor.  Lived through a depression, and a rough first marriage in which she had two children, a son and a daughter, sixteen months apart.
In October of 1942, she boarded a bus for the north to work in an ammunition plant.  While living in Pennsylvania, she met her second husband; they married in August of 1944 and had one daughter the next year.  She worked many different jobs, a clerk in a drug store, a waitress in a restaurant, and helped to milk the family's dairy herd.  Around 1953, she went to work for the Acme Markets, and, from there she retired in 1978.
She retired only because she couldn't remember how to make proper change anymore.  Or maybe she wasn't quite sure what her customer's name was.  She wished someone a Happy Easter, but it was the day before Christmas.
It wasn't long before she stopped cooking, stopped eating, then, the pacing started.  All day, she paced the house.  Finally her husband retired to take care of her.  He cooked the meals and fed her, sometimes forcibly.  She could no longer dress herself, so he dressed her.  She didn't know when she had to go to the bathroom, so she was put in diapers.  She couldn't hold a normal conversation, so she just stopped talking.
She would look at you, and not know who you were, couldn't remember your name.  But she was the one who gave you that name.....gave you life.
On a Saturday in May of 1998, she was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia.  On Monday, the doctors were talking nursing home, by Tuesday, hospice.  She came back to her home.  On Friday, early in the morning, she went home to be our LORD, very peacefully, with her devoted husband and two daughters at her bedside.  And, it was over, twenty-two years of caring for a woman who would've done as much or more for you, a woman who was a victim of Alzheimer's, a nasty, incurable, agonizing, hateful disease that affects the whole family.  Be sure to enjoy your love ones while they can still enjoy life.
Miss ya, mom.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE FRIENDS...........

and, I would be lost and REALLY depressed if not for them.  It's true, I lost my three best friends in 2 years, and, some days are harder to get thru than others.  We were friends for over 50 years and they were the kind you could call at 3 in the morning if you needed help and KNOW they would be there, no questions asked.  But, they are gone, and I miss them.   However, I have other friends, some I've known for a very long time.  Two of them are cousins to the ones I've lost, and, that's a nice connection.  Other friends are newer but still, its great to know them.  I don't know if I'd try the 3 in the morning thing or not.  Maybe.
Then, there's the blogging friends.  Sometimes, when I get a little sad, I'll surf my blogging buddies and realize there are such good people out there on the net.  I sometimes wish we all lived closer so an in-your-face visit could happen.  But, maybe not.  Familiarity breeds contempt?  Whatever.
I dread losing my Dad, just because it will make me really alone.  Some tough decisions will have to be made.  I got burned out on 'decision-making' when I worked.  I just want to float thru the rest of my life, some days.  Oh, I can still make decisions, hard ones, like putting a pet down or where to build the garage or do I even want to dump more money in this place,  etc., etc.,.  I am kinda glad that Dad is such a procrastinator when it comes to making decisions.  Forced me to stand on my own two feet, early. He has NEVER told me what to do with this place or anything else for that matter.  Sometimes he'd make a suggestion, but, Mom was the one with the advice, and we lost her early, at 58, to Alzheimer's.  Although, physically, she was with us for another 22 years, Dad being the caregiver.  I'll always admire him for that.
So, when I look at the way this country is headed, the world for that matter.  I'm glad I was born when I was, had the friends I had, and, have the friends I do.  Just some reflections on this beautiful, sunny, Sunday.  Gotta go, get a shower, friends are coming for a visit.

Later....................

THE ANNUAL MUD SALE..............

is happening over in the village.  Many, many Amish are going past the house this morning.  One enterprising young man went down the road in a cart and horse, pulling an express wagon.  What???  Then, I remembered.....the boys use these wagons to haul stuff  (for us 'English')  to the cars, then get a tip.  If there is a way to make a dollar, they're on it.

Got a call yesterday from my English friend, Barb.  She and her husband wanted to come down on Sunday, if I was going to be home.  Well, I had planned to go over to the next town and visit my friend Margaret, she is 98.  Sunday is a good time 'cause her daughter Helen would be there.  They just love Archie and its always a good visit.  Barb said they would be here about 11, then want to go over and see Ben's niece, Shirley.  So, maybe I can still get to Margaret's.

The new Amish neighbors of Dad's are still clear-cutting the woods behind him.  I got this email, for the second time, this week..............

Fire Weather Warning !
Issued at: 11:14 am EDT on April 5, 2013, expires at: 8:00 PM EDT on April 05,
2013

...Red flag warning in effect until 8 PM EDT this evening for all
of central Pennsylvania...
The National Weather Service in State College has issued a red
flag warning for central Pennsylvania...which is in effect
until 8 PM EDT this evening.
* Affected area...central Pennsylvania.
* Winds...northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
* Timing...the afternoon into the early evening hours.
* Relative humidity...as low as 23 percent.
* Temperatures...in the upper 40s.
* Lightning...none expected.
* Impacts...the potential exists for rapid fire spread if
  uncontrolled fires develop...or for prescribed Burns to get out
  of control.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
Critical fire weather conditions are expected or occurring. Any
fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become
difficult to contain.
Dad said he was out at the barn yesterday and a fellow drove in the lane, looked over at the fires in the use-to-be woods, then left.  The smoke was rolling over the ridge and I guess this fellow felt the need to check it out.  I told dad if he was the one burning he would of caught hell, but, it seems if the Amish do anything, authorities look the other way.  I hate a double standard.  He told me this morning they're back at it.  Probably will be most of the summer.  Archie has already chased their dog out of the yard.  People think they are quaint and saintly, bull, live among them and you'll change your mind.  Not all of them, my neighbors are OK and we get along, I guess there's good and bad in everyone.  However, the more I think about it, the less I feel good about eventually selling my house to Henry and his family.  We'll see.
Got to go, run to the drug store for dad, then clean this house for company.

Later...............

HAD A WILD HAIR AND............

went to my cousins yesterday, spent the entire afternoon into the evening, visiting with him and his wife.  (It was either that or do house work.) We have always enjoyed each other's company.  He is the brother I never had and, when he was diagnosed with colon cancer last month, it was upsetting to the whole family, especially my dad.  But, he is doing great, no chemo as he was only stage 2.  Cancer runs in the family, dreadful stuff.  My mom always said 'they' have a cure for it but if they would follow thru, it would devistate the economy. 

Beautiful day today but still too cold for yard work.  Probably going to get too hot real soon.  Seems the weather is crazy compared to when I was a kid, back before dirt was brown.

Later.............

WISHING EVERYONE.........

that reads this humble blog a safe and Happy Easter.  I'm going to friends house for good food and good company.  Dad and Sarah are going out to eat at their favorite restaurant.
It's been a beautiful weekend so far, might rain later today and tomorrow, but it's in the 60's.  Got some yard work done yesterday, the one big flower bed out front is now ready for mulch.  Miss Cindystopped in a new van, but, it was a rental.  Some nut hit her and totalled her SUV.  That poor woman can't catch a break.  Then Mrs. S stopped and chit-chatted.  I've got good neighbors.
Had to take Lucy to the vets on Friday.  I looked at her Thursday night and her lower right fang was stickin' straight out.  Probably coulda flicked it out like the vet did but I felt she should be checked.  Got 5 days of anti-biotics to give her.  She's 10 and has always been healthy.  Brought her home from work, a scrawny, malnourished kitten weighing 1.4 lbs.  Wouldn't know it now.  Everyone else is OK.


Later..............

UPDATE.....

..Havn't heard from the powers that be in Philthydelphia about the bogus ticket.

...Went to the doctors last Tuesday, check up, lost another 11 pounds.  Total of about 42.  Hoorah!!!

...Dad has been feeding a couple of stray cats.  Mother and daughter.  Mother left.  Daughter is getting rather fat.  HMMMM.  Tried scare tactic on Dad and finally got her to the vet last Tuesday.  Good news, she's NOT pregnant!!!!  SHE's a boy!!!!!  Dollie Marie is now Tommy.

Life's a gas sometimes!

Later............

BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MEN............

Fred was scheduled to come down today and help me split wood.  I need him to start that cantankerous
thing.  Well, he had to work, so, I went out this morning to tear into the wood pile and pick out the longer pieces to saw up to stove size.  Dogs started barking, someone pulling into the driveway.  Oops, it's Suzie, I didn't know she was coming to help, so I didn't call her with the change in plans.  She said it didn't matter, she would help me anyway.
Dogs started barking again, and it was the neighbor, another Sue, asking me if it was OK to park in the yard.  I had noticed her husband, Kevin, with her two youngest teenage girls, on the tractor down by the creek.  "Getting firewood?"  I asked.  'No, we're fixing the fence.  Kevin wants to get a diary by the end of the year.'  "Great!" I told her.  I hope it works out.  Her youngest is 14 and wants to get into agriculture.  They plan on putting the cows back in this meadow.  Glad he's still wants to farm.
So, Suzy and I worked at it thru two gas tank fill-ups and got quite a bit in the wood shed.  Think I'll be OK till warm weather.  It was lunchtime and Sue said how about the pizza shop or the golf course.  When I came out of the house from getting the dogs settled, she suggested we go down to the river to that restaurant we ate at last summer.  Cool.  Got there, closed.  Not only closed, but empty.  Well, shit.  That was a great place to eat.  Oh well.  Back up the road to the old hotel.  Fantastic food there as well.  Not too crowded this time, usually is.  We were in work jeans and old sweatshirts, but it didn't matter.  They have a smaller building to the side that is a favorite with the bikers and their dress code is kinda...whatever.  I swear one woman had some funky kinda dress on that Sue and I thought was a sheet wrapped around her.  Anyhow, I'm sitting there facing the window towards the river and there goes an eagle!  We said something to the waitress and she said 'Oh yeah, they're are lots of them around here.'  Then she brought out a book, that some lady had put together, that had all of the eagle pics she had taken in the area.
So, all in all, what started out as a disappointment at not be able to split the wood, turned into a pretty neat day.

Later..............

A RAINY, FOGGY, DREAB OF A DAY......

but, not too cold, which is good, 'cause I'm running out of wood!  I do believe spring is just around the corner.  The red-wing blackbirds are quite vocal and loving the cracked corn I throw out.  They are my harbinger of spring, not the nasty robins.  Once I see the red-wings I know winter is about over.  Of course, there is always March to get thru and she has given us some nasty surprises.  We'll see.

Helped dad yesterday with his taxes.  Once we itemized all of the expenses in restoring those 5 tractors he sold against what he made from the sale, he was in the hole about $600.  He just laughed.  It woulda been much worse if he would have included the cost of his labor.  But, it was a labor of love, and, saving a couple of them from the scrap heap. 
He has a new kitten that showed up.  Of course he's feeding HER.  I wasn't sure of his intentions but now she has a name.....Dollie.  I hope we can catch her and get her to the vets before she makes him a grandpop.  He is concerned what MoMo and Kitty-Ruth will do about her.  Also, the Amish have bought the property next door, an old two story school house that is two apartments.  They've moved into the bottom one and will probably take over the top apartment when more kids come.  The sad part is the 13 acres of woods behind all of the neighbors are being cut down.  I swear some Amish don't have the brains GOD gave a goat.  When they buy a property, the FIRST thing they do is cut down most of the trees.  Pisses me off, big time.

That's just about all the news that fit to print.  Later.............

WHEW.....DODGED THE BULLET, WE DID.......

Was at the restaurant this evening, left about 6:30.  Snowing all the way home, almost.  Got within 4 miles of the house and it turned to rain.  Certainly won't be getting what New York and poor Boston will be.  This is one nasty storm.  Here, it is suppose to be 36 tomorrow and 39 on Sunday.  Yep, dodged the bullet this time.

Truck is running great.  And, yes, some anti-freeze will turn acidic.  And, that's what Sam and I think happened to the truck.  He does not use that crap.  He is so good to me.  I kid him and say that he treats me right because...."I know where he lives, where he works, and the route that he travels.....PLUS, I know his mother-in-law."  But, he is a good guy.

Getting late, time to punch up the stove, pee the dogs, get to bed............

Later..............

GOT A COUPLE OF INCHES OF THE WHITE STUFF.................

yesterday afternoon into the night.  Wasn't an issue for traffic.  Kinda pretty and just about gone by this evening.

Watching the Super Bowl, mainly for the commercials, don't really care who wins.  Right now, no one is playing, power is out in half of the stadium.  Maybe some disgruntled 49ers fan hit the switch. 

Had lunch yesterday with old friends, always good to catch up.  I was telling Buddy about my radiator problems and he said his mechanic told him when he was having rad problems in his Buick, that after 2 years, antifreeze turns acidic and should be replaced.  Need to talk to Sam, changing it every two years is cheaper than a new rad for sure.

Later..............

OH BOY! NEW RADIATOR!....

just what the 'budget' needed!  Then..........a Parking Violation notice from.............Philadelphia!  I HAVE NOT BEEN IN PHILTHY DELPHIA IN 50 YEARS!  Morons!  Called the number, press 1 for English, yada-yada-yada and finally get a real live person!  Boils down to.... me, sending in paper work to prove that...yes, the car is mine, but, no, it is NOT a white Dodge, it is a black PT Cruiser, and, no, it is does not have an expired inspection sticker, and, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN PHILTHY DELPHIA IN 50 YEARS YOU MORONS!  She told me to send in my recent emission inspection sheet and that would void the ticket.  To which I replied, "But, it is NOT my car!  It is my tag number, but not my car.  What does that tell ya!"  Anyhow, sent in the paper work and I'm to call them on the 15th to see if it is all resolved.  Dad said if it is not, we're going to the lawyer.  He's more pissed than I am.  Mistakes have never 'sat' well with my father.  Now, I think the microwave is taking a dump.  Just ^&*#$%^ lovely.

Later.............

SNOWING.............

not much, probably 2 inches or so.  'Nuf to be a nuisance.  We decided on Wednesday not to do supper tonight with this storm coming in.  So, tonight I made fried chicken, gravy and potatoes, not bad.  Was s'pose to go to breakfast tomorrow morning with friends, but that's cancelled.  With my truck in the shop, I'd have to drive the PT Cruiser and that's out of the question.  I'm not afraid of driving on bad roads but there are too many nutz out there that do not know how to drive in good weather, let alone bad.  Besides, I had to drive it for 46 years, to and from a job, that's enuf of that. 

Later..............

I'M GOING BACK TO A HORSE AND BUGGY....

no, wait, that won't work either.  Have to build a barn, buy hay, vet bills.  Crap.  Anyhow, Monday, took the car to Sam to fix the tire but, as in a previous post, the screw was short and only in the tread.  Ahhhhh.  Life's good.

Today, took the truck to the PO and got about 3/4's there when the heater started blowing cold air.....again.....Managed to do a u-turn before it shut off.  Temp was WAY OVER....Crap.  Called Sam,  "See if it starts and try to get it here,  it's probably the stat."  Right.  Started it after the temp dropped, managed to get another mile or so.  Did that two more times and got it to the garage.  When I looked back at the truck while walking into the garage, I saw the drip.  Crap.  Sam went out and saw a drip, crawled under the truck.  Came back in, looked at me and said, "I don't believe it, that $%^&* plug is gone."  We decided to go with a new radiator, Sam brought me home and then we saw all of the anti-freeze in the driveway and down the road.  Later, Sam called me to say he called a couple of guys with shops and both said, new rad, once this happens you'll never keep a plug in.  Oh, and when he left my house, he spotted the plug down by the bridge.  It's not hurt, nothing broken, just can't figure out why it flew out.  I googled the problem and one fellow said there might be excessive pressure in the cooling system and to check for head gasket issues.  Crap.

Later..................

A CLOUDY, DREARY DAY, IT IS.....

Yesterday went to a memorial service for an old family friend.  Harry was 83, his heart finally gave up.  Left a wife and four daughters, 3 of which are Drs.  One is a GP and the other two are college profs.  Had a son to his first wife, but the last anyone knew of him was he was in jail.  Family dynamics are strange sometimes.

Found a screw in the rear tire of the car.  Took it over to Sam this morning, luckily, it was a short screw and was only in the tread.  No leak.  Got them to inspect it and will take it back for an oil change this after.

Calling for snow today and tomorrow.  Just flurries.  But got a mess of wood in the house over the weekend just in case. It was so pleasant outside Sat and Sun it felt like spring. 

Dad is feeling better so him going to the doctors is a pipe dream, now.  Not much else happening,

Later...............