WEDNESDAY WITH SUNSHINE

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING TO ALL!

It was 55 degrees when I got up today, and is now up to 59. The fog and mist are burning off as the sun rises, and it's a beautiful view from my trailer.

Molly and I spent just about all day at the pond and leanto yesterday. I re-arranged a bunch of 'stuff' that hadn't been used since the kids were little and stayed with me down there all summer. They slept in bunk beds, and I had my antique bed designed for a feather mattress. I stook down the bunks a few years ago, and now there is a single bed where they used to be, and my double bed is still there, but with modifications----a real mattress topped with a couple of inches of memory foam! I re-calked all the cracks between the balsam logs I used to build the leanto, which is now really more like a small cabin with a door and screened-in open front facing the pond. Oakum stuffing is good to the hands, as it's got some sort of oily stuff in it----made my skin soft as I was working with it. I will need to re-roof this year, and I will do it with dark green metal, I believe, right over the old shingles. I decided to trash all those festering newspapers that I had stuffed under the table in a box to use to start fires----but I first had to re-read all those headlines from years gone by. The death of Princess Diana, John-John Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, and on and on. If they had been in better condition, I would have considered cutting some stories out to save, but......I have to draw the line somewhere. After all, one of my main goals for this summer is to clear out 'stuff!' I also had to read over my journal I have been writing in down there for about 20 years. It's amazing how much time has gone by. I fired up my generator and vacuumed the whole area, wiped down all the surfaces in there, got my mini-12 volt TV hooked up (I can get 3 public TV channels over the air) got my battery powered radio ready to go, brought dishes up here to wash and get ready for cooking, took any bedding up here to wash, found tons of old summer clothes stored safely that I had forgotten all about---most of which fit me! That was like a shopping spree!

It poured buckets while I was working, with thunderstorms skirting on all sides, but no direct hits nearby. When I got back up here I found we had gotten another inch of rain in that storm. As the forecast was for more rain and hail and thunder, I decided to stay up here last night rather than down there, but soon I will spending way more time down there. One of the biggest hold-ups for me has been the lack of an outhouse now, as that huge tree is still across the roof of that. But then I remembered my little porta potty, and took that down to use right in the leanto, along with my pee bucket.

It was a good day of work, reminiscing, and accomplishments. And I was pretty tired last night after lifting and lugging and hauling stuff around and in and out of the leanto. Today I will wash bedding and hang it out if the sun stays out, then make up my bed down there. I'll wash the cookware, pack some easy food into a cooler----like hot dogs, hamburgers----stuff you can cook over an open fire, and seltzer to drink along with gallon jugs of water. I already have a propane 2-burner stove, regular wick kerosene lamps, Alladin mantle kerosene lamps, a Coleman propane lamp (which I try to avoid as it's noisy) candles galore, coffee pot, coffee, creamer, dishes, etc. The nights down there are amazing----coyotes howling as they hunt, frogs croaking, beavers felling trees and slapping the pond with their tails, deer galavanting along the dam, sometimes families of otters fishing and playing in the pond, the weird, loud grating noise of big blue herons as they fish and call in the dark, and the wonderful smells of balsam and pine. Sigh! It's really an outdoor paradise while being sheltered.

It sounds as if others of you have been busy with family and friends and camping and all sorts of fun things! I love reading your reports every day----keep 'em coming! Happy Wednesday!

[avalen]

good morning ladies,
big disaster last night in my part of the world. Tempe Town Lake, a man made lake
they built about 10 years ago, they use it for boating and sailing regattas, those
very long long rowing boats, etc, well, one of the dams broke and the water poured
out into the salt river bed. Authorities were concerned about homeless people living
down in the river bed, they did a search but didn't find any problems there. The dams
they have, (I think 3 of them in a row) are made out of inflatable bladders and they
had ordered a new one a while back but it hadn't arrived yet. It looks so weird to see
the lake empty and just a big long mud hole. The news says its already stinking
The news hasn't mentioned it, but I was wondering how they got the boats out of
the marina so quickly because it didn't take very long really for the water to drain
and the morning pictures show the marina to be empty. The break in the dam happened
about 10:30 last night.
Think I'll drive over and take a look see, its only about 4 miles from me.

Rain flooding too up in the Flagstaff area where they had the big fire, all the rain
they have had up there in the past week is washing the mountainside down into
the neighborhood. Its terrible, and a little 12 year old girl got washed away in the
flooding water. They found her but were unable to revive her.

Will run over and take care of daughters cat again, she's going to Denver to visit
friends.

Coffee is good and for breakfast.....think yogurt sounds good.
Enjoy your day.

[bluepinecones]

Good morning all!

Soos, you place sounds wonderful as usual and I'm glad you are getting lots done plus enjoying retirement.

I've been home a week today and am still playing catch up and having a difficult time getting back into a routine (also have house guests until the 26th; complicates settling in a bit). Guests are going to Ivy Green for the day; I have a dentist appointment, grocery shopping, car tag, etc type errands planned today. Have almost caught up on Liz's travels - always enjoy her posts.

Made it over to Honeycomb late Monday afternoon for a nice visit with Beth and Jean. Love their new camp ground even if a longer drive over there.

Wishing all a great day whatever you have planned.

[Carolinagal]

Good-morning Everyone !!

Ava, that sounds bad, seems so many bad things are happening everywhere. I had heard about the 12 yr. old girl, that is always so heartbreaking to hear, a loss to a family, its terrible.

Soos, what ambition you have!! You are one busy lady. I am so glad I have been to your place, as I visualize you doing all these things. You have such a wonderful place to have a great summer vacation. I loved it and can only imagine, how you feel about it. Also, seems you are going to have a great winter place too. And just think of all of the ladies who head down there or are there during the winter months. You will have so many GTG's, you'll be so busy, plus family. Looking from the outside in, looks to me like you are headed for a Great time in your life.

Not much happening here, sorting, cleaning, laundry, reading , enjoying inside with the A/C. So much to do, and so much time to do it in, so not getting in a sweat here yet. making notes galore as to all I need to do, what I want in the r.v. etc. etc. Nothing will take that much time, and this way, hopefully, I won't miss much

Have a great day everyone, Those traveling, stay safe. I hope everyone is able to stay cool, the heat index everywhere is awful.
Take care,
CArol

[AlmostThere]

Morning! Workers should be arriving soon to start installing my heat pump. I'm excited to get that done as the temps are to start rising this weekend. All in all we are still having a very cool summer so far.
My Kindle arrived yesterday so spent a bit playing around with it. I did notice, in fine print on the back of the instruction booklet, a disclaimer. They reserve the right to discontinue wireless service whenever they want! I certainly don't see that happening with all the other eReaders on the market, but was surprised to read that. Guess they have to cover their bases. One other thing I didn't take into consideration is the fact that the screens on eReaders aren't backlit. I was wondering why they also sold itty bitty reading lights as an accessory. DUH! I was so looking forward to reading in bed w/o having a light on like I do with my iPhone. Live and learn....
Wishing everyone a happy day!

[Redetotry]

No sunshine here hooray, the clouds keep the heat down a bit, although our 85 feels like 95 with all the humidity so not much running around for me today. Just talked to a friend in Ireland and it is so chilly and cold there they built a fire today. Ah...I wish I were there and would be if I weren't so intimidated by the harassment one has to endure while flying. You would think with the economy the way it is they wouldn't further discourage people by making it so unpleasant. Oh well off my soap box and on to deciding whether to watch TV or listen to my book! I'm glad I have the option of staying inside in weather like this.
That must have been a shock Ava for the lake to disappear! That happen over in Missouri not to many years ago only the water didn't have a place to go it just covered up a lot of homes and killed some people the damage was terrible.
I just though we haven't heard any word from Echo in quite some time hope all is going well for her and Kelly.
Do you think you will keep the Kindle Lenora? I think that would really be a deal breaker for me, the light is what makes it so easy for me to read on my iPhone.

[AlmostThere]

ie Kindle I'm going to play with it some more and then decide. Me and my neighbor that has one got together and her's has a feature that mine doesn't. She's able to put her downloaded books in catagories. She did say that one day she went to use it and the screen said it was doing an update, so perhaps that is something I've yet to get. I couldn't find a way to check for updates manually.

[BarbaraRose]

I remember a few years back in Wisconsin there was a lake (Lake Delton, I believe, near the Wisconsin Dells) that completely drained out because of a dam break. The water rushed down the river wiping out cabins, docks and boats all the way down for miles! Don't think anyone was killed but the lake was dry for quite some time and really smelled awful!

I picked up my new car top carrier I bought on Craig's List last night. The guy even put it on my car for me so I know how to put it on and take it off myself. I then went over to Steve's house (former BF, now friend) and left it there until I need it to move. He tried to remove my battery connector to clean it better but couldn't get it off (my dad tried too and he couldn't remove it either). I stayed to watch a movie and later when I went to leave, my car wouldn't start. So he ended up cutting off the connector to the battery terminal and putting one on from one of his cars and I was able to start it. This morning (way too early!!) my dad called and said he made arrangements with our regular mechanic for me to drop my car off there and get the whole thing fixed and replace the battery. I had to crawl out of bed at 7am (got to bed at 2am) and drive over there to drop my car off. Got a loaner car and came home and went back to bed for a few more hours! Have to go to work at 3 this afternoon.

So now will try to get a load of laundry in, relax and eat lunch before I leave. It is a beautiful day today! Sunny and mid 80's.

[bikerchic777]

I'm glad Dad is getting that battery issue fixed, Barbie! Are they, perhaps, putting those struts on for you while it's in?

Damn those dams!!! I know my brother worries about the one near him in TN. I guess it has a leak and would wipe out a lot of people if it goes. Maddie, her grandpa, and I rode our bikes up to look at our dam yesterday. They are releasing a lot of water so we could even feel a mist from it.

Soos...I love the picture you paint in my mind of your summer home in the lean-to You are quite the camper! Your kids must have the best memories of summers there What a cool mom they have It sounds like you're getting ready for summer there and ours is half over. Could stand some of your temps! I was thinking of Ava's temps melting the seal on her window. When I lived in the desert, the glue melted from under my car rear view mirror and ran down the side of my car! I couldn't leave my car without using one of those windshield shades or I wouldn't be able to touch the steering wheel. Seat belt put a big welt on my DD's little leg one time. I felt so bad Tried to keep them covered with a quilt.

OK...MY NEWS for the day! Maddie May and I were out this morning...me for my walk with Rags and Maddie on her bike...and the head Ranger, Jeff, stopped to talk to me. The official word is...It's a definite maybe that I'm going back to work tomorrow There are workmen scurrying around to finish placing picnic tables on pads, etc. They roped off the playground by me until they replace the mats at the bottom of the slide. I think they will keep 10 yr loop closed for awhile. It still looks like it will take a bit of work to get it suitable for picnicers. Still no pay for June Jeff said they have 30 days. I'm not going to like my paycheck for July! I'm thinking of trying to get some temp work to fill in. I hate to fill all of my free time, but I'm starting to worry about the money.

[avalen]

I took a drive over to the lake on one bridge and back again on the other bridge. It really
looks weird to see it looking like a mud slick. I actually can remember back when it
was just a open dry river bed. (back in the days when I used to visit az) Right now
the air just smells sort of swampy, like a dirty aquarium and I certainly hope it doesn't
get any worse. They claim it will remain empty for a couple months while they are
waiting for the new dam bladder to arrive. The marina is fine, sort of, it has 3 feet of
water in it so the boats that are in there are still floating. So far they haven't found
any homeless residents down in the dry riverbed so hopefully there won't be any bodies
show up. Although I do remember a couple years ago somebody disappeared in the
lake when they jumped in, apparently committing suicide and the body was never
found. Wonder if it will show up now. Ok, so your all updated now

[Bethers]

How do they have 30 days to pay? As a former employer - not in IA - but in IL and WI - I couldn't have gotten away with holding checks for up to 30 days. And do they just pay you monthly - then they hold it? So it's the 21st of July and you haven't been paid for June? To tell you the truth, I'd be getting that paycheck and finding another job. I'm guessing that's what they're afraid of right now. Especially since you aren't working. Geez. They are really screwing with your money - paying monthly - then holding a month????

[BarbaraRose]

[b]I'm glad Dad is getting that battery issue fixed, Barbie! Are they, perhaps, putting those struts on for you while it's in? [b]

No struts. They want $180 or more to put them in there. I found a guy nearby who will do it for $120 so I will get that done next week. Steve is going to pay for that (supposedly). Guess I didn't need a new battery, just the cables and connections, so my dad lucked out on the cost. I may end up buying a new battery and 2 new tires before I hit the road in the fall. I've got two new tires on the front but the rear tires need to be replaced soon anyways.

[OutandAbout]

[quote="BarbaraRose"][quote="bikerchic777"][b]

No struts. They want $180 or more to put them in there. I found a guy nearby who will do it for $120

Barbie, the struts aren't hard to put in. I did on a hatchback and a mini van and it was pretty simple. Sure beats raising the hatchback with out them. HEAVY. Linda

[VickieP]

No struts. They want $180 or more to put them in there. I found a guy nearby who will do it for $120

Barbie, the struts aren't hard to put in. I did on a hatchback and a mini van and it was pretty simple. Sure beats raising the hatchback with out them. HEAVY. Linda

Linda, I think you're confusing the struts with the thing that keeps hatchbacks raised. But then again, I may be confused!

"Car Struts - What Are They and How They Work
Car Struts are used on the front end of nearly every front-wheel-drive vehicle. They are more than shock absorbers and with a different name. A strut integrates numerous different suspension parts into one compact assembly. This includes:The Coil Spring The Spring Seats The Shock Absorbers The Strut Bearing The Steering Knuckle

The shock absorber portion of the strut is the most commonly serviced part of the strut assembly. "

[OutandAbout]

Vickie, you are right, I was thinking a bout the hatchbacks. Sorry. Linda