We're Getting There... March 20th is The First Day of Spring :)

WITH the hurrying winds of March come the inevitable signs that springtime is hiding just beyond the curtain. Patches of grass turning green in the yard. The Forsythia in bright yellow bloom (see flickr). The Bradford Pear trees are full to bursting with the flower buds to be. People are starting to emerge from their winter hibernation.

On the way to work Friday, I topped a hill and out of nowhere my car started making the most horrendous noise. It was so loud that it sounded like a hot rod. I knew this couldn't be good but with only a mile or so to go, I kept trudging along. It's been leaking some oil so I thought maybe that was the problem but it seemed louder than a typical low oil ticking sound. How's that for mechanical terminology? LOL

After being at work a few hours, I went outside and checked the oil. Just to be on the safe side and so I could report back to Wally my findings. He said for me to just come on home and he would look at it. He must have been pretty confident because I thought it was hurt really bad and didn't want to even risk driving it. But I did - he's the mechanic who is going to fix it either way, right?

I drove it straight to the barn which is also the shop. He was there and he came out laughing when he heard me pull up. I asked him how he liked the sound of my hot rod Mustang and he said it sounded as if I had muffler troubles. hmmm Now if I was in FL I'd be freaking out a little bit. For one, anytime you have to have work done on your vehicle, you know it's going to be costly. Then there's the fact that you don't know who to trust and typically feel like you're getting ripped off.

Not so here in TN. He diagnosed the problem and said it could wait until tomorrow to be fixed. We climbed in the Camaro and headed for home. Just that simple. No days and nights of worrying what it would be or how in the world I would get it fixed or even how I would get to work... none of that. It was so nice :)

I was already making plans to dig up some buttercups that were growing at the condo (aka trailer) and get them transplanted up at the cabin along with the rose bush....day-dreaming has become a favorite past-time. lol. Maybe that's what 3 months of winter does to me?

We fired up the grill and threw on some steaks for dinner and it was nice enough outside so that no jacket was required. We let the puppies run free while the roosters ate the scratch feed we threw out for them. I made a salad, peas and green beans for side dishes and we relaxed and enjoyed the evening knowing there would only be many more of these to come as days go by.

Fridays are always kind of up in the air with regard to whether or not we're going to go out. Mostly we stay home on Fridays but you never know... this was a stay at home Friday and I was glad. We finished our dinner and I cleaned up the mess. I took out some smoked turkey kielbasa for breakfast the next day, grabbed a beer and went to watch tv in the living room with Wally.

I've been doing the whole "no sleep" thing again so it wasn't long before I was ready to hit the hay. We watched tv in bed for a little while and talked about our plans for the next day. He had plans to work on getting the Bronco running so I have a truck to drive but my car problem kind of waylaid that. I had plans for digging, separating and planting bulbs and whatever else I could get done in the yard. The weatherman promised 70 degree temperatures and we were ready to take advantage of it!!\

Indeed it was sunny upon our awakening and already it was 52 degrees - woo hoo!!! I made us breakfast sandwiches on toasted whole wheat buns... they had strips of the smoked turkey sausage, a fried egg (with the yolk just barely cooked) and a slice of cheese melted on top. mmm mmm good! We each had a glass of tea to wash it down with and then headed out to start feeding the animals who were anxiously awaiting our arrival :) the roosters crowed from the time we got up until just before we left for the barn. LOL

We unhooked the puppies but kept them on leashes and took them with us over to feed the horses. The roosters followed us around and even the old dogs came off the porch for the morning feeding. The horses were prancing all over and we could tell they too were enjoying the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Once the horses were fed, we walked the puppies over to Dizzy's Apt. where the chicken feed is kept. I threw out the scratch feed for them and while they ate, Wally filled the water buckets for the dogs and puppies. I filled my bird feeders on the back porch and about 20 minutes later we met up at the door. We washed our hands and headed out for the day's adventures to begin. For some of you this would seem like a full day already, huh? lol

We got my car up on the ramp and he started working on it. He found that I did indeed have muffler troubles so the muffler had to come out. Unfortunately it has these little wire sensors all up in there and they have to be disconnected in order for anything else to be done. It's a good thing he's the mechanic - I think I would lose my patience with all those parts and pieces and wires and bolts, etc. Well, as we stood there getting ready to weld the muffler back together, we heard a truck coming up the driveway. It was Kurt and company!

It was good to see them. We hadn't seen them since Tennesha's birthday party and with such a beautiful day, we just couldn't see doing all that work. Wally, Kurt and Tennesha finished up my car while Beverly and I visited and before long the car was off the lift with the muffler in tact and we were loading up to head back to the cabin. So much for digging up bulbs... lol

Wally took Beverly and Tennesha in the camaro, Kurt drove his truck through the holler and I followed Wally in my car. Well - I went in the same direction as Wally - he was way, way, way up ahead of me LOL

We seasoned up some steaks and loaded the cooler with beer and ice and sat on the porch enjoying the first pretty day in a long time. The puppies were freed from their dog house pulleys and the roosters wandered around eating anything that moved on the ground. It seemed as if everyone was in a social mood and we really had a good time laughing, visiting and sharing food together. I cooked the honey-buttered carrots while the guys cooked the steaks on the grill. Tennesha wasn't a fan of carrots but she likes honey so she tried them and was very surprised to find that she like them - A LOT... lol! I sent some home with her :)

Tennesha had a date that night so after dinner they got ready to leave. They needed to get her home in time to get a shower and get ready to go out whereas we were ready to get showers and get ready to stay home...LOL!! I remember what it was like to get ready to go out around 8, 9 or 10 - when things really got hopping. Not anymore :)

I wouldn't let them help with the kitchen. It's kind of my time to remember the day and the fun and make note of things to do next time.  So we hopped on the 4 wheelers and escorted them to the gate where we waived good-bye until next time :) I cleaned up my kitchen and settled in with Wally for some more relaxing. Ahhhhh
what a wonderful day :)

For Sunday's activities...you'll have to come back and read some more tomorrow as it's time for me to leave for the day :)  lol


"Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you." ~Ogden Nash

LOL I just thought that was so funny. But of course I would love to hear from all of you, only don't call too late...bedtime comes in around 7:30 here LOL stay tuned...