Preparations

Well now I think I'm ready for the upcoming season here. This morning the temperature outdoors read 28°.

The mailbox won't have so much political stuff that is immediately torn and trashed and it will save the carrier many steps. 

I set all 6 of my clocks back. 

My golf car was picked up for winter storage in a heated facility and will have complete service as well. I shall call in the Spring to have it returned and the charge is very reasonable. I had an offer by my yard guy to store it in his garage, but if I can handle arrangements on my own it makes me feel better. That was a genuine big-hearted offer! I am so thankful for such caring friends.

The A/C is covered, porch chairs are stacked, the swing sofa is covered, the ceramic pumpkin is in and put away. The sign to use the side door is in place.

This morning I brought in some of my porch ornaments to clean and save from probable damage during wind, snow and ice storms. The wooden fish sign is safe inside. 

I started my humidifiers going. Sure needed to do that! The humidity is so low my hair is sticking up everywhere with static electricity!

I transplanted two of my succulents into larger pots on the kitchen counter. Made a big mess...

I still have to get out the electric blanket and hook it up. 

What else? Oh lots of other minor things were done and I got with the program quite well.  With all this free time I just might bake some cookies in the near future. I have a craving for peanut butter ones, using my mother's recipe and also might dig out the spritz one as well. Then I'll have to hunt for the old (1950) gun that has always worked for me. The last time I made them was 2014!

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Busy Day

My daughter took me to my dentist appointment for my bi-annual cleaning.

From there we made a stop at Rite-Aid for my calcium supplement and body lotion. I asked the lady in pharmacy if the 2nd Moderna boosters were available. Yes they were, so I filled out the paper work and had it done.

Then we went to the local hometown market and only she went in. I was wearing out with all of the activity! It's not easy for her either, as she has the need for a hip replacement. We are the two-cane ladies. At least she can drive!  Some cheese and half and half were my only current needs and we returned home. She removed her foods she had stored in my freezer and took them back. Her other cold and frozen foods were lost during the power outage and she had a really hard cleanup but got it finished. The car ride in and out really showed me all the damage with trees and limbs down in just the 5 mile area we traveled. No wonder we lost power for so long.

I called the golf car place to be sure my buggy was functioning properly on the uphill and downhill sections of the dirt road because it was different from the old 2013. He said, yes I would have to use the brake more but the battery consumption will be much less. OK with me! It still is not warm enough to go for long rides and I sure am looking forward to some. 

Daughter has the tomato seeds planted and they are starting off in her neighbor's sun dome. YAY! This image is from August last year.

That's it for today. 

Good Earth Day Here!

We're back in business. The daffodils are blooming in the flowerbeds! Power came back 5pm Friday. Yard guy came to pick up yard debris and clean limb off of roof. Delivery of my new ride. Created a fun picture on computer.

Here are photos of the limb on the roof before he removed it and all other debris around the property. Photos courtesy of JK.

I was contemplating about calling the golf car facility to return my 2013 model from winter storage. Then I got looking at the new ones listed on the site. Oh! I then called and negotiated a deal and now have a new 2022 buggy in the carport. I have to get my flip phone (3G no service now) replaced and will take a ride. In the meantime I snatched photos from the site and created an imaginary scene. Now remember this picture below is only my photomanipulation!

This is the real thing!

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Learning Curve Yesterday!

GOT MY GUMPTION UP THIS AM!  Figured out how to clean the AC filter & the dehumidifier filter! Yay! Then got brave and lifted the seat on the golf car and plugged in the one line to a HD extension cord that I had plugged into the socket on the carport pillar. Then I propped up the seat with the board that is stored in the back basket and found the cord with the plug that goes into the panel under the seat bench where driver's legs would be when sitting.  A green light came on near that socket and I knew it was charging. The charger is carried under the seat when it is down - not at all like the set up we had at the beach, but I had watched the Mister do it several times and now I think I can again!  This charger is very different from the beach ones! I haven't been for a ride yet, but plan to soon. I also had to dig out my bottle of CLR mold and mildew stuff to remove all of the mold that was starting to permeate the backrest. There was a lot! I had to use my vegetable brush and almost a whole roll of paper towel. Satisfying morning. Pooped me out! 

Tomorrow I plan to attack the vacuum cleaner. I do not like the new one he bought because he thought it would be lighter and easier to maneuver. I will use the old clunker Oreck. It needs an overhaul. The new one is a PIA to clean the stupid tube. I know how to change the Oreck bags. Some day I'll enlist a friend to take it to the store in Vestal for an overhaul because it IS hard to push now. Probably just stuff stuck around the ends of the brush thingy. Not gonna try it!

Missy came today and did some fishing and swimming. No rain!  I sent her home with some suspenders as she was saying that her husband needs them. Just starting to clean out a few items like that.

Two neighbors with golf cars (gasoline) stopped by when I was out on the porch and we all had a small chat session. Things are starting to normalize if there is such a thing! 

There was a beautiful and very large lonely doe browsing my beachfront last evening. I grabbed the camera, and was about to get a great shot when the low battery light came on and it shut off! She moved on and gobbled up my neighbor's Hosta flowers! Then she sauntered up into the woods.  Lost that opportunity! I'll have to keep my eyes out for her again around dusk.

Almost...

Well today I got the flower garland on James, nipped off the dead daffodil bloom stalks, and put preservative on the "Fish Stories Told Here" sign. This was a gift from Missy in 2011.

The Mister got the air compressor going and put air in one of the golf car tires that was low. He checked the others and then drove by James just as I was finishing tying the garland. I hopped into the vehicle for my first ride of this year. It is a good thing that we both had our canes. We got across the dam and turned around heading back home when it slowed down. R e a l l y slowed down. It was kept charged all winter on the first of the month but should have been again before ever taking a ride. I got off after we got across the bridge and walked home and he plugged along very slowly and got her to the front lawn - off the road! The charger is carried under the seat so it was a matter of wiring it to the socket on the front porch and turning on the juice! 

We were both beat! TOTALLY beat!  All that is now needed to do is to put the distilled water in the batteries. Tomorrow is another day!

Naptime never felt so needed!

There!

Winterizing finished! 

Two years ago on this date we had snow. Good that the golf car was covered. Yes, James had November scarf on as well.

Today is was a little warmer and we sat out on the porch for a bit. Preparations for the season ahead are complete. 

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Bleak!

Hangin'

Still V E R Y careful with COVID precautions. Sure don't want anything to do with it. Fourth was dull but it's better that way. No picnic, no party, no family visits.

Sprained ligament S L O W L Y feeling a L I T T L E better, but still a long way to go I think. I hobble around like an old lady with my walker, hating every minute of it. Thank goodness for a neighbor taking over our laundry chores for the last two weeks. Big help! We have someone lined up for grocery shopping if it becomes absolutely necessary.

Paid the school taxes and prepaid for 1,100 gallons of propane for the winter fuel supply and generator. Paid for the 2nd half of the yearly car insurance premium. DONE! Broke.

Golf car went on fritz and service man came today. He had to replace a relay and also put in a new charge meter. Last week it froze right on the road in front of the cabin and we had to call our lawn guy to help the Mister push it onto our lawn after putting the toggle into tow mode. Service and material charges will come in the mail, but at least I can get out and about again soon. (The charge meter was acting up after 3 years and wasn't trustworthy.)

 In the meantime, I'm gonna make a cheese sauce to go over the rest of my cauliflower for supper. The cheese is one we purchased from our local farm market. I think it is Amish made, but took off the label when trying a piece or two when we bought it.

Talk at ya later.....

Experimenting

Today was the first time I took a rideabout in the newer white golf car. The older one was battery operated and whenever I stopped I didn't have to step on a brake. It did it automatically, even on steep hills! The newer gas model will take some time for me to conquer. If you know me you know that I do not like change. First of all, I drive slowly and often stop. Now whenever I stop I have to step on a brake. If I stay stopped I have to step harder and put it in park. It is noisy! The older one was silent. As I said, it will take time. The newer one steers much easier but the seat is harder. The rearview mirror still needs to be installed. I was a bit nervous not being able to see behind as I rode the road. Perhaps I was trying to do too much on my first time out. Taking photos of nature and also trying to use my lens ball for the first time on a ride whipped me, discouraged me. The lens ball weighs 2.4 lbs. and it's a bit tricky to hold it in my left hand and try to take a picture with the full size camera in the right hand without moving. I think it is what I call a "do over." Another day, another way. Results below.

I gave up when it came to the lilies and the stone wall. Oh well...

Happy 4th of July to all!

My Ride Today

She's green but when I get on the saddle she goes where I want to at any pace I desire! She turns well and stops. She's an easy keeper. Her stamina is excellent and I love her. We go for long rides together.

We went hunting butterflies today but ended up with clovers. A great blue heron flew over when I was looking down and I wasn't quick enough to shoot it. 

I picked a few wildflowers for home indoor pleasure, when we started out on our ride. They are slow recuperating from the trip home.

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Hats, Scarf and Covers On

Finally, I have repaired and made a new Pom Pom for James' hat. I changed my mind about not having one on the first hat I made. Our golf car has a new cover and I'll see it again in the spring. The porch swing is covered. We are winter ready. I'm feeling a need to bake now.  First I'll find the ceramic tree to put in my window. I store it safely each year in the back of a closet under pillows. A friend made it for me in 1972, therefore it is 45!