Wild phlox (sometimes called rocket) is blooming everywhere. I love seeing purple, pale pink, and white wildflowers. It’s one of my favorite times of year.
As I started to write this, the letter t on my laptop keyboard stopped working. So I saved the draft with the uploaded photo and now I’m writing the rest of this via my iPad. Tedious. I’ll have to make an appointment at the Apple store. This makes three things that have stopped working: the CR-V, our microwave, and my keyboard. A new microwave was delivered yesterday, we’re in the process of purchasing a used car, and the keyboard will be dealt with.
We looked at a Honda Pilot which is in great shape. New transmission, radiator, brakes and tires – all serviced by Don’s mechanics. It drives beautifully (leather seats which are heated, sunroof, 4 wheel drive, huge cargo space.) Don is a big guy and neither of our cars accommodated him too well. He never had enough headroom or body room. Watching him drive this car and seeing the smile on his face was priceless. We’ve never had 4 wheel drive before, can you believe it? Anyway, it’s affordable and we have to have a second car. We’re hoping to donate the CR-V to our local fire department. Otherwise, we’ll have it junked. It’s undriveable.
Any big expense makes me nervous but we feel this is a good choice for us. We don’t want to take on any car payments; we have enough monthly expenses as it is.
No time to paint yesterday. Today, I have to mow the back forty and deal with the window a/c units.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Hi,
So glad you found a car you like and trust. One less thing to worry about. I donated my old Subaru to my local NPR station. They did not seem to care what the condition the car was in. I would think your fire department would be the same. Plus, it was charity deduction. One of the things that made me sad, saying goodbye to my old car was all bits of fur from dogs and cats I had over the years that was in the upholstery. All my dear friends. Oh know, it making me cry now, thinking of my missing friends. Does that sound weird?
Take Care,
Kaye
The same here. It carried our two dogs across the country with me driving when we moved to NY. We laid our dogs down in the back as we drove to our vet to put them out of their pain. I’ll be very sad to say goodbye.
Thanks, Kaye.
Stay safe!
not weird at all, kaye. i have felt that way in moves, thinking about those i love and miss.
wishing you peace and a good weekend. stay safe and look forward to a great reunion!
kathy in iowa
Kathy,
Thank you for your kind words.
Kaye
Our 2001 Honda Odyssey van ‘s complete exhaust system imploded last autumn and would have cost $5500 to replace. We donated it to NEPM . A driver came , flat bedded it and sold it at auction for $1200. It was very sad to watch it being taken away, but the money went to a good cause.
NEPM? What does that stand for, Barbara?
New England Public Media is now the name of our PBS and NPR.
Ah. Thank you!
Claudia, Now the 3 things breaking are done. Isn’t it strange how that always happens. What a relief to find a great car that you know the history, the repairs and with a trusted recommendation. We too drive our cars until donation time. So many people replace them almost as if they are disposable. A car needs to be dependable, safe, clean for me. Glad the new one is a good fit for Don. Enjoy and drive safe! SherryB
All I care about is dependability. I had a lemon once and I never want to go through that again!
Stay safe, Sherry.
I love 4 wheel drive. I used to avoid driving in the snow but now I’m not such a wreck when I have to go somewhere. You will love it! Love that you’re painting.
EILEEN
We’ve lived in the northeast for 20 years and this is the first time we’ll have the option of driving with 4 wheel drive!
Thanks, Eileen!
Stay safe.
Claudia, the wild phlox is beautiful! I love purple in the garden. Congratulations on your new used car! It sounds wonderful for you both! Monday, it is 94 degrees in Alabama and we don’t expect rain in seven days! The morning watering has started.
Your painting on 3×5 is really cool! Good luck!
Stay safe!
It’s in the high eighties here and will be even warmer tomorrow! No rain expected until next Saturday.
Stay safe, Lottie.
You’ll love a Honda Pilot!
Re sunroof… need to check & make certain the drains for the sunroof are clear each year. Dust, pollen and assorted grime can collect in the drain system, and eventually form a clog. When water collects in the clogged drain system it will back-up and spill into the interior, at the front posts (between windshield & front doors) and the posts to the rear of the back doors. Headliner and carpet will be damaged and need replacing if you don’t catch it in time.
Been there, done that… lessoned learned the hard way and due to no one ever mentioning this necessary bit of preventive maintenance.
Have a fabulous, safe & pleasant weekend!
Thanks for that tip, Amy! I’ll pass it on to Don.
Stay safe!
Love the picture. Sorry so many things are breaking down. In my home I owned until my son paid it off-WV…I put on new roof, new air conditioner, new hot water heater, and new windows…etc. longer list too long to list..it was fifteen years old when everything needed…I have had so many cars in my life that I don’t ever get attached to them…having moved 31 times, the only houses that are sentimental are the ones in which we lived raising our kids…and we moved multiple times. I always told them it is not the house; it is not the car…the memories are of those we love and the ones with which we spend time. This little condo has made so many memories already with two little ones who only have one relative near-me…their other grand parents are in the Eukraine and Grandpa in WV…I do have a four wheel drive…I wanted a mid size SUV that I could slide into…I wanted heated seats, backup mirror, and phone built in (accomodates my phone)…so it turned out to have four wheel drive. Have never needed it not even in the north but handy. I bought American made this time because the little boys were serious about that…I had driven Toyota Camry’s for 15 plus years and loved loved loved them…however, low seats for my age. Glad you are getting a car that you like…I have to laugh when I think of my husband-tall and not a small man-the kids’ dad…our first car was a VW red bug…he never complained either…economy…your Don reminds me of him in so many ways…gentle giant…prayers dear girl…enjoy your weekend, your new microwave, and your new to you car…and hope your keyboard gets fixed. I can never explain how much your blog has added to my life. P.S. My just turned 9 year old grandson is in the other room with his Spanish teacher online-he is fluent now…the little 6 year old meets with his S. teacher twice a week and is getting there.
My car has low seats and they’re a pain in the tush!
Thanks for your kind words, Brenda.
Stay safe!
Glad you found an SUV. You are going to love 4 wheel drive. It makes me feel so much safer in the winter…and good new tires definitely help too.
It’s quite humid here…we did get a small amount of rain, so I’ll still have to water some of the plants.
Your phlox is so pretty…enjoy your day! ;)
No rain on the horizon for at least a week. We’re definitely in a dry spell.
This might end of being the first time we’ve felt safe driving in winter since we’ve been out here.
Stay safe, Donna.
Things do seem to go wrong in batches! The Honda Pilot is a nice card and I can see how it would be comfortable for Don. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs!
They do, though the CR-V has been undriveable for months now.
Stay safe Linda!
Hooray that theater is opening up again and that you and Don will be available to work. That kind of need for a new car is great. Your news about the microwave, computer, and car reminded me that starting in about Oct. last year, we went thru a time when all kinds of unrelated things gave up the ghost. It was one every week for a few months! And now the garage door that kept opening on its own and the leaky kitchen faucet are at it again. Sigh. Hope your run of “luck” is over at 3 just like the saying goes. And I love your paintings!
there’s that old saying that “bad things come in threes”. let’s hope and pray yours are all done!
glad the microwave is on its way. good luck with the keyboard and “t”.
the new-to-you car sounds great, especially for don being so tall. enjoy it … especially on trips to bookstores, antique shops and auditions and jobs!
i have owned four cars in my life so far … first one was used, then two new ones and now another used one. nice as they are in some ways, i don’t know that i’ll ever buy another new car again.
been a couple of long, hard days here. hurting from tough physical therapy, getting a call at work from a suicidal stranger, having someone lie about me to my boss and higher-ups (thankfully my boss knows it’s a lie because it’s a stupid lie that is very easily disproved … but still, ugh). also was told by my boss that our old boss (who is retiring soon, has never seemed to care about my job for 20 years and seems to have too much sway and not enough information about the matter) believes my job should be cut to 20 hours per week and that could happen as early as the middle of july (which would mean no health insurance). i am very much ready for a weekend. glad it’s here and that it’s raining.
hope you all have a good weekend.
and thanks for listening.
kathy in iowa
Kathy,
I feel so badly for all the stress that your job causes you. I will be celebrating from afar when you decide that it is time for you to retire. In the meantime, know that positive thoughts are being sent your way.
Donna
hej, donna …
thank you very much for your kind support. :)
i can’t retire with full social security benefits until october 2024. and i know those benefits would be bigger if i delay retirement up to age 70, but that won’t happen … i plan to retire the second i can. i’d like to avoid a lifetime cut in benefits and paying so much for interim health insurance (in part due to that broken back … i know i’ll have to get a supplement when i go on medicare), but it depends on what happens with my job and if anyone would hire a 63 year old social worker. ugh. who knows? thankfully God knows and i am glad and grateful that He will help me. He helps all of us. :)
also, there are some good things about my job. you all don’t tend to hear that stuff. thanks to claudia, you and everyone else here for listening to me let out the tougher stuff out. xo
anyway, thanks again for your sweet support. it means a lot and helps.
praying for you and your family.
hope all’s well and you have a nice, safe weekend ahead!
kathy in iowa
Kathy, believe God knows and sees
He says he will give us what we need and many times our wants
I think the problem with our society is people think material things will fill them up but it never does.
Trust!
thanks, linda.
i know God sees it all, including my wrongs (i am grateful that He also forgives!). and that He is using all things for good. hard in the meantime, but things will get better because of Him.
thanks again.
hope you have a good weekend ahead.
kathy in iowa
I’m so sorry you have to deal with uncertainty right now, Kathy. You don’t deserve it. And we have first hand knowledge, unfortunately, as to dealing with the loss of health insurance. Hoping the resolves in the best way possible.
Stay safe!
thanks, claudia. will let you know what, if anything, happens.
happy saturday!
kathy in iowa
It’s funny you posted the wild phlox photo. I was just looking back at my photos to find an old one of the masses of purple and white phlox that would bloom this time of year in the woods behind my house in Michigan. I love Florida plants now, but miss wildflowers and midwest perennials so much.
I don’t think I could leave these beauties, though I lived with more tropical plants when I lived in San Diego.
Stay safe, Vicki!
Claudia,
So happy that you and Don found a vehicle that works for both of you! May this be the beginning of good things happening for you in terms of work. Enjoy your weekend.
~Donna
Fingers crossed that work soon comes our way.
Thanks, Donna.
Stay safe!
My husband says that a NEW Pilot out here in SoCalif is as much as $55,000 (with all the bells & whistles on it). We have a lot of inflated prices here with houses, cars, etc. (Also the price of groceries!) Maybe because it’s our (close) proximity to Los Angeles. (I have no idea; I’m not into cars as a rule. I have a vintage car but it’s just because it was my car since I was a teen.) He looked at one with hardly any of the fancy options that was 8 years old and it was $30,000. You have a hard time finding them out here, new OR used. My husband has a friend who FINALLY got one only because she knew the person who was going to trade one in (i.e., you kinda have to know someone to get a good one?!). This friend is a 6ft4inch woman, age 50; specifically wanted the Pilot for the extra headroom, especially when exiting the vehicle.
I always remember the series on PBS called Globe Trekker (it hasn’t been shown out my way in several years now; I miss it!), the musical open for it was incredible; their primary advertiser/sponsor was, I had thought, the Honda Pilot but it looks like I’m dead wrong on that and it is, instead, Subaru (the younger Brad Cooper, famous actor, was once one of their travel hosts); my confusion is probably that the show was produced by Pilot Productions (I just looked it up). Anyway, that’s neither here nor there; the main thing is CONGRATS on a great steal; you are making my husband green with envy because a Pilot in that kind of amazing condition is a real find, per him! (He’s constantly looking at used cars; he knows of which he speaks!)
Well this is an older Pilot but it’s in great shape. I had some hesitancy because of its age, but it had one owner and it was beautifully maintained,
Thanks, Vicki.
Stay safe!
Phlox are fabulous and this is definitely their season. I hope all works out well with the car. It must be such a relief and exciting for auditions to be opening up. I’m wondering if some shows will be really on the lookout if their actors have moved on to other projects during pandemic. Who knows?
Who knows, indeed? Fingers crossed something comes our way.
Stay safe!