Never Say Never Again

 It was a WINDY day at the beach today!

But I'll take whatever it offers these last few times.

(We were getting sand blasted, so my legs

are pretty well covered in sand...)

When we parked the truck and headed over,

a guy was just loading up and said we shouldn't

bother. He sat on the beach for a few minutes

but said he felt like a breaded chicken cutlet.

So we went just to be obstinate.

And yes, we were a little breaded.

But it was still glorious.

We enjoyed watching the crabs running

around trying to find something to eat.

These pictures make it look like the beach

was COVERED in shells, but it was just

this little spot in front of us.

Mango

 Boy, oh boy, I wish I had the freeze dryer here!

(Well, not really since I'm probably leaving

before they are ripe.....)

But for the past 2 years we haven't gotten

any mangos from our tree.

We had a late frost both years and it took

them out.

But THIS year.....

The big tree is LOADED!

The leaves look a little sad, but that's to be expected.

It's putting all its energy into the fruit.

The don't come in until about mid/end July.

Watch for squirrel activity!

When they get close, the squirrels start taking a single bite

out of them and if they aren't ready then they leave them.

But once they are ripe, you'll start losing mangos at 

an alarming rate. So I go out and pick them all and spread

them out on the big table and let them ripen and then

freeze dry them.

Even our baby tree is looking good!

We have had rain 3 times this week and this

little guy has really taken off!

He has grown a foot in the past week.

And there are still 3 mangos hanging on there.

It "was" covered in blossoms, but there

were only 3 fruit that made it.

Anyhow.

I always take the new prospective owners out there

and give them the routine.

I guess this year we will just have to buy our

mangos from Sams. (Like we have for the

past 2 years anyway...)

GREEN

 Well, we got some really nice rain.

But no tornadoes, no hail, no damaging wind.

Just lovely, much needed, rain.

To celebrate, we took Luna out 

into the woods for a walk.

The poor girl has been locked in her

crate for almost a week.

And she still has a week to go.

She is supposed to ONLY do leash walks

for 14 days following surgery,

but Kyle has been letting her out in

the back yard a couple times each day.

We just aren't letting her into the dog yard

where she lays in the dirt.

The trails were slightly damp

but no mud.

And she was SO HAPPY!

She doesn't have great social skills

so we were also happy to not meet anybody

else out there on the trails.

It was good to get out of the house

and into the green.

So we came home and sat on the patio.

I baked some cinnamon raisin bread

and made a meatloaf for dinner.

Both were yummy!

Parts are slowly arriving.........

and we are anxious to head north again.

City Dogs and Tornadoes

 Since our dogs are going to be

city dogs (temporarily), they have

to be registered with the town.

And that means they have to have

their rabies shots.

Poor kids!

Since we will be here for at least another week,

we went ahead and made an appointment

for Beau (the final hold-out) to get his

next Thursday morning.

When we got home yesterday from the store,

Kyle's new tires were waiting for him at

the front gate. More parts should start

trickling in today and tomorrow.

And then the rest should be early next week. 

Then the guys can drive up there and hopefully

get it all fixed, bring it back here and put

on the new tires, load up and we

can try this again.

(Keeping an eye on the weather...)

Of course, we are currently under a tornado

warning this morning.

HERE.

In Malabar.

People forget we get them here as well...

The skies are grey.

I'm just hoping we get some rain.

It rained yesterday while we were out

and you can't believe the difference 

in the grass!

It was all crunchy and brown and

August looking.

Immediately after the rain it is gorgeous!

We water it, but you just can't beat

the REAL stuff.

Aaaaand, We're Back.

 The adventure continues.

So.

We got up and left a little behind schedule

on Saturday. Not bad. I was hoping to leave

around 8 and I think we pulled out a little

bit after 9:00.

Headed north with my new prescription

sunglasses - everything was so crisp and clear!

(But the depth perception is off... I feel like

I'm 10 feet tall and driving a semi...)

We stopped at the first rest area just after

Titusville and checked the straps and everything

looked good.

Drove through Jacksonville, headed to Tallahassee

and the next Love's station.

And then I started seeing what looked like

dust or maybe smoke from Kyle's right rear.

I called and he said he thought he cut a tire.

So he pulled over.

Climbed under, and then came running back

to me to grab some bottles of water.

Something back there was on fire.

After about 6 or 7 bottles of water he got

it mostly out, still smoking and smoldering,

but no actual burning.

Looked like he lost the bearings in the wheel.

And a bunch of mechanical words I didn't understand.

We were about 3 miles from the next exit

where there were a couple of service stations,

so we creeped along at 4 mph, stopping now

and again to put more water on it,

and finally made it to a service station.

It was pretty small though, so we crept back

out onto the road and up a little to a larger

Sunoco station. 

Still fairly small, but they were using the

back as a place to drop and exchange

semi trailers, so there was a fair sized 

parking lot.

Rod got on google and found a mobile

mechanic who works on trucks and trailers.

He said he had just repacked the bearings on

another trailer this week, so he came on over.

I never spoke with him, but he seemed to

be a nice guy - he did a bunch of stuff

and then left and came back with his welder

and did a bunch of other cutting and banging

and stuff. (Mechanical stuff I didn't understand...)

Had a buddy come and bring him more stuff.

Went and bought some parts.

Did some more stuff...

Six hours later he said he couldn't fix it.

I'm not sure who was more discouraged.

Probably him.

Anyhow, he and Kyle chained the axle to

the trailer and with his blessing we 

limped along about 45 mph on back roads

the 58 miles to Linda's ranch.

Got there about 10:30 and dropped the

trailer - unloaded the Cat - and left it all,

hopefully out of the way, in the big yard

until Kyle can get all the stuff he needs.

He and Rod will drive back up there and fix it

probably next week. I think the last part

is supposed to be here next Monday.

Anyhow.

We left Linda's, made it to the Loves just

before you get on the highway,

and pulled in there and bedded down for the night.

Beau was up and walking around until

about 2:30. Which is kind of annoying

when I'm trying to sleep in the drivers seat,

he is supposed to be sleeping in the 

passenger seat, but he's climbing back and

forth between the front and back seat

over and over and over.

He finally settled down and we slept until

about 5:30. I got up and took him out,

then we napped until 6:30 when Kyle

was up and ready to head south.

We got here about 11:30 Sunday morning.

Took a nap, and then got ready for another

day of open house.

Oh, while we were waiting for the mechanic,

Rod texted that he had LOTS of people

looking at the house on Saturday,

and then the A/C quit.

Sigh.

This morning I went to get my new glasses

adjusted (they corrected for an astigmatism 

that it appears I don't really have...??? more 

words I don't really understand...)

Anyhow. While I was there, an old customer

from the motorcycle shop days sent his guy

out, put in a new capacitor in the A/C 

for $70 and it is good as new.

My new, updated glasses will be in

either later today or tomorrow.

But I have to teach tonight, so I won't go

get them until tomorrow anyway.

We have an appointment to show the house

Tuesday at 2. Her Mom was here on Saturday

and did a FaceTime walking tour with her.

She is driving up from Ft. Lauderdale to see it.

Fingers crossed!

And I just got off the phone with the home owners

insurance people for WaKeeney and changed it

from a vacant property policy to a replacement

value policy. She was very apologetic that Kansas

just implemented a new wind/hail deductible,

and the price was going to be $155.96 per month.

I tried not to laugh at that.

We have a 5% of the value of the property

deductible for wind storm damage here.

And my payment is over $7,000 a year.

So..... I'm thrilled.

Anyhow.

Now I'm going to go make dog food,

and maybe some raisin bread.

Hope Mothers Day was lovely for all!

Last Day

 I spent the day saying "this is the last time

I will ......"

Last red toes on the beach.

Last Big Island Burrito 

on the beach.

(Or anywhere else... lol)

It was the best we ever had!

Jim and Sabrina came over just before I

started my Zoom so we got to say Goodbye

and hugs and tears and all the things.

(And NO, I forgot to take a picture!!!)

Argh.

And then I taught my last class from here.

And now I need to put the clean sheets on the bed

and pack up my computers and get the truck

all packed and ready for us to leave in the morning.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

I guess there are solar storms out there,

but they seem to be hitting France and the UK.

Connie Henrie put a post on FB about the

northern lights being visible all the way

to the Dakotas tonight!!!

And, instead of the usual green, there are a 

ton of pictures all over Instagram from folks

over there.

They are PINK!

That's unreal!

As long as that's as weird as it gets,

I'll be happy.

Meanwhile, we will be on the road,

so HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

I make no promises for phone calls.

Sorry!

But I'll be thinking of you all!

I hope I'm the only horrid daughter out there.

(grin)

See ya from Kansas Y'all!

Wrapping it Up

 We spent yesterday doing a bunch of errands

and stuff that needs to get done before we leave.

Luna (Kyle's Rotty) went in to be spayed.

And I went in to get new driving and reading glasses.

Rod has a bunch of $ on a medical card and

since he hasn't worked there for more than

3 years, it's use it or lose it.

So I got 2 new pairs of glasses.

A pair of prescription distance sunglasses for

driving (handy for this weekend... lol) 

and updated my readers.

We took Rod with us to WalMart to show him

the easy, delicious frozen foods I found that

I think he will be happy to make and eat

for the next couple of weeks while we

wait for the house to sell.

As we were checking out, Kyle said

"I feel like we are dropping our kid off

at college!"  He has such a sharp wit!

I'm so torn.

I need to go up north and help Kyle get

the garden in the ground.

But I feel like I also need to be here to

take care of my darling husband!

I know he is perfectly capable of taking

care of himself and the house and the dogs,

but still! That's MY job.

Kyle is loaded and ready to go.

His Cat, water wagon, and all the extra implements.

I'm trying to organize the things I need to

take (not much since I'll be driving the 

Ranger and it has a small backseat, so I

won't be sleeping back there, I'll just push

the drivers seat back and sleep there

like I did when we drove out last year.)

That means I need to keep it pretty clear 

behind my seat. So I can put stuff on the

floor and behind the passenger sear,

but Beau is coming with us so he will be

sitting in the passenger seat, so I can't

pile a bunch of stuff there either.

All I REALLY need to take ns my computers

and office stuff, my clothes (there aren't many)

and the Instant Pot.

Rod won't use it, and I certainly will.

We will leave the microwave and good

toaster oven as well as the dishes, pots

and pans that are still here.

He DOES need to still eat, and he can

cook when he wants / needs to.

I think we might borrow Reid's brilliant idea

and modify our living room couch into a 

two-seater loveseat. I like the couch,

it's still fairly new and comfortable.

And I don't want to have to buy a new one!

But, of course, it will depend on how much

room they have. Rod still has lots of BIG

tool boxes and tools that he needs to take,

as well as the giant lawnmower and

two dog crates for the dogs. (We are leaving

Bandit and Luna here with him.)

Anyhow.

That's what the plans look like today.

But, as always, they are likely to change

at any given moment as situations change.

Rod is doing some minor repairs to some rusty

parts in the barn. They went through and painted

all the steel supports but then found a couple

that needed some extra attention.

So he's on that.

I'll miss our barn.

I spent many many happy hours out there.

Making chicken feed.

Playing with our horses.

Just sitting and listening to the quiet of a barn.

The brand new mango right outside CJ's stall

has THREE mangos for its first harvest.

I've been watering it and watching them grow.

The other mango is covered this year. 

We didn't get a harvest for the previous 2 years

since we had late frosts both years.

But this looks to be a bumper crop for the new people.

We haven't had ANY rain in several weeks, so 

Kyle has been watering the yards.

But the barn isn't one of the designated 

watering spots, so the grass here is looking

pretty sad.

Right now, he is cleaning the Ranger for me.

(So I can get it all dirty again...)

Nothing like living in a truck for 2.5 days,

with a dog.

Anyhow.

I'll probably talk to you next from 

our cute little house in WaKeeney!

The weather looks quiet for this weekend,

so we are going to grab this open window

and hop through it.

Spring Has Sprung!

 This morning I was looking at the calendar

and thinking there aren't really any holidays

this month... I wonder what little ditty Mom 

is going to crochet for this month?

And low and behold when I went out to the

mailbox.... see what I found!

An adorable little butterfly with a 

fun note!

That is PERFECT!

(And I LOVE butterflies!)

Kyle and I are going to head to WaKeeney 

on Saturday morning and I will have a little

blue butterfly hanging from my rearview mirror.

(And a dog in my passenger seat...)

Off Grid Water System

 It may be a while before we can get

a new well dug for Kyle's side of the property.

But we have a perfectly adequate well.

Just need a way to get the water to him.

Enter Buffaloe ingenuity.

First he built himself a trailer.

Welded it all together while I was teaching

Friday evening.

Got it all painted as well.

Then they looked for an IBC tote.

Found one about an hour+ north of us.

The same place Jim got his.

They called and asked if they could drive up

and get one. The people said they were there

now but leaving in an hour to run down to Malabar.

HA!

So they delivered it right to him!

And he got right to work.

There was only one part he couldn't pick up at Northern Tool.

So he had to wait for it to arrive from Amazon.

There is room on the front for his generator.

He and Jim did some brainstorming and came up

with a great design! Instead of ball valves and clamps

and hoses here and there and everywhere,

they did a simple Y splitter.

The right hand rigid hose goes into the stock tank

and the pump sucks water out and then the green hose

goes up and fills the tote.

Then when he get to his house or the garden

(wherever he needs water) he flips the switches

and the left white rigid hose sucks water out

of the tote and the black hose goes where he needs water.

He hooked up our sprinkler and got better water

pressure than with it hooked to our house well!

It looks like it's going to be a perfect solution.

Well played Kyle!

Zucchini

 There's not much happening here on the home front.

Kyle and Rod went out to... do something.

They didn't say where they were going.

Kyle is going to get one of those big square

plastic IBC tote things you put liquid in.

(Jim has one on a trailer that he uses

when he pressure washes...)

Anyhow.

Kyle is going to get one, and a small

trailer and an RV pump so that he

can fill it up at the water trough

and then run it over to the garden to

water the garden, but also so he will

have water in his house until we can

get him electricity and a well of his own.

So they are probably working on that.

Meanwhile.

I'm baking bread.

HA!

But I have also been reading books like

it's going out of style!

Kindle says I have read 45 books so far this year!

I found an author who wrote good mysteries

from the point of view of the FBI.

But the more of them I read, they darker

and darker the content got until I was

half-way through one and decided

that it was time I moved on to something else.

But I couldn't find anything I wanted to read,

so I switched from Kindle Unlimited

to the Deseretbook app called Bookshelf.

I've read 3 books so far from there,

so I guess my total for the year is 48.

Unfortunately, since I stopped using my

Kindle app I messed up my reading streak.

I've read for 201 weeks in a row and hadn't missed

a day in over 100 days.

I'm back at 1 day today.

(I read a recipe in my Trim Healthy cookbook

that I keep a digital copy of on the app.)

Anyhow.

The book I'm reading right now is called

The Ties That Bind and it's about a man

who is determined to find his family and kind

of gets excited about genealogy without realizing

that's what he is doing.

But back to zucchini.

It's Halloween in the story and he is giving

out candy to the kids that come to the door.

He is complaining that some of the kids are 

WAAY too old to be trick-or-treating.

And his wife says, "When someone older than

12 came to our door, Dad used to give them a

zucchini instead of candy since they had lots

left from their garden."

I thought that was HILARIOUS and I can't wait

for Halloween in WaKeeney!

We are having another open house this weekend.

Heard from our realtor this morning that a couple

we met last weekend is coming back with 

their own realtor this weekend.

That's good, right?

The showing we had the other day was a bust.

The guy didn't speak much English 

and didn't even come inside,

He wanted the property to run a business.

The realtor didn't elaborate on what kind of business.

But whatever it was, it wasn't something that

is allowed in our zoning of rural residential.

Oh well.

Fingers crossed and constant prayers.

When its right, it will happen.

Meanwhile, our house has never been so clean.

HA!

May Day!

 So is it only bad if you say it twice?

Mayday, Mayday!

But if you just say May Day, then its the day

you change the calendar over and then

dance around the May Pole.

Right?

Ok.

Forgive me.

I was awake ALL NIGHT last night.

No reason.

I just lay there in bed and watched the

clock tick over in 20 minute increments.

Sigh.

This morning I'm doing a quick run-through

the house and then I'm off to WalMart.

We have a realtor coming to show the house

at 9:00 so I'm going to clear out.

And I need to pick up my thyroid meds.

And some oven cleaner.

And a slip.

Hahahahaha.

I love my random shopping lists these days.

Happy Heart

 We brought some plants home from WaKeeney.

We had to repot the herbs.

They were getting too big for their store pots.

And the pots are ugly.

They are sitting right outside the patio doors

and they just make me happy 

every time I look out or walk by.

We have had some "cool" evenings with a nice breeze

so we have been taking Beau for a walk in the woods.

(It's 1.54 miles according to MapMyWalk)

At the end of the walk he gets a well deserved

dip in the lake. Which it appears he loves.

Despite the vet telling me Frenchies don't like water.

HA!

We had a couple of good open houses over the weekend.

It was our realtor's birthday on Sunday. She had a luncheon

with her old flight attendant friends on Saturday so she

came over late - just as we were ending.

And then another couple showed up like 7pm!

But we showed them around anyway.

And then on Sunday we went to church, came home

to eat some lunch and prep for the open house

and here came a couple up from Ft. Lauderdale.

So we tucked our lunch out of sight and 

showed them the house / property.

We had several couples come up from 

down south who seemed interested.

We'll see...

I baked some chocolate chip cookies towards

the end of the open house since I knew

the realtor was going to stop by and I

don't have anything to make a cake with.

And this morning I'm doing laundry,

gave Rod a haircut and I'm making

a loaf of bread.

And doing paperwork for last week's class.

Another Major Life Change!

 How many times can I say it's the

END OF AN ERA....

But, hey. 

It's the END OF AN ERA!

Yesterday, Kyle sold his mulcher.

(basically his business...)

He's owned it for a lot of years.

And it has made him a lot of money.

But there aren't a lot of trees in Kansas

that need to be mulched.

So he sold it and it is headed north

to Ohio. (Or Iowa.....  one of those short name states... lol)

(Canadian here... US geography hurts my head.)

Kyle lifted it up with his Cat (using the forks)

and the man backed his truck under it.

It fit like a GLOVE!

(We had him pay cash, sign a bill of sale 

AND sign a waiver saying he took 100% responsibility

if it crushed his truck ... lol.)

It was a little sad.

Nice to get the money, but not as much as it's worth

and not enough to go out and buy the excavator

Kyle REALLY wants for up there...

But... a step in the right direction.

So... to celebrate we went for a walk 

over at the Turkey Creek Preserve.

I had Kyle take our picture.

And you know what happens with the kid has the camera...

Mayhem is what!

Sideways.

Silly man.

He was in a pretty good mood.

Anyhow.

I just finished subbing a morning zoom.

I can hear him zooming around the back 40 

on his TTR50 (small Yamaha dirtbike) he just

fixed so he can either sell it or take it with us

as a zip around kind of bike.

Gotta go do some stuff and then get ready

to teach again this evening.

Have a beautiful weekend

and keep us and the sale of our house in your prayers!

THANKS!!!!!

Baking

 I've been lazing around like a

fat ol' squirrel on the fence.

(He's out there all the time...)

But then the baking bug bit me.

I made a loaf of no-knead artisan white bread.

I added some onion and garlic powder.

It was REALLY good!

Also made a loaf of banana nut bread.

I still have 3 more ripe bananas in the

freezer and then a bunch of nearly

ripe ones on the counter that Kyle

picked from the tree.

The squirrels have been eating them.

(Which might be why he is then lazing

on the top of the fence...)

Anyhow.

The day before I made chocolate chip cookies.

Things are a little slow around here.

So I'm baking.