i plunged ....

  yep, bought the automobile.  yes, an automobile.  not a truck or a suv but an automobile.  the last car i owned was the 1980 ford mustang, which i drove the wheels off of ... it was the "college transportation " .. black with black interior and in 1980 no air conditioning!!! ( i traded it in with a case of oil in the back seat  -- it needed them) .. since 1986 it's been one SUV after another....

a 2 door grey one (the 1986) aka the "rolling coffin" .... enough said

upgraded to a 2 door green one (the 1992) .....

then upgraded to a 4 door green one with built in car seats for Nick (he was a baby then) (the 1996) ... the passengers thought they needed doors and grandma thought Nick needed a built in car seat ---

then upgraded to the black 4 door with the BIG motor (which i wish i still had -- i miss that vehicle)(the 1997) ... and it's still running --- haven't seen it lately but it's in town now and then!

and lastly the blue 4 door (which frankly i've never liked it was never as good as the black one)(the 2005) ... i bought this one over the phone....


     so in several months during the first winter storm warning when i need to get to the office -- i'll be driving mom's suv or dad's pig vehicle -- because they have 4WD ... i can see it now, me and the pig mobile ---

on the upside -- it's really cool, has a huge sunroof, and should get much much better mileage.... double digit mileage in the winter -- i'm not going to miss the awful mileage. 

pictures tomorrow!!!

M

Blessed Diva

   So yesterday I received a birthday treat.  It made me smile.  After life is all about enjoying those moments.  I am so lucky to be surrounded by so many good peeps.


   The car swap deal was a bit time consuming yesterday.  Should I or shouldn't I -- I think its down to (a) the swap price and (b) is it still under warranty.  I've gotton over the "white" exterior, yes Diva has at least a mile of gravel to get home everyday and she's thinking about (gasp here) a white vehicle.  The interior is dark gray ... almost black.  The last time I owned a "car"  was 1986.  sooooo it's kind of big change -- although this is a "crossover" vehicle -- half car half sport utility. 

  The squash garage sale continues today .... one way or another this stuff will be relocated somewhere ....

Marie

oh Monday

   I just know it's going to be a fabulous day in the Valley.  Sunny, warm, gentle breezes -- and lots of box elder bugs and asian beatles -- two of God's favorite methods of torturing us.  Ever wonder what they think of us.  I spray them with toxic chemicals, I sweep them away, I suck them up with the vac -- and they still keep coming. 

Diva

Birthday !!!

  So it was a day long party of sorts.

  Cake and treats at the Market (carrot cake from GAC - yummy) -- and it rained yes during Market -- my canopy pooped out last week at the office and since it was forecasted to be 85' and sunny -- I had no rain jacket -- bought rain poncho for $1 at the $1 Store -- it was most attractive ....

  Hung out with the Florida Family Members who were up for homecoming and the various ceremonies at the High School.  Cousin Jack was inducted into the SPHS Hall of Fame.  It's warmer here than Florida -- he didn't bring normal clothes -- so he was sweating in the wool. 

  Cleaned up the Market Truck == never rained at the farm 2 miles away.

  Surprise Birthday Party -- pretty calm night for an "old" woman.  Gotta love the AARP discounts coming my way -- and I too will be counting backwords from this point forward!  Many thanks to everyone !!! 

Diva

pretty tree

the motherlode of bittersweet .... there is ton's of it.

and two more trees loaded with more bittersweet

the melonpatch from afar

grapes 

mom and i took a ride and found lots of cool stuff ....

Today is the Big Day

doesn't the patch look sad -- between the frost on Sunday ... and 88' yesterday it just took a beating

the critters are still dining regularly on the pumpkins

 and they are rolling watermelons, pumpkins and squash out into the soybean field ... coyotes ... they roll 'em for miles --

even the zinna's are tough looking -- since the deluge 3 weeks ago it has not rained a drop ... my sandy soil is generally light and airy -- it's turned to cement --- and the weeds (quack grass and foxtail mainly) are not helping any ...

I'm officially old today -- now I can start counting backwards by two !!  We're having cake & beverages at the farmers market this morning.  Carrot cake from GAC!  Looked yummy in the box ... which is now residing in the walkin cooler at the greenhouse .... no fridge large enough at this house!

Toodles
Diva!

1 day and counting

  the big day is tomorrow ......  !!!!

  but yesterday was a very busy day .... 2nd day of CNC (Connecting Nicollet County) Program ... we started the morning with a presentation from the Nicollet County Social Services.... $8 Million later I had learned a lot.  A tour of the Jail and Dispatch Center was next -- including a live 911 Call in which some of the participants new the caller. 

  After lunch at the Cox House (yea, they let us eat there!) and a tour of the Cox House it was a presentation regarding the Nicollet County Historical Society at the Treaty Site History Center (flood pic below) and lastly a tour of the Museum at the State Hospital ...

okay and 9 days later nary a drop of water to be found.

Last night was Girls Night Out in St. Peter -- more like women gone wild.  Hords of Women roaming the street looking for free food free treats and sign ups for drawings.  I stopped at the coffee shop for some soup and I was the only paying customer they had that hour -- they were happy to see me....

the maple across the street from the office -- isn't it gorgeous

the squash-mobile -- dad is so busy farming for Joe he hasn't missed his truck ... mine again today -- loading up squash from office for market tomorrow -- selling a lot via the garage ...

hide the trash curbies with potted plants.... then the wind blows and knocks 'em over ... hibiscus ... will be bringing them and their bugs indoors shortly

my tacky garage display of squash ... labeled piled and self service ... a lot less work

and a pile of watermelons...