It's All Good Now!

New RAV is all good. I had a few moments of fighting with the cruise control on Friday heading to Portland but I've worked it out. And the unnerving propensity for it to turn itself off at every stop light has been solved. If I don't press so hard on the brake pedal it stays running. Packing it was a challenge and I admit that it was not packed the same way coming home on Sunday but it all fit so who cares? The show was what I had anticipated for a new show - lightly attended but I did not lose money, even with the overnight stay and dinner out, which was fun. Connie and I were in the same hotel as Susan and Terry from Forever Clean so we did dinner at a Mexican restaurant Susan knew of. Good food and a smaller size Margarita were just the ticket. Sunday's meeting and vote went as expected, so no more UMC after this year. Leaves me with fewer shows: KVAA, Brunswick, and whatever SSMC shows I can get into. I will not be doing their Brunswick show again - not worth it and too early in the season. Perhaps the Scarborough show? As director, Linda might be inclined to give me a spot. I might reconsider on Belfast but likely not. We'll see. No rush to create anything this week but I'd like to get at least a start on another tree skirt. I have 3 weeks after the Augusta show to fill in whatever I need. It will be a busy time and I have committed to making treats and the wreath for the Sidney Vet's Day celebration. Election in one week and it's right down to the wire. Crazy shit coming from the right - misogynistic, racist and just plan hateful. A "comic" who insulted just about everyone, a rich supporter (Elon) who slurred Harris with the "C" word, and so much more, in addition to the ever-present lies. And his crowds just eat it up. Fingers crossed it goes the sane way and we can get back to peace and quiet, if there could be those 2 things in the post-Trumpian world.

Car Woes!

In the past 3 weeks I have payed for the following things car-related: 1) Oil & filter change, plus changing the air filter and the cabin air filter. While doing all that, mechanic notice the water pump was leaking so that was replaced, along with the serpentine belt and new coolant. (Mechanic also thoroughly cleaned the engine!) 2) New tires and rear springs, because apprently one spring was broken. Wheel alignment. 3) Replacing the gas filler neck and related vent system plumbing. What I haven't payed for yet is whatever prevented it from starting this afternoon when I went to move it to load up after a show in Brunswick. Yay for AAA, who came and said they thought it was the starter. Of course, since I didn't say it needed to be towed, I had to call AAA again to request a tow. And, surprise, the same driver showed up again. Anyway, he was very kind and dropped me off at Paul's and Paul offered to drive me home, which is where I am now. I will attempt to get to the grocery store for a couple of things tomorrow with Brenda and Garrett and David (hopefully) will arrive home and we can get things back to normal. I would have prefered to have Kevin diagnose the problem but it was going to be $150 to tow it up here and free to tow it to the dealer in Topsham so it was a no brainer, although I hate paying the dealer but at least it's not CM Toyota. And Kevin is out of town this next week. UPDATE: David is home safe and sound as of noon. It HAS been the week from HELL!!!! UPDATE #2: After paying an exhorbitant ($800+) bill at the dealer and being told the car needed $1000 more work, and they couldn't get the parts until this week, I threw in the towel. My luck has turned as they has a 2019 RAV4 on the lot that was not over priced. Pretty basic model but it is transportation for the next year+. Getting my financial ducks in a row today and tomorrow so I can hopefully pick it up on Wednesday. It's roomier than the 2004 so packing will be easier. It's more comfortable to drive, and should be more reliable. And if I go to trade it after only a year I should make out okay. Many many many thanks to D. who is helping to finance this move. UPDATE #3: The new red RAV4 is now registered, insured and safely in the garage. It's taking some getting used to but so far it's all good. It was sad to leave the 2004 behind but it was (past) time. Maiden craft show trip this weekend to Portland. New puzzle as to how to pack it all in but more room.

Scary Stuff!!!

Amid all the reportage on Hurricane Milton, I got a phone call from one of David's friends who he is visiting right now on a mini RIT reunion. (This a half hour after I had talked with David.) Seems he suddenly said he didn;t feel quite right, got up to go to the bathroom and passed out for a few moments. He was a bit confused when he came too but eventually recovered, Still, his friends did the sensible things and called the EMT's, who carted him off to a Rochester hospital. Three hours later he has seen a doctor, had blood drawn, has all kinds of checks and they are keeping him for observation overnight. Seems the major issue was dehydration and low blood pressure. I hope they let him go tomorrow and that he takes it easy, maybe even stays in Rochester an extra day or 2. When he called me and talked about how pissed off he is, I reminded him that Kelly is just a phone call away. So this is why I will likely never let him travel by himself again. Meanshile, the scenes from Florida are just heartbreaking. So much water, so much wind. And all in the dark. I can only imagine the devastation that will be seen tomorrow. And most of those people hadn't even finished clearing away the debris from Helene. Friday UPDATE: After almost 24 hours under observation and a couple of tests he's out of the hospital and with his freinds (Keith and Don) at their vacation rental. No firm plans in place to get him and his car back home but Don and Mimi will likely assist and I might have to travel to NH to meet them. Will know more later today. If that happens, his return will be delayed by atleast a day. Apparently by New York law, since he blacked out he cannot legally drive. Firmer than ever in my resolve to not let him travel without me.

Tee Hee!!!

I take extremely perverse pleasure knowing that the MAGA element who lives down the side road from my house has to be exposed to my Harris/Walz yard sign every time he has to stop at the end of his road before turning onto our road. A constant reminder of his misplaced faith. (This is the fellow who for the past 4 years had a banner outside his house that read "F_ _ _ Biden" which has lately been replaced with one reading "F_ _ _ Harris".) FYI - My signs contain no such sentiments, obscene or otherwise. I also have noted the recent Trump signs that appear aimed at his base who apprently lack to critical thinking skills to decipher anything beyond one or two word messages. Example: TRUMP - LOW PRICES - HARRIS - INFLATION. Such nonsense and a lie to boot, just like most of his campaign speeches these days. Particularly evil to say the Federal Goverment has misappropriated FEMA funds to housing immigrants in the midst of the worst natural disasyer since Katrina. But it's his usual transference playbook at work, accusing the other side of what he has already done. (He witheld relief funds from NC and finally gave them a mere small percentage of what was promised (just like he did with his contractors while running his alleged real estate empire. He also withheld funds from California for wildfire relief because he believed it was a Democrat stronghold, until aides convinced him there were more registered Republicans there.) I remain committed to my party.

Three Weeks Out...

...from my next show and I have a throw top completed, the backing procured and washed and just waiting for the next quiet day (Monday) to layer and start quilting. In the meantime, I am working on some wall hangings as I recently acquired some new winter/holiday panels. I also see a couple of new pillows in my future. Other things in my world these days are dealing with the aging car. I just had my mechanic change the oil and filter and replace the engine and cabin air filters. He's reluctant to spend any time on determining what is causing the problems with the evaporative system leak so I still have the lights every few days. He also had to replace the waterpump but that was not as expensive as first thought. And I still have a tire light that must be one of the pressure sensors malfunctioning. So I have to decide if I want to spend the money to replace the tires and have an alignment. I hate shopping for the big ticket stuff but once it's done I'm usually happy with the results. So tomorrow I'll start the process after I get my flu and COVID shots. Meantime, David has exhaust system work on his schedule this Wednesday, before his trip to Rochester. (Three times in one year is a record for him, getting close to my 4 trips to Ithaca the last year of Judy's life, back when we each could make the trip in a day.) And I still need to finish my bed renovation project outside and complete the deadheading for the time being. Do it now so I don't have to do it in the spring when it's all matted down. I'm always amazed that the beds that look so barren in the winter can burst into such richness in the spring and summer. And then shrink back to nothing in the winter. The circle of life.

Take Down!!!

Two nights ago was the second Presidential debate of 2024 and the result was spectacular! Kamala dominated the orange man from the get go. She crossed the stage to introduce herself and shake his hand after he shuffled to stand at his podium, barely acknowledging her. Then she hit him with the force of a hurricane and he really didn't know what hit him. His answers devolved into his standard rants while she scored points with her plans and positivity. Afterwards, he showed up in the Spin Room to declare he had won and that the moderators (David Muir and Linsey Davis) were biased because the kept fact checking him and not her. ("Well, you see, Donnie, she wasn't lying like you were!") And he went so far as to accuse her of having the questions beforehand. (Donnie - she had all those answers ready because unlike you, she does her homework! She's prepared.") The Harris camp immediately said they want another debate but by today, Trump has said he's done with debates, an unspoken admission that he lost although he's still claiming victory. SMH!!!!! We are in the midst of the most glorious Indian Summer weather - 70's and sunny and cool nights. Not much rain. I finally got the ninebark shrub planted today after ripping out the furiously self-seeding Rudbeckia from the bed right up against the house. Only one bag of mulch left to spread after I rip out more tomorrow. Unless I decide to sew, which is a good possibility as I still need to make another couch throw for the Fall shows. I'm working my way through binding turning on the runner and placemats I completed with one table topper to finish quilting. Time to move on to that throw and some wall hangnings since I have new panels now. And I still need some more tree skirts but those can wait for a month or so. New hurricane hit Louisiana today and California is dealing with an earthquake and major wildfires. Crazy stuff. We have some haze from Canadian wildfires but it's not too bad.

On to Autumn!

September 1st - beginning of Fall. Time for mums, cornstalks, orange and brown and green. Indian corn and pumkins - NO pumkin spice for this girl, though! YUCK! Pumpkin oie? YES!! Pumkin ice cream - yes, but it's hard to find. I'm so ready for the cooler temperatures - I have outdoor gardening projects deferred since spring due to the hot and humid weather. A bed in front of the house has become overgrown with self-seeding perennials and needs to be cleared and replanted. I just found the last shrub needed and will attack it this coming week. Then it will be time to cut back dead and dying foliage and get ready for winter. About every third year I don'g get around to clearing everything and it makes for a tough slog the following spring. I'm always amazed that what is lush and full in the summer (especially this summer with all the rain!) looks so barren in the winter. The Brunswick show last month was again a success, falling just short of last year in earnings. Still, a good day and we were blessed with good weather again. Muggy morning turned to clearing skies and a nice breeze all day. And I was on the grassy mall this year which was much quieter than last year on the street. I will request the same spot next year, for sure. And I was able to just leave the car right on the street, so no running off to some far away parking spot. Loved it! The Democratic convention was gala celebration of Harris and Walz. There were seemingly too many celebs and extraneous personages. But it was all good. And got generally favorable reviews...well, from the Dems anyway! Meanwhile, TFG continues to spiral out of control. He cannot stop himself from the personal attacks that just fuel his rage over and over, and, I suspect, fuel his followers rage at the Dems. His VP pick seems like an evil person who continues to stoke the misogony that has layed just under the surface until now. He would rather women were barefoot, pregnant, at home and silent. I have to say, the two of them have met their match in Kamala. She won't put up with that at all. And Trump pissed off the veterans this past week by essentailly breaking the law at Arlington to video a campaign message. Adding insult to illegality, his team neglected to blur/remove the names on the headstones that appear in the video and photos - some of those were of service members who have committed suicide due to their injuries in service. Just in genereal, another slap in the face for the "suckers" and "losers" as he calls them. Saratoga racing is winding down - they had their first in-race fatality on Friday when The Big Torpedo was lost during the running of the Saranac. Again, a high-profile breakdown right in front of the stands. Another horse was knocked into the rail when he went down and the jockey, Javier Castellano, was sent to the hospital. All is okay but he was off his mounts yesterday. The Big Torpedo's jockey was uninjured. I was not watching at the time and glad of it.