Ending A Monday

I had dinner on my back porch tonight. (Pork fajita tacos, with roasted corn and sweet caramelized onions...home made!) The sky is slightly cloudy, tinged with sunset pink. The birds are singing and the leaves on the trees are making that calming sound I love. The breeze is cool, and my little garden of green is growing!
My shower is done, my hair smells like strawberries and the bed has freshly laundered sheets.
It's rather a nice evening!

GREEN BEAST

Just over a month ago my Tahoe died. I knew there was a problem, but I had no idea what. When I parked the car the evening before, it sounded funny and felt funny too. When I left for work the following morning it sounded like I was dragging a full sized refrigerator underneath. I pulled into the service station around the corner, and ALL the men in the shop came out to see what the sound was. One guy drove it around the parking lot, then another crawled underneath it. The all spoke in Boy Language... then the one guy said, "Ya, we can't help with that, but here is the number to a shop that can. It's going to be pricey." Well, with the number in my hand, I went to work, driving 40 miles an hour the entire way (that is the speed limit anyway). After work, I went to dinner with friends, so my car sat at work as we carpooled. When we arrived back at the parking lot, I put it in reverse, just to make sure it could still do that thing, then I drove it back to my apartment (dragging the full sized refrigerator underneath.)

I made it all the way home, just about ready to turn into my parking spot, and it stopped moving. The engine still worked, but that bad boy was not moving for nothing. I panicked and called my friend to help me push it the 15 feet to the parking spot. It was having none of that. It would not move an inch. I called AAA, and they sent a guy with a tow truck. He tried to push it with that big tow truck, but it wasn't moving. The tow truck guy had to unhook the drive shaft in order to push the Tahoe into place. And there it has sat for a month. My sweet man put a for sale add out on it. And he manned the responses and texts from all the would-be buyers.

I have since acquired a new vehicle, and I am very happy with it. 

This last Thursday my apartment complex left a note on my door, letting me know that they will be resurfacing the parking lot next week and we will need to park elsewhere, Panic!!! So my sweet guy and I agreed to drop the price we were hoping for and say that it had to be sold this weekend. One of the interested parties put out a price and we excepted. Dillon and his brother Joseph came by last night to take a look. They liked what they saw and said they would be back this morning.

I spent most of the night searching for the title for the Tahoe. When I had exhausted myself and my options, I went online and expedited a copy. It cost more $$ than I thought it should, but it is done and it will be delivered to my office this week. I told Dillon that this morning and texted him a copy of the receipt. He gave me cash and now we are waiting for the tow truck to pick it up. 

Dillon plans on restoring the Tahoe and driving it. He already has the new transfer case ready to put into it. He is a sweet shy kid, but he sure liked the way the Tahoe sounds when your rev that motor! 

I love that Tahoe... my dear friend David gave it to me when I was in need. He used it daily and took adventures in it too. I was so very blessed by his kind gift. He always looked out for me. I loved being able to haul my kids and all their stuff in it. It is HUGE. I am grateful to by dear friend Bill, who worked on just about every part of that silly vehicle. He even bought the entire set of 2000 Tahoe manuals in order to keep it running smoothly. I sure enjoyed the days I would spend at his place in Casa Grand, catching some sun as he worked on the Green Beast! I too love the sound of the masculine engine. I loved bring it with me on my adventure to Kentucky. I am grateful for its size and the safety it provided as I hit black ice November 17, 2014, and rolled the Tahoe into a ditch. I was fine, the Tahoe took the beating. Yet, with some TLC from my neighbor Earl, it was road worthy again. Once again, I am grateful for those who took care of me and helped me get past that. I am grateful for Keith, who has taken care of my cars needs and helped me with my vehicle issues in Kentuckianna. Keeping up with the maintenance was tough for me, it is, after all, a boy job. 

I have wanted to look for a smaller car for some time. When gas was $3+ a gallon, I was spending over $300 a month just to get to work. However, with living expenses and child support, a new car didn't fit into my life budget. 

When the Tahoe died, I did panic. I did a lot of praying also. I was again blessed to find my new car for a good price and in a short time frame. I am grateful for Eliott, who went with me to look at cars, helped me when I needed his muscle and was there to me my bodyguard when I was unsure of my surroundings. Grateful again for Keith, who helped me look at cars, held my hand, is always my voice of calm, reason and knowledge. I am so grateful for my son, who is always supportive and wonderful, even from 15000 miles away. (He even looked for cars for me from Phoenix) 

I am thankful for Dillon, and his excitement. I am so glad he sees beyond the broken and can see the potential in the Green Beast. 

Saturday Afternoon

I have been doing a bit of work in my tiny garden this afternoon. All the tomato, squash and bean plants have been staked with tobacco sticks to keep them straight and tall. The grass has mostly been pulled around the beds, and I even removed a worm or two ( yes it was two) by hand. (Thank you Keith for the work gloves, that give me super human garden confidence that I would not have without  them!)
I am a bit reluctant to say what amazing  weather we are enjoying today. As my son just helped a friend move to a third floor apartment in the 115 degree heat in Phoenix. But... it is a delightful 77 degrees here in Kentuckiana, the breeze is stiff and cool and the sound of the wind in the trees and the birds singing is wonderful!
Sitting on my tiny patio, looking at my darling yard.... I am so grateful to live where I do. It's beautiful here. I love getting my hands dirty and watching things grow. I love every wonderful thing about the Midwest.
There are even birds having a bath in the gutter above my patio...charming!!!!

Tag Line

I rarely watch tv, but tonight I am flipping channels and there is a new Febreze spray commercial on..
 The tag line: Because the things you love can stink!
Oh my goodness!!! Someone got paid for that! PRICELESS

HaPPy FLaG Day

I flew into Kentuckianna 4 years ago today. 

I came to spend a week with my best friend. 

I was so excited. 

As the plane landed in Evansville,

I was delighted and surprised to see how green it was. 

As we drove over the Ohio River into Kentucky, 

I was awestruck by the beauty of the green all around me. 

Spending a week in the woods, way out in the country,

was a life changing magical event for me. 

I am grateful to the Kentucky man who changed my life. 

I lost my heart in Kentucky on Flag Day.

This is always going to be my favorite holiday! 

June First

I started a new adventure three years ago today. It feels like a life time. I'm so glad I took that leap of faith in myself. I love this path. ❤️❤️❤️