1000th post

Amazing. This is the 1000th post to my "new" blog. Thanks to all who have visited!

25k visitors

Amazing that so many have visited this humble, mostly, blog. Thanks, all.

Photos at home

These two found some remains to clean up in the field across the road. The next day there were 16 more in the same place so the find must have been significant tho it isn't visible. It was too windy to get a good photo of the mob.

The man who owns this property yelled at me when I parked briefly to take this photo. I yelled back what I was doing and he said OK.

Three of the feline residents on the cathouse roof. Tim munches while LittleOne (who is really quite large now) and Tommie watch me.

Why I haven't but need to mow

If you look closely you will see a red cable running across my oil tank and beyond my TV antenna. That is my phone line at the moment. It runs from the phone access around the house across the front and around the barn to a pole up the driveway. Windstream needs to move the pole so this is how they gave me temporary access. It all lay in the grass until today when I really need to mow. I raised it so I don't cut it. I hope they install the pole soon!

This is one reason I really don't want to mow. I LOVE violets and the yard is full of them this year. This is just a small sample. The daffys are mostly gone and need to be dead headed. Someday.

Both photos are embiggenable.

What you've been waiting to see

The new bumper stickers on the new Prius. Thought about leaving it bare but have so many choice stickers to use. Wish the Episcopal ones were still available on CafePress.

New Prius

Yes, that is frost. 14 this morning, A record apparently.

There are both good and notsogood features about this Prius. I love the headlights. Well, the dims are about as before but the brights really work. Should be much better for deer spotting. Traction control is turnoffable, I'm told. Yea! Sometimes it is good but it prevented getting out when I did get stuck the first year I had the old car. Since this is a cheaper model, the rear view mirror doesn't automatically "dim". Another Yea! Dimming was not evident with the old mirror. I don't have the garage door opener in the mirror now but I have no problem using the separate device now that I can dim the following headlights myself. The visibility out the back is limited by narrower sides but straight back is much better. The divide is still there but is higher. I don't think there is a backup camera now which I'll miss in parking lots but it was usually covered with grime anyhow. Love the fuel countdown. Started at 500+. If I can actually fill the car with gas, I will be very happy! In cold weather I could only drive 250 miles or so before refilling because the tank would only take 6 gallons. Even in warm weather more than 7 was unusual. The tank should hold 11+ gallons.

The main thing I don't like so far is the intrusive console which lacks good storage, takes up too much room and is very distracting with lights everywhere. The cup holder may make spills common as it looks to be elbow vulnerable. The second one in the retractable armrest looks even worse. Must have been a very tall designer who pushed the seat way back. I already miss the secret compartment where I kept laundry money. The tray under the console is all but useless. It will provide a safe place for the iPhone while charging but that's about it. The two pockets in the doors will hold waterbottles but I used mine for napkins and maps. Not sure they are long enough for maps. The upper glovebox doesn't have a shelf. I keep papers in there but the lack of a shelf will mingle them inconveniently.

The car feels more solid. It is a bit larger. I hit something underneath loudly in the driveway so it must be a bit lower. Hope everything underneath is protected as my driveway is very rutted.

I have not tried the garage yet.

Or put on bumperstickers. Disappointed that the Episcopal ones on CafePress are no longer available. Have plenty of others in my collection from which to choose.

Episcopalians seem to bless everything but couples who love each other but happen to be of the same sex. I'm wondering if I should ask to have the Prius blessed to, hopefully, avoid the deer that seemed drawn to the old one...

Prius down again

This is what the latest deer encounter did. No, I was not hurt.

The damage may be somewhat limited, I hope. I really don't want a new car especially car payments!

For 2011

Some of what I'd wish for, pray for, hope for, dream of in 2011.

Church:
• Sufficient financial resources to remain a parish
• Father Richard to be with us all year
• The means to put a new roof on Christ Church
• The return of Christ Church people who haven't been seen for ages for one reason or another
• The letting go of old prejudices, hatreds, suspicions and other ill feelings that separate us in the parish
• Fun activities involving both adults and children
• Commitment to reach beyond the eucharist to others' needs

Others:
• The success of St Jude's Mission
• Parishes for a whole bunch of friends like Padre Mickey, MadPriest, Lauren and others
• Ordination somewhere for Jack
• Suitable employment for K and another bunch of friends
• Health insurance for E finally

Causes:
• An end to the Anglican Covenant and perhaps the Anglican Communion if necessary regardless of what it means for TEC
• An end to all the TEC property lawsuits and the return of property stolen by schismatics then the legal and ethical release of said property for proper sale to those who want it
• The end of DADT
• The end of DOMA
• The inclusion of LGBTQs as normal members of society with all the rights and privileges enjoyed by others
• Radical conversion of religionists who can't accept the idea that Jesus taught us to love ALL unconditionally and leave judgment to Godde
• Intellectual growth in tea party people and others who claim to be "conservative" and have no clue what the word means
• The demise of the influence of Fox "News", Rush Limbaugh and similar liars and hate mongers - see above
• A path to full citizenship for children brought here by parents but not born here
• A means of convincing business that it is better to put money in play to provide employment and improve the economy than to give it to executives or allow it to lie fallow
• A miracle that convinces Congress to work for the middle class and those who need a chance to improve their lives
• The restriction of the use of words like fascist, socialist and socialism to those who understand what they mean
• The revelation that the fears that motivate so many people are simply the tools used to control them, that the fears have no basis in reality and that fear and the perpetrators of it can be rejected easily for a happier and healthier life
• The rejection of political campaign funding by organizations of any kind
• A limitation on political campaigning to six months before an election

Personal:
• Health and a strong ankle for L
• Strength and focus and organization and concentration for the tasks ahead for me


(to be continued)

Thanks, everso, Bill

It is oranger than it shows on my screen. Perfect for my house.

Still snowing

Two views out the front window. Yes, those are icicles.

The view out the back door.

The view out the kitchen window.

Grump, Part 2

This is the tree and some debris from the car. The tree had a couple of damaged spots which makes me wonder if the car rolled the tree a bit which may have helped get over it. Where it was hit, the tree was about a foot in diameter. It was a poplar, I think, which is pretty soft wood.

This is what it did to the guardrail. The top of the tree and lots of branches are in the creek on the other side.

The owner of the only auto body place I will allow to touch my cars is away so I won't know more until next week sometime. They are approved by my insurer too. The Prius is at home there having been a deer magnet in its early life. I'm now driving a stealth Buick with Ohio plates and PA inspection stickers. I've never owned a GM car because they are made for people who aren't built like me. By the time I get the seat close enough to reach the pedals, the steering wheel is under my chin. But this car is old enough that I can barely see over the wheel.

Oh, yes, I removed and saved the bumper stickers.

Grump

This is what happens when you run over a tree with the Prius. I was on the way to a concert in Greenville in a storm that made it difficult to see. Less than a mile from home suddenly a tree fell across the road a few feet in front of the car. One second later and I would have been under it. Three seconds earlier and I would have missed it. I knew I was going to hit the tree and waited for the airbag to go off as the car came to a sudden stop. The car didn't stop. It bumped over the tree. And it was still running. And it continued to go and stop as it should.

I pulled off into the entrance to the park - the dam road - a few hundred feet down the road and called 911 on my iPhone. I was concerned someone else would run into it in the dark and downpour. She took the info and said she would contact the Jamestown Fire Department to get rid of the tree then connected me to the State Police. They took all my info and asked repeatedly if I was ok and if the car was drivable. I didn't want to check the damage until I could see in the storm. There had to be some damage even if the car was still running. The trooper asked if I was going home. I told him I was going on to Greenville since the car seemed drivable.

By the time I hung up the rain had stopped enough to take a look. A mess. But it looked like it was drivable if the radiator was ok. How that escaped damage is interesting to ponder. I looked and listened for problems all the way into town.

So I went on to the concert not liking the idea of walking in during. But it had not started so I had time to find a seat and exchange pleasantries (gossip) with some of my neighbors. It was in Holy Trinity, the Lutheran Church I belonged to before going to Christ Church. There were people there I hadn't seen in many years. I didn't get to talk to all of them tho.

The concert was a trio from Apollo's Fire, a Baroque Orchestra from Cleveland. It was excellent. I loved the "human" sound of the Baroque violin and cello. So different from the modern instruments. I wish the harpsichord had been a little louder but I forgot my hearing aids so it may have been ok for most. I left the program in the car. If you really want to know what they played, let me know in the comments. Vivaldi, Bach, Buxtehude, Handel and whoever wrote the last lively piece.

On the way home, I checked out where the tree had fallen as I drove by. A trooper had called during the concert and I returned the call during intermission. He said the tree was gone, nobody else was involved and thanked me for calling. The tree crushed the armco (what do you call those big metal barriers?) on the other side of the road so it wasn't that small. Only Godde knows how the Prius bounced over it.

I'm curious to see if Erie Insurance totals the car. It has 124k+ miles.

Doctors

Very puffy right hand complete with 8 or so cat bites. Immediately after letting PuddyTat loose at home I went to the doctor for an antibiotic on orders from the vet. Took several hours to see the doc. Glad I had crossword puzzles in the car. Kinda tough not being able to hold something since I can't close my hand. But at least washing dishes didn't start any of it bleeding again. Guess I'll heal.

And PuddyTat will recover from her respiratory troubles, I hope. Needless to say she comes to eat but won't get within 6 feet of me.

New leaf

The little upper leaf is actually greener than the photo shows. This plant has had only the stem and the leaf on the left for several years. Suddenly the new leaf appeared a few weeks ago. I think I brought this home when Mom died and that's all there was to it. I water it every once in awhile and now - a new leaf. There is always hope.

Ferrellgas update - updated

Within a few hours of my original post, a Ferrellgas representative named Jim commented on the post. Via email I said I would be willing to talk to a Customer Service person. Mandy called this morning. She was very pleasant and helpful. The charges have been removed from my account. She suggested what I should do. I agreed to stay with Ferrellgas for now. I also suggested they read the comments.

She is a cat person so she will also check my blog.

Update: The Ferrellgas man came and checked my tanks. Moved them to comply with the law. Showed me how to determine how much gas remains. Said good things about Mandy and her boss. I'm pleased.

Ferrellgas charges for not using enough propane

This outfit bought out my bottled gas supplier years ago. I haven't used much propane lately because my oven died a year ago. Today I received a bill for $60.60 apparently for not using their gas fast enough. There is a tank rent fee for 10.60 for a year and a No Usage Fee 1.00 ea of $50. I'm using the gas - just not fast enough for them. Needless to say I called and told them to pick up the tanks. That is insane. I wouldn't mind the tank rental fee but the 50 is ridiculous. AND they will not compensate me for the gas remaining in the tanks. This is not an outfit I care to do business with and neither should you. They said it will take two weeks for them to pick up the tanks. I'll bet they are here today or tomorrow. Fortunately it is easy to change suppliers and I've been contemplating that anyhow. But the toaster oven and the nuker will suffice until that is arranged.

Bumperstickers

(embiggenable)

Not

on the way to Paris. Yet. Flight cancelled. Rescheduled to fly thru Atlanta tomorrow. Stay tuned...

By the way, the delay is good for the cats as the neighbor who feeds them is away till Saturday. Of course, they may not get home when planned. Snow has disrupted lots this year. Tho I suspect the flight tonight was canceled less because of the weather and more because it was only half full.

Snow again

Got the ice off the feeders so the birds can reach the seeds. In the distance the docks pulled up on the shore look very out of place.

Not exactly golf weather...

The Prius behaved well despite the lack of plowing. Curves was beckoning. Made it there and back easily. Whew. But choir was canceled for which I was most grateful.

Pristine again

This is the view out my front door off and on today. I need to use the ladder as the satellite dish is snow covered and won't transmit CNBC. I can get MSNBC and don't understand why. Weird.