My Blog Reflection
It's not the honors and prizes of life which ultimately nourish our souls. It's the knowing that we can be trusted, that we never have to fear the truth, that the bedrock of our very being is good stuff.
Mister Rogers
Friday March 28, 2025
We left Florida at 5:45 a.m. to get home before a major storm hit the South and Midwest. The trip was uneventful except for a major traffic backup forty miles South of Atlanta. Actually once we go to Atlanta we breezed through downtown on a Friday afternoon. We checked into a "Days Inn" In Adairsville North of Atlanta. I would give it a 4 out of 10.
Once checked in we looked for a place to eat. Adairsville is a small town and the choices were limited. We pulled into a Wendy's off the Interstate. As we got out of the car we noticed "Tomak's Burgers" across the street. We decided to try it out. We like to patronize local establishments when we can. It had been a "Waffle House" converted into a hamburger joint in 2024. As we walked in there was a big banner advertising their wings. I decided to buy a large order of wings rather than getting a burger. Kelly ordered their loaded French Fries. Kelly's loaded French Fries were okay but I should have known better than to order wings at a burger joint. The wings were tough as leather. Lesson learned.
Saturday March 29, 2025
We left Adairsville at 5:00 a.m. We didn't wait for the complimentary breakfast to be served since most are barely edible. A couple of hours down the road we stopped for gas and went to breakfast at "Perkins". We were surprised at the reasonable prices for breakfast but upon paying the bill found that coffee was $3.75 each, more than a cup at Starbucks and not nearly as good. Another Lesson learned.
Our only stops after that was twice for gas and once for a Starbucks coffee. We arrived home at 12:00 p.m. just as it started to rain. We had the car unpacked in twenty minutes, put everything away, and relaxed. The old HHR got 30.8 miles to the gallon on the trip home. I was thrilled with that.
Sunday March 30, 2025
The major storm was to hit about 3:00 p.m. and we were under a tornado watch until 11:00 p.m. In the morning the sun was out so at 10:00 a.m. I decided to mow the lawn. It really needed it. The mower fired right up after sitting for four months.
We now need to deal with the tree limbs from the Conservation property that fell into our yard. Apparently they aren't going to do anything about them. In the afternoon and evening we got a little rain but not the bad weather predicted. This was great. On this rainy day we took our time going through two boxes of mail accumulated while we were gone.
Monday March 31, 2025
I had gotten an extension to file our taxes because it is always a hassle getting all the 1099s together. Some I got online, some were in the mail at the house, and some were missing. I spent all morning making sure I had everything I needed to take to the accountant.
We drove the truck to the accountant and I noticed that the "brake" idiot light was on as well as the "low tire pressure" light. When we got back home I popped the hood and found that the brake fluid was below the "minimum" mark. I looked on the floor in the garage and on every wheel and could not find any evidence of a leak. I filled the reservoir to the "maximum" mark. I then put five pounds of air in the tires and the "low pressure light" went off. The "brake" light stayed on. I took it for a test drive and the brakes seemed a little better but the light stayed on. I will have to schedule it into the shop for them to check it out. Always something.
As I was getting the golf clubs out of the car yesterday the woven fabric handle tore loose. Today I cut off the other end and drilled out the rivets.
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I was unable to use the grip on the old handle so, after making a new handle out of an old mesh belt I had in the shop, I cut a piece of plastic tubing to slip over it. I then used bolts and nuts to hold the new handle on. It ain't pretty but it is functional.
I haven't used the clubs in two years so this fix should last a long time. LOL
Tuesday April 1, 2025
Kelly was hungry for cookies. I did not have much going on so I decided to make a batch of her favorite short bread cookies. I had never made any before and I must say they came out great. I will clearly need to make a double batch next time. Kelly loves them.
Our oldest grandchild, Kellen, graduates from high school in May. We will fly out to California for the ceremony and to have a nice visit with all the kids and grandkids. His mom, Erin, bought a page in the yearbook and asked all of us to send pictures of Kellen to post on it. Of course we want to embarrass him a little so here is one of the pictures we sent. A typical seven year old. Seeing the screwdriver on the table I think I was busy fixing one of his toys.
Wednesday April 2, 2025
This morning I helped at the Hill of Peace Church in Friedenberg, Missouri, in preparing for its Spring Service next Sunday. The old country church only has services twice per year - Spring and Fall. I spent most of my time helping Mike Schamburg up in the attic. We were taking down an old school house light fixture in the back of church and replacing it with the front light fixture which John reconditioned. It was not a hard job but the wasps were a little pesky as the day warmed up. One landed on on my ear and upon swatting it I almost flung my hearing aid across the attic and into oblivion. I eventually got stung on the finger as I was descending the ladder for the last time. With the reconditioned front light fixture now installed in the back, the original, refurbished chandelier will be installed later in the week in the front of the church.
In the evening another major storm system headed our way with predictions of strong winds, tornados, and baseball size hail possible. The schools let out early and many businesses closed early as well. We watched the storm approach on TV upstairs until the tornado sirens wailed. We then headed to the basement. At one point while down there the weatherman said a tornado was spotted West of Walmart in Perryville. We are just North of Walmart so it was much too close for comfort. Fortunately, it did not touch down. Over twenty tornadoes were spotted in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois throughout the evening. Several touched down and caused major damage. Luckily none in Perryville this time. We got an inch and half of rain but not even a lot of strong wind. Whew!
Thursday, April 3, 2025
With no rain in the morning John and I made a recycle run. We do this about every two weeks. I went to Rotary for our lunch meeting which was the first time in over four months.
Friday, April 4, 2025
I had an appointment to get the truck brakes looked at. I dropped the truck off at 8:30 a.m. John picked me up there and we headed to the "Hill of Peace Church" in Friedenberg, Missouri. This is the third church for this congregation and it was the first Lutheran Church in Perry County. The church we are working on is the brick church built in 1885. John's grandfather was on the board that built the church so John has a keen interest in keeping it preserved. The church has not been is regular use for many years and is being preserved for historical purposes. Twice a year, Spring and Fall, a service is held with a minister provided by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville.
Today's project was to unload and hang the newly refurbished chandelier from 1885. The chandelier was originally lit by oil. It has been totally refurbished and converted to electricity by a company in St. Louis, It is large and heavy. It needs to be hoisted up to the ceiling. Mike Schamburg built a frame in the attic and purchased a winch to pull it up. Six of us were on hand to unload the chandelier and move it into place to be hoisted up. Don Fassold arrived with the $5,000.00 worth of new bulbs, globes and chimneys he had purchased to mimic the originals. The LED bulbs will flicker like the original oil lamps on the chandelier. We unloaded the globes, chimneys, and bulbs and awaited the truck to arrive.
For some unknown reason the truck with the chandelier arrived an hour late. Upon the driver opening the rear door it was immediately apparent that the chandelier had been damaged on the trip. We were all shocked at how poorly it had been mounted for shipment by a company that specializes in reconditioning and shipping these large chandeliers.
Everyone was heartbroken, especially Don, who had spent $17,000.00 of his own money to have the chandelier professionally refurbished. The driver left to return the chandelier to the company for repair. Don was obviously upset about the damage and was immediately on the phone with the company. He was particularly upset because the plan was to have the chandelier hanging for the Spring Service this Sunday. The company said they would work to get it repaired quickly. We all left.
This evening was Kellen's Senior Prom. He had been nominated to be King and at prom he and his girlfriend, Sabrina, were crowned King and Queen. How cool is that! He looks a little different from the picture above in his first tailored suit. We will fly out to California for his graduation in May.
Saturday April 5, 2025
Last night the company called Don and said the chandelier had been repaired and they could bring it back down this morning. John rounded up all the help from the day before to be at the church at 9:00 a.m.
We got 5.5 inches of rain yesterday and it continues to rain today. When the truck arrived it was raining but we were all pleased to see that the chandelier was not damaged in transit this time. It was secured much, much better for the trip.
Everyone agreed that eight feet of chain worked perfectly. The chandelier was lowered to allow the excess chain to be cut off and to install the bulbs. We wanted to make sure they all worked before installing the globes and chimneys and pulling the chandelier up into place. The bulbs are LEDs and they are made to flicker just as oil lamps would have in 1885.