Sunday, December 30, 2012

New Tires

After having the tire checked at Costco, the bubble was dangerous so learned that the tires that were on the car were not the right size, smaller than they should be, so I had four new tires put on - did some shopping and the car was ready when I got done.  Brought it home, vacummed it and since McAuleys' always wash the car when they service it - now it is ready for our trip to Stanford next Sunday!  What a difference in the way it drives!  I didn't realize that new tires being the right size would make such a difference!  What a lesson I learned!  I've got 83,000 + miles on it now so guess it's ready for another 100,000! It rides and drives like it should - very comfortable now!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

A MIRACLE

A Miracle
On Monday afternoon, Christmas Eve, after a couple errands, shopping for five families for food, then delivering the food to the five families in all different areas of Merced, I decided to fill up the gas tank, and get a hamburger as I hadn't eaten since breakfast - then as I drove through the drive through at In & Out Burger, my car made this knocking sound and steam started rolling out from under the hood!  WOW!  I immeidately shut the car off, and as the gal handed me my food, I asked her if anyone was available to push me through to the parking lot - so a couple guys came out and pushed me to the parking lot as I called Larry & Gary, and AAA. Larry & Gary thought the radiator might be cracked - had it towed to Gary's driveway and Wednesday called McAuleys and had it towed there after checking some prices. The radiator was okay, it was the fan and relay switch!  Was due for an oil change anyway, so had it serviced, a new alternator put in, back brakcs & rotors so MERRY CHRISTMAS!  There's a bubble on the right front tire so am taking it to Costco today to have that checked and possibly buy a new tire if the others are still okay. Want it it tip top condition as a week from Sunday we'll be driivng to Stanford with Gary for his Monday MRI & Dr. Appt. We'll be taking Philip back to St. Mary's as he's home on break so need everything in top working order!  Julie will be driving as she knows the area well and Gary knows the bay area well after living there for awhile. I'm just so thankful it happened there instead of when I was delivering food all over town - GOD IS GOOD! 
We're all caught up on our rainfall amount now so that is good!  Violets are blooming and I saw a daffodil blooming in someone's yard yesterday - spring is just around the corner!  I do hope we can ride the YARTS bus next week up to Yosemite as the valley is covered with snow and everyone says it looks like you're driving into a Christmas card!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas 2012

What a nice surprise to have Mark & Dena here for Christmas - the first time we've all had Christmas together for 19 years!  Gary told us to stop after church for a visit and there they were!  So we had the whole family together as Emily & Elena came for a short visit this morning and then came back tonight for a longer visit. It was the best present ever to have them altogether for Christmas!

Julie made their famous Belgian waffles, Emily Jane fried bacon, Larry fried the sausages, I made the scrambled eggs and of course, baked Mom's famous vanilla pudding cinnamon rolls!  We had a feast!  Lots of presents that everyone enjoyed and lots of fun! 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Roses in December

Bouquet of roses from our backyard

Can you believe it?  I picked these roses this afternoon and put them on our kitchen table. We're having unusual warm weather and cool nights so the roses just keep blooming!  I usually prune them in mid January so am enjoying them as long as I can. We had over 2 inches of rain over the weekend and more is expected tomorrow. It certainly washed all the dust off things - and most of the leaves have fallen and the city picks them up as we put them in the street a couple feet from the gutter so the water can drain when it rains.