Goodbye, Panasonic

Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I have a thing about getting every bit of usefulness out of the things I own. So it's no surprise that the vacuum that was bought on June 12, 1986, was with me until today.

This old Panasonic vacuum worked well until 2003 with few repairs. Then the motor just wore out, and it was no longer advantageous to fix. But did I get rid of it then? Of course not! I knew that the vacuum at Morning Glory cabin was a twin of my vacuum, so I saved mine for parts. And I used quite a few over the last 10 years.

During my cleaning frenzy today, I realized that there really wasn't anything more that could be scavenged that would be helpful, so I said goodbye...mostly. The motor and a few other parts will be going to metal recycling later this week!

It may not be too long before a similar fate befalls my VCR, also from 1986. Of course the Maytag washer and dryer from 1974 are still hanging in there, as is my 2001 Saturn which now has 266,880 miles on it as of today. Eventually, they'll all end up with most of them going to metal recycling. They have all served me well, and owe me nothing at this point. Thank you, old mechanical friends!

Band Competition

This post is especially for my daughter, Karen. Around 20 years ago, I remember standing at my upstairs bedroom window in Ionia, MI, at 8 am hearing the high school band practicing on the field that half mile or so away. I loved the sound, just because I love music, but also because it warmed my heart and made me feel connected knowing that my Karen was helping make that music I was hearing.

To the present...So a few weeks ago, some of us from choir went into Reed City for a local band competition. I lost the program and don't know the area schools that well, so this first group shall remain unnamed for now. Enjoy!

This one is Cadillac High School. I remembered because I couldn't imagine, as a mom, dealing with white uniforms!

It seems band performances have changed over the last 20 years. Many were much more like a show choir performance than what I think of as a marching band performance. But don't get me wrong, I like the changes! It was wonderful to enjoy after all these years, to think back to those sweltering hot and freezing cold performances of Karen's, remembering her forcing her long hair to all fit under her shako (band hat), and just the excitement of seeing my daughter marching down the street or across the field with her bandmates.

Adventures with Karen

My daughter, Karen, is known by family and friends for instigating adventures that produce fun stories. Well, here is one.

I should have taken pictures from the beginning, but I didn't have the forethought. It all started with me chatting with Karen, maybe a year or more ago, about how it would be cool to have a bike trailer so I could carry stuff between home and town...computer, groceries from the Farmers' Market, etc. "But I'm not going to pay what they want for a new trailer on just a whim," and blah, blah, blah....

So my daughter who lives in Seattle says to me in a phone conversation in May or June, "I have a surprise for you! I found a bike trailer for FREE at a closing garage sale.You just need to get it home. I think you should fly here with your bike and peddle home...He-He :-) " (Remember I live in Michigan.)

So in August I visited and found the filthy, used trailer in their garage. We concocted a plan to make it small enough to take on the plane as a regular-sized first bag: $25, which was cheaper than any other way of getting it to Michigan and far cheaper than any used one I had ever noticed. I took it apart as much as humanly possible, wrapped it as tightly with cardboard as I could, used half a roll of duct tape to secure it, (Thanks, Todd, I owe you.) and measured it. Well, it was pretty difficult to determine if it would fit the airline's rules, but as a team we decided that if they were going to charge me for it being too big, I would tell them that it was theirs and leave it behind. 

Lastly, I needed a way to carry the monstrosity (27 pounds and wildly awkward) from Karen's house about 5 blocks to the bus stop, on the bus to the light rail, on the light rail to the airport, and through the airport to the baggage check. I made a neck/shoulder strap of duct tape and Karen fabricated a handle that I was uncertain would hold.

It didn't. While I waited for the bus, I used some twine I had in my backpack to re-fashion a handle. Then on to the bus, banging it into everything and tripping over it twice trying to pay and get to my seat with it, my backpack on wheels, and my laptop computer. The light rail was a bit easier and the airport the same.

Thankfully, no one blinked at its size and unwieldiness and they accepted it without question. Hooray!!! When I arrived in Grand Rapids, and collected it from baggage, the neck strap broke just as I got to the curb for my ride. We made it! Here's what it looked like when I got it home.

After a few days to recover from the journey, I brought it inside and opened the package. How did I get it all in there?

Oh, it smelled like seawater! Salty and seaweedy! Pine needles and leaves and a few spiders too. I had to try to remember how I had taken it apart and how it would go back together.

But first it sorely needed a bath, literally.

And a good drying on the line.

After some brain teasers of where all the pieces went, here it is assembled in my living room work space. It needed just a little reinforcement with heavy duty duct tape in some areas where the fabric had been stressed from years of use. (Do you notice a duct tape theme emerging?)

But, of course, I brought this all the way from Seattle just for you!

She moved in and slept in it for weeks until I got it outside.

Will you be willing to travel with me, my kitty? You'll need to fasten your seat belt.

Finally, the real trial. It pulled well and easily. But with all I had on my plate this fall, it was just in time to put the bike and trailer away for the winter. The adventure will have to wait for next spring to continue.

Thanks, Karen! I love adventures!

PS. Itty-Bitty will not stay in it when it is moving...I tried!

SNOW!!!

"Morning has broken like the first morning..."  One never knows what Michigan autumn may bring.

The heavy, wet snow clung to every branch. Unbelievably gorgeous. Makes me smile.

The Labyrinth Awaits

For your walking pleasure...

Or just to sit and ponder...

Wooly Bear Time Again

The Wooly's are back again. Another year gone by. I can't help but greet each one I see busily walking...somewhere... Hurry, it will be cold soon!