Well, this is a good weekend so far. Yesterday was awful rainy, and I mean AWFUL, haha. Over two inches of hard rain in less about 12 hours. We had to take the truck for our errands because the rain was just that hard. Even so, Quentin drove really slow because there was some danger of hydroplaning, and who wants to deal with that? We sure don't. Though apparently, somebody did, because we got to Harrison, where we had to do our usual Saturday stuff, because outside one of the banks across the road from our Aldi's, a couple of mid-size grey sedans decided to take each other on in a head-on collision. Took a four-lane (plus center turn lane) major thoroughfare around here down to one lane each direction with traffic directed by the local police. Three fire trucks, two ambulances, and about six bubbletops were there when we went by the first time. Coming back, they had it pretty well cleared up and the cars were on flatbed haulers. They were so badly damaged that they were worth nothing but scrap. That was the "exciting news" for the week. (Yeah, country living is great, but it's kind of weird that "exciting news" means somebody got into a bad car wreck.)
We are glad that Quentin's wait for rehire is now down to 40 days, especially since I heard this last week that the plant won't allow more overtime for first shifters after another couple of weeks. This means my paychecks will go down to just about zilch to survive on, so we had to make a tough decision. The weather is overall cooperating with reasonably warm days in the 70s, so all the afghans are going on the bed and we'll deal with whatever cold comes along so that the money we were going to spend on the propane heater will instead help us through the tough times until hubby is back to work. We don't like it, but the forecasts are good for the next month or so, for the most part, so we'll manage. It bites, but once he's back to work, first priority is our winter heat. That propane heater and the propane tank and hoses are coming home and getting set up so we can be warm without huge electric bills this year from running space furnaces. Don't get me wrong, the things were great last year to keep us warm, but we don't want $175-$200 electric bills again. There's better ways to spend that kind of money every month for five months or so. Thus, chilly nights for us for a bit, but it's not like it's not surviveable.
We did find out what's wrong with the truck, too. There's been a clanking under the front end every time we hit a hard bump or go up and down the mountain road, but never on smooth road. We figured it could be any number of things, but a neighbor took a look and said it's the ball joints, so now hubby doesn't have to worry about driving and having the truck fall apart on him while he's going, especially if the log-hauling job he's trying to pick up to help us through till he gets back to work pays off. And it's easy to tell if they need repair or just to be greased - a cheap grease gun and some grease, and squirt it in. If the grease stays inside, the things just are out of grease (and since apparently, they're the original ball joints, is it surprising that they're out of grease?). If the grease squirts out anywhere, the ball joints are cracked and will need replacing. But it's a lot less expensive fix than hubby had thought it would be, so that's a good thing.
We've gotten some more trees and brush cut down and cut up for firewood, more trash is cleared up, and I'm so looking forward to NOT having to try to pull overtime anymore in a few more weeks. That will leave more time for me to get things done around the house, even if it's just for an hour or so a day when I get home from work, before it gets too dark and/or cold. We know we'll be here for another year or two, so might as well do what we can to make it a bit better and productive. That means getting the wellhead and/or cistern fixed this winter. I've told hubby that even if I have to do it myself, it will get done so I can get even a small garden in next year. I'm tired of no garden. I want to get a solar dehydrator built next year, too. Lots of small projects that will take a weekend or two to do, but that will make things easier to deal with and put the place further toward self-sustainability, even though we'll likely end up taking it all with us in the long run.
The baby set is coming along, and I should have photos of the full set in a few weeks, or at least more of the set. The sleeves are done, and all I have left of the sweater is the one front, the neckband, what seaming has to be done and buttons. Then there's the hat, booties, soaker and blanket. The blanket will take the longest, but I think the set will be worth it in the long run for Eric and Bobbi's baby. She's such a cutie, you just want to cuddle her forever. My socks and the Feather and Fan afghan are creeping along, because most of my knitting time is spent on the baby set for Elizabeth Marie. Babies grow FAST and even though I'm making the set in six months size, if I don't get it done in a hurry, she's liable to outgrow it before she gets into it!
The fall color hasn't really come out yet around here, though back home, it's in full bloom. My daughter posted a couple of pictures of her college campus (UM-Flint) and the trees are gorgeous. I'm looking forward to the colors on the trees, though not the following cold weather. Funny, Quentin the other day mentioned how he could hardly wait for next summer's warm weather, and yet a few weeks ago, he was griping how he wanted cooler fall weather! Hahahahaha! You can bet I didn't let him live that one down.
And now it's time for this week's freebie kindle offerings. Have fun and happy homesteading - I have a lot of things to add to the Bountiful Farm Astore, and a ton of work to do when I get home on the books (yes, plural) that I'm working on, and so I've got to get this done and get home to accomplish the things I want to get done today. See you next week!
FREE KINDLE BOOKS FOR THIS WEEK
As always, while they're free when I post them, they may NOT be when you get to them. Always loads of cookbooks, but I do also post other books of interest as I find them.
50 Homemade Ice Cream Cake Recipes - Learn How To Make An Ice Cream Cake Today (The Summer Dessert Recipes And The Best Dessert Recipes Collection)
Delicious Soup Recipes (Delicious Recipes)
Food Preservation & Storage at Home - A Step by Step Guide to Canning, Pickling, Dehydrating, Freezing & Safely Storing Food for Later Use
Paleo Lunch Recipes - Delicious, Quick and Simple Recipes
Games for Kids: Fun and Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids: 25 of the Funnest Halloween Crafts for Kids - and How to Make Them Easily and for FREE (or Next to Nothing)! (Childrens Games)
Simply Raw: Easy Raw Food Recipes For Beginners
Backyard Bird Guide: Attracting Wild Birds to Your Yard
How to Make Homemade Pizza Recipes
Simply Delicious Italian Cakes & Cheesecake Recipes - (Delicious Collection of Italian Cakes and Cheescake Recipes)
Slow Cooking, Chicken Recipes & Easy Soup Recipes - 3 Book Bundle: FARMHOUSE KITCHEN RECIPES
25 Simple Salads and Delightfully Delicious Dressings
Owl Ornament: Crochet Pattern
How to Clean and Service an Oil Burner
Let's Eat! A Collection of Simple Singaporean Recipes
It's Not Just Paella
50 Delicious Party Food Recipes: Appetizers, Snacks, Desserts and More!
Let's Talk Turkey
Paleo Diet Cookbook: Great Tasting Paleo Diet Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snack and Dessert
30 Delicious Dump Cake Recipes
Raised Bed Gardening - 5 Books bundle on Growing Vegetables In Raised Beds & Containers
Top 10 Vinaigrette Recipes: Balsamic, Raspberry, Citrus, And More!
30 Chicken and Pasta Recipes (Fabulous Chicken Dishes - The Chicken Recipes Collection)
Container Gardening Designs & Woodworking Plans - Volume 1 - Ideas for Organic Gardening & Urban Gardening
Woodworking Projects - Decking: How To Build A Deck Easily - Using Basic Carpentry Skills!
Awesome Chicken
Soap Making Problems and Solutions: Troubleshooting Guide (Start Making Soap)
Top 10 French Fry Recipes: How To Make The Best Homemade French Fries-Oven Baked, Fried, Sweet Potato, And More!
Barbecurious: A Beginner's Guide to American Barbecue
Cheating on a Chicken Coop: 8 Cheap Ideas to House Your Backyard Hens and Save Money
5 Ingredients or Less Salads: Latest Collection of 30 Top Class, Simple, Easy And Most-Wanted Salad Recipes For Healthy Life
50 Vegetarian Muffin Tin Recipes - The Healthy Muffin Tin Cookbook (Vegetarian Cookbook and Vegetarian Recipes Collection)
Biscuits! And Other Fixins
35 International Slow Cooker Recipes From Around The World - Ethnic Recipes
50 Quick and Easy Vegetarian Recipes - The Simple Vegetarian Meals Cookbook (Vegetarian Cookbook and Vegetarian Recipes Collection)
Crochet Pattern - Unicorn Baby Cap
Fast, Fun and Frugal Halloween: A Guide to Great Halloween Costumes, Recipes, Decorations and More (Holiday Entertaining)
25+ Delicious Cucumber Recipes
Ok, I'm out of time for this week to post more goodies. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, that we get through this trying time until hubby is back to work and I have net at home again. Hugs and love to all of you!
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