Budding Photographer

Almost-3-year-old Eve went for a walk around the block with Oma (Linda) while she was spending last weekend with us. She loves taking pictures with our digital camera. Sometimes you think she just likes seeing the flash go off, but she's actually got a pretty good eye!

Us tall people forget what the world looks like at the height of a 3-year-old.

I think she has a future on the balance beam as well. ;-)

Yard Work

Well, work IN the yard, not work ON the yard. Today was just about perfect fall weather - temperatures in the mid-70F range and only a light breeze. When we ripped out the carpet and installed the laminate floors, we also replaced the dated slab interior doors with something with more character. The doors & moldings have been up for quite awhile, but I had not gotten around to painting them and I really wanted to get that done before winter gets here.

Because I wanted to spray the doors, today seemed like the perfect day to do it. Of course that didn't factor in the tiny flying insects that apparently love freshly painted white surfaces. In fact they love it so much that they'll fly right into the spray so they can land on the door and get painted!

Then there was the door that I had standing at a little too-vertical of an angle, and when the only gust of the day came along the door ended up flat on its freshly painted face. The "gust" was so gentle that if the door hadn't fallen I would not have even taken note of it. Fortunately, latex paint responds well to a hose/nozzle and some scrubbing so that I could paint it again.

The good news is that in the end the doors look really good. Painting the frames and molding can happen any time, and now that the doors are hung they provide motivation for making the rest look just as good.

Change of Seasons

It's amazing how fast time goes by. I knew I was behind on blogging, but it's shocking to look back and see that July 2 was the last entry!

It's that time of year when you can feel a change in the air as Summer gives way to Fall. I think it may be my favorite time of year. As I write this, it's 46F outside at 10:30 p.m. with a low of 40 predicted for tonight. Tomorrow is supposed to get up to 73F. Warm days, and cool nights is what this time of year is all about.

Cooler nights are also what the picture is about - I've been looking forward since April for cool enough weather to be able  to wear the hand-knit socks that I purchased in the Netherlands. So the photo is what I'm up to tonight - something to read, flannel pj bottoms to lounge in and wonderful socks for my feet.

I'm in heaven! It won't be long before I'll be able to wear a scarf again - something I've really missed ever since our April trip.

Maybe I'll be able to catch up on some of the blog topics that I've neglected - I'll give it a try. I've learned that blogging regularly is much harder than it seems.

Jesus Loves Me

Eve & Ellie, performing "Jesus Loves Me" in their own unique way.

It's the little things

You know what they say about "for want of a nail, the shoe was lost...". Well with cars it's often the little things as well.

Today's project was to drop the transmission out of the 914. I always know it's hard work to get this out without dropping the engine as well, but I also seem to forget just how hard it is. My hips will be sore for days despite having the benefit of some of Linda's scrap quilts to lay on.

This was needed because of about $7.00 in parts being missing. The previous owner skipped a lot of steps in putting this car together, and the last time I did a clutch on the car I failed to check for the presence of the pilot bearing and felt pad. Without them the input shaft wobbles and wears away the input shaft seal. Some cars don't use the bearing so I forgot, and now I get to pay the price.

The timing of this job was because last week the clutch went out and I thought I had a broken clutch cable. Since removing the cable is part of removing the transmission, I figured I may as well do the big job. It turns out the cable is fine, but again the P.O. had cut a corner and I hadn't noticed. This part is available in an $18.00 metal version, or a $5.75 plastic version. Guess which one was in my car? When the ears shear off, pushing the clutch pedal no longer moves the clutch arm. Thanks to Pelican Parts, the new piece will be here on Wednesday. As an added benefit, Ellie now has had her first experience of pushing one of the family cars - it's a rite of passage!

Of course, I can't blame all the hard work on the previous owner. One of the classic things that is often forgotten when installing a transmission is reconnecting the ground strap - you don't know it until you try to start the car and the starter turns verrrrry sloooowly. Well, it hides above the transmission and is hard to see in the dark. When you fail to take it loose when removing the transmission it adds an hour of frustration to what should be an easy job. Oh well.... at least John Mayer's new "Born & Raised" album on the CD player was a good listen!

It's the little things.

Quilts & Camping

This past weekend was the annual Strawberry Festival in Stawberry/Pine, AZ and the annual Strawberry Patchers Quilt Show. It's a weekend that we always look forward to because it's a whole craft fair event with great food vendors and we get to see quilting friends that we don't see the rest of the year.

Overall, the show seemed to be a bit "off" this year, with lot's of edge-edge quilting and fewer custom quilting examples than usual. We go to shows like this because they provide inspiration and ideas so this was a bit underwhelming. Still, there's no such thing as a bad quilt show so it was worth going.

Here's some samples from the show. (I thought I had more, but it turns out that I've only got these two. I don't know how I managed that.)

Debbie Stanton's quilting really brings out the notion of a fish swimming in a streambed.

An interesting take on a log-cabin block.

After the quilt show we picked up a couple of grilled brats and a big bag of some great kettle-corn, then headed back up the rim for camping at Kehl Springs. This is a primitive camp on Forest Road 300 that is free (since it is primitive) and always seems to have a spot available (again, because it's primitive - we think.)

Kehl Spring seems to be more of a "seep" than a spring, but we are in the dry season right now.

It's a nice quiet place for lots of reading and relaxing.

Wild Columbines along the road.

I'm not sure what these are, but they'r pretty and plentiful.

This butterfly decided that Linda's hand lotion was pretty tasty.

We had to work pretty diligently to get it to leave her finger and fly away.

We took a hike up to the top of the ridge. It's a wonderful view of the Mogollon Rim.

We took the phone along to use the GPS so we could figure out just what we were seeing.

That's Payson, almost due south. We figure the straight line on the left must be the highway north of town.

Memorial Weekend Camping

It's become a tradition for us to join up with Paul & Mandy's family, along with friends from Phoenix Christian Reformed Church, for camping east of Payson in an area known as Larson's Ridge. Dispersed camping means there are no facilities, but also virtually no restrictions - except for fires. Due to high winds and dry conditions, we could not have camp fires. Winds were bad on Saturday when we drove there, but not as bad as last year. Sunday & Monday were the most gorgeous camping weather you could imagine.

Ellie putting up with the wind as we prepare to go for a hike on Saturday.

Nate holding one of the Horned Toads that are frequently found in this area and a real favorite with the kids.

Hiking down the road near camp.

Mandy & Eve.

Did I mention that it was windy on Saturday?

Ellie helping Oma make sandwiches in our Eurovan Camper.

Eve loved helping Oma with her knitting.

One of my experiments with limited depth of field on our new camera. I got limited depth of field, but I'm finding it a challenge to determine just what it's focused on.

Sitting on Nate's bed in the tent-trailer and relearning how to play Mille Bornes.

Eve & Ellie love hanging out in the camper with Oma! (Especially when there is hot-cocoa involved!)

Ellie helping Opa make coffee.

Nate, teaching Oma how to play Flash Scramble.

Riding in the Ranger was a popular pastime.

"Ladder Golf" is a popular camping game. This is Elaine making a toss.

Getting the golf-balls to wrap themselves around the rungs from 30 feet is much harder than it looks.

Eve decided that Marv Faber's truck was in need of washing.

Ella & Ellie were pretty worn out at supper after a busy Sunday.

Eve & Ellie - Sitting on the upper level of Opa & Oma's camper van is pretty cool!

Whether it's with a pocket-knife or a nail, Nate is an ace stick carver!