A good-bye to June 2017

The sun room floor after 3 hours of work to get the glue off.  It will be redone.

The sun room windows after trim went up.  More work needed!

Entry to the bathroom

In the bathroom

I am not sure why I am putting these pictures up.  It may be bragging.  It may be to prove to myself that some work is done.  It may be to try to figure out HOW much work there is yet to do.  But really I think it is just to record history and be able to look back sometime and say, "That is how it was, now this is how it is!"
I did not get work done on these projects yesterday.  I mowed the lawn, feed it some fertilizer and then spent about 2 hours going through my wood rack.  It is amazing how much wood one accumulates over time.  A 12 inch piece here, a long narrow one there, a wide one, a long narrow one and the wood just piles up and up and up.  During a project one does not want to throw something that maybe needed in the future but after time something has to be done so that is what I did yesterday.
Today I need to spray for some weeds and then spend most of the day on the projects in the pictures.
It looks like a perfect day weather wise.  As I sit here the morning sun is glistening off the newly moved grass and it is pretty.
I talked to brother Dave yesterday.  He has 3 living siblings and I guess I was the last to wish him "happy birthday".  He mentioned that sister Joan's back is not good so they are not coming to MN and ND in July, disappointing as I had hoped to catch them some place to catch up on things.  Sister Helen, well one has to grab your clubs and head out to the golf course to catch her and at that you may have to run!  Dave turned 73 yesterday and both of us remembered his 50th when they were in St. Paul and we took them out for his birthday.  He remembered that at the restaurant they would not do his steak as he wanted!  He did say it was a special time.  I remember him and I talking about what were the chances way back in the mid 1950's that we would be sitting by the Mississippi River on his 50th enjoying life!  I was happy to hear that he will be able to drive down to a friends farm for their 55th class reunion.  He mentioned that he made a music box and a duck clock for the guy and gal who have organized several reunions.  That sounds like my brother!  He thought about 20 have responded and there were 54 in his class (at least there are 54 in the yearbook) so that is not bad.
No that weed killer needs to get on the lawn and I need to sip the last of my FP before I do that.  ENOUGH

A new crop

Just the beginning, there seems to be 100s of berries that will come in soon.  They are so so delicious.
Yesterday was a productive day.  I finished trimming out the sun room windows as well as the inside and outside door frame of the bath.  Now it is filling in the holes, priming and painting them.  Having the trim on makes the walls look a bit easier to do BUT there is a lot of work in them there walls!
Another great rain last night of 0.6+".  So good for the lawn.  We still have drizzle so it may be wet most of the day.  I have been mowing the lawn often so I do not have to catch the grass and it looks like it could be mowed tomorrow if things dry out.
I need to get into my wood shop and tidy up things.  I tend to let things slip while I am deep into a project but in the end it has to be cleaned.  I am making progress in my habits so I am guessing by the time I turn 90 I may have things down pat!
Temps remain cool but it looks like they will heat up for July 4th next week.  At that time I am thinking the garden will explode into greenery.
It is late AM and I finished my FP LONG ago so time to sign off.

On the fast track towards July

Next Monday will be July 3rd, wow.  Our days are getting shorter!!!
We had a nice visit with Mary and Mark Saunders yesterday.  They came in at 11:30 from their camping trip in CA Saturday night.  I think a bed was welcome after several nights in a 2 man tent and one air mattress so they slept in a bit.  Enjoyed breakfast and sitting around the table for a couple hours talking mostly about THE GOOD OLD DAYS!!! When I went to get them at the airport I almost drove the truck as Mary's suitcase was 2 pounds under the limit AND the limit is 50 pounds!  I laughed about that as Mark had a backpack.
I will continue to get some work done around here this week.  I am hoping that by next week at this time I will have the window in the sun room framed out, the door to the bathroom trimmed out and maybe some of the trim in the guest bedroom and bath done.  That sounds like it should not be a big job but one must remember that I am retired and at times tired!
Time to close, sip that FP one last time and get some breakfast on the table before I head out to the wood shop.

Sunshine

After a cloudy rainy day yesterday we wake up to cool temps and sunshine.  The rain gauge showed a total of .6" which should be good for the garden today, no tap water!
Terry is scheduled to have the 13 stitches out on her finger today.  It is looking good but I am guessing that she will need to protect it and be careful for some time.  When I look at it I think she is lucky that she did not slice the tip of her finger off.
Our planned 3 week camping trip is on hold for a while.  There are too many questions about health, projects etc. so the trip will have to come later in the summer.
I am thinking about giving up my sausage/eggs/hash browns this morning as that darn scale keeps telling me that I need to do something if I want those extra pounds to come off.
Cynthia and family are taking off on a family vacation today.  I think they will be gone about 2 weeks.  Cynthia said they may head west to SD and WY.  I think they are pretty brave to venture on a camping trip with 6 little ones 9 and under.  I do believe they will tent some of the time.
Enough for now even though I am in the middle of my FP.

Another God watering

As I sit here this afternoon we have been blessed with .35" rain.  Just enough to water the lawn and the garden.  God's rain is so much nicer than water from the tap for the garden.
Not much new.  I wrote a note to Marlene and Pat whose daughter died a short time ago.  I have had them on my mind for some time so it was time to sit down and write.
I am having some problems getting help to come and give me a price on doing some finishing touches on the walls upstairs.  I have contacted the guy several times and he has said he would be over twice but was a no show.  I will try again today.  Also need to contact the PT who made a support for my left thumb as there are pains there from time to time.  I to PT 2 years ago and now the support that was made broke so I need a new one.  As I do things around here that darn thumb gives me some problems.
My FP is long gone so that is all.

It is a first!

Yesterday as I walked past the back door I took a second look.  There, standing as cool as could be, was a wild turkey.  Terry and I watched it for a bit and after I had taken a picture I opened the door.  It kind of stood there as if it wanted to talk about something.  I walked to within about 10 feet of it and then it calmly hopped up on the back fence and seemed to want to roost there!  Finally, as I got within about 5 feet it hopped down on the other side of the fence and walked away.  I have never seen a wild turkey in the city like that and for sure not in our back yard.
We received another God watering of the garden and lawn.  I would say about .1" but with the cool temps we are having that should be good for the day.
My project day yesterday would be rated a -1 on a scale of 1-10.  I will not go into how I wasted the day but nothing was done that would allow me to check off any item off the list of to do!
A new day and perhaps more can be done today!
I am only half finished with my FP but my mind is empty so will sign off.

Father's Day

It was a good day.  I talked to John, Aaron and Cynthia and Travis spent several hours here and made his great spicy shrimp for lunch.  It was special to spend time with him and it made the day.  I am about to enjoy a Father's Day breakfast with Cynthia this morning.
Perhaps I said this yesterday too but Aaron, John and Mike all do a terrific job as a father.  All of those kids are blessed to have the life they have.  Also got a call from Terry's son Brian who wished me happy Father's Day, that was nice.
I do not have any certain plans today but I do have a list of things that need to be done and the list is LONG so should be an interesting day!
It is almost impossible to believe that we are now on the down side of June.  Not sure where the time is going but it not only is going but fast too.
Terry's finger is healing well I think.  We took the metal protector off yesterday and wrapped it again. I would not say it looks pretty but she is doing a great job of keeping it UP and in the end it will be as good as new.
I am wondering how Mary and Mark are doing on their camping trip.  They should be doing fine with all Mary took with her!
No FP this morning as I will meet Cynthia at 6:00 for breakfast and that will be coffee time.  IF the coffee is not so good I may have to make some FP when I get home.

Another God watering

As I stepped onto the deck this morning it was wet.  To my surprise we got .5" of rain last night which means I do not have to water the garden today.  It is not that big a deal but the rain is good for the lawn for sure.  We have brown spots and I am not sure what they are from but the rain will help.  I wasted yesterday as far as projects go.  It was one of those days where the "get up and go" went some place where I could not find it.
It seems strange but one of the reasons for the lack of energy was the news that a HS classmate died this week.  Leroy L. died in a nursing home in Forman on Tuesday.  I was not good friends with him but with 65 in our class you knew everyone.  He was my age of course and had been in the nursing home since 2008.  That is difficult for me to think about.  My wish is I NEVER have to be in a nursing home but to go in at the age of 60 or 61 and then die there 9 years later--not a good thing.  I did not know Leroy as an adult but in HS he was full of fun.  Not real sure why deaths like that bother me so much but perhaps it is a reminder that I am aging, not that I need a reminder. It just is I have in my mind this picture of a person and then to read about how the end of life came and what they may have been, that is difficult.
I talked to brother Dave yesterday and that is always nice.  He seems to be doing OK and is now sleeping much better at night which is a great thing.
Travis is coming over today for lunch.  He will be grilling his seasoned shrimp which are always delicious.
Today is a day to remember Dads but I did blog about mine yesterday.  I will say that Father's Day of 1966 I gave Dad perhaps the best present I ever gave him.  I was home on the farm after my freshman year in college and Dad had helped me purchase a Harley Davidson Sprint motorcycle so that I would have some wheels for the summer.  Father's Day arrived and of course I had not been to town to get any kind of gift for him.  So I gave him the keys to my cycle and said it was his for the day.  He left down the dusty half mile road after church and we did not see him until after dark.  I guess he enjoyed the ride all day.  I am guessing I hit golf balls on my golf course to pass the time.  When I gave him the keys I thought perhaps he would be gone an hour or so but Dad, you never knew!
I am so pleased and proud of the Dads in our family.  John, Aaron and Mike all do a super job with family and it is great to see.  Sometimes it is difficult to not say to myself I wish I had done that with family.
Enough for now.  FP is gone and thoughts are fleeting as well.

Nice

Mary and Mark Saunders came yesterday and stayed for a few hours before they departed for CA and some camping time with their children.  It was nice to visit and catch up as it had been some time.  They will arrive back a week from today and will stay over night as they arrive late night on their Sun Country  flight.
We took the wrap off Terry's finger yesterday and it appears to be healing nicely.  A LONG way from healed as the cut was major but it looks good.
I took out some twigs and branches yesterday as the storms seem to like to blow foliage off the birch tree in the back.  It is nice to have the pickup for those kind of things but still do I need it?--not sure well I should rephrase that as I do NOT need it but it is nice to have.  If I could find a way to get rid of the insurance and then somehow know that there would be no upkeep and then to have a certain place close to keep it in the winter--why do I say all those things as I might as well wish for a million dollar check in the mail today!
It is Father's Day tomorrow so I will sit with a cup of FP, no Baileys now, and think about my Dad.  I will think about the days when I thought he was perfect (know anyone who is perfect?)
No I think I will remember:

• playing catch in the yard
• deer hunting
• fishing in Lake Traverse in SD
• trips to town
• a case of pop after the last grain had been hauled
• hunting rabbits in the winter
• shooting gophers in the summer
• being able to buy a 4oz Babe Ruth candy when we went to town
• bringing eggs and cream in to Benny Flash
• Going to the MN state fair
• Spending a Sunday at Glenwood MN at the Sampson family gathering
• late nights at Grandma's as the adults played cards and cousins played games
• The summer I spent cleaning up the cement foundation of the old pig barn and having Dad question why--Dad that should not have been a question!!!
• Having to run behind the car when we were looking for fox as I had made the mistake of complaining about cold feet!
• sitting in the harvest field with Dad and Dave when Mom drove lunch out to us.  It was a hardy drink of water from our burlap covered gallon jug for Dave and I while Mom served a pint of hot coffee to Dad in a Ball jar!
• Sitting in the truck with Dave while we waited for Dad to circle the field with the combine.  About the time the last of the chokecherries were finished I would sprint across the field to catch Dad and the combine and then scurry up the combine ladder to move grain away from the auger.  Dave would then drive the truck over so we could unload.

Enough for now as if I keep going I may spent too much time in the past and not enough time on the present!

Time to sip the last of the FP and get real for the day.

Some progress

Well there are some good things happening here on Niles Ave.  Last year the south deck steps, which were put in 1999, started to decay and actually they became dangerous.  So it was out with the old and in with the new.  Of course we knew what would happen, now the deck looks worse than ever so not sure it was a win win situation!  I guess it really is a win situation because I have not gotten to the point of wanting to forget about house projects and put a "for sale" sign in the front yard.  In 1977 there was a hand made "for sale" sign in front of the house for a weekend before we bought it.  In addition to that Mr. Ruth would NOT talk to a realtor, only to the people who were looking.  We had our realtor call about the house and Mr. Ruth hung up on him.
We are thankful that Terry's finger is feeling pretty good.  She will take the covering off today and then put a splint on it so she does not hit it on anything.  I was concerned that it would swell and then some stitches would have to come out but she has done a super job of keeping it elevated.  That is probably because the Dr. mentioned that to her at least 20 times!
We are looking forward to Mark and Mary Saunders coming this afternoon.  They will come in about 2:00 and we will have a few hours to catch up before they need to be at the airport by 6:00.  I talked to Mary yesterday and laughed at Mark's habit of getting distracted and not being on time.  We will be ready by 2:00!!!
I sit at the computer in the den and look out the window.  There are 17 houses on this block and there are three houses where the owners were here when we moved in the fall of 1977.  Times change but I guess one would expect that to happen over the span of 40 years.
Our trip to ND and then to mid west states is now on hold for a while.  Terry needs to get her finger tended to next Friday and besides that it would not be good to travel with that darn finger the way it is.  We really have all summer so not a big deal.  It does mean that I can continue to get a few things done around here and that actually is happening.  I often get discouraged as I usually start the day by 6:00 and then work some times slowly and sometimes faster but really I almost always run out of energy by mid afternoon.  I am doing something different for a few days and will see if that helps.  Instead of eating a big breakfast I am just going to take some things that Cynthia does and see if less food and more supplements help.  I do enjoy my eggs, bacon, hash browns etc in the morning but we will see if this helps.  I actually took a nap two days ago but would rather not do that.
It looks like another nice day with temps hitting mid 80s and a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.  The weather has been very nice but perhaps a bit too nice as the AC is usually going in the PM.
No I am almost out of FP and thoughts.  I will take a load out to the compose today and then mow the front yard before M and M come.

Oh my!

It was about 7:00 PM yesterday.  I had been working outside much of the afternoon and came in exhausted and sweaty.  After we ate a delicious meal that Terry had prepared I decided to take a cool bath, turn on the bath jets and have a gin/tonic on ice as I cooled off and relaxed.  About 10 minutes into "my time" I heard this sound and then Terry saying it is bad.  She had been doing dishes and the mandolin (for slicing veggies) started to fall to the floor.  Of course her reaction was to catch it so that it would not break.  Well she caught her middle right finger on the blade and it did a super job of cutting the end of her finger.  I do not think I have seen any cut in the past bleed that much.  So it was to the urgent care center.  The Dr. looked at it and I thought she would faint!  Then she said it may be best to go to ER and maybe they would have a hand Dr. there.  She said it was so swollen that it would be hard to sew up.  We decided the prospect of going to an ER and waiting for "how long" was not worth the trip so Terry asked the Dr. to get to work!  Thirteen stitches later and about 20 warnings to keep the hand elevated we were out of there.  We think and are hoping that the swelling will go down and it will be fine.  With so many tiny stitches the Dr. said if it swells the stitches may have to come out and then heal naturally over 6 weeks or so!  We do not want that.  So Terry needs to take it easy for some time and keep that hand high.  I told her that it was not a good idea to open the window on the way home so she could elevate the hand more as it is the middle finger of her right hand!!!
We had another God watering time last night.  It looked like there was some wind and about 1/4 inch of rain which means I do not have to water the garden.  On Monday I just finished mowing in the nick of time before the rain came.  I moved the lawn mower blade up one notch as we wanted the grass to be a bit higher.  That helps kill the weeds that like to grow.
John T came over last night to get our two couches.  It was so nice to get them out of the house as the living room now looks uncluttered.  We are still waiting for the rug pad to come so we can get things in right order.
I am working to get those darn deck steps on.  For the last week or so it has been an effort to step down the 24" each time.  I blame that on how tired I get by mid afternoon!  Maybe today or tomorrow the job will be done.
Time to sign off and get to work.  The more work done before the temp hits high 80s the better it is AND why write more as the FP is gone.

A thunder banger

Oh my gosh, we just had a storm that lasted about 45 minutes.  There were at least 2 thunder bangers when I actually felt the table move!  All is fine and the 1.1 inch of rain will be a good things.  The weather said that in the metro area there were over 2000 lightening strikes in a short time.
Not a lot to say this morning.  I am guessing that the rain will be good for the garden and the lawn.
Our new living room furniture and an area rug arrived Friday.  The pad for the area rug did not come but it is down and it certainly is nice to have some floor covering which has not been the case for some time.
A tiny bit of work done in the upstairs bath.  I now have all the towel hooks up so that will help.  of course the trim is the big thing and I have not started that yet.
We had lunch with Darrel and Connie, long time friends of Terry's.  Quit the couple, fun and full of fun.  Connie recently went through some medical issues but is doing well.  Terry, Travis and I drove to get the truck yesterday and then we went to lunch from there.  It is nice to have the truck back but really I am thinking it probably should go.  It is SO nice to have but is used so little and each year it gets older and is usually in need of some work.  Purchased it in 2006 and have used it to the tune of about 35000 miles.  It is a 1991 top of the line Ford F150 with mag wheels etc.  I am not sure but it may be time to say good-bye.  Terry's son Mark said there certainly should be a market for that kind of truck.  75000 miles on a truck that is 26 years old and on top of that very little rust means it is kind of a classic!
Enough for now.  The FP is long gone.

Summer is here

Leo Adkins 

It looks like our weather is going to be hot and dry for a while.  Perhaps mid 90s by early next week.  With our window AC units that are a tad too small on hot days we need to turn them on early in the day.  If one allows the house to get hot it is not possible to cool it down.  Our central AC (open doors and windows!) doesn't always work!

My thought for the day is what would the world be like IF people ALWAYS searched for the truth before making decisions about others!  No need to go into detail!

I continued to break up the steps yesterday and I scratched my head as to why I built those things as I did.  I am sure we could have had an elephant stand on them with no harm.  Sometimes I question God why he made me the way he did BUT then I think perhaps God does have a sense of humor.

I am trying something new for me this summer.  I try VERY hard to start a project and complete it with all the details taken care of.  I know, sounds like a fairly elementary goal but then perhaps people do not know me!  Sometimes I wish I had just a tiny bit of brother Dave's great talent/gift of doing something and doing it very well to completion.  I thought about blaming Dad but not sure that works.  I guess it is what it is and I will try to be a better person.

Enough of this writing.  I need to head out to the shop where I intend to plan wood and just sit and take in the aroma.  Well maybe I will try to make something too.  FP, all gone.

Best buddies!

Jude and Ben look like they are best buds!  They have the wrong shirts on but then Dale probably will appreciate it!
Another great weather day . I am still not unpacked.  Maybe I will just leave the suitcase on the floor and close it up in October before we head south!
We made some headway for our one summer trip when we talked yesterday.  It looks like it will be about 2700 miles as we will start towards Jamestown ND and then kind of make a big circle that goes as far west as CO and as Far East as Springfield IL.  It is looking like we may do it end of June and early July but need to find out from brother Dave if the start date is ok.  Nothing is final yet but will zero in on details soon.
As I ate breakfast this morning there was a bunny conference in the neighbors yard.  I think 3 make a crowd but what could I do as I don't talk bunny talk and also in the neighbors yard so I am sure I was not invited.
Finished priming the screen yesterday and got about half of the old steps cut up.  I need to get the truck, which is in storage, so I can get the lumber for the new steps.  The lawn is 24" from the top of the deck so I just jumped off the deck onto the grass and then decided those darn steps are kind of important.  Good thing there was not a video as I am sure my jump made me look like an old man--wait a minute.
Need to get to work now as the FP is almost gone.

It is time

In 1999, just before Cynthia's HS graduation party, the deck and steps were completed.  Now, 18 years later the steps were in awful shape so it is time for new.  I think they would have lasted longer if I had been smarter but can't go back so it is what it is.  The new ones will be much much simpler and easy to install.  Hoping to get new ones in before the end of the week.
Another perfect day in St. Paul.  I am guessing it will be around 80 with sunny skies and no wind.
I have started my relocation program for squirrels.  There are just so many around and the critters like to dig in the lawn so I trap and bring them far enough away so they can not find their way back.
The garden is starting to show signs of life and that is fun to see.  The squash, cucumbers and tomatoes look good at this point.  The radishes and lettuce are also up and growing.
I have been able to get my saw uncovered and working along with the planer.  Oh my, the smell of the sawdust is wonderful.
No it is time to head to the shop where half a new screen door is waiting for more primer.  Then it will be cutting up the old steps so they can be put in the garbage over the next few weeks.
Lastly, I finally found a place that had a DC cord for our Dometic C35 cooler that we use in the camper.  We are starting to plan our trip to ND, SD, CO, NB, MO, IL and IA to see libraries.  It is looking like it will be about 17 days and 2700 miles, should be fun.  It will be so fun to get the camper on the road again.  We missed it on our trip to and from Naples.  However it was so nice to not have it in the garage in Naples.  Just to have the car was great.
Enough, time to prime the second side of the new screen door for the back garage and then cut up the old deck steps.  Got to keep moving or I seem to get stuck in neutral!
Oh yes, the FP this AM was terrific.

A week

So we have been in St. Paul a week as of this afternoon.  When I got out of bed this morning I saw my suitcase on the floor full of clothes yet.  BUT there have been some things that have been accomplished such as:

• The garden is in and has been watered at least twice a day
• The fence is around the garden
• Computer has been set up
• We have arranged for someone to look at a broken stove
• Three AC window units are in and bug proofed 
• The 4 kitchen screens are on
• Spent time with the Adkins at Faustina's soccer game.  It was fun and I had forgotten about soccer at that level.  I told Cynthia it was fun but I would not want to go back to the summer of 1987 when between Cynthia, Aaron, Travis and John we took in 100+ games!  As my mother would have said, "ufta".  Not sure I spelled that correctly but the spirit of Mom is there.
• The lawn has been mowed
• Eleven windows have been washed
• We have made our trip to Costco to get things needed
• A tiny bit has been done on the 2nd floor bath
• a screen has been purchased for the back wood shop door as I need air to flow through without birds flying into the garage
• Have made a trip to the compost as our garbage does not take yard waste any longer
• Have made trips to the bank
• Some more has been done but I can't think

As I look at that list it is maybe two days worth and here it is a week but what the heck I am retired and sometimes I am tired.

When I washed the windows upstairs and in the living room I gave thanks for the window inserts that were put in a couple of years ago.  No storms or screens, no climbing the ladder to the second floor and that is such a blessing.  Then I did the kitchen windows today and they are still the old ones.  Not as old as the other windows in the house were but still they have wooden storms and screens and they do not open and close all that great.  Maybe in the future they can be replaced too.  

Well perhaps I need to get serious and unpack this afternoon.  Terry was finished a long time ago so time to stop excuses and do it!  I do need to get a couple of bikes ready as I have not done that.  Little or no exercise is not a good thing for my body.  In that regard I miss tennis.

Of course the FP was history as of 4 hours ago.

Slow Going

Getting into things after one goes south or goes north is always a challenge for me and this time it is true for sure.  We pretty much got everything out of the car last Saturday after we arrived but the den now, Thursday, is one big pile of stuff!  We have gotten some things done like planting the small garden, mowing the lawn, putting in one air conditioner, putting a rabbit fence around the garden and more but still my list of "what to do" is way way too long!
I sit in the den by the computer each morning as I look at e-mail and pay bills and what I see up and down the street is often interesting!!!  Yesterday a young man, who lives across the street, drove up about 7:00.  He sat in the car for some time and I thought that was strange.  When he got out he was holding things around his waist but I could see he had NO pants or underpants on.  What the heck would that be about?
I have told myself this morning that I have to get some things put away so will try my best.  Putting them away actually is the easy part it is often more difficult to decide where things go.
We purchased an Apple computer a couple of days ago.  My goal is to have a desk top in St. Paul and in Naples and just carry an external hard drive back and forth.  Some friends from WI do that so I should be able to do the same.  I actually tend to get things done on the computer that I want but the way I go about it is often not the best.
I went to men's group last night for the first time since October when we left.  I discovered two things at least.  One was I am the oldest in the group by many years!  An example came to mind when Mike was sharing.  He is into computer kinds of work.  In what he does he said the average length of employment is 9 months for a variety of reasons.  Here I sat and thought about having two jobs in my life.  The first for 8 years and the second for 30 years and never in my life did I ever interview for a job!  We certainly live in a different world today.
It is June first today and in two weeks it will be 10 years since I walked out the door at Highland Junior, after 30 years, never to enter the school again.  In those 10 years so so much has changed in my life as well as everyone in my family.  Like I often say the only two things in life that are certain is CHANGE and death at some point.  I suppose I could add taxes to that short list.
No my FP is at the bottom of the cup so it is time to sign off.  I am hoping that Terry and I can get to Costco today and then pick up the pickup that has been stored all winter.  I think I am getting closer to saying good-bye to the pickup.  I really like to have it but really it is not used that much and it seems to me that making life more simple needs to happen at some point.