The Good Day All Thread

Oh Netty, so sorry you are getting yet more snow! I won't mention getting up to 59 degrees this morning, but we do have wind. Does that count?
Husband fixed the shower head yesterday. I am so blessed to be married to Mr. Fix-it who is also a great woodworker and photographer. Now, if I can just teach him to cook . . .
Hope you all have pleasant, non-stressful day!

 

Netty— I am watching to see if you can catch another wabbut. Interesting that the bait was gone. I get that too and suspect that it may be shrews or voles. They are pretty light.
Sorry to hear about getting more snow.

 

Putting clothing racks together.

 

Yesterday we went to the tax accountant. It was complicated due to last year's house sale, finding and compiling documents about all of the home improvements there over the years, and I took extra from my IRA early, for wildfire risk mitigation and better climate control measures for my home. I was very surprised that I didn't owe nearly as much as I thought would.

There is a list of improvements for this year, but much less. I met today with a concrete contractor to remove the front deck. The supports are unsteady, and the deck material is old recycled plastic composite like trex, which is deteriorating and sagging, and I bet it's also a fire hazard. Wet, or frosted, it's quite slippery and a fall hazard. I want a concrete patio instead. I bet that will cost me, but the old house sold for more than I expected, so I should be able to do it. That will also give a twelve feet to twenty feet protection zone, much more than the fire risk reduction recommendation minimum of 5 feet.

I also made a black bean chocolate cake (I love that stuff), and a batch of deviled eggs. Tomorrow I'll make a white bean spice cake -equally good and healthy - and it's time to make a batch of dog food again.

 

Good Friday morning all. Currently -10°C and mostly cloudy. Weather forecast for today has changed slightly, but we are still expected to get the 'Alberta Clipper' which will bring high winds and heavy snow later this evening into tomorrow. The original forecast of 25 cm of fresh snow has been reduced to 14cm. Either way, its going to be white and windy again, possibly causing driveway stress. I hope this is the last winter storm of the season! What is that saying about March ... in like a lion out like a lamb? That.
No rabbit in the trap this morning despite the bait being gone. I had aimed one of my trail cameras on the trap, but at some point the battery power became low and the infrared turned off. The last several photos were all dark, but the bait disappeared in a matter of 10 minutes. Wondering if its my Ermine thats eating the apple? I've reset the trap and refreshed the batteries in the trail camera for tonight. Fingers crossed.
Starting to feel like Elmer Fudd haha
Have a great day all

 

It's been a stressful week, but with a positive end.

My ever faithful twenty-year-old Honda CRV I'd had from new, has gone to a good home and has been replaced by a hybrid Honda Jazz Crosstar.
I went to the Honda main dealers last Friday to see a car they had on their website.
I didn't believe how complicated it could now be buying a car from a main dealer.
So many questions and forms to fill, even when you're paying cash..

I was lucky, they didn't want to give me much in part exchange. A twenty-year-old car, with several "Sainsbury's car park battle scars," would only go to auction. But whilst I was at the showrooms, a guy who said he just happened to passing, approached me in the car park and offered me three times what the dealer offered.

As they say, "there's many a slip between cup and lip," but he turned up at our house at the time agreed, yesterday, with his wife in her car, with the cash. He'd already insured it before he arrived!

So I took a taxi this afternoon to collect mine. I'm well pleased, with it, it's only two years old, immaculate, with only 6000 miles on the clock. It's the model with "all the bells and whistles."

 

@Doghouse Riley congrats on your sharp new wheels! And such a great outcome finding a good home for your old car.

I like Honda cars a lot. I think they're well built and durable. I've never owned one because the dealers never seem to have the model in stock that I want, and they want me to buy it without ever seeing it in person or test driving them.

You are right about all of the paperwork. It was like that with my new KIA EV-6 as well. Still, I like the car. I does have a couple of quality issues, but so has every other car I've owned.

 

Today I made a twelve-day supply of doggie meals and froze most of them. I thaw them as I use them.

Then took Rufus for a long walk. Then much of the afternoon in the garden.

Not a bad day!

 

This is my fourth Honda. I had one of the first Honda CRVs imported from Japan, in 1998. I traded in my Honda Civic LSI I'd bought new, three years before.

Today I'm going to go through the "bells and whistles," to disable a few, I don't like the "lane assist," I don't need it "grabbing the steering wheel," if I decide to change lanes on the motorway.

The disadvantage is that I can't just chuck my mucky electric trolley and tour golf bag in the back, (I had a big mat in the CRV to protect the carpet in the boot), there's not enough room. The rear seats can't be moved backwards and forwards, but the backs can be folded down to provide a flat surface.
Fortunately, I've one of these for the trolley. It was a "freebee" with the trolley I had before the one I have now, but had never used it.


I'd already bought a boot liner on eBay for £26. Rather than one from Honda at a ridiculous price.



I've also ordered a rubber mat to cover the backs of the rear seats when they are folded down. As I'll have to put the bag and trolley in lengthways. But the arrangement will keep the car clean.

Main agents are so expensive. whilst I was waiting for my car, I could hear a receptionist on the phone to a customer whose car was obviously in for a service.

She told them there was another problem. There was a blockage in the pipe that fed the screen wash to the rear window. This can happen. All that's necessary, is to pull off the nozzle at the business end, and blow through it backwards, if that doesn't work, pull off the pipe from the reservoir and jam it in to an electric tyre inflator, that many people have and turn it on. Well, that's what I've done in the past.
They were going to charge her an extra £47 to do this!

 

Good Saturday morning all. Currently -9°C overcast and very windy. We had snow, thankfully not as much as they had called for, and very strong winds overnight. Our BBQ almost blew right off the deck! My son saved it just in time and moved it against the house. Hoping the driveway is drivable as we are at the rink this morning. I'll find out in a few minutes when I take Thunder out for his walk.
I also caught a rabbit! Yay! I was starting to wonder if I would ever catch another one! My friend will be coming by in a while to relocate it and reset the trap. Only a few more to go (I think! But there could be more)
Have a great day all

 

That was what first set me off to get a different car. My Prius Prime was still in good running condition but the hidden costs repairs for things I didn't even know were needed, were exorbitant! I read an all electric had so many fewer parts to repair, no oil to change, etc. I don't drive that much anyway, so I hope this car lasts for my lifetime.

 

If I keep this car as long as I did the last one, I'll be 105.

 

Good Sunday morning all. Currently -21°C and clear. It sure is a cold one!
Nothing in the trap this morning, and I didn't really expect there to be. I haven't seen any other rabbits near the house for a while now.
I'm not really sure what todays plan is other than some food prep. I had wanted to do some work outside, but its too cold out. Temperatures are going on the rise this week so I'll hold off for a few days. It might just be a lazy Sunday!
Have a great day all

 

Well, Nettyi having a "lazy Sunday"! Who would have thought!
Today is another lazy day for me, like most days. No big plans, just some laundry and some cooking. We are having herb crusted salmon with risotto tonight.Sounds fancy but is very easy to make.
Hope you all indulge in a lazy day that is also enjoyable.

 

Good Monday morning all. Currently -11°C and overcast. Weatherman says the temperature will go above freezing today. It will be nice to melt some more snow!
I'm going to do some housework and then more sorting in the garage today. I've realized that I'll be back to work before I know it and I'd better get winter jobs done!
Have a great day all