Now What??

   For awhile there yesterday morning I didn't think I was going to make it to the shop.  I sailed up the hill past the Jordanville Rd and felt pretty good but when I got to Richfield Springs and pulled into McD's that damn red light went on again on my dash.  It wasn't flashing.  Nothing like CHECK ENGINE.  Just the red light meaning the engine was hot.  Every time I had to wait while in line at the drive-thru I switched the engine off and when I stared up again the light was off...and it stayed off until I took my foot off the gas and had to stand there in line again. (I finally made it to the pick-up window and received a surprise...the guy handed me my ice tea and said 'keep the $$.  It's on the house, you had to wait an extra long time.' WOW!  I was surprised!)  Back on the road again and the red light started to play 'hide and seek'.  Whenever I slowed down to below 40 (and remember that stretch of highway along Canadarago Lake is posted at 35 mph!) the light would flash and when I went faster it would disappear!  When I got into the shop I called the mechanic.  They thought that a 'head' might have cracked when the engine overheated last time.  If it did on the way home, call them and they would come with the tow truck.  I talked to Jeff who still didn't believe it and he said to chance it.  (He was still betting on a sticking 
thermostat.)  When I started the car to head for home the light was out and stayed out for the time I was in Cooperstown.  It flashed a couple of times going up the hill out of town because there was a line of traffic and the speed limit was 40 mph.  I made it thru Fly Creek with a few flashes and once past Oaksville and on the open highway where I could get up to 55 mph,the light went out.  For some reason, the light stayed out along the lake...in that 35 mph zone (althou I was doing a little better than 35 but not over 40 mph.) The rest if the way home the light stayed out.  When I got home I told Jeff about my ride and we discussed if it could have been an air bubble.  He still doesn't think it's a cracked head because the car never overheated yesterday.  Last night we went to town and no flashing light.  It's a mystery. (By the way, Jeff calls Rte 28 south out of Mohawk an engine killer because the hill is so steep and long.) We'll keep an eye on the car...on the dash...for awhile and Jeff wants to check the antifreeze.  My next trip to the shop isn't until Aug 9th so maybe it will straighten itself out my then.  I hope.
  My day in the shop wasn't too bad.  I had plenty of sales and actually sold a pair of my new booties!  Now I've got to make another pair to replace them but first I've got to find some more tiny buttons!  I checked with the button company I use and 3 cards of buttons...with 3 buttons each...will cost me $12 including postage.  I don't think so! So today I'll work on my special order...a size 6mo cardigan.  Photo to follow.
(UP-DATE:  Theresa, from the shop, has a jar of the right size small buttons that she's been saving for no special reason that she's going to give me!  No $1.27 each for the next batch of booties!!  Thanks, Theresa!!)

On The Road...Again!

   We are back on the road again.  All it took was a $51+  heater core tube and a 6-day stay at the mechanic's.  We won't go into the cost of labor and other parts.  Now, boys and girls, let's keep our fingers and toes crossed that that's the end of the major repairs on the Forester for awhile.  Jeff's planning on doing the brakes (front pads next week, all 4 rotors next month) so they won't be a surprise...but enough is enough!
     What I really want to know is what happened to Zoey's harness today?  After Jeff picked up the car at Hillslide Repairs and us at home we headed to town to do those errand that had accumulated these last 5 

days.   While we were at The Medicine Shoppe in Ilion getting Jeff fitted for a back brace the girls were alone in the car because it was in a small parking lot with little pedestrian traffic. Jeff stayed with them in the car while I exchanged books at the Library and when we stopped for gas at Stewart's in Ilion, I stayed in the car with the dogs.  He didn't want to go into the store so when we got to Walmart, Jeff stayed with them.  And when we got home this is how we found Zoey's harness across her chest!!  I really liked this style harness, too! It was rather like a bra...there were 2 straps that she stepped into and the thing fasten on her back.  I liked it so much I wanted to get one big enough to fit Fanny...when I accumulated enough $$ to afford it!! (It was not cheap...at Tractor Supply.) This makes the 3rd harness Zoey has destroyed in about 2 years.  But the question is, on who's watch did it happen?
   I'm scheduled to work in the shop again tomorrow and boy, do I hope I make it.  I've got my Pin-stripe Mariano Rivera Hoodie and some cotton baseball hats already in my bag. This week I've been done booties...rather like a penance since they're done with baby yarn on US1's.  I've got 3 pairs almost finished.  They just need

the ends worked in and a button sewed on each one.  They were a good way to use up some leftover yarn.  Sharon, another CCC member, gave me a box of buttons last year and in it were 2 cards with 3 small heart-shaped buttons.

Too small to be practical on a sweater but they will do nicely on these booties.  Good thing, too, since Walmart had almost no buttons of any size or color today.  
   Their yarn display wasn't that full, either but luckily they did have 1 skein of Spring Green...just the color I needed for an order I got for a baby sweater from a customer from Indiana.  Good thing I didn't need to rely on Walmart for the buttons for that sweater!  I just ordered them from Buttonlovers.com.  The postage is a little much but the buttons are perfect and will be here by Monday or Tuesday.  Something is going right for me, huh?

  I was ready to head south to Cooperstown Friday with my stock bag full but the Forester had other

'Mariano Rivera' Hoodie

ideas.  We didn't make it to the shop.  We didn't make it to Richfield Spring.  We didn't even make it to the Jordanville Rd.  The check engine light started flashing as I drove up the hill and suddenly the entire dashboard was lite up like a Christmas tree.  I pulled over, turned on the flashers and called Jeff.  Then Dave, the mechanic.  Then Judy and Debb...so the shop would still be open.  I sat there in the hot sun with all the windows open and knit until the tow truck showed up.  I wondered why he came from Richfield instead of Mohawk but figured it out quickly when we headed down the Jordanville Rd and took the 'scenic' way back to Little Falls. (Less traffic/no troopers.)  Jeff had checked all the fluids (oil, water, antifreeze) before I had left, and he thinks a thermostat may have stuck.  No word from Dave yet.  I hope he gets it unstuck soon.  I'm suppose to work the shop this Thursday.

  I'm very disappointed I missed the shopping frenzy Induction Weekend is.  I had 6 bb hats that I was hoping...no, I was positive they would have sold.  The navy and white, Pin-stripe hoodie probably would have sold, too, especially since it was going to be labeled the 'Mariano Rivera' hoodie. Oh, well, the label will still say that when I get it there.  

   In the meantime I switched gears and have made a couple of pairs of newborn booties.  Should be able to get another pair or two done before Thursday, too.  Oh, I just love working on US 1's.
(UPDATE:  7/23/19:  The diagnosis for the Forester--the hose that was loose a month ago...remember the mechanic had tightened the clamp holding it...developed a crack/hole/leak and that caused the flashing CHECK ENGINE light and overheating engine.  Waiting for the new hose.  Should have the hose installed and the car back by Thursday but I switched work days with a friend and I'm now planning to work on Friday.  Keep those fingers and toes crossed...PLEASE!!)

The Forester Rolls On

       Jeff always did the mechanical work on his cars so it was no surprise he was willing to change the brake pads on the Forester.  But it was a shock to him that it took a couple of hours Saturday to get the one wheel and rotor off of the car.  He kept mumbling about 'foreign cars' but eventually he got everything 

off. 

   The brake pads were nonexistent! 

What was left of the brake pads on the rear passenger side.

No wonder the wheel was  making such a racket... metal on metal grinding!  The rotor looked rough on both sides-like it had been turned, too, so it will be next to be changed.  He took the piston out of the caliber because he though it might have to be replaced but it was in pretty good shape.  By the time Jeff had everything disassembled it was supper time and he was exhausted...but he called a taxi and went to town and bought some brake pads before we ate. The next morning...Sunday...Jeff could hardly get out of bed!  (When you don't have a pit in your garage, the car has to be put on jacks and you have to get on the ground to do the work.)  

    Instead of just relaxing, Jeff spent most of Sunday watching videos on YouTube of guys changing the brakes on Subaru's!  This afternoon (Monday) he changed the pads on the rear passenger wheel.  Wally stopped by and they decided the rotors should be changed sometime soon but the piston in the caliber was still in good shape so Jeff got to force it back into the caliber.  That took some effort and there was more muttering about foreign cars during the procedure. 

   Then I was called to assist in bleeding the brake line.  I got to sit in the driver's seat and pump the brakes...on command!  Jeff kept adding more brake fluid to the engine and letting air out the the brake line.  When the brakes were finally hard enough for him, Jeff put the wheel back on and took the Forester for a test drive.

   When he came back he said the Brake light on the dashboard had gone out and the brakes worked fine. And no grinding noise!  I could tell the brakes were silent when he drove back it.  The car had really made a racket the last few days before the brakes had failed.  

   In no time Jeff had the other back wheel off and the brake pads changed.  The brake system was still functioning quietly, so he took it for another test drive.  When he came back, Jeff said as soon as he put away the tools it would be my turn to drive the car.  I pointed out I had never had a car's brakes fail on me and didn't know what to do if they did so he had to come with me.  I offered to buy supper and he checked his blood sugar to see if it was good enough (low enough) to go to Burger King.  He suggested not turning onto the highway right away but go the back way thru E Herkimer so I could get use to the way the car was breaking.  No problem. The brakes worked fine and we made it downtown without a hitch.  The girls were in the backseat...Zoey even had her head out the window! 

   When we got to BK's drive thru, Zoey climbed over me to say Hi to the girls at the window.  (She knew there were chicken nuggets in the bag for them!)  I got BK's tacos and Jeff a Whopper.  Everyone was satisfied with their meal when we got home.  Fanny and Zoey are snoozing next to me and Jeff is watching another YouTube video.  I've got to finish my navy and white Pin-stripe hoodie...pin-striping takes forever!...and do a few more baseball hats. This is our big weekend!! BBHOF Induction!

The Continuing Saga of the Forester

       Our Subaru Forester is 10 years old and has 210,000 miles on it.  We've replaced the transmission and updated other features.  But I'm still getting over 20 miles/gal with it on the highway.  This past week Jeff has said he didn't like the way the brakes sounded, so I said 'take it to Dave'.  Before he could do that, last night coming back from Herkimer, the brakes faded away to...nothing!  He was lucky to make it home in 1 piece.  
    Living out here in the little house in the little woods, it can be a real problem when you're suddenly vehicle-less.  I was scheduled to work in the shop this coming Sunday.  (Jeff has a doctor's appointment in Cooperstown on Monday and I'm suppose to be back in the shop again on Friday...just in time for the BB HOF's Induction Weekend. Don't even think about grocery shopping or trips to the pharmacy to refill an Rx. (It took several trys to find another member willing to switch days on such short notice but thankfully, Theresa said she would.  I'll make up it up to her by working a day for her in Aug.)
    Luckily, Jeff's sister was willing to come down today and be my chauffeur.  We went to the bank so I could make a deposit to cover my mortgage payment, to the library so I could print out the new insurance cards for the Forester (I changed insurance companies this week and it was 'simpler' to get the insurance card via email than regular mail) and the termination notice to change insurance companies.  I was going to print, sign and fax it back to the new insurance company but the librarian suggested just emailing it back so I just had to pay $.20 for printing it instead of $2.20 for printing and faxing it.  Then we went to Walmart and did some shopping.
   When we got home Jeff had decided he probably could fix the brakes himself...if he can determine which rotor is bad.  That process will begin tomorrow and hopefully, be successful.  In the meantime, I think we're going to use a medical transportation service for Monday's appointment...if he doesn't decided to postpone it.  And as a last resort, I'll probably rent a car for 2 days to be able to work on Friday.  Keep your fingers crossed.
7/13/19-Update:  Jeff took the rear passenger wheel off today and this is what's left of the brake pads.  I have to admit there was something going on.  He 

thinks all four brakes are in the same condition.  We're going to replace the pads and keep our fingers crossed that the rotors are ok...for a month or more at least!  Boy, were we lucky or what??

Happy Birthday, Dad!

   
   The Fourth of July means different things to different people.  To me, above all, it was my Dad's birthday.                                                                     Anthony James Terrico was born in Herkimer        to  Filomenia Terrico and Antonio Bardo on July 4th, 1908.  He was her 2nd son (John was her 1st with Tony Bardo), after 3 daughters (Rosa, Lucy and Mary) with her 1st husband, a railroad man who had died in a crash in 1904-5.  My aunts doted on little Tony, spoiling him rotten, especially after his parents separated.  My father was noted for not ever eating macaroni in any shape or form his entire life.  As a baby he always spit it out and his sisters let him get away with it!  Without his father in the home, Tony ran a little wild and eventually was expelled from school.  His sister, Rosie, saved him from having to go to a reformatory by taking him to live with her and her husband, Dominic George, in Dobbs Ferry, near NYC.  On the whole, Tony was a good student who loved to read...something that stayed with him his entire life.  He had some trouble learning to write Cursive...the letter 'R' was especially difficult for him...so his teacher simply removed one from his name and 'Terrico' became 'Terico'.  (Changing immigrants' names for whatever reason was a common practice by teachers and officials in the early 1900's and was not seen as unusual.)              
   When Tony returned to Herkimer in the early 1920's, he was already interested in boxing.  His trainer considered him 'above average' and expected good things from him.  Unfortunately, Dad had a heart murmur (actually the same malformed heart valve as I had) and because of it, lost his boxing license before he really had a chance to shine in the ring. In 1930 after asking a young (16 yr-old) Josie Molinaro to marry him and being turned down, he left Herkimer again, this time working his way West thru Texas to California.  When WWII broke out he was considered too old for the draft (early 30's) but because he had worked in construction was eventually able to join the Navy CB's.  He participated in the landing at Iwo Jima...initially scheduled to be part of the 12th wave ashore but somehow in the melee ended up in the 4th.  A mortar exploded behind him, wounding him in the lower back and he spent the remainder of the landing at Iwo Jima in the surf on the beach trying to keep his head above water (for which he received a Purple Heart).  Here are his 'dog tags',

Purple Heart and that rusty half circle of metal towards the bottom of the flag is the part of the mortar shell that was removed from him.  (Part was left in.)  He returned home after the war and again asked Josie to marry him, swearing that this time was the last time he would ask.  She agreed and they were married on April 15, 1948, a union that lasted until his death on Oct., 22, 1993. 
  Since we always seemed to be camping on the 4th of July, fireworks, a parade and a bonfire were as much a part of my Dad's birthday celebration as a cake, candles and ice cream. (I won't talk about the bears, mosquitoes, or Adirondack rainstorms!)  We made a big thing about it, too, inviting new 'camp' friends as well as family to our celebrations.  (Our birthday parties at Lake Pleasant Park where our camp was located ended up being held in the barn just to accommodate the invited!!) Our parties lasted well into the night...Dad enjoyed his birthday parties as much as the guests did!  And he was a relatively easy man to buy for:  a box of Phillies Titan cigars or a bottle of Canadian Club whiskey were always welcome gifts. 

Lake Pleasant, Speculator, N,Y,

    Those really were the days!  Happy Birthday, Dad!