I Got A New Ride!

I've spent the last 2 days in PR buying a new vehicle!

A 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan!

Or as Vanessa calls it "A grandmamobile"!

Not that anyone is pregnant!? Right!? RIGHT!?

My poor old going to Costco vehicle will be sitting by the highway for sale by the end of the weekend!

I sit twice as high in the new van.

One of my friends told me there were support groups for 'mini van owners'!

I had thought about a pick up, but Ray has one, so we really don't need two.

But when my friends & I go shopping we don't want to be limited!

Mind you the last time my friend P & I went to Walmart, we each bought a chair! Part of a sectional, no arms, but hey, they both fit in the car! In their boxes!

The price for the Caravan was pretty good, but I sure didn't like the whole buying experience!
There were a bunch of 'HIDDEN COSTS', that as far as I was concerned should've been out there right off the hop!
I'll explain.

They had sold the Caravan I REALLY wanted, which turned out for the better cause I'd have never been able to afford it!
Anyhoo......
Base price was $21,488.00
I had decided I wanted remote start for our famous Canadian winters, and Ray said I HAD to have mud flaps, as we live out of town on gravel and the gravel would take the paint off.
BUT.....add another $250.00 off the bat for Nitrogen in the tires. And you HAVE to pay for that cause it's already in them.
Those 2 options and the nitro in the tires took the price up to $22,713.00.
Which still isn't bad you say....but wait...I'm not done!
There's a document fee of $499.00, which you HAVE to pay, and really WTF, there was no financing involved, no trade in......so really WTF!
There's a Air Tax for $100.00, which, I guess I'm paying cause it's Government, a AMVIC charge of $6.25 because it's a NEW vehicle, which I HAVE to PAY, the tire tax...well it's $20.00, but I have to pay, then, and the kicker is.............
Your protection package, which is the top coat and undercoating, and used to be done at the factory....is now a very expensive option, and hey, call me crazy, I live on a gravel road,  it prolongs the life of your paint job, and protects from rust and rocks....you get the picture! Also they do the seat material and rugs. And because it was the end of the month she could give me a deal! It was still $975.00!
Plus the GST and we're at $25,528.91!
Holy moly....I found the whole thing to be very stressful, and no wonder I don't do this often, and I'm glad J was there, cause I'm sure it would have been WAY more painful!

What I want you to know is that.....I'm sure it's NOT false advertising according to the dealers, but
let's see;
$250.00 for nitro in tires
$20.00 Tire Tax
$100.00 Air Tax (WTF!)
$499.00 Document Fee (WTF)
$6.25 AMVIC
That's $875.25 that should be added to the sticker price CAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS YOU HAVE TO PAY!
The start out sticker price should have read, $22,363.25!
I'm just sayin!

Okay, at the end of the day I'm happy with the vehicle, just not with the whole 'BUYING' process.
There were other options to consider too. And don't forget for them to cover their ass you have to SIGN that she told you about them and you REFUSED.
One was an extra Anti Theft item for somewhere between $300.00 & $400.00.
I looked at J and said: "How hot of an item for theft are Grand Caravans?"
J smiling: "In Manning!?
I declined.

So there you have it! No wonder I don't get a vehicle very often!

Ta ta for now!

July Challenge for CCAYR!

The challenge this month at CCAYR is

The challenge for July is that anything goes...you heard it...make any kind of Christmas cards you want:) We can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

There are some awesome cards this month!
Ok, there is every month!
Here are mine!

 

Haha! You can see in the top right that I'm in the process of making a double fold card!

It's going to be for my moms' birthday!

I'll post a pic when I'm done!

Me & My.........

Shadow!

Shadow & I picked the Saskatoons the other day!

By the way....she loves them, and has figured out that they grow on trees!

Hopefully she doesn't think everything on a tree is an edible berry!?

Can you say MILLION $$$$ trip to the vet!?

Anyhoo.... I threw one of her toys a few times, then came in to clean the berries!

In the course of our playing, she had jumped at me, and I didn't think anything of it until I was done cleaning the Saskatoons, and moved, and realized I was standing in a pool of blood!

She got me good. From the knee to the ankle!

So i cleaned that mess up and never thought another thing about it!

Yesterday I go to the Dr. for prescription refills.

He sees my leg, asks what happened, gave me some really strong antibiotics, and sent me to the hospital for a Tetanus shot!

I'm thinkin Shadow doesn't have the cleanest toenails in the hood!

I got the full meal deal, and only went for perscriptions!

My last tetanus shot was 1996!!

It's supposed to be a scorcher today.

I've already watered everything in sight, and am going out to sort bottles....AFTER I make a pasta salad!

Talk to you later!

Ta ta for now!

Home Sweet Home!

Hello Friends!
Didja miss me?
Been away...went to the family rebellion, visited with friends, was at my other job, worked a booth at the rodeo, saw Duane Steele, and I picked up an awful cold somewhere!

First the rebellion!

Critters!

People!

My mother!

Fun was had by all!

On the way home...I stopped for a sleepover at a friends, and V met me there!

They have Corgis!

This kills me hahahahahaha!

This is relax mode!

V then came home for a couple sleeps.

I'm going to try and get over to see their new place in the next week or 2.

She called again tonight, but I forgot to tell her she doesn't want this bug!

Rainbow tonight......nope...didn't rain at our house!

Better go...gonna try to get my cards done this week for CCAYR! I've been in my craft room, but out of 3 only 1 made the cut....just not lovin anything!

Ta ta for now!

VAYCAYSHUN!

I'm offically on vacation! Woot Woot!

Going to a Family Rebellion, stopping on the way home to see friends, working a day at my 'other' job, volunteering in a booth at the rodeo.....then the next 2 weeks are mine all mine!

It rained a minute ago, so Shadow & I ran to sit in the woodshed!
It's made of tin, so REALLY sounds like it's coming down! It didn't though, only 2 mm in my rain gauge!?
It needs to rain nicely for a couple days.

Got my bag packed & in the trunk!
Got my over night bag waiting to be filled after my shower in the am!

The O/S called, he's worried about claiming his house rent for the year.
Told him it'll all work out.

V is coming to visit our friends the day I get there!

I hear Ray on his way home......I'm going to set the wind up clock in case the power goes out! Can't miss my car appointment!

Better go, talk to you when I get home!

Ta ta for now!

My Bags Are Packed

Not really, but I'm working on it!

After sharing my whippersnipper story with the maintenance guys at work, and living through the hysterical fits of laughter...........okay, so it really is funny today, but I wanted a pity party for maybe, oh, I don't know......5 minutes or so!
One of the staff noticed my leg, and asked if I'd been cleaning up the dead willows again.
Sadly, it wasn't that story!

I also had to listen to them (between fits of laughter) say that there had to be a movie about my life, and I'd have to play myself, just because of the facial expressions.
I told them I was glad I didn't live in town, cause the neighborhood kids might have learnt some new words!

One more picnic with my peeps tomorrow, and I'm on my way south!
One of my ladies asked why I was leaving in the middle of the week.
I told her, the family rebellion is at the other end of the province, and I have to get there!
Here's hoping there's nothing seriously wrong with the car!
Appointment is at 8:00am Thursday.
Only because I'll be on my way through town!

Still no rain. I've watered everything in sight again tonight. Will do it again tomorrow, and hope that Ray waters while I'm gone!
We walked around and ate the ripe Saskatoons, and Blueberries! There won't be enough of either for a pie!
Too dry for the Saskatoons, and I just planted the Blueberries this year!

Better go.

Ta ta for now!

I WILL ...................

SURVIVE!

I just need to rant before I bawl!

I was at my 'other' job today for 8 hours and 10 minutes.
It was that kind of day, where I want to keep track of every minute!

June is our year end.

I am NOT ready!

I have 3 bosses.
2 write cheques.
One is in another town.
1 has several chequebooks that he hides, and lets not talk about the deposit BOOKS!
There are 4 bank statements to do up every month.

I am still working on one for MAY!?
I need the invoices for a deposit, and no one has found them yet.
No........I AM NOT sittting around waiting, and believe me I've looked!

I only go Mondays any more, unless they need me. Then someone will leave a message on my cell phone, and I'll pop over after I'm through at the OFH.

It's frustrating, and painful!

The last hour or so today I just wanted to CRY!

Then Ray calls and wants me to meet him at the highway with his cell phone that he'd plugged in here at home.
I almost snapped, until it registered that he didn't want it RIGHT. THIS. MINUTE!
He was on a job and would be about 4 hours.
Long enough for me to get home, and cool off.

So I've washed my car windows with the "As seen on TV" window wash thingy. I'll know when I"m in it and the sun is shining if it worked!

OH yeah....and there's this!

That's my ankle, and the whip marks are from the freakin gas guzzling Stihl, that idles at 200 MPH, so the string whips around that fast too.
I had set it down to pull some grass around one of the shrubs, and walked into the BA%$#@*!
They're a lot redder and sorer in person let me tell you....and I'm not a wuss!

Ok, I think I'm done, hope everyone's having a GREAT DAY!
Talk to you again.

Ta ta for now.

Hives.......

Okay just 1 (one)! And not the rash either!
The wasps built a nest under the small deck.

It's kinda disinegrating, as Ray sprayed it last night.

Told me I could knock it down today,

Think I'll pass, I can still hear the suckers buzzing around!

Jerry, checking out what's going on, and possibly the only cat left on the place!

Yesterday coming home from town, I ran across these critters!

They're baby coyotes,

There were about 8 of them!

Ray figured the dog wouldn't stand a chance against that many!

I've got Rhubarb Crisp in the oven......I'm going to make my lasagna for supper now....then I'm going out to mow and whippersnip by the Saskatoons and Chokecherrys!

Cleaning the car is on the list for today too. Maybe washing the kitchen floor.

Oh, and put the lattice back up that I took off the deck so Ray could get under there and spray the nest!

I'm tired just thinking about all of it! hahahaha

I've been bathing the Laurel Leaf Willow with dish soap the last few days.

Certain kinds of willows in the whole country side are turning brown.

There's a little tiny brown mite or something on them.

Of course, Gail paid money for one this year, and it's affecting it!

I don't know if the leaves will just fall off, or if it kills the damn tree!

Better go, got a million things to do, and I leave on Thursday!

Ta ta for now!

Malfunction at the Junction!

As you know, (and if you don't you should be keeping up on the weather channel!!!), It's been REALLY hot here!

Yesterday.....I start my car to leave work, and a little light comes on.
I pull up to Fields, cause that's my first errand, and check my messages, and dig out my cars little black book.
I find the little picture that is lit up.....and I kid you not.....it says "Malfunction Light"!?
It goes on to say that bad gas can make it light up. Things too numerous to mention. Oh, but it DID say that the car should run normally, and it shouldn't need towed! WTH!
What good is a 'malfunction light' if I don't know what's malfunctioned?????
It says to take it in for servicing as soon as possible.
Ray changes my oil, and that's about the only servicing it's had. Well, I DID get all the belts replaced at 160,000 kms.

So I called the Chrysler dealer in PR and made an appointment for Thursday morning!
She asks, "The car's running fine?"
Me, "Yup!"
She: "It's a malfunction light?"
Me: "Yup"
She: "What's malfunctioning?"
Me: "I don't know!"

Thursday morning is the first day of my holidays!
I think it's a sign that I should stay home! Either that or get a new vehicle!
Remember last year?
I spend a small fortune on my vehicle, then still holiday!
Good thing I'm only going for a week.
Oh, we'll get some camping & stuff in too, and V & S moved into a new place so I could go have a sleep over with them! And there's a wedding we're going to in there!

I did mail out a book to Pinky!
If you follow her blog, she has chickens.
We live in SMALL TOWN NOWHERE ALBERTA, so I go into the Post Office today to send it off.
M: "It can go air for $13 something or surface for $11 something."
Me: "Surface."
M: "What is it a cookbook?"
Me: "No, Chickens."
M: "Chickens?"
Me: "Yup, that's what she's into."
When I got my craft book stuff a month or so ago, there was a book about chickens, and I imediately thought of her, so I ordered it!
Hope she likes it!

I didn't sleep worth crap last night.
Don't know if it was because it's sooooo hot, or what!
It rained & tried to be cloudy for most of today, so hopefully I can sleep tonight!

I did manage to whip up a birthday card this week!

This is the inside.

That was about the only creative thing I did this week.

I WAS putting my Christmas paper & stuff away, but CCAYR has their July challenge up, so I'll have to get in on that!

Gotta get my butt in gear and make some more wedding cards.

We just got another invite today!

That makes 6!!!???

Good thing I have holidays coming up....I can do what I want!

Better go.

Ta ta for now!

HotHotHot!

And getting hotter towards the weekend I hear!

I just watered everything in sight!
The blueberries I bought this Spring are turning BLUE!

The Columbines are starting to bloom!

My basket of dahlias are going to bloom!
The list goes on.
Everything is doing pretty good, if I water the crap out of it at least every second day!

As you know, I'm going to the family rebellion next week!
I stay with an aunt I make cards for.
So I did some Christmas cards for her. She usually likes half a dozen or so!

She tries to pay me, but I argue that I can't stay there for nothing!

I even have some volunteer pansies that are blooming!

They were my grandma Berthas' favorite flower!

That's what she said any way, but she always had beautiful begonias!

Well, tomorrow's picnic day at the lodge.

Better go.

Ta ta for now!

Camping!

We finally made our maiden voyage for the year!
I had 5 days off, and Ray had 4!
So we went to Hilliards Bay for 3 sleeps!
The weather was awful!

This was us beetling to shore in some crappy weather!

We rocked & rolled on the boat this weekend for sure!

This was the pirate boat that went back & forth....Cathie & I figured it was casing the joint!

This made the rain & drizzle easier to take!

Ray's fishing off the dock that was installed this spring!

It's a jackfish, so went back in the lake!

Seems like miles back & forth from the lot to the dock!

I think it's 300 feet. That's of dock, you still have to walk through a marshy part!

This is the awesome firepit Wayne built!

It's like a Hogwarts fireplace with a crook in the chimney & everything!

Wayne & Elaine, and Cathie & Erin were there this weekend. Also Clint, Brett and Kimberly, and a ton of their friends!

They stayed at the campgrounds though!

I think they had 2 sites, and about 5 or 6 tents!

And a KEG! OMG!

Fun was had by all!

I've already cleaned the camper out for the next trip, but it might be at the end of the month!

My holidays start on the 15th, and I'm on my way to Redcliff for the family rebellion.

Got my silent auction goodies all finished.

I need a pot luck dish, but I think I'll make that Holiday Delight!

It's nice and easy and light!

I'll just borrow a bowel!

I'm staying at my cousins!

I don't go back to work at the OFH until August 10!!!

Better go.

I'm still waiting for them over at CCAYR to put up the July challenge!

Ta ta for now!