Another busy Saturday, more travel

Mama and I were up Saturday morning fairly early. We had to get the feeding done early so we could get to Grandma’s for breakfast. Norman had gotten in from West Virginia late Friday night and Grandma wanted to feed both of her kids breakfast. Seth and Gabriela were due that morning as well, so grandchildren and great grandchildren were also attending. When we got there Normand and Grandpa were unloading a trailer of junk Norman had hauled from West Virginia. Old weed eaters, a lawn mower, beat up cabinets, a very rusty drill press, etc. The thought was for Grandpa to clean up and sell the items as a way to get some cash. To Norman’s credit, most of the items were usable and will be more so after Grandpa gets them cleaned up. I just thought it was funny that Norman had made the trip – twenty hours plus – with a trailer load of discarded items. But that sums up the West Virginia mindset. he was supposed to bring a trailer load of hay. I will probably end up with the drill press and one of the weed eaters. My West Virginia transplant rooting showing through.

On our way to Grandma and Grandpa’s we dropped off my truck for our mechanic to replace the radiator. I have been smelling antifreeze for several months but could not find the leak. Friday, the leak made itself obvious. I was at Lowe’s at lunchtime and when I was walking back to the truck, I was able to see the fluid dripping from the radiator. I knew the leak had to be high on the radiator, because it would stop after several minutes. Only evidencing itself when the radiator was hot. I was not having any problems with the engine overheating and the reservoir seemed to always have sufficient fluid levels. So, it had not been an urgent need. Based on my preliminary diagnosis, Mama made several calls before we took the truck to Roger. The average repair price to replace the radiator was about $650. Roger is charging us $600. Fair enough. We were promised the truck would be ready today. We will see if that happens or not.

We did not stay long at Grandma’s. We had an appointment with the vet to get another little buckling disbudded. That appointment was set for 11 am. It was unusual to get an appointment at this veterinary office on such short notice, so Mama and I did not want to miss it. Once at the vet’s, we had to wait for about a half hour for the goat to get done, but we had nothing pressing us for the rest of the afternoon other than a planned trip to Sam’s. While we were at the vet’s, a young man came in, very emotional. He had a sick dog in the car and wanted the vet to look at the dog as quickly as possible. While he was waiting to see the vet (no more than ten minutes), the dog died and a tearful young teenage girl and the father of the two came in to give the young man the sad news. It was an incredibly sad scene. Mama cried for them. We will be in the same boat soon as we watch Sam’s health deteriorate. He and Sasha have been guarding or farms for more than eight years, but Sam is getting crippled in his hips. He struggles to get up from a lying position. It is a pitiful thing to watch. If it gets much worse, we will have to put him down. That will be a very somber moment for all of us.

Once we got the buckling back with his mommy, we headed to Sam’s. Mama and I needed to get a present for Victoria and Sam’s had the best price on the item. It was very crowded, but we managed to get in and out in less than an hour. Spent more than we needed to, but that is not new. We were home and unloaded by 4:30. That gave me time to feed and Mama time to put together something for the Sunday School Class party at the church. That party started at 6 pm. We had a great time at the party. Mexican food at it’s finest. A gift exchange with the right to steal any prize that had been opened before your time to choose. That is always an interesting dynamic. We were home a little after 9 pm with three gifts that would be regifted this Christmas.

Yesterday was rather anticlimactic. Good services morning and evening with a nap in between. Today I will pack to travel and be on the road through late Thursday. Hopefully, this coming weekend will not be quite so busy. Tomorrow, as I travel, I should hear back from Paul concerning the potential job offer. Mama and I are still praying for wisdom concerning that decision.

Several others are joining us in that prayer.