Look Out For That Tree!

 It's surprising to me how interesting and satisfying it is to see THIS when I walk out into the back yard.   Yet another huge pile of dead ants.  Can you just imagine how many are lying there?  It's about 6" across and half an inch thick.  Trouble is, in spite of the scene, it means there are many more down there hauling these out.  More Amdro is required. 

The good news is that FINALLY ... I was able to pick these tomatoes without being stung or bitten by an ant.  I admit, I'm getting a little tomatoed out.

Breakfast was quick and easy ... sausage and an egg.  I cooked enough for three meals.  Unfortunately, I ate half of it!!

Okay ... time to hit the road.  I lifted all the shades, closed all the drawers and shut the fridge doors.  That was AFTER I washed the entire front end.  There was so much dirt on the windshield I couldn't see a thing.  After washing, I STILL couldn't see a thing.  The inside was almost as bad as the outside.  

My plan was to hit up Hobby Lobby, but I forgot they are closed on Sundays.  I went that direction anyway, finally landing two towns over in the Safeway parking lot.  I had a list which did not actually include any food at all.

Here's my view.  See those trees?  I guess I saw them, but didn't pay any attention until I came back out.  YIKES!!  When it feels like you are just driving your truck, you don't pay attention to TALL things.  My plan for an easy escape quickly disappeared.

There is something to be said about Safeway's flower section, which is HUGE.  It actually makes you feel pretty good when you walk in the door and see this!

Then THIS kills that feeling instantly.  Hamburger ... $11.00 a pound.  What do you suppose happens to this stuff that no one buys because it's too expensive?  I admit, it's 90% lean, but I would NEVER buy this and I'm sure most everyone else thinks the same.

I found my garlic sourdough bread, two packages of English muffins, some veggies, a block of cheese and a few other minor things like a $20 bag of cat food, which was one of two things I was after.  Three actually, since if you clicked on the coupon, bacon was $4.99 a package.  I got four.  The bill came to $120.00.  WHAT?  

So my decision to come here to shop once a week ... in the van ... vanished into thin air.  Good grief ... Hobby Lobby is MUCH cheaper!!  And I never did find the strapping tape I was looking for ... the main item I needed.  

I did find some Super Glue I used to reattach the bottom rail to one window shade.  They just don't make them like they used to.  Once that sets, my plan is to get two small magnets to hold the shade tight to the metal door.  That way there is no rattling as I go down the road.

THAT'S when I noticed the tree limbs.  My best laid plan of driving forward to get out vanished into thin air.  I'm pretty sure I would lose the satellite dish at the very least.  Of COURSE someone in a small car parked 12" from the right side.  I held up two big pickups while I huchi-gued back and forth trying to make the turn.  Note to self ... next time park WAY OUT at the far end of the lot where NO trees live.    

Back home I came up with another tip ... mostly for Dave since I know he has a similar rig.  The side window covers have magnets to hold them to the door while you shut it.  They are not strong enough, and 9 times out of ten it falls off because it's so heavy.  

These Monkey magnets were suggested by good friend Barbara Westerfield.  They hold everything from window shades to kitchen drawers to doors.  They come with a sticky backing you can apply, or with screws.  I stuck one piece on the shade to see if it would stick to it and then placed the shade on the door.  IT WORKED PERFECTLY!!  No more messing with the shade falling off when I try to shut the door.  THANK YOU BARBARA!

And so I drove 50 miles on this day, hoping it's enough to keep the rig battery charged up.  I mean just how many miles are you supposed to drive to keep it healthy?  And what do I do when I'm parked for a month in Arizona?  

I guess I'll have to find a place for my charger and just plug it in for the day while I'm in the rig.  It's too bad they don't have a battery readout like with the lithiums.  At least you would have an idea of when to charge it up.  I'm sure there's a way to hook up something to the battery that you can just attach and disconnect from the charger when you want, but that's WAY beyond my skill level.  

And so I leave you with this beautiful pumpkin picture while I contemplate decorating for Halloween.  

After that, I will contemplate what I need to pack, because there's a short trip scheduled this week in the van.  If it starts!!