I'm missing my Fawn and Dove

Hubby and I have been visiting parents in PA.  We flew into Pittsburgh last Tuesday and drove 2 1/2hours to my parents.  After spending the night there, we drove to Hubby's mother's house, 3 hours away. We stayed until Sunday afternoon and drove back to my parents.  We leave tomorrow morning.  The point is...I'm missing being home, missing my grandkids, missing seeing the new foals.

Fawn, (I've decided that will be her name), was 4 days old when we left.  She will be 2 weeks on Friday.

Dove was 3 1/2weeks old when we left, she is now 5 weeks old tomorrow.

My time in PA with parents is important, but I'm glad to be going home tomorrow.  I want my own bed.  I want a glass of wine while lounging on the couch.  I want to see and know that the babies are ok.

Tomorrow in Nebraska is suppose to be high 90's.  Temps on Friday are to be near 100.  I need to be home to make sure the foals are ok in this heat.  I think we are going to be driving straight through tomorrow, which we haven't done in many years.  It's only 17 hours....and if we leave at 7, with the time change that's 6am, we'll be home by 11.  Just in time for that glass of wine before bed!

Our Truck breaks down in Ohio

and then our rental truck breaks down after we have been home in Nebraska!

It seems like I’ve been gone for a month! Where has it gone? My time is probably somewhere out on the interstate, where I have been traveling for the last 3 -4 weeks ago, 10 days ago, and more recently yesterday and today!

Back to the beginning. Before our truck broke down on the interstate, smoke billowing all over the place. Before we had to unhook our flatbed trailer, that had our recently purchased tractor on, and left it, along with the truck, at a truck dealer in Ohio. And before the rental truck decides to break down on us, a day before we were to return to Ohio!

Hubby and I left the beginning of February to visit parents in PA. We drove home this time, so that we could bring a tractor home from Ohio. We drove 14 hours to near Columbus, Ohio and stayed an evening with Hubby‘s nephew. The next morning we drove about 2 hours to see this tractor, pay for it, leave our flatbed at the place, and continue on to visit our parents. 5 hours later we were at Tom‘s mom’s place.

We visited hubby’s relatives, near Harrisburg, PA, for 3 days. We helped his mom get out and go to lunch each day, and to her Dr appt. We left on a Sunday morning to travel through State College to have a late breakfast with 2 of our college professors, who are now in their late 80’s. They and their wives met us and we had a great visit!

We continued 3 hours north west to visit my parents for 3 days. My mom has slight dementia, and after visiting with my family the first evening and next morning, we helped my dad clean. We took them to town to shop. And we made sure mom and dad had a cooked meal each night, instead of the instant meals from Meals on Wheels, which are great meals for the elderly. It was just time for something different.

After 3 days visiting my folks, we left the next morning to pick up our tractor and drive halfway home. We did manage to get the trailer hooked up and the tractor loaded, which took some finesse. It’s difficult to get a tractor, that has a front end wider than the flatbed trailer’s wheel wells, onto the trailer. The previous owner of the tractor moves trailer homes, and he knew exactly what to do. We were on the road shortly after. We figured we would go about 7 hours, stop for the night, and go the last 8 hours the next day. We got 2 hours down the road.

Then we see the smoke. Did we blow a tire. I wish. We stopped and checked all tires, on both the truck and trailer. None were hot and smoking. Hubby noticed some grease, and after looking under the truck, saw that we were leaking some fluids from somewhere. The smoke was coming from the oil hitting the hot muffler and anything else that was hot, causing the smoke. We crept to the next exit and headed for a gas station. It was 4:30 and we needed to get to a repair shop before closing!

Hubby put more transmission fluid in, after buying all he could from the small gas station. We asked where there was a repair shop close, figuring there had to be something within a few miles. All small towns have at least 1 repair shop. How can gas station attendants not know what businesses there are in a town with about 500 people? Finally, another person getting gas said there was a garage just a mile down the road. Geez. Now it’s almost 5 and we wanted to get to some garage before closing.

We pulled up in front of the garage and you guessed it, the garage was already closed and no one answered the phone number. I’m on the computer, goggling to see what repair shops are in the area. I first had to goggle the town and find other towns near us. Then hubby says to goggle GMC or Chevy Truck dealership, and good news, there was a dealership within 10 miles, and they did repairs.

The repair shop was closed, but they would see us at 7:30 the next morning. We slowly drove the 10 miles and parked at a hotel. Early the next morning, hubby takes the truck over to the repair shop, unhooks the trailer after blocking it up with lots on concrete, and checks in with the service center. Later that morning, we get the verdict. The torque converter and oil pump needs replaced. This is a major repair. More bad news….there are only 4 repair kits in the country! At any dealership anywhere! And we had to commit to the repair before the repair parts would be sent to us! Well, that’s a no brainer, since we can’t go anywhere with the truck leaking transmission fluid everywhere. Then, the parts include special bolts, and there were NONE at any dealership. The bolts had to be ordered at the manufacturer!

The one bit of good news we had is that the dealership got us a rental car at dealer price! $30 a day which is great. When they saw we had a truck, they gave us a rental truck for the same price. We had brought back some furniture from Tom’s dad and we didn’t want it sitting in the back of the truck, wrapped in plastic, for who knows how long, and in what type of weather!

We left the truck and headed home. 13 hours straight. Home at 1:30 in the morning! We left Tuesday, Feb 8, and had been gone for 10 days, traveling over 2500 miles by truck, and approximately 44 hours in a truck. And I couldn’t go to sleep. I sat with a glass of wine for another hour. At least I slept in until 8:30! But hubby was up and going at 7, to go to an ag farming clinic!

We waited patiently for the service center to finish the repairs. Parts came in the following Tues and Wed, and the truck was done last Thursday. Weather wouldn’t cooperate. We woke up at 4:30 Fri morning to leave. But with 3-6” of snow in our area from the day before, and Iowa looking bad for Friday and Saturday’s travel, we wisely stayed home and waited for roads to clear.

We had snow flurries Friday, but it quit snowing later in the day. Saturday, we went to take the rental truck to fill with gas to be ready early the next morning to leave. It would barely move! We pulled out of our driveway and went about 100 yards, and turned around and pulled it back into the driveway. Now what?

We called the rental company in Ohio and told them the truck wasn’t running right. Engine light was on, as well as other dashboard lights. They told us to take it to repair. Ah…it’s now running right. Here it is, Saturday morning, and the places we called close at noon. A dealership in town told us to try to get it to them. Luckily, when we restarted the truck and didn’t leave it idle long, it ran fine, except for the engine light stayed on. The dealership said to leave it, and to call the 800 number for the rental company to rent a different car in town. I had followed hubby to town, so I took him over to the airport to rent another car. What an ordeal!

Recap; We left Sunday morning to get our truck in Ohio, remember, the one that broke down 10 days ago while we were hauling back our tractor (that we just purchased). And we left only after we get a rental truck, come home from Ohio, ready to leave this past Sunday to go back to Ohio to get our truck, and what does the rental truck do, but break down on Saturday!

We rented a "Nanny's" car. I do not like small vehichles! It was bright orange/red color. We did not lose it in any of the gas station parking lots!

Hubby and I spent yesterday driving 13 hours to Ohio. The only good thing about that little car was that it sure was good on gas mileage! We picked up our truck today, and we’re driving the 13 hours home.

Hubby and I have only crabbed at each other twice, and that's only because after the 2nd offense (of his), we quit talking to each other! We are handing each other snacks though. LOL

And that’s been my February! Today is the last day. I hope March is bright and sunny and dry!

I’ll let you know in the morning if I’m sane. Wonder if my horses remember me.

Traveling the Turnpike

We traveled home to Pennsylvania, driving our truck this time, so that we can pick up a tractor in Ohio on our return trip back to Nebraska. We're south in the state, coming up from the corner of West Virginia, into Pittsburgh. We picked up the PA turnpike on the east side of Pittsburgh.

We travel around, and through, the edge of the Appalachian Mountains.

I say through, because we go through 4 sets of these tunnels. Hubby said that there used to be 8 of them!

I love the PA hills. The camera doesn't do them justice!

First tunnels,

of the Alleghey Mountain range,


2nd tunnel, the Tuscardor,

The inside of the tunnel, with lots of lights. I don't like being underground. I asked hubby how long these tunnels will last before they collapse. That gives me goosebumps!

3rd tunnel, the Kittatinny,

4th tunnel, Blue Mountain,

Back to the view of the hills.

We won't be traveling back through the tunnels to return to Nebraska. We'll be heading north, through State College, to visit our college professors and to buy some Penn State t-shirts, before traveling on to DuBois to visit my parents. We'll be further north in the state then, and we'll come back to Nebraska by way of I-80 most of the way. We'll have to go south near Columbus to pick up the tractor, and we'll stay south of I-80 until Iowa.

Heading to PA

Hubby and I are heading to PA to visit our parents. Driving. By way of Columbus, Ohio. We’ll travel the southern part of PA via the Turnpike to Harrisburg area, where hubby‘s mom‘s house. Then after a few days, we’ll be heading northwest, through State College and Penn State, on the way to DuBois, where my parents live.

After Super Bowl Sunday, we needed a day to prepare for the trip. The last few years, we have been flying into Baltimore or Pittsburgh. This year we decided to drive, taking the truck and flatbed trailer, to pick up a tractor that hubby found on the internet. We now own a 1998 Case with a loader! And it’s a big loader! We will no longer be snowed in, or have our driveway filled 3’ deep by the road grader!

After spending an afternoon on re-wiring the trailer, hubby got everything he needed to haul the trailer home. Spare trailer tire. Chains and tie straps.

Then we packed, and I was glad to see that we only had 1 large suitcase and 1 smaller one, with me packing in the smaller one! I only took 1 change of clothes per day, and really, that is all anyone should pack! Then we packed a shoe bag - old ones, good ones, and sneakers. Well, actually we wore the old ones, so 2 extra pairs each, since we don’t know what the weather would be like. Oh, and don’t forget the overnight bag, as well as a flannel sheet, to use when we stop at Ben‘s, Tom’s nephew in Columbus, for the night. Then the extra coat - one nice one and one really warm one for each of us!

I got the snack bag ready, and a cooler with pop. I filled a bag with some magazines and books that I hope to read. After 2 laptops and my camera, the back seat was full! How can 2 people have so much stuff to take? But we are going for 8 days and it is winter, so who knows what weather we will run into. Oh, and speaking of that, we put in a sleeping bag, and anytime hubby remembers, we put in his slim pillow. I don’t know why he calls it a pillow, because it’s flat and has zero fluff.

Anticipating frigid weather, and we didn’t realize how frigid the first morning was going to be, hubby filled the gas tank and checked and filled all tires on the truck and trailer. I filled all waters and turned up some room heaters so pipes won’t freeze.

We set the alarm for 4:30. That is AM. Hubby fed dogs and cats, and put everything into the truck, since it was dark by the time we had all of our bags and food downstairs and by the door. Normally, everything except the laptops and camera and my purse would have been in the truck the night before. But hubby had everything in the back seat of the truck in about 10 minutes, while I stayed warm inside. It was -4.

I think I was in la-la land the first hour, driving to and through Omaha. After crossing the river into Iowa, I dozed off and on for about an hour. The road was rough, and the tires, since hubby had to fill them ALL the way with air, were very bouncy. My head got bounced around enough, and I decided to drink a cup of coffee. Oh, yes, we have a full thermos and 2 travel mugs also, as well as the Garmin Nuvi and cell phones with internet connections. We also have the converter to plug all these wires into so they have power! I have so many wires in front of my legs that I almost can’t get out of the truck.

Well, I made the mistake of looking at the truck temperature gauge, and it read a (-15). That is a MINUS 15. And this was about 2 hours after leaving home. When the sun came out, it warmed up to a -4 by the time we left Iowa.

14 hours later, we arrived at Ben’s place in Columbus. We parked the truck and trailer behind the Kroger’s grocery store and put all the essentials for the night into Ben’s Blazer. Luckily the truck and trailer were there the next morning at 6:45.

I was hoping no one would break a truck window and take our clothes and shoes and winter coats! Lol Everything was fine, except we didn’t have trailer lights. After blowing 2 fuses, hubby decided that there was enough morning light to drive without lights. But when we pulled into a gas station 15 minutes later, we had trailer turn signals. We needed fuel for both the truck and for us. Our fuel was in the form of coffee, a very large coffee I might add.

We drove 2 hours to see and purchase the tractor. We drove through the town where Longaberger baskets are, and I wished I would have had my camera ready. I knew their office building or their plant was built in the shape of a basket. It was a very large building with an extremely large handle.

The tractor is huge, runs great, and is going to be a great asset to my business. Even though it isn’t green, I’m just happy to have a tractor that will move round bales and snow, and that will run all the time!

I need to get the camera out, as we are passing some really neat, older barns. I just love old barns.

I’ll taking some pics today, as we travel the PA Turnpike to hubby’s mother’s home. We’ve gone through some bridges and I should have taken a picture of them, also. I think there is 1 more on the way, so check back tomorrow for some shots of the PA countryside!

Photos will be posted tomorrow!

February Fury!

February Fury means snow, wind and delays! And more snow! We were in south central Pennsylvania when the snow storm hit. Visiting family for 6 days with our daughter, Sara, Jake, and granddaughter Makenzie, we thought the trip would be uneventful except for visiting with family.

We thought the trip would be fun, and maybe a little chaotic. With visiting with 2 sets of family, we traveled 3 hours when arriving, another 3 hours to get to the next grandmother’s house, and 2 hours to the airport. What we didn’t know was that snow was expected as soon as we landed and would be part of our travel plans the whole trip, which extended into 3 more days, with travel delays at the airports.



We arrived at the Pittsburgh airport last Thursday. Snow was forecasted to start later that day. Since we are at the edge of the Appalachian Mountains, I knew we wanted to get through those hills and home to DuBois. After meeting a college friend for a quick lunch, we headed north for an hour, then east. An hour later, we were getting off the exit and heading towards the very small village of Sabula in Sandy Township. It’s been a long time since I saw the signs for villages and townships, but that is what makes up the countryside of Pennsylvania.



Passing by Sabula Lake brought back childhood memories of swimming and ice skating. Turning left off the road, we drove ½ mile up the hill to my childhood farm. Now sold, my parents still own a small corner where they live. There were snow covered fields. They hadn’t lacked for snow either this winter. We drove down the road that led to their driveway, past where my Grandma Ruth used to live. Another memory surfaced of sledding on the road, and only standing in the ditch when cars went by. What were we thinking?

We arrived home, and woke to a sunny day on Friday. The snow hadn’t reached us, and hadn’t started! (But it was on its way!) We drove to Cook’s Forest, to show Sara and Jake some of the scenery. By Friday evening, flurries started and by 11 pm, we had 4” of snow. The 1st round of the fury had started. We had 9” of snow by Saturday morning. Luckily, the roads cleared easily, and we had our family potluck.

By 2 pm, we were on our way to State College, and later on to Middletown.

The highways to State College were clear and the roads around State College were snow covered. They had received 12-15” of snow, but we were still able to tour Penn State, stopping at the Meats Lab where Tom worked while he was in college. We stopped at the Penn State Book Store so Sara and Jake could look for PSU sweatshirts and souvenirs.

As we headed southeast towards Middletown, the roads cleared again. We arrived after dark, but once again we didn’t run into snow covered roads until town. We were lucky, as the area had an accumulation of 12-18” of snow, and further south had up to 2’. Church was cancelled for Sunday morning, but our planned Open House with family and friends was still on. By noon, main roads were cleared, and we enjoyed seeing Tom’s aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends. Monday morning was sunny, and we visited with 2 family members who weren’t feeling well enough to be out the day before. Tom was also able to visit with Uncle Jake and Aunt Helen with Sara and Jake, but Makenzie was tired and I stayed at Tom’s mom’s place to get her ready for bed.



Later on Monday, Chicago was beginning to get the snow storm. The fury had started! By Tuesday morning, Chicago was closed down and all flights going through Chicago were cancelled. The snow hadn’t started in Pennsylvania, but Tom and my flight was cancelled until Wednesday morning. Sara, Jake and Makenzie were flying through Denver, and after an hour delay at the Baltimore airport, they were on their direct flight home.

By 3 pm, airports were reporting delays and cancellations at many major airports. Flurries started in the early evening, and by 10 pm, we had 4-5” of the fluffy wet snow laying on the cars and road. By morning, it was much more snow laying on the cars!



Tom and I had one cancellation after another. By Tuesday evening, our first change was cancelled until later Wed. We woke Wed to over another foot of snow, and another flight cancellation until Thursday. Wednesday was a blistery cold, windy day and by Thursday morning, flights were cancelled until Friday.



The February fury Snow Storm wrecked havoc up the entire eastern coast. Many major cities, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, as well as cities in Delaware and Massachusetts and New York, saw up to 2 feet of snow. Many cities saw record snowfalls for the month of February, as well as for the winter.

And the winter isn’t over yet. Another snow store, forecasted to bring another 6-12”, is to start next Monday in the East. This is one time I’m glad I live in the Midwest. Except for a dusting of snow, we have only had a total of 3-4” of snow since the day after we left, Nebraska hasn’t seen any snow since last Friday.

There was snow on the ground in 49 states on Friday. Hawaii was the holdout, thanks to an unusual combination of weather patterns that dusted the U.S., including Dallas, Atlanta, Georgia, and Florida, where hurricanes are more common than snowflakes. More than two-thirds of the nation's land mass had snow on the ground yesterday morning, and then it snowed ever so slightly in Florida. 49 states out of 50. Isn’t that amazing. And it could have been 50 out of 50 states, as there is usually snow on the top of Hawaii’s highest volcano, but not this year. Go figure!

But then, I wonder how long it will take for the snow that we have to melt? But I doubt it is going to take as long as the snow back East!

And I wonder about March Madness???