A rural infestation...

I was just reading my city-slicker sister's blog. She and her husband are new home owners in a big city. She just had her first adventure with a mouse in the house. I was laughing because with living in a farm house we have had a mouse or two over the years. But the last couple of years we have had a different sort of infestation (luckily an outdoor one) - groundhogs or woodchucks or whatever you want to call them. From far away they are kind of cute and furry - but don't be fooled! They can be very destructive. They were digging out under our barn foundations and also throwing up dirt piles around the property. We have a farm house on about 4 acres with four large out-buildings. Last spring we were pretty sure we had 5 or 6 groundhogs and they were tearing the place apart. A kind friend loaned us a gun and taught us how to use it. We started eliminating the destructive intruders and when all was said and done, we had 16 groundhogs!!! We got 15 of them, but number 16 went into hibernation before we got him.

I don't know if there is a sign somewhere pointing groundhogs to our place, but this year it seems like we are starting over again! Hopefully not on as large of a scale, but last night I got number one for this season.

I have to admit that learning to use a gun was not really high on my list of experiences to seek out. I'm sure my family thinks I have completely crossed over to redneck-hood, but I have to say that while killing groundhogs is an unpleasant necessity, target practice on inanimate objects is kind of theraputic. Plus - my average is pretty good - I haven't missed a shot yet (even if my targets hold nice and still for me).

My husband assures me that I would have to kill the groundhog AND cook it up for dinner to be a true redneck. WHEW! I was getting worried!

A little too much excitement...

Friday morning I picked my van up from the shop - the service engine light had come on, so we had it checked out, and on my way home from that I was stopped on the highway for the lady in front of me who was turning left. There was a semi behind me and he didn't get stopped in time and so I got rear-ended! As I could see him approaching in my rear-view mirror, it was a strange feeling - I knew what was coming and there wasn't anything I could do and it all happened so fast. Fortunately, the woman in front of me got turned before I got hit, so all the damage is to the rear of the van and I didn't have to have an air bag go off in my face. Also, I was alone - glad I didn't have the kids with me! We are hoping the van will be fixable (I drove it home from the accident) because even though it is a 1998 van, it only has 48,000 miles on it, so it will be hard to replace. The insurance adjuster should be out tomorrow or Tuesday, so hopefully we can get the repair process in motion soon. The driver of the semi was more shaken up than I was (he said he had never hit anyone before), but mostly I was glad to be walking around and lucid instead of unconscious waiting for the jaws of life to arrive. It has been 2 1/2 days and I still feel ok - I was a little stiff and sore Friday night and Saturday, but, other than that, feeling good.

It was extra good not to be injured because we had plans Friday night! Pat and Jessie came up and we ate dinner at our place and then my kids babysat their kids and we went up to the Pacers game - the only change of plans being that we had to take Pat's car instead of ours. But we had a really good time, even if we were sitting in the nose-bleed section. Of course Reagan and Hadley had a blast playing here and Rawley absolutely LOVES our kitties. It is cute to watch him get excited when he sees them.

Done at last!

Filed my taxes this morning - what a relief! Going to celebrate by having a French Silk Pie Blizzard - the best Blizzard flavour ever!! It's been a busy week - Easter tuning rush. Only one more day to go though! I have still managed to plug away at my odds'n'ends house projects. Did some painting and finishing this evening. The mirror I took to have framed is ready, so things are moving along even if it is painfully slow.
I was tuning about 30 miles north yesterday and my van started acting wierd, then my 'service engine soon' light came on. I was worried, but I made it home and then to the repair shop. It turns out it was just a spark plug. What a racket! I thought it was a big deal if the service engine light came on, but next time I am going to have Tracy check the little stuff first before we take it to the dealer! $75 to have one spark plug replaced!!
The weather has really warmed up. I hoped that I would have a few weeks between turning my furnace off and turning my air conditioner on, but it only turned out to be a few days! The upstairs air conditioner came on today - and would have come on yesterday if it had been turned on. That's Indiana for you.