This is why we love our mechanic, . . . .

Our mechanic is definitely not the "warm, touchy-feeling" type of guy (he's a MECHANIC!) :o) But I just have to say that we've built up a relationship with him over the past two decades, and I've really come to like and trust him. Scott usually talks to him the most, but I usually go pay for the repairs in the afternoons (he closes his shop right when Scott is getting out of work, and we don't like him to have to wait on us before he can go home!).

Anyway, we just had to have the "strut mount" replaced on the one side of our van. It was making an awful noise when we would turn the steering wheel (especially when it was damp and cold). So our mechanic replaced that, and as I was chatting with him while I wrote out the check, I told him that Abby and I would be so very glad not to hear that noise when we drive, because it just didn't sound good. I told him I know NOTHING about cars and mechanical stuff (neither does Abby), so we worry when we hear bad noises. Our mechanic went back into the shop and came back with the box with the bad part in it, and proceeded to explain to me (in words that I could understand, even!), some of the parts of the strut mount, and why it had been making that noise (the bearings had broken down, so when we turned the steering wheel, it was metal on metal trying to move). Afterwards, I was thinking that it was something like a knee replacement for our van! Our mechanic is so much cheaper than taking the van to the dealership, and I get a little bit of "Car Mechanics 101"---which is very helpful! He never takes advantage of the fact that we don't know a whole lot about vehicles (although Scott knows a lot more than I do!)

This is why we recommend our mechanic to all of our friends! (Almost everyone in Scott's office uses the same mechanic).

Freezing Rain

Abby's friend Liz (who lives across the country) wanted to see a picture of our freezing rain! Here you go, Liz! This is our neighbor's ornamental pear tree (no pears, and the leaves take forever to fall off in the fall/winter!). The roads aren't all that bad, actually, although everything above the road is coated with ice. This, too, shall pass, and it's nice to have a day/evening to spend at home, without needing to go anywhere (except maybe to take Abby to work and pick her up . . . Scott would feel better if we drove her instead of letting her drive in the sleet and freezing rain (snow is actually better to drive in, we believe!)

Snowy Day in Pennsylvania

A beautiful snowy day!!! Just a clipper system coming through. Joel was once again trying to get a good train picture, but he missed the train. He took some pictures, though! A snowy day in a small Pennsylvania town, near the railroad tracks.