Going, going, gone...

I was driving to Provo on Monday when the Hyundai started struggling up the hills. But we made it to Hwy 6 and cruised down the mountain into Spanish fork with no problems. I stopped at Sams Culb to do some shopping, got back in the car and on the freeway. I started to accelerate and... and...nothing there. No zip, no guts, nothing. With my foot to the floor I was topping out at 25 mph. Hmmm...put on flashers and poke along until the next exit- just 2 miles that seemed like an eternity.

I called Randy and he came and looked at it and suggested we take it to his mechanic. We took all the back roads to it and the mechanic took it for a test drive and said he'd give me the (bad) news tomorrow. Well- we got the news today...$3500. to fix it up. There's just not one thing wrong (which we had guessed) but a plethora of things. It's a miracle it's kept running at all. between clogged carburetors, linking oil coils, gaskets, oh and a timing belt- all of which you have to basically dismantle the car to get to.

So tomorrow we're going to go get it and bring it home and park it, and decide what to do with it. We'll haul it on a trailer back-easier than towing- I've had my share of those adventures. So we're down to the gas hog truck- Tom wants to look for a motorcycle to just run back and forth on during the summer. I'm not overly fond of driving on the freeway and highway on one, but Milburn road or state street here locally I'm okay with.

On a happier note, Hank is doing much better- he's actually walking around and somewhat back to his ole self. But he goes around quietly bah-ing for Patches & Bitsy- wondering where they've gone.

We've been clean, clean, cleaning at the house trying to get ready to move back in there this weekend-Slowly the snow line is receding back- yah! I can see grass!

TRADEGY STRIKES

IN MEMORY...

Very sad post today. Yesterday I was driving to Provo when I got a call from Tom. He had just been contacted by the Sheriff- 2 large black labs (from over 10 miles away no less) went on a killing spree and ravaged some of our neighbor's goats and then came and got ours. Apparently the Sheriff was contacted after the first incident and was looking for the dogs when he found them at our house- but it was too late. They had already killed sweet little Patches and Bitsy! The dogs turned on the Sheriff and he shot them both. They had also gone after Hank- but he wasn't dead. Tom checked him over and thinks he'll make it if the shock of it all doesn't kill him.

We will really miss sweet Patches- the Grandkid's favorite- she was so gentle and friendly. Both does were pregnant and due to deliver next month. I'm just grateful Muffin and her babies were still at the Center.

Our house is finally finished so we will be moving in this Friday and Saturday- it will be sad to look out the kitchen window and not see Patches frolicking with her babies in the Spring :-(

I also feel bad for the dog owners. They had to come get their dogs (2 large black labs). They moved to the area last year- I don't know if they realized how important it is to acclimate city animals to livestock.

This, (along with the skunk problem) has convinced us to invest in another good dog. I have missed not having one. I wish we still had Jack- he was the best, but I'm going to start looking for another really good Border Collie. They are so smart, loyal, and yet gentle for the kids.

Muffin and Hank make "little cookies"

About a month ago, I noticed Muffin "bagging up" and pulled her out of the pasture and set up the "birthing room" (the horse trailer) for her, complete with heat lamp and pine shavings. It was still very cold here at the time and I did not want to do a birth watch in 2 feet of snow and 10 degree weather. Hank was sneaky and must have jumped the fence- because I wasn't expecting babies until April....

Anyway- because this was here first time, I wanted to be sure and catch the delivery in case there were any problems. So 2 weeks ago we had Stake conference and Muffin was kind enough to wait until that afternoon and I was there to help. Good thing because the first one had a shoulder hung up on her way out and I had to bring it forward so she could get born.

Muffin did a really good job from there on out. We ended up with 2 does (worth a lot more than bucks) so I was happy- and they are adorable. One is Oreo and the other Chocolate Chip.

They are really friendly (even after disbudding) I think because Muffin is such a sweetie. She thinks she's a dog and even comes when you call her!

Opening Night...

Well... we had opening night for "Blythe Spirit. " All in all it went well. The local Community theater group does a dinner theater once a year every spring and they usually do some kind of murder mystery/comedy theme.

This year they did Blythe Spirit- and I was cast in the role of Madame Arcati- the psychic who brings back a man's first dead wife. (Angela Landsbury played the part on Broadway.) It's pretty funny because the man is now remarried. There was a full house and although the play is a bit wordy (it's British) and long (2 1/2 hours), we had rave reviews from the audience. I get to do all kinds of fun stunts and some pretty funny bits on stage.

We had a full house Friday and last night night. Tomorrow (Monday) is our final performance. Cari & Bill came out last night with their kids. We got them a sitter for the kids and they all stayed the night and went home this morning after I made breakfast and we got to visit. Tyler and his friend, Katherine also came (and brought flowers!) but drove back home last night. Of course the night they came was when one of my bigger scenes got messed up- but if you didn't know the play you wouldn't have known it. Oh well- that's live theater for you!

This is a picture after opening night taken with my friend Jill and her daughter, Annika. This youngster has seen something like 35 plays already and most of them on Broadway or in Salt Lake watching the touring Broadway company! I'm Jealous! She told her Mom that she is now going to call me Madame Arcati instead of Sister Fuhriman when she comes to Activity Days. Her Mom said she was totally into the show- and they loved it! You can see our cool set in the background- notice the pictures on the wall- this was just part of what the "ghosts" did to the set at the end of the play- the stage builders really put in some fun special effects.

Tom was asked to be the host and help serve-so he got a free dinner and saw it both nights. He sneeked back stage and took this picture of us getting ready opening night. This new theater is really awesome! There are 2 dressing rooms, a green room, (both with piped in sound and video from stage), and all top of the line sound and light equipment.