Thursday, Nov 8 - Saturday, November 10

Lazy morning even though the rain has gone and the clouds have lifted.  Leaves are still glowing pretty colors in the early morning sun. Late morning, I did a load of wash and Jerry and Mike went a few miles away to check on getting the "transmission belt?" on The Ram tightened.  This should help with the shifting issue we've been having.  Was at "4" and should have been at "2" or something like that. Mike and Jerry picked up the pickup truck and decided to go ahead and pursue more changes to the truck as suggested by several people...friends back home and the transmission mechanic. Found a shop in a nearby town which was highly recommended by several people in the area as "the place to go for diesel work." They talked with James the owner. Left the truck there.  He will diagnose and call Friday.

Stormy had to work a "12" so we were on our own for supper.  Sat out in the garage soaking up the afternoon sun.  Funny story:  Here's the set up.  I  had a glass of red wine in my hand as I'm sitting in the lawn chair.  Kind of holding it to my side with my arm resting on the chair arm.  Diesel, bless his heart, came from behind me looking for attention, and as he does when this is his goal, nudged my hand....Well, you've probably got the picture already!  Red wine on my zip up sweatshirt, shirt, glasses, face, bangs and the floor!  Missed my jeans and the chair!  LOL  Jerry quickly came to my rescue with some napkins and I ran into the rig to get the clothes soaking!  Finished the evening together with grilled pork chops, etc. 

Well, Friday came and I washed again - yup shirt and sweatshirt -  and threw some other things in to finish the load.  Wine came out totally!  Called Sarah to wish her a Happy Birthday!

After talking with the diesel mechanic, we decided to go ahead and have the work done.  Replacing two pumps - a fuel injection pump and one a fuel pump?  Will give the truck more power.  Apparently the original design is plastic and placement not efficient.  Am led to believe everyone changes this out.  At any rate, this better be the end of the repairs!  LOL and probably wishful thinking!

Mike, Jerry and I took a cycle ride - stopped to chat with James one more time (the owner of the diesel shop), then  around Lake Keowee, a huge man-made lake.  Stopped for an ice cream cone at Pop's Country Store.  Pop's is a typical "out in the middle of nowhere" place with a little bit of everything for sale.  Grandma had had spot at the wooden table at the front of the store where she coulde see everything goin' on outside and who was comin' in...when she wasn't puttin' a puzzle piece in it's appointed spot.  She proudly showed me several already assempled, laminated and on the walls!  They were sandwiched inbetween several maps of Lakes Keowee and Jocossee also on the wall.  Lots of movies to rent, fishing supplies, and snacks were also available.  The guys chose black cherry for their cones and I took butter pecan, but Jerry finished mine, too as it was a weird texture - think it had been frozen and thawed a few times...oh well, I sure didn't need the calories.  Ha.  Stormy got home from work shortly after we got back from our ride...another beautiful day here in rural SC...a bit warmer which was welcome.  Decided a pizza fix was needed so she and I ran to get a couple for our supper.

Saturday, we were up and "attem" early (well, early for us lately.)  On the road at 9:30 for 1-1/2 hr ride to Fountain Inn, a town SE of Greenville, for a PGR mission.  Stormy was on duty for "flag master" - bringing a supply of flags for our flag line, so I rode with her in the Ford Expedition.  Jerry and Mike took the lead and we picked up Curt and another couple along the way.  Took the long way around to avoid Clemson, as there was a game there today.  As it was, we passed a gagillion cars with their orange flags and paw prints apparently heading there.  Met lots of nice PGR folks at the funeral home.  The service was for a WWII and Korean, purple-heart vet who came back home to become the police chief of Simpsonville, a nearby town.   We rotated holding the flags in the warm sun for a couple of hours, then when the funeral started, Stormy and I took off for the cemetery about a block away to get set up for that service.  They had a large crowd for the visitation, funeral and cemetery services.  The Air Force was there to fold the flag...always so impressive.  Afterwards, I think every member of the family shook our hands and thanked us for being there...the warmest welcome I think we've ever experienced.  Nice ride home through beautiful countryside.  Had short happy hour, left-over tamales for quick bite to eat and to our homes to rest up.  We are so blessed!