By sheer coincidence, and thanks to Deb working “banker’s hours” (she had the Columbus Day observance off), we got to be with each other on our anniversary today. That’s a big deal to us, naturally.
The first thing we did together was to drive separately to Mountain Home.
As I followed her down off The Mountain, it struck me that the Jeep is almost as wide as our road. I snapped a photo, hoping that the thick dust didn’t completely obscure the orange Wrangler.
Our destination was the Jeep dealership. Mercy’s “death wobble” persists, and one of our neighbors gave up his appointment so that Deb could get her vehicle in to be looked at.
We dropped off the Wrangler and continued in the Silverado to Mountain Milling, the lumberyard that specializes in Eastern Red Cedar. I have a few rough outdoor projects on my list — firewood rack, LP shed and water-heater enclosure — that the weather-resistant wood would be perfect for.
I went with #2 raw dimensional lumber (true 2x4s and 4x4s), along with a “bargain bundle” of sub-grade 1x5s, all eight feet long. We paid about the same as we would’ve for pressure-treated, ground-contact pine (a little less for the 4x4s) — but this is 100% wood, zero blue-green chemicals.
And it’s milled from local timber. We like that.
Then it was on to Lowe’s, right next door, for a sheet of cement board (to back up the water heater) and a box of finishing nails.
About that time, the Jeep dealer called Deb with bad news — broken motor mounts, plus disintegrated control-arm bushings and a twisted steering damper. Fixing all that isn’t in our budget right now, so we paid for the diagnosis and drove Mercy back Home.
I unloaded the lumber and stacked it next to the cabin. We enjoyed an anniversary lunch at Carolyn’s Razorback Ribs.
Meeting a departing propane truck on the way back up our road was another reminder of how absurdly narrow it is. I pulled off onto the telecom service pad and let the larger truck pass.
It was a good day, by ‘most any definition an ordinary day. That’s how we roll, see — every moment is a special occasion for us. Marking 18 years of marriage was sweet icing on the cake.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB