Flatbroke Kounty: October 2006

Short update. The last garage door has been installed. YEHHHH!!! The water has disappeared (from our neighborhood), the temp has dropped, and the weekend was beautiful. There is still serious river flooding in the area. Linda & I brought back from Oklahoma a small cedar tree and plan to plant it somewhere....can't decide just where.

Personal note: When I was a youngster, very young, our pastor at Pine Grove Baptist Church was L. M. Westmorland. I read in today's Lufkin paper that his 89 year-old daughter just died. I wonder why that story has made me feel so sad. I never knew her, yet her passing reminded me of her Dad and how he looked just like President Eisenhower. Of course most of you do not know what the heck Eisenhower looked like!

Retirement: Linda & I have begun planning to retire in February of 2008. More news as things develop.

It's BAAACCCCKKKK!! Rain started again today in North Hardin County. The little community of Fred just a few miles north of us has received 4.23 INCHES of rain in just the past 2 hours!! The ground is already soaked and cannot absorb any more water. The news stations are warning people to stay indoors or move out if your house is subject to flooding. Linda and I are planning to leave for Oklahoma Thursday morning - may need to swim the first few miles. AND- the high temperture Thursday is forecast to be only about 74!!! Whoa! Finally we are seeing some Fall weather. The photo was taken from the garage toward the street. Big drops, Huh??

Have I mentioned that we have had a little rain in Southeast Texas?? DUHHHH! Try a lot of rain! Floods!! Tornados!! I was not able to leave the driveway until 9:30 this morning. During the day the rain returned. This afternoon I had to find a detour to get home - between the house and the highway water was much too deep to drive through. Found a route through a few small streets and two flooded areas to our nice and dry home.

It started early this morning - light rain. It came down harder as the hours passed. We're now under a flood watch. I love the rain! The patio cover plays a tune when it rains - sounds like heavy metal right now. I thought I would take some photos. Fantastic results, looks like diamonds or white fire falling. Temperature is also lower, Linda wanted to start a fire in the fireplace - I talked her out of it. Forecast calls for rain the next three days.

Linda closed the garage door last Monday. A spring broke. No problem, I'll replace the spring. Bought two. Couldn't get the old door up, too heavy without springs. Great idea!! We have been thinking of taking out the old wood doors and replacing with lightweight metal door. We went to Lowe's and bought two metal doors. Saturday morning I got up with the intent to replace both doors. Can't be hard to do - take out the old and put in the new, use the same rails and save some time. Started 9:00 a.m. today. Took out the old door (4 heavy panels), dropped one on my toe, rest a spell. First problem - the old rails would not do. Luckily new rails came with the doors. No Problem (said that a lot today!) Took down the old rails - only four bolts. Put up the new rails - more than four bolts, not the same as old rails, lots of odd parts and instructions were not all that specific. Started installing new door panels. Opps, can't put the wheels into the hinges with the hinges bolted to the door. No problem, start over and put wheels into hinges before bolting to door. With Linda's help finally got all panels up. Oops, middle wheels in wrong hole. Took off middle hinges and reconfigured. All now installed. Adjusted and tightened rails. Installing springs and cables. Pulleys do not fit where instructions claim! Took brace down and reversed it three times! Finally figured it out. Installed pulleys on both sides, installed springs, attached cables. Raised door and discovered that cables were in wrong position. Lowered door and moved pulleys two holes toward door (with springs still attached that was a difficult task). Finally aligned springs and pulleys and attached safety cables in case springs break, they will not fly all over the garage and dent Linda's car. At 7:00 p.m., some ten hours into the small job, one door is installed except for the garage door opener which I will save for tomorrow. Linda and I decided that while I am on vacation next weekend, we can install the second door. The new door does not have windows and the old one does, otherwise I could leave the old door until next month or next year or whatever. Dang thangs don't match so the old will have to go. I think tomorrow will be a day of rest. I have aching muscles that I did not know I had!

Those of you who have expressed an interest in a bonfire in November take heart! I just had to cut down one of our large pines - beetles killed it. There will be plenty of firewood to roast a weiner or a marshmellow or two in November - which is only next month! The weather forecast claims we have a real cold front moving into this area about Thursday. Highs for a few days afterward should be in the mid 70's!!

Rats, it's dark out - I was going to take a photo of the downed tree - maybe tomorrow.