While my husband decided to skip going to town for his bloodwork today, I did still head out to the post office, to pick up a couple of parcels. We had warmed up to our expected high of -20C/-4F by then, though when I checked not long ago, we had actually reached -18C/0F!
With a wind chill of -28C/-18F
I’m extra glad that I did go out today, though. When I opened up the garage, the first thing I could see was a low tire.
The one we just got fixed.
My daughter had parked the truck after it was last unloaded by the house, after we’d had the leaking valve and dead sensor replaced, and we haven’t needed to use it during the worst of the cold snap. With an upcoming medical appointment (I’m also now extra glad my mother’s appointment in the city that would have been tomorrow, was rescheduled!), plus our usual end of the month runs to the city, and other errands, this really needs to be dealt with. I’m really hoping there wasn’t something on the garage floor that punctured the tire! With the cats knocking things about, it’s hard to know, though I’m sure I swept away all the broken glass from when the bin of lightbulbs got knocked off the shelf.
Once I was home from my outing, I texted the garage, explained what I found, and asked if I could swing by tomorrow afternoon to have it checked. Our mechanic said yes, so that’s now on the schedule for tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I started the truck warming up – after discovering it had not been plugged in! It didn’t enjoy starting, but after a few minutes to warm up, it was running smooth again.
I also plugged in the compressor to pump up the tire, then went around to the emergency kit in the truck to get the pressure gauge.
When it when I heard a strange clicking noise and realized I was no longer hearing the compressor, over the sound of the engine.
Going back around, I turned on the light switch, and nothing happened.
The breaker was tripped.
This happened the last time I used the compressor, but not until after I’d been able to top up the tire. This was before it was taken to the garage. Because of where the breaker box is, we had to use the household step ladder and my daughter was able to climb onto the counter in front of the truck and reach the box.
I messaged my daughters and one of them came out with the little step ladder and took care of the breaker for me. The compressor, of course, was already unplugged.
By this time, I had gotten the hand pump out of the truck and set it up, so I could pump the tire after my daughter left with the ladder. This is a taller bicycle pump, with a built in pressure gauge, that I really like.
It was so cold, the pump had a hard time maintaining an air seal in its cylinder. Every now and then, I’d push down on the pump and it would just drop straight down, without any air to push against!
I got the tire pumped, though. By then, the engine had had time to warm up nicely, too.
I’d already gone ahead to open the gate, and I didn’t bother stopping to close it behind me, since I wasn’t going far. I’m pretty sure our vandal wouldn’t be out and about in this cold, anyhow. Particularly if he really is as sick as he claims to be.
When I got to the post office, the post master had stepped out briefly, so I did a big of shopping in the store. Along with some basics, like a couple of loaves of rye bread, my daughter requested some smorkchops (smoked porkchops) that she sent me funds for. After taking my purchases to the truck (which I left running), I still had to wait for the post master, so I started looking around the booze corner.
Which is where I found a pleasant surprise. Bottles of maple “sipping cream” whiskey! They even came in maple leaf shaped bottles. We bought one for Christmas a couple of years ago, and my daughters and I really enjoyed it, but we haven’t seen it since then. (My husband can’t drink alcohol, due to all the medications he’s on.) So I grabbed a bottle. My daughter had sent enough funds to cover the cost, too, so it didn’t even come out of budget, which was nice.
After that, I got my packages and headed for home. Once the truck was parked – and plugged in – I left my purchases on the driveway and walked back to lock the gate again. I had almost reached the garage again when I hear a noise in the willow next to the old shed with the collapses roof. It took a while for me to find the source.
Which is when I discovered just how much better the camera on my husband’s old phone is, compared to mine.
He had the Galaxy S22, while I had the Galaxy S21. The S22 has an extra lens, and it makes a huge difference when it comes to zooming in! My S21 really sucked for zoomed in images.
The camera could also “see” better than I could. What I’d heard was a prairie chicken fluttering up into the willow tree. At the distance I was at, it was basically just a shape in shadow. That shape was the only thing that set it apart from the trunk. Since I didn’t try to come any closer, it just sat there and watched me.
Once back inside and my trip to the garage tomorrow confirmed, I got to open one of my packages. My husband got me a new phone case. He had several, but they were all too big and too bulky for my uses. The “wallet” type one, with a cover over the screen, is the one I’ve been using because that cover is really necessary for me. Unfortunately, it had a zippered change purse in the cover, with made it too thick for my pocket and ungainly to handle. A strip of leather from the back with a magnetic closure on the front kept catching on things. It was also in two parts. The case that actually went around the phone, and the wallet portion. The case was held in place magnetically, and was constantly sliding around whenever I tried to press the buttons on the side.
All things that might not be a problem for other people, but were a real pain, for me – and this was the best of my options!
My new case is almost identical to the one I had on my S21, even though it’s a different brand. It’s about as simple as can be; the phone fits into a built in holder, and it has a cover the flips over. The cover has a couple of credit card slots, but that’s it – nothing that makes it any thicker. The back of it is also designed to bend in the middle, so that the case also acts as a stand while in landscape position. It cost only about $10. The plainest, simplest case with a cover we could find, and it’s perfect for my needs.
It is also a dark rose pink. Normally, I’d never choose pink, but it was the only colour available that fit an S22. The online photo looked like it was a really PINK pink, but in reality, it’s a much more pleasant shade.
I’m still not quite used to the features on this model, but it has a better camera (which is what I use my phone for the most), LOTS more internal memory, and now has the ideal protective case for my needs.
I need to remember that it also comes with a stylus. It’s tucked into the phone, and it’s easy to forget it’s there. Considering the troubles I have with touch screens, due to cuts and callouses on my fingers, this will come in quite handy.
I’m really, really happy with the new phone case.
It doesn’t take much to make me happy!
Hopefully, tomorrow, I will be happy again and find out there’s only something minor that left me with a low tire on the truck!
The Re-Farmer
The Re-Farmer 