If We Were Having Coffee on the 24th of July, 2021 #weekendcoffeeshare

63 Replies

Hello and welcome! Come on over and take a seat. You can look off into the woods while I get you a mug of very strong dark roast, a cuppa tea or other beverage. It is a little cool this morning, but it will warm up into a nice late July day. Where are we? Some may recognize that photo as begin from New Hampshire.

OK, the big thing this week was my car, or lack there of. I was almost back from Cape Cod on Sunday when my car over heated. A few long waits while it cooled didn’t do any good. Anyway, So I left it for four hours while I went and got some coolant. Yeah, it leaked out as I was putting it in – not good! By the time I got home it was dry, though not overheated yet. I charged it (plug in hybrid = about 20 miles all electric) so I could drive it to get serviced. There were other issues, so I had them look at several things. Besides wildlife destroying pieces parts inside of the car and making a mess, there was a new water pump for the coolant (no animals involved in that one). I should be able to pick it up this afternoon….

This week there was work, dog walks and play, my walks and play, cat walks and play…. I ran once (been off running this summer!) but I should run today. Exercise. Reading and writing. Playing music (keyboards) and drawing.

Anyway, I need to be off and doing things. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a fantastic weekend. If you have a coffee share, I will try to stop by, but no promises.

Natalie the Explorer is now the host of the weekend coffee share and she is doing a wonderful job. Stop in at this week’s main share page or go to the InLinkzlinkup to see all of the other shares!

63 thoughts on “If We Were Having Coffee on the 24th of July, 2021 #weekendcoffeeshare”

    1. trentpmcd Post author

      The water pump broke (not related to wildlife) making the car overheat. The coolant just pored through it, but it got me home so I could charge the electric part and drive to the shop a few days later. As to wildlife, well, I do transport cats and dogs, but… a colony of mice had taken root in the air system and all of the pipes and ducts were clogged up with their debris. Yuck. They sanitized the system and cleaned the car, so it is much better.
      The coffee share has been through several hands over the years and I am glad Natalie is running it now :)

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          I have had mice issues before, but never like this! It was the passenger cabin air system (air conditioner, blower, heat, etc.) From the photos the shop sent, it was quite the mess!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Alexander always steals the limelight 😂 I will continue to participate in the weekend coffee shares. They are hosted by Natalie, who is up in your neck of the woods…

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  3. PamelaS.Canepa, Writing and Living

    Thanks for the coffee share, Trent! Funny thing, I picked up my car after some body work the day I flew back from my Rochester NY vacation…and two days later was having leaks from the A/C onto my feet and those of my passenger. Also had to address a noise when I turned left. It was not a happy occurrence after being on vacation. I guess having my getaway steeled me for reality. Anyhow, I feel your pain. Have a great week, Trent!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      That seems to happen to me all of the time – I pick up my car (or other expensive object) after repair and within days notice three new issues that are totally unrelated to the original one. I’m sure that was upsetting after just getting back from vacation! Hope you enjoyed your time up north, though. Do you know people in Rochester? It’s a nice place (passed by a million times on the Interstate but only visited once) but I don’t know if I’d fly across the country to visit.

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      1. PamelaS.Canepa, Writing and Living

        Yes, I have a friend in Rochester and she knew all the cool places to visit and where to eat. The art Museums are within walking distance. We walked a lot! So many awesome sites to visit, and a rich arts community. I happened to have a cousin staying 30 minutes away, so I got to see her too!

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  4. Pingback: This week’s small pleasures #243 – Thistles and Kiwis

  5. Diana

    I’m so happy your car is now repaired reading all the comments! YAY!! And Alexander is such a beautiful color. I’ve never seen a slightly orange (he looks like he has some brown/orange around his head and forearms) mostly gray tabby! He’s just so handsome!! 😍

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Alexander’s color doesn’t come out great in the photos. I call him a sandy gold – when he first came in I thought of a ghost cat – it is like a “tiger” orange cat that is faded out, but still bright.
      It is great to have the car back :) Hope you have a wonderful week.

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  6. Southern Patches

    Oh man!! Car problems are always such a hassle. We have a new kitty hanging around the house. We are feeding her and trying to get her adjusted to our brood. She is getting much friendlier. We have had a very rainy July. The grass and shrubs are growing like crazy.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Being without the car for a week was a pain, as was the bill ;) but now that it is over it was so bad (or so I tell myself). Alexander gets along great with the dogs, but he and Grace (other cat) are still not on friendly terms. Hope the new kitty hanging your place gets used to everyone. We are going to have a couple of dry, hot days – maybe normal summer will return!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Alexander and the dogs get along very well. I’m surprised at how quickly he warmed up to them, though not to surprised that they accepted him – they like cats, even if they don’t always understand them. It was a bit of a pain to be without the car for a week, but not terrible. It’s back now :)

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      1. SHL2

        Daisy and Zoee and our cats get along great. Cricket I made a mistake and tried to protect the cats from the Moose so I really am not sure what she would do. I do not think she would hurt them but might scare them.

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          1. SHL2

            Our daughter had a dog one time that tried to kill a stray cat that came here to eat a few times a week. I was able to get a moment so the cat could get away but never saw that cat again. The dog was only visiting here.

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            1. trentpmcd Post author

              Yeah, I have heard stories like that. My dogs are very curious about cats they see when walking and such (or those that hang out around our house), but I know some get super aggressive.

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              1. SHL2

                Diesel did not like critters in his path that moved and the cat tried to run then got cornered with him. I was so upset because it was a cat I had tamed from being wild.

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  9. Maria

    Is your car OK now? Overheating is stressful, that was always a nightmare scenario playing in my head while driving rural roads in CA and NV. One time a car I had overheated when it was 112F, my daughter was 4 and no-one stopped to help us. Luckily a man who’s kids I tutored at one time lived nearby, he dropped everything and came over to help us. I hope you have a relaxing weekend, and get the things done that you wish to get done :) Thanks for the coffee!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      No 4 year old with me, but a one year old… cat. Alexander was riding back with me, but luckily it was relatively cool outside. Glad that the guy you knew was so nice – at that temperature, you and your daughter had to be taken out of the heat asap. I got the car back yesterday, which is nice. The weekend has been nice, though it is raining right now – I think we have had two days in July with no rain. It was officially the wettest July on record by the 15th! Thanks for stopping by.

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  11. Tessa

    Sorry to hear about the car. Sometimes they can be more trouble than they are worth. I will become carless once I move into an assisted living facility since I can’t pay for the insurance. I will have a hard time of it although I don’t drive it much anymore except to go to the doctors mainly. The kids haven’t realized yet what putting me in a facility like that will mean for them. They think it will make their lives easier.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I don’t use the car a lot, being without one for a week shows me how much I do rely on it… Mostly grocery shopping and such. Hope the transition to assisted living goes smooth and that it is easier for your kids.

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      1. Tessa

        I know what you mean about not feeling like you use it a lot until you are without it. I am still waiting for info on the 2nd facility. Nothing so far and waiting is difficult.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Three big black bears… did not come even close to the car ;) Quite the opposite. There was a colony of mice in it, plugging up vents, jamming the blower, etc. The shop sent photos and it looked ugly. They cleaned and disinfected the system, so it will smell like disinfectant in the car whenever air or heat is on for a while. Then I had the car detailed, because the interior was filled with all of the crap they cleaned out of the air system. But my 8 year old car now looks like new…. and no mice.

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      1. Shannon

        Yikes! 😱 Glad your car was saved in time! Gotta hand it to the little buggers – they’re resourceful. One (or more, but I’ve only seen one) chewed through the screen on my porch last week and helped itself to my zucchini and tomatoes.

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          They are resourceful… Getting through the screen is pretty persistent. I did see one in the car once, and wondered about it. It was int he window and I opened the door and tossed it out. I didn’t realize that there was an entire colony in there, though!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Being without the car was a bit of a pain, but glad it is back and working great.
      Are you saying you’ll be visiting NH next week? I hope you have a great visit! And hopefully you’ll have good, sunny weather (it has been wet most of July) but not too hot.

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      1. Wind Kisses

        Thanks. Yes. Home is NH. While I haven’t lived there much, my family lives surrounding the Hampton area. Going home this time as my parents will transition to assisted living. Its a good thing. Moms choice.

        Anyway, prior to our trek north, we are staying in Boston. I spent all my summers in Scituate and we will have a day there. I am sure you are familiar as it isn’t too far from you. Do you know anything about Worlds End Park? (I think it is Hingham) Was wondering if it was worth the stop. Thanks. Donna

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          I have heard of Worlds End Park but have never been there. I don’t know the south shore area very well, at least until you hi the Cape…
          I hope the transition of your parents to assisted living goes well.

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  17. Inside the Mind of Isadora

    Oh my, I feel your pain. My vehicle has $4000 dollars in car repairs last month.
    Since it’s a classic, I had it fixed. Runs like a dream again. I don’t want to ever want buy another car. This one will last forever. So far, it’s lasted 15 years. I drive about 50 miles a week.
    It’s enough of a car for me. Good Luck …!!!
    Love your kitty. He/She looks very young. Is it a kitten? I have 2 siamese rescues we adore.
    Enjoy your time off, Trent.
    Isadora 😎

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I just got the car back, and luckily it wasn’t quite that expensive, but still a lot more than I wished! Oh well, such is life. Alexander is maybe 11 months old or perhaps a year. He still acts like a kitten, but is getting closer to being an adult. he was a rescue as well. I think he was 9 or 10 months old when we got him.
      Hope you are have a good weekend and have a wonderful week ahead :)

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      1. Inside the Mind of Isadora

        We are big fans of rescues. There are so many in shelters. Alexander has a very handsome face and beautiful colorizations. I got a harness type of collar and a leash for my Espesso and Cappuccino but they would lie down. It was hilarious. I’d pick one up and the other would lie down and vice versa. I so wanted them to travel and be with us on walks. They are very loving which makes it o k that they don’t want to be leashed. Enjoy your lil guy 😻

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          We got a harness for Alexander, but I haven’t taken the time to figure out how it is supposed to fit… He is the first cat that we’ve done this with. It is much more supervised exploration than walking, but we both have a good time :)

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  18. Gary A Wilson

    I don’t have a hybrid but have to admit, it must be nice when one engine system fails to have a second one to take you to the mechanic shop. Blown water pumps and trips to the dentist both seem to be of the same genre of events required in a civilized society.
    Hope you have a better week queued up.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Talking the week ahead and trips to the dentist. Sigh… Anyway, I have the car back, so that is great. Most hybrids can’t drive on just electric, but it is a great plus for the plug hybrids. I can putter around home on electric, but it will automatically switch over to gas when I drive down to Cape Cod.
      Hope your weekend is going well.

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