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| Yummy treats in Bird-in-Hand, PA |
Driving home after a lunch out with my husband, the melody to the song “My Favorite Things” wove its way through my mind. I couldn’t quite recall the words …
Clip-clopping horses and buggies to sit in
Pink, puffy clouds that remind me of spring
These are a few of my favorite things!
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| Books for sale in Intercourse, PA |
Later, as I parked in the garage, I recalled I’d forgotten to check my automobile’s engine oil. An orange light had been beckoning me on my dashboard for over a week. I believed it represented a light-bulb, thus meaning light was out somewhere. But they all seem to be functioning. I imagined how horrified I’d be if my oil had run low; I had a major oil leak a few months ago, I was so horrified when I spotted the murky liquid on my garage floor! One of my friends got the low spots in their garage floor corrected by AAA Concrete Raising or a similar company (I frankly don’t remember the name), and she said the cause was the inadequate slope.
At first, I was worried that the leak was not flowing out of the garage and it was going to leave an unsightly stain on my garage floor. However, fortunately, it turned out that our garage is perfectly fine with no low spots. And the best part is that we have an epoxy coating on our floor that makes it easy to clean up any mess. The garage door also sealed tightly, preventing any water from entering further. It made me think about the pros and cons of manual vs electric garage doors.
Getting an epoxy coating on our garage floor has turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made in terms of keeping our garage clean and tidy! It was recommended to us by a friend who got an epoxy floor coating in fort collins. Thank goodness we decided to get our floor coated too as I would be devastated if our floor had been ruined by a leak! Anyway, this time, my husband was at work so I decided to check my oil and found everything in tip-top shape: clean oil up to the full mark.
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| Horse and Buggy in Lancaster County, PA |
Do you remember, in the not so distant past, when a polite attendant at the gas station strode out to pump your gasoline and check your oil? Not to mention, wash your windshield. Alas, those days are long gone-where I live, anyway.
As the song continued to meander through my brain, I decided that checking engine oil is one of my least favorite things. No, make that pumping gasoline. I hate to pump gas! How about you? Do you have a least favorite thing?
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| Pink clouds at sunset |
In the spirit of fun, leave an email address with your comment to signal that you want to enter to win a free copy of either Leaving Lancaster or Pennsylvania Patchwork. (G-rated and non-political, please) USA and Canada. Winner has one week to respond.
Hmmm. Least favorite thing. I guess it would have to be when anything that is beyond my scope of knowledge goes astray- anything wrong with the car, an appliance…anything that causes an inconvenience that I am unable to do anything about without taking something somewhere or consulting someone. Ha! And that is most things. I like when everything is running smoothly. Is that too much to ask?
Karen C.
sweetnessnlight@comcast.net
Yes, Karen, it probably is too much to ask, but I can certainly understand your desire to have life running smoothly! Thanks for entering the contest. Good luck!
Yes, I will go along with pumping gas. I was going to work one day and realized I needed gas and the gas pump didn’t stop automatically and spilled on my clothes, a lot! It was a horrible mess. Needless to say, I had to go home, change and was therefore quite late to work.
Sonja.nishimoto at gmail dot com
Oh, no, my worst nightmare, Sonja! I even keep an old pair of gloves in my car to wear when pumping gas so I don’t get it on my hands. Thanks for entering and good luck!
I hate counting out money under pressure….in public….too many people want to “help”, and too many people get impatient! Give me space! I really avoid pressured situations, but am still surprised at the lack of empathy on those who want to pressure me to take money at events or big scale functions and are insulted when I politely refuse.
I’m sure many can relate. Who wants to be under pressure with people getting impatient? No fun!
I think vacuuming is my least favorite thing to do. Rachel Lepree rlepree@musfiber.com
You don’t adore vacuuming, Rachel? Ah, the grinding of the beater bar and lugging the vacuum around, not to mention changing the dusty bag, which I did a couple days ago. Thanks for entering the contest!
My least favorite thing would be cleaning my van out. Oh, my the things that end up in my van…..two college boys, work with the youth, work at my church and ride horses. I did ask for a truck when my car went down. My sweet husband bought me a van, thus I treat it like a truck. I have even moved a very large safe in it! LOL! Yep, cleaning out my van……..
You must be a mighty busy woman, Becky! Sounds like your husband made a wise move when he bought that van. Oh, I just had a dumb idea: others could help you clean it? Of course, easier said than done.
Oh my gosh, to pick only one?? I have thought of many things but keep coming back to washing windows. It has to be the worst for me. We don’t have the new windows that open in, and we have the metal combination storms. Have to take the combination windows out to be able to clean the outside of the windows. Such a long process and I always end up breaking a fingernail or two getting the job done. So that has to be the least favorite thing for me.
Deb
drharb@walnutel.net
Ouch, Deb, that does sound like a gruesome chore. We also have those storm windows on the second floor; I’d probably drop one and break more than my fingernail. The first floor I can do, but I leave the second floor windows for a professional, so they don’t get cleaned very often. Thanks for entering the contest!
Debra, I can relate…we have the same type of windows and it can be a real struggle, especially the outside windows–requiring a ladder to reach them and I still can’t reach all of them
Blessings,Tina
Just want to wish you a very happy and healthy New year. May god bless you and yours in the coming year. emily_boivin@yahoo.com
Why, thank you very much! May you and your family be blessed with a happy and healthy new year too.
Lots of things but yep washing windows/screens is at top of my list. next would be mopping. and trying to get the dog hairs off of everywhere. But would not give up my dear Pug for anything. She will be 9 in March God willing. Happy New Year to Kate and all reading this. May God bless you all. Pag1936@yahoo.com Forgot to say love your book — read Leaving Lancaster
Happy New Year to you! Since we no longer have dogs, my cleaning is half of what it used to be. Not that they dirtied the windows. I loved each one dearly. Our cairn Terrier lived to be 16 + 1/2. Oh, I just remembered we don’t have kids in the house anymore either. No wonder it stays cleaner! I’m so glad you’re enjoying Leaving Lancaster! Good luck In the contest!
Virginia Rush
I’d love to win Pennsylvania Patchwork…..my light came on in my car the other day telling me I had a low tire….sure enough two metal objects were stuck in it….in the past, I would have been sitting on the side of the road…
forgot my email…vrush729@aol.com
I wish my car had a light like that, Virginia! How amazing. Mine is a 1995 so it does not have much modern technology and many door dings. The good news is I can park it anywhere and not worry about it. Well, as long as it will start. Thanks for entering the contest!
My least favorite thing to do dusting.And u get very annoyid at. My siblings not helping take care of my mom
I’m not crazy about dusting either, plus it makes me sneeze! As far as your mom goes, you have my sympathy. Thanks for writing!
Pumping gas & checking oil don’t bother me. But I can actually think of a few things that are my least favorite. I guess the really least favorite would be not being able to get things fixed/replaced with the vehicle when it has a problem because there isn’t any money to get it done. Then the little things start piling up till it’s not in very good shape any more.
mdegram218@centurylink.net
Good point, Mary, and why I am so bothered by a little light. Since my car is oldish, I’m waiting for a big meltdown, which I hope never comes. Thanks for entering the contest and good luck!
My least favorite thing is cleaning out the refrigerator next would also be getting any thing fixed on my car. I don’t want to worry about it breaking down but feel overwhelmed if it has a problem and I don’t know what it is.
thank you for giveaway
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
You mean you’re supposed to clean out your refrigerator, Jackie? Just kidding. I do it every once in a while. Anything to do with my car breaking down is worrisome to me too. I don’t want to be stuck by the side of the road, especially the freeway! Good luck in the contest!
My least favorite thing is coming to an end of a book when I want it to keep going.
kjminspace@att.net
I know how you feel! Especially when you really like the characters and the story! Good luck in the contest and happy reading!
Okay. I’m echoing the gas thing because I so dislike pumping gas in 5 degree weather, which is what it was today, & yes, I had to pump gas. Brrrr! Oh, and walking & driving on icy surfaces. No fun. dcasti2705@sbcglobal.net
Dali, you poor thing! You must have really needed gasoline. I can’t imagine pumping it in 5 degrees. I agree, icy surfaces are hazardous. Not what fun is made of. Good luck in the contest!
Least favorite is coming to the end of an Amish book. Love your books. Housewife@gmail.com
Thanks for writing, Ida! I hate coming to the end of an Amish book too. Good luck in the contest!
As I am still in the ‘mothering’ stage, I would have to say the least favorite thing is dealing with a rebellious teenager. It breaks my heart and I just want to whisk them past the awful years into marriage and babies lol
neadnitromom@aol.com
Thanks for writing and entering the contest. I’m not sure parenting ever ends, but having a rebellious teen in the house is stressful, for sure. Many can empathize.
Would love to read either of those 2 books. Love Amish books.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
lucynix@ellijay.com
Happy New Year to you! I’d love you to read one of my books. Good luck in the contest!.
I can’t really think of a least favorite thing to do . . . but on the other hand, I do love reading Amish books and would love to win one of your books! jynhoffman@yahoo.com
Great attitude! Good luck in the contest. Hope you get a chance to read one of my books!
Hi Kate!
I am not entering the contest for the books as I already have both books–which I loved!
I remember those days when you pulled up to the gas pump and the attendant came out to fill your gas, check the oil and clean the windows. They stopped doing that here many years ago. Pumping gas is not too bad except when it is bitter cold out like now.
Happy New Year!
Blessings, Tina
Hi Tina! Thanks for reconfirming my fond memories. There used to be a station nearby where you’d have a choice, but no longer. There were rainy/windy days when I’d be willing to pay more if they’d check the oil. Happy New Year to you!
Oops, I forgot to say THANK YOU for your kind words about my novels!
My least favorite thing would be cleaning the snow and ice off of my car! My favorite thing would be to read books! I would love to win one of your books to read!! Donna d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com
I can certainly understand your aversion to cleaning snow and ice off a car, Donna! And you’ll get no argument from me about reading. Thanks for leaving a comment!
Considering the weather we have had…
Have to admit, LOVE the fact that in Jersey they pump the gas for you. ! Can’t wait for the next book to come out. Would love to win the tea towel. Have a blessed New Year
Rita
godskid91@gmail.com
They pump your gas, Rita? I’m jealous! If you want to enter to win the Tea Towel enter on the above post. Thanks!
http://katelloydauthor.blogspot.com/2014/01/white-out.html