Susie Raffey

Susie’s Second Subaru

I was going to title this, “Susie’s getting sick of surprises with Subaru’s,” and as I was typing it, I realized this was not a true statement. “Go ahead, surprise me again honey, I’m ready! I can take it! I think.”

So, after 11 months of faithful service, my Subaru said no more.

A week after I threw the timing belt, Dave came home with the title to another one. “I don’t want another car,” I cried when our attempt to fix my ride failed. “I love my Subaru!” I guess he thought that finding another one would fix my attitude. At least it fixed my excuse for isolating, which he is sure to not let me do for too long.

Identical to my previous 2000 Subaru Outback with one exception – I now have a wagon instead of a sedan. Oh, and different color of course. My point was to be that all things are interchangeable and the first thing we did was swap out the tires. Mine were newer and better. We talked about some other things I like better about my crapped-out car, but who knows if we will ever get around to swapping inside stuff before this one also decides to no longer take our road.

While I am grateful to be mobile, I liked the other one better. When it ran, anyway. However, there are some funny things about the whole thing, sort of. Right before the timing belt on my maroon Subaru blew, I was thinking it would be nice if my trunk were a hatch-back instead, and open. At the same time, Dave was thinking of getting a tow package put on, as he had just read that our small McKee Craft was light enough for it.

And yep, you guessed it, this one has all that.

So while Dave was busy being totally amazed by all of this and laughing his little heart out, I was telling God that this was not what I had in mind at all. A tiny chuckle escaped my chest, however, as God’s sense of humor did not escape my attention. And since there are bigger fish I would like to fry, I shall simply remain grateful for my mobility, in whatever it may be!

** Addition to original post:

The circumstances under which we got this car originally caused me concern. Not of the legality or anything like that, but because the previous owner apparently lost it due to financial issues with it, it was ultimately towed and sold by the towing company. So not knowing the circumstances, I thought it was possible that the previous owner could be mad about it, and seeing me driving down the road in it could set someone off, perhaps. So I decided that I would not drive anywhere near town with it. I more than decided, I let my husband know about this decision several times. Several times a day, at first. My fear was showing.

At any rate, a month later, forgetting all about it, we went into town to buy an air conditioner at BrandSmart, where you wait at the dock outside for your purchase, and up walks a guy, looking me over like he knows me, but doesn’t. Well, it does not register with me one bit that it might be the car he knows, and as I start to nudge Dave to turn his attention from the dock and ask if he knows this guy, the stranger walked right up to us and slowly asked, “Mary?” “No,” I replied, still not thinking anything of this car, and he says, “I didn’t think so, you don’t really look like her, but this is her car! I know it’s her car, I have worked on it many times, this is her wrecked bumper, yep, this corner, yep, this is her car! But you’re not Mary!” Super surprised, I stared at Dave, speechless.

So not to make this short story any longer, it turns out that he is a mechanic, retired, and works on select cars on the side, mine being one of them, and he would be happy to keep working on it as I need. The kicker here? Just the day before, Dave and I were talking about how all the “back-yard mechanics” we have known have either moved or died, and I exclaimed, “We need to find a mechanic who works out of their house and doesn’t have all those shop fees!” And what do you know?

Never underestimate the power of your words, and more importantly, the power of God.

Random Writing

Spiritual Gifts Surprise

I recently came across a most interesting document, dated over six years ago from when I was active in a local church. At the end of what could be called “a weekend retreat” (the simplest way I know to describe it), I was presented with a seven-page printout outlining my Spiritual Gifts, what each one means, and my strength in each one.

I remember wondering why my dominant gift turned out to be “Teaching;” thinking that my second strongest gift, “Showing Mercy,” really is my first; and having no clue what my third strength (which was actually a tie with second by a tiny sliver), “Exhortation,” even was. I highlighted some stuff from the first two pages before it wound up in a drawer and buried with a bunch of other busy work. At any rate, I haven’t seen it since.

Today, this document caught my attention, and then it absolutely made my day. The analysis warns exhorters – “Be careful not to interrupt other people; your enthusiasm sometimes makes you guilty of this.” All the time, yes that is me! For the first time, it seems, I could see how this had affected certain relationships, and how it is something I could change. Furthermore, reading this document helped me to see why, what other people think of me, is none of my business, and knowing this feels much better than the facade of not caring.

Uncategorized

Happy Birthday Dad!

For your birthday dad, you get to drive two and a half hours to come get us from the airport! (Thank you, by the way!) Happy Birthday!!!

The only reason Dave and I did not miss our flight that morning is because we were the only ones on it. We got lost trying to find the long-term parking lot at the Fort Lauderdale airport and wound up paying more for parking than we did our airline tickets combined. At any rate, I couldn’t imagine my dad driving to DFW for nothing. I suppose it could have been a good reminder that their cell phone doesn’t belong in the kitchen drawer, but thankfully, we made it. And like I said, we had the plane all to ourselves.

Dave knew exactly where we were as we were flying over this west coast spot. Not that I doubted him, but I thought it was pretty cool when I compared the photo with the map to check his accuracy. And right on, he was! The GPS on the photo verifies it as well. So honey, here you go, the award for knowing where you are!

We got to Hastings and my dad gave us a tour of his Okra project – a drought-resistant variety he had been working on. We were looking forward to some fried okra with dinner.

He informed us that they had planned to take us to a barbecue they had been invited to for dinner and they weren’t planning on cooking. I tried to hide my disappointment, knowing that my dad would go out of his way to make some if he knew, which he did. He made some fried okra and served it up as an appetizer before we left for the barbecue. That was my dad.

We then went to the strangest barbecue I have ever been to. All due to my expectations, of course.

FPL was hosting this “barbecue” for Cotton Electric customers in Jefferson County, Oklahoma, which I thought was pretty funny!

The following day, we drove two hours north to the buffalo ranch. That would be the Wichita Buffalo Company at Sandy Springs Farm, owned and operated by my dad’s cousin. It is truly a sight to see.

Dave says hi to the buffalo at Sandy Springs Farm

Later, we got a personal introduction to Stormy.

The following day started with a beautiful sunrise.

It was also the day of the Arnold and Hobbs family reunions. And as usual, you could find my dad at the dominoes table, along with his brothers.

I hung out some more with Stormy.

A great time was had by all.

On the way back to Hastings, we drove by a bunch of windmills.

The following day, we took Dave to the airport. I stayed for another two weeks.

We went to the Hastings Senior Citizens Center for lunch.

Random Writing

My Cart Creation – a mobile desk

I have more ideas for blogs than you can possibly imagine. Okay, I exaggerate, but my ideas are many. And can I tell you how I have planned? Countless hours spent planning, figuring, and planning some more, have left me with fifteen different sites to manage (no exaggeration) and a confused manager of it all. I refuse to look at it as a loss; however, I shall use what I can when I can and trust that I will know when that is. And what.

In the shell of a nut, beginning with the end in mind is not the answer for this project. Almost like I have painted a picture and am trying to make all the pieces fit in order to resemble that picture, well, this approach is not working for me. So now, another approach – one picture at a time. I shall write what comes to mind with whatever photo of the day I may choose.

So as far as I can see at the moment, there is no real order to my posts; read through them in any way you wish. This is truly an exercise in “letting it be and we shall see.” I have a feeling it will turn out a whole lot better than my plan, plan, plan. Like my cool cart that has evolved out of something V gave me. It sort of just “grew.”

The screen on my laptop broke and this television worked as a monitor. However, I needed to keep my laptop open, which it is, on the bottom of the top basket. Then I have 4 pvc pipes going across the basket above the laptop acting as a shelf, where I have a plastic bin containing all of my USB sticks and SD cards. Then there are the business card holders hanging, the basket full of electronics and my printer on the bottom.

Some things need to be well-planned out. Others are better when you simply allow them to take shape with each piece, placed one at a time as needed. This piece here, well I couldn’t have planned it better. Hey, V – Can you believe what I have done with the cart?!

Miss Kitty's Crew (MKC)

Saying Good-bye to my Babies

The mojo around the Raffey Compound has definitely changed ever since the loss of our two dirty white boys. The male felines that snuggled their way into our hearts will laze around our bed no more. Yes, I am sad to report that Big-Foot and Indee have both said good-bye to this world. It was on June 2nd and July 2nd, respectively, and it just hurt so much, it took me a month to write about.

Everyone loved Big-Foot. My BBBEBF – Baby Boy Blue-Eyed Big Foot. The first 10 years of his life I told him all the time how he was my baby boy blue-eyed big foot; the last 8 I shortened it. “There’s my b-b-b-e-b-f!” Either way, he knew he was my baby boy.

Our pit loved Big-Foot as well; they were buddies.

A true character, Big-Foot was! I have many more good pictures of him and will put them up here as I come across them. Pictures like this one –

Indee also loved Big-Foot, but Indee loved every soul. I called him my lover-boy, as he just loved to love.

Unfortunately, we did not have nearly the time with Indee that we did with Big-Foot, which was 18 years. Indee was only 5 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer, and then he only had another six months.

Random Writing

Susie’s Subaru

Dave will say he was tired of hearing me complain; I know that my increasing comfort of never leaving home had him concerned. And so knowing how much I love surprises, he came home in the middle of the day to get me and go look for a car. Within 2 hours, we were sitting at the DMV waiting to register this very one. What a good find.

Of course the first thing I noticed were the colors – they are very close to the ones of the car I had when Dave and I met. Then I thought of how he had a Subaru. How funny, in my mind. And when I exclaimed, seeing the sticker on the rear side window, “Honey, it was made in Indiana,” Dave had to burst my bubble and inform me that all Subaru’s are made in Indiana. “Well then why don’t we just LOVE Subaru’s?” I wanted to know. “What are you talking about, I have always loved Subaru’s,” he reminded me. “Oh yeah,” I remembered, “that’s right.”

He wanted me to get in, look inside and turn the key while he looked under the hood before we made any decisions. Right away though, I knew this would be the one. The radio started playing WAY-FM and I was sold. And since it sounded and looked good under the hood, Dave was sold also.

Woo Hoo! Susie has a new 2000 Subaru!

Random Writing

Just a chicken, yet a cool pet

Some may say it’s strange to have such feelings for a chicken and that’s okay, I am going to tell you about it anyway. Squockers wasn’t just a chicken, she was our pet. She had personality and made us laugh. Making the discovery that I did this morning, was upsetting. I am sad to say that Squockers is no longer with us.

It started as a typical morning – the boys left for work and right on cue, the cats started requesting breakfast. I let them carry on just long enough to not form a sense of entitlement and after my first cup of coffee, I went to feed all the animals like I do every morning. The cats rushed to their bowls, the dog to his, and the chicken… where’s Squockers, I wondered.

I walked out the back door thinking I would either find her over by her coup or in her favorite egg-laying spot – a small office trash can in the front yard – but on the steps down to our back yard I spotted a pile of red feathers. My heart sank. I rushed down the steps and frantically scanned the yard, halfway thinking I would find her close by with a clump of feathers missing off her backside or something, but then I saw it, another pile of feathers. From this second pile, a path of feathers led straight into the thick brush surrounding our lake. Tears welled up in my eyes and I felt like I was going to throw-up.

I knew that if I were to find her, I wouldn’t want to see her mangled, and if by some chance she were still alive, well I wouldn’t know what to do. It would be bad. At any rate, based on what I did find, I deduced that she became breakfast before she got her breakfast. Became breakfast for what though, that is the question I wondered about all day. It will never be answered. We have our suspects however, and they include an owl, hawk and otter. We also know bobcats and gators roam the area, so the list grows. I guess that’s how it goes – life – for me anyway, hers is over.

Random Writing

Who would have thunk!

About six weeks ago, my son urged me with excitement to come outside and see his new pet that he had found. “Where did you find it?” I asked. “Out front,” was his reply. “Out front where?” “Just out front, come on!” So I followed him, having no idea what to expect and half-way wondering what in the world he was up to.

A frog? A turtle? Maybe a snake? No, he wouldn’t have the excitement he displayed over it, whatever it was. Amphibians and reptiles are a dime a dozen in our neck of the woods and we have captured our share over the past eighteen years here. Wouldn’t be a dog or cat either, we’re all a bit bummed when domestic pets get dumped; we can’t possibly save them all. So what did he find? I wondered, and out front? My mind couldn’t imagine.

David disappeared around the cherry hedge and reemerged holding a beautiful red chicken. “Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed. And I was surprised.

“It had to have come from somewhere,” I said, “I bet you a neighbor is missing it.” Of course, I had to be the buzz-kill.

Someone had to play the practical one though. I called the neighbors to see if they were missing a chicken and yes, they were. They had been having trouble keeping it confined in their yard with the other chickens; for some reason it kept getting out and they said we could have it if we wanted it.

So the boys built her a cozy little cottage and a couple of times a day she goes up on our front porch and lays an egg. Her name is “Squockers” and she gives us much more than eggs. She gives us laughs as she chases our ninety-pound pit bull away from where she’s foraging. She gives us esteem when she follows us around and won’t leave our side and she gives us love as a pet member of our family. A chicken – who would have thunk!

Random Writing

Everything but the Kitchen Sink

It’s funny how my husband comments every single time on how much stuff I bring with me on the boat. “Oh my gosh honey,” he exclaimed this morning, “we’re only going for a half a day!” From my standpoint, the length of the boat ride or amount of time we will be gone doesn’t have much bearing on what I choose to bring with us.

My choices are based on past experiences, like when we got caught in the rain and froze our butts off for miles while we made our way back to the boat ramp (and our truck) as quickly as we could handle the cold breeze. Or the time I got locked in the bathroom at the boat ramp. Then there’s the sun to consider, so we’ve got hats, sunglasses, and the obvious – sunscreen.

I find his comments funny because not long after he makes fun of me for my need to carry this big bag on board, his requests begin. His first question came as he put the boat in the water, before we even got in. “Do you have anything we can use to wipe down the boat with?” As it is usually stored indoors, this is not something we are accustomed to having to do, but it has been sitting in our yard for the last week. “Yes, I have a rag,” I replied, to which he said, “Of course you do.” When I packed it, I was thinking of the time he needed one to wipe up a smear of grease from the engine.

Out on the water, he found that there was a problem with one of his fishing poles. “Got anything I can cut this with?” I handed him my handy Swiss Army knife. But when he inquired about the pretzels and m&m’s I was munching on, I said (while smiling), “Sorry, when you said I didn’t need to bring that much stuff, I thought you wanted me to take your half out.”

As it turned out, he was glad that I brought a number of the things that I did. Paper towels, an extra pair of sunglasses and a towel are just a few of the other things he utilized after making fun of my extra large carry-on. “Ya know,” he said to me at the end of the day, “I can’t condone you bringing everything but the kitchen sink, but sometimes I am sure glad you do!”

Random Writing

CHOO-CHOO!

What is it about trains that fascinate children so? My nephew, Christopher, loved trains more than anyone I’ve ever known. Anytime he heard a train, whether on television, the radio or real life, his face brightened as he bellowed out, “CHOO-CHOO!” And if he saw one in person? Oh forget it – the excitement this kid experienced would make anyone smile. Just the thought of him bouncing up and down in his car seat while stopped at a crossing and hollering “CHOO-CHOO!” still makes me smile.

So I was thinking of my nephew last week when we went to the train station, wondering if I should have asked if he wanted to go. But at age 16 now, I highly doubt he would have wanted to go for the same reason he did at age 6. Then I wondered, did this love of trains stem from the popularity of name-brand talking toy trains, or have children always had a thing for the locomotive?

My guess is that trains are just neat.

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