Rain & Hail
This past weekend Mark and I were in Costco and all of a sudden we heard a loud thunderclap. We heard rain on the roof and some of the shoppers cheered. We could see out the open door and soon there was not only rain but also hail--about a quarter inch in diameter. After it stopped in a short while we went outside to our car and there was hail piled up in our windshield wiper area (at the base of the windshield where the wipers hide out) and also some in areas on the ground. When we got to my brother-in-law's house they had even more and they were larger--people were outside taking pictures. Excitement!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Official Arizona Cars and Drivers
One day last week Mark and I went to the DMV and got our cars titled in Arizona and also received our Arizona drivers licenses. The people working at the DMV were less bureaucratic and laid back than in Wisconsin, so it wasn't a bad experience. And I got rid of my awful WI photo.
However, one thing that wasn't better was the cost to title our cars. We knew the formula before we went so were prepared. The cost is determined by the base price of your car (my 2001 PT had a base price of $18,000+). Then they take a percentage of that and charge you so much per thousand. My car ended up costing $183.00; Mark's $382. Then next year the percentage they use for calculation will be lower, and so on in successive years. So because I'm new in Arizona I pay more than a person with the same car who has lived here a while.
One day last week Mark and I went to the DMV and got our cars titled in Arizona and also received our Arizona drivers licenses. The people working at the DMV were less bureaucratic and laid back than in Wisconsin, so it wasn't a bad experience. And I got rid of my awful WI photo.
However, one thing that wasn't better was the cost to title our cars. We knew the formula before we went so were prepared. The cost is determined by the base price of your car (my 2001 PT had a base price of $18,000+). Then they take a percentage of that and charge you so much per thousand. My car ended up costing $183.00; Mark's $382. Then next year the percentage they use for calculation will be lower, and so on in successive years. So because I'm new in Arizona I pay more than a person with the same car who has lived here a while.
!! SPIDERS !! - not scary, but for those of you who have major spider fears (I know who you are...), read at your own risk...
At last, I have a spider story to tell. One morning last week Mark went outside using our front door and shortly thereafter called me to come and look. Right outside the door was a large spider; including the legs I'd estimate it to be one and three-quarter inches long. Its back was bumpy, which we commented on. Mark gave it a poke and immediately there were lots of little spiders running around on the cement. At first we thought they were ants--but then we realized the spider had been carrying her babies on her back! I did some research and found out it was a wolf spider (pictured below with babies on its back). So far I haven't talked to anyone who knows anyone who was bitten by any variety of spider--but people respect them down here.
Here's a poem I like that I found on the spider web site I consulted. It's speaking from the viewpoint of the mother spider.
Wolf Spider by Matt Welter
You tickled me with your 800 teensy legs
crawling up my own.
Worry not, my tiny garnets,
if you fall off I'll rush back
and let you climb upon me
hind leg to abdomen.
Your plush seat awaits you,
reserved upon this mother coach.
At last, I have a spider story to tell. One morning last week Mark went outside using our front door and shortly thereafter called me to come and look. Right outside the door was a large spider; including the legs I'd estimate it to be one and three-quarter inches long. Its back was bumpy, which we commented on. Mark gave it a poke and immediately there were lots of little spiders running around on the cement. At first we thought they were ants--but then we realized the spider had been carrying her babies on her back! I did some research and found out it was a wolf spider (pictured below with babies on its back). So far I haven't talked to anyone who knows anyone who was bitten by any variety of spider--but people respect them down here.
Here's a poem I like that I found on the spider web site I consulted. It's speaking from the viewpoint of the mother spider.
Wolf Spider by Matt Welter
You tickled me with your 800 teensy legs
crawling up my own.
Worry not, my tiny garnets,
if you fall off I'll rush back
and let you climb upon me
hind leg to abdomen.
Your plush seat awaits you,
reserved upon this mother coach.
Progress in Two Rooms
We've made a bit of progress in home decorating. We now have a sofa and loveseat, TV console, ceiling fan and light, and area rug in the family room.
Also, I've been working on one of the guest rooms. It's quite small and probably won't be used much--company will use the larger guest room. I guess its main function will be for me to display my old-fashioned things! The piece I'm using as a nightstand is an antique washstand that was in my mother's home when she was growing up. I'll have to keep my eye open in resale or antique (or junk!) shops for a nightstand for the other side. I have an antique dresser in there also but you can't see it in the pictures.
The curtains and coverlet look blue but are really aqua. The pictures on each side of the window are counted cross stitch that my daughter-in-law Kathi made for me a few years ago. You may recall seeing them in the dining room in our Waterford house. They're peach flowers with green/aqua leaves. The quilt on the bed was made for me by my mother several years ago. It's the Dresden Plate pattern and I love the decorative edging that she added. I have several other quilts from my grandmothers and great-aunts that will look nice in there too if I want a change.
We've made a bit of progress in home decorating. We now have a sofa and loveseat, TV console, ceiling fan and light, and area rug in the family room.
Also, I've been working on one of the guest rooms. It's quite small and probably won't be used much--company will use the larger guest room. I guess its main function will be for me to display my old-fashioned things! The piece I'm using as a nightstand is an antique washstand that was in my mother's home when she was growing up. I'll have to keep my eye open in resale or antique (or junk!) shops for a nightstand for the other side. I have an antique dresser in there also but you can't see it in the pictures.
The curtains and coverlet look blue but are really aqua. The pictures on each side of the window are counted cross stitch that my daughter-in-law Kathi made for me a few years ago. You may recall seeing them in the dining room in our Waterford house. They're peach flowers with green/aqua leaves. The quilt on the bed was made for me by my mother several years ago. It's the Dresden Plate pattern and I love the decorative edging that she added. I have several other quilts from my grandmothers and great-aunts that will look nice in there too if I want a change.
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