Running Water

This has caused a little tention around Cook'n by the Creek.

For a few months I have had a magical kitchen faucet,  Flip the handle nothing, run to the bathroom to check that faucet, yes water. Back to the kitchen and the water is running.  Then last Tuesday it didn't come back on.  Panic set in...this is canning season and family coming for a visit.  No way was I going out to buy a new faucet when this one is only a year old.  Moen to the rescue.  I called and sent them a picture of the faucet.  Today the new inside cartridge arrived.  I am hop, skipping and yelling all the way from the mailbox!  It would be fixed by company time.   No, no it won't!  my heart sank very low...  Dick took one look at the new part and said, wrong one!  I am on the phone to Moen within I'll say 30 seconds.  This gal new her stuff, she asked me what color the cartridge is in my faucet.  Black it is and they sent a white one.  Well the new one will be here 8/5.  Nice but I'm thinking, I'll be hauling buckets of water to the kitchen as I have for the last week, even for canning.

Now I start feeling guilty complaining  about running water.  I at least only carry it from a bathroom 20 steps away.   Back in the early times they carried it from a spring and had to heat it on a wood stove even during the heat of summer.  Canning beans last week really had me kicking myself for grumbling.  I had the air condition cranking cool air, and a pressure canner that took a total of 25 minutes for 5 qts.  That's it, calm cool and collected.  I guess when things seem a little testy just stop, take a deep breath and think.....it's quite an easy work load compared to way back when.

Not so way back when we did not have air conditions in homes and cars.  I remember many trips to Fl and out west without air.  We never complained about what we did not have because we didn't  know what we were missing. Windows down, 3 kids jumping all over and even feet and legs out the windows.  Remember, no car seats to restrain them in one place.  We survived!

Right now we are setting in an air conditioned house waiting for the sun to go behind the hill so we can get out, mow the lawn, feed the animals and pick what ever needs picked from the garden.  Not such a tough life when I think of the alternatives.  People work outside in this heat or the freezing cold winters,  retirement and age has made me soft!

Our Clara Rd. is closed at the lower end for a bridge replacement.  The oil/gas drilling is coming and no I don't like it.  If you are planing a trip up Clara the detour is the Back Rd and it is dirt!  Dusty, narrow and a little rough road.  It could be worse, we could be driving a horse and buggy.

Summer meals on warm days like this are light and easy.  Dick was craving.....bologna so he bought a pound sliced thick.  That was his supper and mine will be a fried bologna sandwich with mustard.  Haven't had one in years so tonight is the night!  The bologna has to be very close if not burnt for me.  Same as a campfire hot dog but the marshmallow just lightly tan in color.  Here is the side salad of fresh garden cukes, thin sliced onions, salt, pepper, a little sugar if you like (we don't) and a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water that is always in the frig during this time of the year.  Very crisp and refreshing on hot summer days.

This is a bean pot given to me by a very dear friend from NC.
Luann just retired from teaching this summer and is
one great and caring lady!  I love the crock and the
reminder of Luann.

We stopped at the Millport Fair for about a half hour this afternoon...to hot ;)  I did get to enjoy the Historical Society building and take a few pictures.  Mr Wicker was great at answering a few questions about the early Clara School.  He even gave me a picture of it when it was in use.  More on the school in another blog.!

The day just got a whole lot better.  The hubs put the faucet back together, flipped the handle and YES!  We have water.  I am back in the easy lane for company and canning, ♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡