Pic-of-the-Week for July 29, 2017

Another week or so, has passed and Ben and Harriet have been busy!  Ok, so I have not kept up with Harriet’s tradition of getting out a Pic-of-the-Week every 2 weeks, but I really have been busy!

Remember that “Jeep” project.  I figured that not much would happen until I returned to Mexico in the fall, but about 3 weeks ago the painter, Kaliman, came to our house and towed the jeep to his shop for painting.  It seems that he has 3 high school age kids that wanted to earn some money this summer.  I THINK that the jeep is getting worked on and painted!  WOOHOO!

Remember the Model A Roadster project?  Well, it is making “regress”.

Actually, any movement I consider “progress”.  The removal of every nut, bolt and screw is a struggle!  As you can see there are not many nuts, bolts, or screws left to remove.  The engine is well on its way to being rebuilt.  Mike Stenkamp is a wonderful mechanic/machinist here in Bend who is rebuilding it.  We really appreciate all the help we are getting from the Model A Club here in Bend, so we decided to "join the club", and are now official members of the High Desert A's.  

While Mike is doing his part, I am taking things apart as quickly as I can, but my most successful endeavor is ordering parts and spending money.  So far I think I have spent about $5,000 on parts and getting things done.

Oh, speaking of  money, …………. Our truck broke down again (on Ben's birthday!) this summer.  It started missing and died in about the distance of 2 blocks.  We had it towed, hauled actually, to our favorite Bend mechanic and he tried, but could not fix it in a timely manner, so he had it hauled to the Ford dealer in Redmond, Oregon where a friend works that he trusts. Well, about a week later they got it in the shop and found the problem.  Seems that gasoline was put in the tank at some point with the diesel that should have been put in it.  No matter what “they” say, Gasoline and Diesel do not mix in a truck diesel tank! They had to replace 4 fuel injectors that were ruined due to the gas.  Fortunately for us, our truck is old and it doesn't do as much harm as it does to newer trucks...they pointed out a newer truck in the shop with the same problem, and it will cost them over $9000 in repairs!  Ouch!  

After waiting the first week for repairs we rented a car and visited friends in Eugene and Salem.  It was a rather quick trip, but nice to get away from Model A work for a while.  If we did not see you during that quick trip, we will try next time.  When we returned to Bend the truck was repaired and seems to be running good.  Now we just need to get the gas station to reimburse us for our costs.  We are hoping that all turns out good.

While in Eugene we went to dinner at Mazzi’s (Our favorite Italian Restaurant) with Harriet’s Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin.  When the bill never arrived, we were told that a prominent Eugene businessman who was sitting at the next table paid for our dinners!  (Malpass Farms (Harriet's Uncle) rents property from him.)

Cousin Tom got out the Mexican Train game, and Harriet admits she's lost her touch!  Tom and Karan, Karan's sister Pam and Harriet's brother Rich did much better!  

In Salem we went to Oregon Gardens with our hostess and enjoyed the visit at the gardens.  We had not been there for a long time and it was very enjoyable.  They even have a trolley that took us on a tour of the gardens and gave us a good overall view of the gardens.  Then we took a walking tour of the gardens, and Harriet took this photo.  What do you see?

Our Salem hosts say that I did not lose my touch fixing Baja style margaritas!

Then it was back to Bend to work, relax, and eat.  Don’t get me wrong, we ate well in Eugene and Salem also!  Last night we went to dinner with Kate and Mel, our friends in Sisters who come to our area of Mexico every winter.

The mountains still have a lot of snow....this is Mt. Washington taken as we crossed over the Santiam Pass on our way back to Bend.  

That is about it for this week(s).   There are more photos in the 2017 July album to take a peek at.  

Until next Pic-of-the Week,
Your friends in Oregon,
Ben & Harriet

PS.  Sam & Zoey are doing OK in Baja... Sam did have an eye problem, but he's been to the vet several times about it, and it is getting better.