EASIEST FIRE EVER

When we took a 4-wheel drive ride down to the river bottom, we enjoyed the shade of the colorful cool autumn leaves and the sight and sound of running water.

Carolyn was especially willing to be the star of a fashion-magazine-worthy photo shoot.

She knows all the best poses.

When we turned to go, imagine my surprise at seeing the most energy efficient fire I've ever come across.

 Is it the red color that keeps you warm? Or the mental suggestion planted by the hot yellow word, "fire?" Does your food just taste warm because you think it is? Or do you pack a sandwich?

Do you like campfires?

Or are you a forced-air furnace type of person?

Too Hot!

There seem to have been a lot of wildfires lately.

 They are just too hot for me!

Even my car feels too hot inside. These were cheese slices. Honest. That was before they sat in my INSULATED lunch box in my car.

Cheese fondue, anyone?

Hot Wheels

There we were, driving in the racing red PT Cruiser along 7 miles of highway toward home when all of a sudden, the car accelerated without pressing the pedal.

What the hey?

Michael was at the wheel, both feet on the brake, asking me what he should do while the car rushed down the highway.

What do I know about cars?

I asked if he thought he could make it home safely. He said if he kept stepping on the brake he could. I told him I thought we should get home before we turned the car off in case it wouldn't turn on again.

Oops.

We called Bob only after we reached town, after the smoke, the smell of burned rubber that would rival the turns at the Indie 500, after the flame in the wheel.

Rather than take a picture of the fire, I ran to the house in the background for water to put it out, but no one answered the door. So we used what was left in my water bottle to extinguish the flame. (See wet spot next to tire. It isn't pee.)

The next day, I drove the car with all its Batman regalia in for repairs (gliding through stop signs with my feet shoved against the brake, just managing not to crash into the building.) They removed the piece of plastic that had lodged against the accelerator.

They said there wasn't any other damage.

Excuse me? Didn't I explain the part about the FIRE?

Yes, ma'am, but Michael's amazing super hero car is in good working condition.

Who needs a Batmobile when you have a PT Cruiser?

2012 Was a Blast! (And We Survived)

Our 2012 may be remembered as the year of the Great Turkey Fire. While at our son Andy's house for Thanksgiving, the oven caught fire from the drippings that ignited after Zack opened the door and let in enough oxygen to encourage the blaze. The heroic rescue efforts of my husband, Bob, saved everyone's life but the turkey's, and quick-witted Michael snapped this breaking action photo.

One of the gratitude items listed around the dinner table after the drama was, "I'm thankful for baking soda." 

As we ate, I heard one of my grandchildren ask, "What do you think the turkey's name was?" After some names like "Sam" and "George" were batted around, the question arose, "What if it was a girl? I'll bet her name was Susan."

If that is the case, then thank you, Susan the turkey, for providing us with sustenance. And thank you, Bob, for putting out the fire. And thanks to Andy and Heidi for putting us up (or putting up with us) and thanks to everyone who lets me overhear their most interesting comments or leaves behind intriguing items that spark ideas for me to write about.

Bring on the new year, I'm ready for it, because I've been practicing writing "2013" for weeks.

What's your best plan for 2013?