What's happening at the "farm?"

The Prius is dead! Long live the Prius! Faithful Betty, a big part of our lives for almost 10 years, is gone. Our new Prius is white (not my favorite choice) and has a bluetooth connection, which is very exciting, as soon as I figure out how to make it work. We spent a lot of time yesterday at the dealership, but it is still amazing to me that we can walk away with a "new" car, no money actually having changed hands.

Daisy thinks the camera might be good to eat.

Ray was still pretty sick, but excited about looking at cars. I took a quick walk out to the mailbox with Cameron. (no eggs) We were at the dealership by 10:30 or so. There were three 2010 Priuses for sale (red, white, silver). There were all about the same price and all looked the same with the same features. One had leather seats and this was the only one that integrates with your phone. We got them to go down a little on the price and then started the slow process. Poor Ray cleaned out the old car.

baby goat Shanny

I had an OLLI Lunch and Learn to go to. I didn't know anyone at my table and ate a perfectly acceptable lunch, followed by a one-hour talk by Lief Carter about re-writing the constiation and why our system isn't working and what we can do about it. Clearly, it isn't going to change itself. Something has to be done from outside. How is a big question. I was thinking "revolution," but didn't say it. Everything will keep getting worse until it's really bad and then what? A dictator? Interesting stuff, but the timing was bad. I wanted to be at the car dealership.

There are the beauties! They're getting bigger!

I don't know why Brodie likes being on top of this new dirt pile.

I called Ray and met him there. He had driven the new car home and had some lunch. He had arranged for financing through the dealer, but I called Robins and they confirmed what we had to do. The financial guy at the dealership was not happy. "Do you want to save money?" he said. "Or give them your business?" "I want to give them my business," I said. "I am active in the Occupy Movement and I want the credit union to have my money." He turned away, I guess to change all his paperwork. Maria was our salesman, a somewhat strange woman who drives here from northeast Georgia every day, 45 minutes or so, but is one of the top sellers in Georgia. She's not much younger than me and somewhat hard to understand. But she knows her stuff and seems trustworthy, so I guess that is how she sells cars. Thanks to Robins, we do not have to start paying until March--and then it will be less than $300 a  month--for 6 years. Hopefully, the car will last that long. And maybe we can pay it off earlier, if I can get work. Ray had to go to get the title for the old car. They gave us $1600 for it, a lot less than we  might have gotten before the battery was going probably, but a lot better than nothing for a car with 183,000 miles on it.

Back at our house, our chickens

The new car is the kind you don't actually put the key in the ignition. If you have it in your pocket, you can push a button to start it. It has a hatchback, good for Cameron to ride in for one thing. The back seats fold down for really big items. And the mileage will be lots better.

I went by Publix and got some fish for our supper, not wanting to take the time to go back to town. I got some more flour and butter too, but I couldn't bring myself to buy eggs. Unfortunately, Ray promised cookies for his department's holiday lunch today.

My Dad was at the house and duly admired the new car. It was a beautfiul day, warm and sunny, although I was not home much to appreciate it. I made supper, fed the pigs, put the chickens up (no eggs), and we closed the shades down for the night. We resisted the tempation to go for a drive after supper, just for fun. Ray was starting to fade and we watched a few shows before he went to bed.

I was sure I was getting "the cold," although I feel pretty good this morning. I slept again in the little room (avoiding Ray's germs?), reading until I was sleepy and then putting my mask on for part of the night. I guess eventually I will stop taking it off and sleep with it all night. Hard to say if I slept better, but I am happy and excited this morning. Could be the new car, could be the holiday and the company coming.