Pumping Brakes is Girls Work evidently

But the call for help  gave you and I an opportunity to drive over to the Masters Lair at the big farm workshop and see how The Dodge is doing.   The 53 Dodge Pick-Up Truck that was released from the barn and is getting ready for its new life as a roadside vegetable stall attraction! It has been cleaned, not  painted  though as I do like the old look it has. And Our John is pleased to be able to announce that it RUNS! The motor not only starts, but it will also idle.  But  it does not STOP yet, hence the pumping of the brakes.  Tonton and I were put in the cab and hoisted to the ceiling, then John realised he had left his wrench on the hubcap and we were let back down with a hiss, the wrench retrieved, then once more we were hoisted up. Between  the brake pumping I inspected the rather complicated dashboard.

OK seems simple enough, pull throttle, choke the choke,  turn key.  Or is it turn the key pull the choke, throt the throttle?  Is it in order from left to right? Well it is an old Dodge Pick Up!   What does Pick Up mean anyway? Head surely must mean headlights.  Panel? There is a Panel? I need to consult. 

I was told there is a problem with the oil gauge, I am guessing Rust but not being a mechanic or in fact not being, in any way, prone to Tinkering with Motors or Messing about in Boats for that matter, I would not hazard that particular guess Out Loud! There are times in a girls life when it is best to just push when told to push and stop when told to stop. It is enough to sit 1o feet up in the air, playing with my new steering wheel and making like Jethro out of the Beverly Hillbillies.  Maybe I should put a rocking chair in the back for Ma!

Once we were lowered to the floor of the workshop on the hissy thing Dog and I dutifully went to inspect the motor.  Look what we found!

A horn! Seeing my excitement John leapt to the steering wheel and blasted me straight into the world of the deaf.   Then he produced the prize. A hood ornament.  He found this in his collection of stuff that resides in the workshop. 

The Dodge Ram.  Who could say no to a shiny hood ornament on a rusted dilapidated old truck.   It is the perfect juxtaposition of shiny and rusty.

There are issues with the fuel tank (it being rusted right out)  and having no muffler (rusted out also)  and shuddering tires (perished rubber). But all in all, as we went for a slow wee drive, John showing me the little quirks and foibles I would need to know for driving it up and down the lane laden with asparagus,  I decided that my new truck  was in pretty good shape.  It did quite well  for an old truck that had sat in the barn for 12 years with chickens using it as a nesting box. Ton will have to start riding on the deck though like a real Dog, with his tongue hanging out and not squashing the tomatoes in his excitement! 

The sun is coming up today into a clear cold sky.   SUN!  Now, I know I was going to do my award list this morning but we have once again run out of time. Tomorrow I shall get up earlier and have that ready for you by dawn.  So I hope you will forgive me having your weekend reading a day late.   I do enjoy that page.  But Duty and Daisy calls.

Good Morning.

celi