Video of the Month-Wheels of Progress

Happy June! It's been so cold and rainy, you may as well make some popcorn and enjoy this proud look at the history of transportation--well about 30 years of it.

This film was put out by the US Department of Agriculture in 1927. Enjoy

(Psst...don't bother trying to turn up the volume. It's a silent film...You're welcome!)

Car Stuff AND Music Stuff

Usually when we use the words "car" and "music" in the same sentence, we are also going to use the word "stereo". When a fellow music teacher brought this video to my attention, I knew I had toput on my blog for your enjoyment.

The Lincoln Motor Company has launched their "Lincoln Reimagined" Campaign. As part of their re-boot, they are exploring innovations in the arts!

As we reimagine Lincoln as a company, we will also reintroduce ourselves to the world. To do this, we’ll dig deep into where we’re from and take a long, hard look at where we’re going.

We’ve already begun by saying, “Hello, again” to a brilliant new take on the luxury car and to a more personal, attentive buying experience.
And we will continue the journey by saying, “Hello, again” to classic ideas in music, art, design and film.
Join us in saying, “Hello, again” as we commence a series of artist relationships, and reveal something we can all meet for the very first time.

Nice job merging my vocation and avocation there, Lincoln!

Check out this video of robotic musician Andy Cavatorta! It brings back summers of twirling on the lawn!

Safety First-Spring Driving Triple Threat

It's finally Spring in the Frozen North!

We Wisconsinites have had winter driving pounded into our brains from the time we were old enough to see over the dashboard.  We know how to steer out of a skid, we know about stopping distances, we know the difference between black ice and ice of other colors. In fact, my older children who have moved away (and back) have noticed that drivers in the other regions of the United States have no clue how to drive in the winter. On Wisconsin!

Apparently, we don't do as well driving the other three seasons. Maybe we're lulled into a false sense of security by the lack of ice and snow. Maybe people in Arizona, California and Florida are laughing about Wisconsin drivers that can't handle driving in sunny weather.

In the few days of spring weather that we've had so far, I've noticed a lot more accidents than I saw all winter. Given that we know how to handle inclement weather, the top three fair-weather springtime driving hazards are as follows:

1. Psychotic Wildlife
2. Motorcyclists
3. Potholes

Let's break this down.

Psychotic Wildlife: As you cruise Wisconsin's highways and byways, you don't have to drive more than, say, a foot and a half before you find some sort of road kill. Mother Nature's little darlings are bonkers this time of year:

• They have been cooped up in their lairs with out flat screen and they have got to get out!
• They are completely out of nuts, berries and porkrinds and they have got to get out!
• They haven't enjoyed the companionship of the opposite gender for a long time and they have got to get out!

...Plus I think deer play chicken with minivans as part of drunken deer frat initiation.

When driving in spring keep a sharp eye out for Bambi, Thumper, Flower and all the rest. Keep in mind, herd animals travel in herds. If you see one, there are probably a few more in the bushes pointing and laughing.

Motorcyclists: Humans have got to get out. Largely for the same reasons as the psychotic wildlife. However, there is a HUGE difference. Nearly every motorcylcist I have ever met is extremely safety conscious (helmet debate aside). For nearly every motorcyclist I know that has been in an accident (which is nearly all of them), the car-driver has been at fault. Nearly every car driver has said, "I didn't even see him there!" Really, how much Day-Glo and reflective tape does it take? Please watch for motorcycles....And bicycles, please!

Potholes: In spite of the Highway Department's constant vigilance, and constant construction and repair throughout the week and a half of non-winter, I've seen potholes large enough for a family of  Havasupai Indians to feel right at home.

Hitting potholes will damage your car. Maybe instantly and obviously in the case of flat tire or pinched rim. Maybe cumulatively in the case of suspension or alignment damage.

If (when) you hit a pothole, check your tires and rims as soon as you can. Then, pay attention to how your car is behaving. Is it rolling or swaying around corners? Is it pulling to one side? Is it braking in a stright line or is it staggering around? Is the nose diving when you brake? Is it squatting in the back when you take off? Told you so. Spend a modest amount on adjustments and repairs now to save you a huge repair bill later.


 Please get out and enjoy this beautiful season, but please, be careful out there. Keep your eyes open for this triple threat of Wisconsin Spring Driving.

Video Of the Month: Around the Corner

Happy May! Time for a new Video Of The Month! (Yeah, like I have any sort of order or schedule on this blog! It's...shall we say...evolving!)

Have you ever wondered how differential steering works? Me neither.

But I abso-bloomin'-lutely love these vintage educational films.

Pop some corn and splurge a nickel and get an ice cold Coca-Cola and enjoy this 1937 Chevrolet/Jam Handy Production.

Add some TinkerToys and poster board and you've got the Science Fair all sewed up! Well, 75 years ago...

Co-Co-Cozy

Why on earth is there a crochet/knitting pattern on my Your Car Gal Blog? I'll tell you, I don't know! I just felt that my re-usable thermal travel cup needed a pink sweater. I'm in a male-dominated business and it was either this or Be-dazzle everything in sight....Maggie doesn't Be-dazzle.

Co-co-cozy

The bottom is crocheted; the sides are knit.

Supplies: 

• One skein Peaches and Cream Cotton Yarn (it doesn’t take much-one skein will make 2 or 3 cozies).
• Size H crochet hook
• Size 7 double-pointed needles (I use a set of 5 so stitches are divided onto 4 needles)
• Cable needle
• Bobby pin or other stitch marker.

Start with Crochet. 

Round 1: You can use either the magic loop method sc 6 or you can ch2, sc 6 in 2nd ch from hook. Place bobby pin to mark beginning of each round. 

Round 2: 2 sc in each st. (12 sc) 

Round 3: *1 sc in next st, 2sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sc)

Round 4: *1 sc in each of next 2 st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (24 sc)

Round 5: *1 sc in each of next 3 st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (30 sc.)

Round 6: *1 sc in each of next 4 st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (36 sc.). 

Use hook to pick up loop and place on dp. needles. Inc.1 for each 9 st. (40 loops=10 st per needle). 

Round 1: *P2 K6 P2, Repeat from * around.

Round 2-6: Repeat Round 1

Round 7: *P2, place 3 st on Cable Needle, hold at the back, K3, K3 from Cable needle (CB), P2. Repeat from * around.

Round 8-18 Repeat round 1.

Round 19: Repeat round 7

Round 20-24: Repeat Round 1

Round 25-32: Work in K1 P1 Rib. Cast off. Weave in ends. 

If you have any difficulty with the pattern, either call me or comment below.

Ok. Back to car stuff. RRR RRR RRR!

Perks of the Job

After 188 child-years (sort of like man-hours) of motherhood/grand-motherhood you learn a trick or two:

• Always have chewing gum or Lifesavers in your purse to use as a bribe
• Always have wet wipes along to clean up after bribery
• Even children with impeccable manners can only sit still for a limited amount of time
• Figure one minute per year of age
• Crayons go a long way to extending the impeccable manners of children.

When folks are visiting the dealership, they frequently bring their children along. This way they can check things like these:

• Ease of carseat installation
• Legroom
• Sight lines for youngsters
• If your child gets carsick, chances are he/she can't see out.
• Convenience of preventing "Stop touching me! He's touching me!"
• Ability to reach children with Goldfish Crackers, Lifesavers, and/or wet wipes.

We had a visit from a delightful little family: Mom, Dad, Daughter, and Son. Perfect. The kids were delightful, well-behaved little people, but they were starting to get bored. Being the motherly types, I whipped out the crayons while Alicia got the helium balloons.

Today is one of those days I could tell the boss to keep the check; I've been paid.

Special thanks to my new little friends!

Recipe Just for Kicks: Mushroom Risotto

I was reading The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith. In it, the inimitable Isabel Dalhousie was making a Risotto for her niece Cat, or for Cat's ex-boyfriend Jamie, i don't remember. My mind wandered from the story to the Risotto.

So a brief Google later, I found this delicious recipe that I have since shamelessly stolen and pinned on Pinterest. It is now printed and safe in a page protector in my "Mitchell/Carroll/Thurman Family Cookbook of Shamelessly Stolen Recipes." It does require that you stand at the stove and stir, but really it's only 20 minutes and you'll be glad you did.

I offer it here for you. It has nothing whatsoever to do with cars. But hey, ya gotta eat.

Mushroom Risotto
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/gourmet-mushroom-risotto/detail.aspx

NGREDIENTS:

6 cups chicken broth, divided 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 pound portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced 1 pound white mushrooms, thinly sliced 2 shallots, diced 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice

1/2 cup dry white wine sea salt to taste freshly ground black pepper to taste 3 tablespoons finely chopped chives 4 tablespoons butter 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a saucepan, warm the broth over low heat.
2.	Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the mushrooms, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove mushrooms and their liquid, and set aside.
3.	Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet, and stir in the shallots. Cook 1 minute. Add rice, stirring to coat with oil, about 2 minutes. When the rice has taken on a pale, golden color, pour in wine, stirring constantly until the wine is fully absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth to the rice, and stir until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 15 to 20 minutes.
4.	Remove from heat, and stir in mushrooms with their liquid, butter, chives, and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 3/28/2013

Gee Whiz-Floating on Air

Check out this Ford commercial from 1950.

I especially noted the colorful instrument panel in black and white! 100 horsepower V8! Gosh!

It is awfully pretty though....

Spring Break-We'll Get Even: 10 Area Day-Cations

Here we are at the end of March. We have passed Daylight Savings Time. We have passed the Vernal Equinox. We still have temperatures in the teens and twenties, and mountains of rotting, gray snow everywhere. I'm quite sure all Wisconsinites will join me in saying, "Go home Winter; You're Drunk!"

This week, my kids are out of school for what is laughingly referred to as Spring Break. Son and Daughter-in-Law and their kids are temporarily displaced because their apartment flooded. My 20-year-old's lease is up on his apartment and his new place isn't ready yet.

This means nine humans and three dogs--three generations--of Cabin Fever under one roof. Thank goodness for my job! 50 hours of escape from the chaos...and a paycheck.

Not to worry; we will get even. At the first sign of green you will hear cries of "Road Trip!" coming from the Mitchell/Carroll household.

For my sanity and for yours I have a link to Ten Great Day Trips Around Milwaukee. Thanks to www.midwestweekends.com.

Give me a tank of gas and a State Park Sticker and we are outta here! ...At least for the day!

Closed Doors and Open Windows

Good Morning Gentle Reader,

After an absolutely delightful 979 days at Lakeland Automotive in Sheboygan, it was time for a change. I learned a lot about myself and everything I know about the car business in those 979 days. I worked with some wonderful people whom I will miss. I'm grateful for the experience I gained.

Alas, all good things come to an end.

Lakeland Automotive is a great place to work and really, if your looking for a Toyota, Honda, Subaru or Scion, I would recommend going there.

Where God closes a door, He always opens a window. Luckily, both door and window were open for me at the same time. It's really, really nice to have choices...just sayin'.

As of this morning I'm putting my Internet Diva skills to work for Schmit Bros. in Saukville. I'm grateful to my new boss for this new opportunity! Everybody has been welcoming and just really lovely to me! I have audiobooks from Mead Public Library for the commute.

For those of you not familiar with this charming dealership, it has been part of the community for 100 years! It is one of the oldest Ford dealerships in the country. It is also one of the oldest dealerships still run by the same family. There is much to be said for stability and longevity!

So if you find yourself in need of a vehicle from the Ford or Chrysler groups, I'm still Your Car Gal.

I'm eager to see what the next 979 days will bring!

New Year's Resolutions--Here We Go Again!

The new year is always a time of reflection and re-evaluation. Every year, I brainstorm a list of weaknesses I want to work on to improve my time on Earth. This year, I had a list of 23 things. Some of them have to wait  until a little later in the year--like planting a garden. Some of them (fitness and finances) are the same %#@$ things I've been battling for...ever! So far I've been successful at abstaining from caffeine and artificial sweeteners. Also daily devotionals are going well, so far. Yes, I know it's only the 5th.

Melanie Haiken at Forbes.com wrote 5 New Year's Resolutions You Won't Keep--And 5 You Will. She offers some sound advice on how to set yourself up for success at these common commitments:

• Going on a diet
• Quitting smoking
• Getting more exercise
• Lose 20 lbs
• Giving up a habit like nail biting, hair twirling, etc.

The following list is long overdue. Curtis Silver at Wired.com gives us 10 New Year's Resolutions for Everyone Else.

He includes such much-needed gems as "not speaking in text" and "showering daily". This means you! (No, not you...you're fine, I meant you!!)

What resolutions have you made? How is it going so far? Comment below!