Flat Tire, Broken Spring, New Tire, New Strut, 2011 Kia Sedona

Side wall damaged by broken spring reveals why tire went flat. 

So yesterday I took the flat tire wheel off my 2011 Kia Sedona and discovered a spring broke and the sharp end gouged through the sidewall of the tire. This was the passenger side front. This same situation occurred on the drivers side a year or so ago. I bought a replacement tire from Cheney Tire in Watertown. Price with tax & fees came to $247.66 

I then went to O'Reilly Auto Parts and bought a strut and spring assembly to the tune of $235.43    

Detail of reciept from Cheney Tire in Watertown for a Firestone all season radial tire, size 220 70R/16

 

Detail of receipt from O'Reilly Auto Parts for loaded strut assembly for 2011 Ki Sedona.

Today I removed the broken strut. It was 15 to 19 degrees outdoors today. I spent a good deal of time out there and was very combfortable. There was sun and no wind. I wore 2 shirts, a winter vest and a winter coat on top of all that. I also wore long johns and a knit hat, gloves. 

3/8 socket on brake line retainer bolt

17mm wrench on strut to steering knuckle bolt.

Strut and spring assembly removed.

View of broken spring on the strut.

First Robin Sighting for Spring 2023

First Robin sighting at our home in Chaumont, NY.  

Today as I walked out to the wood pile I spotted a Robin picking bread crumbs in our backyard. (I put all of our stale bread out for the birds.)  Here in the North Country Robins are a classic harbinger of Spring. Always a boost to one's spirits spotting that first one. I snapped this photo with a Sony a6600 camera and a Minolta 500mm f8 AF lens. 

Beautiful Weather on St. Patricks Day in Northern NY: Photo a Robin

 

Harbinger of Spring: Robin perched in a tree at our home in Chaumonnt, NY.  photo copyright Gary Walts 2022

It was a beautiful day weather wisher in Chaumont, NY. The sun has been out, a nice mild wind, temperature hit 62 degrees F. Then I snapped a photo of a Robing sitting in a tree in our yard. Those birds are the classic harbinger of Spring in this region. 

Later this evening we are meeting The Better Half's daughter B & her hubby at the Tug Hill Winery, Lowville, NY. 

The Better Half & I at Tug Hill Winery:

The Better Half & I at Tug Hill Winery, Lowville, NY,  St Patrick's Day

Third Day of Spring Time In Northern New York

By the calendar it is almost Spring here in Northern NY.  Most of the snow has melted, but it was a mere 14 degrees at my home in Chaumont this morning. I snapped the picture presented here this afternoon in Pulaski, NY. As the snow melts the dirt hidden with it becomes apparent. I do hope all is well in your world.

The dirt hedden withing a snow bank is revealed as it slowly melts away with approaching Spring. Pulaski, NY. Photo by Gary Walts

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Spring Time SUNY Oswego

I was at SUNY Oswego a week or so a go on a job. As I walked across campus I noticed how the trees were all in bloom. So I very quickly, with almost no thought, snapped the two photos here. I did pay attention to the girl who was running and waited for her to get closer to me and the other two people walking in the photo. These are not great, artsy, or important photos other than they are informative. But it's another example of how I like to make snap shots of where ever I am. In some respects it's like keeping a journal. I will send these photos to The Image Works, a photo agency that I affiliated with. There is a market for such simple photos. But they may linger in their files and never sell. That's the way of it.


Incidentally, if you go the The Image Works web site you can type my name into the search box on their home page and see some of the photos I have on file with them.

Spring Flowers

I awoke early today, about 6:00am. Got up and put is some pretty good guitar practice. The Sun came up blazing in a clear sky. I painted a second coat of paint on one of the dining room walls. Then I spent about three hours doing yard work. Picking up tree branches, sticks, raking up old leaves and the like. That's when I spotted the Spring flowers. Just this one small group in the entire back yard. And, it is still Winter here in Chaumont, NY. The first day of Spring is Tuesday. The temperature out doors is wonderful 70 degrees Fahrenheit.


I am now going to grab a beer (I know, Lent is not over & I gave up alcohol, but my understanding is it's OK on Sundays), and play a littlle bit of guitar outside before going to my mother's house. Hope all of you are having a good day.