Objects in the mirror ...

As the saying goes, are much closer than they may appear ... and here's the result of our great car shopping expedition. Enjoy this brief moment of IVG car obsessiveness, because they don't come around often ... so here's the skinny:

2006 Pontiac Vibe (which we learned is the same thing as a Toyota Matrix, made in the same plant in CA), low mileage, all wheel drive and loads of nifty gewgaws and buttons. Oh, and a sunroof too. Much kinder gas mileage than the Ranger, though a bit more limited on the hauling capacity. But we think we made an acceptable compromise given the incredible space you can open up inside this deceptively small looking little wagon.

In short, we're loving it. And the ride is .... well, much comfier than anything we ever expected from the Ranger. Oh, and we can actually transport other humans without cramming them into fold down seats in the so-called "back seat" of the truck. It was a good deal, even though we had to finance some of it, but at least we're all covered warranty wise until 2011, so we think it was worth it.

This was taken on 17 March, 2007 not long after we brought it home, and you'll note there is no more snow, no more ice ... in fact the first crocus and snowdrops are almost visible in that little corner of the bulb bed you can see near the right front tire. Some of those will appear in a post here very soon...
And finally, here's a view --a mocking self-portrait in fact-- from inside the passenger side.
I managed to get what I was going after ... that ubiquitous warning .... the cool reflections were a nice bonus, I thought.

So there you have it ... some of the reasons of many things have been relatively dormant around here of late, but on the uptick again now that spring has truly arrived.

... Now, back to our regularly scheduled spring floral programming ...