Winnie's Christmas Surprise

Winnie is ready for the future...

Video of the Train and Putz Village

A short video of the Train and Putz Village, with train sounds.

The Dollhouse Train and Putz Village

Here is the Train and Village as it stands today.

Breakfast with the SCMM Club in October

On a hot, dry, clear day in San Diego (holding our breath and hoping to get through it without major fires) the San Diegans met for breakfast on our usual first Saturday of the month event. Twelve cars total, including two Classic Minis, and a gang that is quickly becoming fast friends. Craig and I only drove Jasper today, because I took the dogs to the vet in Winnie and she's completely full of dog hair!

MINIs going to Hooters

Putting this poster up so that a friend can use it to post to the forum. No, Winnie and I won't be there.... LOL

Tagging

The dogs and I 'tagged' a black MINI on our street. That's when we put a SCMM club card in their window, inviting them to join our club. I always wonder what people think when they see the card. Some of them do join, but are the rest just annoyed? Or amused? Or... confused?

Jasper in the Sun

I like this photo of Jasper:

Jasper gets Juiced! Orange Juice, that is...

Jasper was not the most exciting color. Pretty, but not bold. Not eye catching. Not... MINI!! So, we did some graphics... BEHOLD!!

Put the Metal to the Pedal!

Winnie needed metal pedals. Yes, she did. Because they have a Union Jack pattern, that's why. And they look great! So there. The kit is from BMWPedals.com, they were at the MINI show yesterday. Show special, $120 for the set. Whoo Hoo! Very easy installation, took literally five minutes, one Phillips screwdriver and one small ratcheting wrench, alcohol and a rag. Here is the kit: Starting with the 'dead pedal' on the far left (because she is an automatic transmission) Use the little included tool, unscrew the top to expose the screwdriver head, and pry the rubber pedal out of the rubber platform. Comes right out! Wipe the exposed area with rubbing alcohol, peel off the red backing on the tape on the new pedal, and stick it right in there. Yes! Now the brake pedal. It is covered with a rubber piece that simply peels off from the base. Wrap your fingers around it, and pull forward. The metal base has two screw holes in it. Line the screw holes on the new pedal up with the base, stick in the screws, put the little washers on the back, then the nut (with the white plastic part facing away from the pedal) and screw them in. You will need to hold the nut in place with the ratcheting wrench or whatever, as you screw them in. Finally, the easiest one. Your new accelerator pedal goes right over the old one. Wipe down the rubber pedal with alcohol, peel the red backing off, and stick it right on. Make sure that you have it even before you stick it down, because that tape is STRONG. Not coming off! That looks great, and the way it is machined, all of the round bumps and the flag design are highly profiled, so it has a lot of grip. I'm happy. :-)

Bob and I took the dogs up Nate Harrison Grade, and around the truck trails there, to see how they liked it. They loved it! And they were well behaved too, staying close to us. Did well in the car, just bracing themselves along the dirt roads.

The San Diego SCMM group held their breakfast today, and we had a super turnout! Old friends and new, which is the very best mix to have! When we went in to eat, we had eleven MINIs, and when we came out, we had twelve! Someone spotted us in the parking lot and decided to join us, right in line with everyone else. We hope to see them next time!

Sand Crab on the trail off of Banner Grade.