My new blog worked so if there is anyone out there that read this dumb blog please use Quiltedcollies2.blogspot.com. I will try to list the date, day and in the first line where we are physically and the general idea of the blog for those of you who just want to know where we are and nothing else.
Thanks
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
8-15-15 Thurs
I have gotten a little grief about this blog as its to wordy and now to long and hard to follow and etc. I hardly think enough people read it to make a difference but I can try to set up a new one called quilted collies 2. If I can I will post it on here for those of you that care. If I don't I will get back on here and try to do a catch up and then go from there. It sounds as if the persons that don't like this format are people who really don't read it and just want to know where we are and that's all. If that is the case I will try and just use facebook for those entries. The blog is really my journal to keep track of the things we do, boring or otherwise. I may want to look back on this some day. If anyone wants to post a comment please feel free to do or send me a note via facebook.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Mon August 31 ,2015
I was told that I should start a different blog as there was to much stuff to wade thru. Well, tough cookies. This is my journal of sorts and so if someone wants to read it fine and if not fine too. I doubt anyone does as its boring and I am not the best writer. But it is what it is and if you do come on, welcome.
We have spent the weekend at Bonnie's after spending the week at shakopee near sindelars. We had a nice visit there and Shirley always sets up a little open house for the kids so they can some see us. It's really cool to see that family and see how it grows, I made my stop at the quilt store there that is so nice and then we also took one day and went to the state fair. That was tiring but it was fun to go there again. It is still the best state fair I have ever seen.
Our weekend at Bonnie's was busy. Bonnie and I ran errands on sat and took Kathy out to lunch, it was so special as we haven't had a time just the three of us for a long time, Leroy got to go to the races on sat nite, sprints at a near by race track and he always enjoys it, says they are some pretty good drivers.
Sun I had my hair cut, not short, just evened off and she did such a nice job. And then we got groceries and ran some more errands. So we were busy all weekend and it's fun staying in Racine and visiting with Bonnie in a relaxed atmosphere. I don't do enough for her and all I managed to do this time was clean up her flower beds.
Today we started out towards California. We stopped at a rest area in Dow Iowa and it had the greatest rest area. Evidently they are or have a bunch of high tech spots out there and this was ones them. It is a memorial to civil war veterans. Iowa lost more men in the civil war than any state. It had all these symbolism in its architecture. I can't remember all of it and didn't take my camera but one trail had markers that had letters from Iowa soldiers engraved in them that were written home from the civil war. They had this huge area with mowed trails in it that I could walk the dogs in, it was so nice the dogs didn't pee or poop, they just walked and enjoyed it and smelled things along the way. It was full of flowers. One of the workers said it was the greatest place to work.
It is hot an humid out but if I would lose weight it wouldn't bother me so much.
All for now.
We have spent the weekend at Bonnie's after spending the week at shakopee near sindelars. We had a nice visit there and Shirley always sets up a little open house for the kids so they can some see us. It's really cool to see that family and see how it grows, I made my stop at the quilt store there that is so nice and then we also took one day and went to the state fair. That was tiring but it was fun to go there again. It is still the best state fair I have ever seen.
Our weekend at Bonnie's was busy. Bonnie and I ran errands on sat and took Kathy out to lunch, it was so special as we haven't had a time just the three of us for a long time, Leroy got to go to the races on sat nite, sprints at a near by race track and he always enjoys it, says they are some pretty good drivers.
Sun I had my hair cut, not short, just evened off and she did such a nice job. And then we got groceries and ran some more errands. So we were busy all weekend and it's fun staying in Racine and visiting with Bonnie in a relaxed atmosphere. I don't do enough for her and all I managed to do this time was clean up her flower beds.
Today we started out towards California. We stopped at a rest area in Dow Iowa and it had the greatest rest area. Evidently they are or have a bunch of high tech spots out there and this was ones them. It is a memorial to civil war veterans. Iowa lost more men in the civil war than any state. It had all these symbolism in its architecture. I can't remember all of it and didn't take my camera but one trail had markers that had letters from Iowa soldiers engraved in them that were written home from the civil war. They had this huge area with mowed trails in it that I could walk the dogs in, it was so nice the dogs didn't pee or poop, they just walked and enjoyed it and smelled things along the way. It was full of flowers. One of the workers said it was the greatest place to work.
It is hot an humid out but if I would lose weight it wouldn't bother me so much.
All for now.
Monday, August 24, 2015
8/22/15 Sat and 8/24/15 Mon
Well here we are at the Treasure Island Casino in Red Wing. We have stayed at Bonnies I think since the 7th. We had a really nice time. She has that pad by the garage and it works out great. I always think she does too much for us but its fun and relaxing to visit . Saw Tim a few times and he has changed so much since his surgery, all for the good, and he looks and feels better and is like the old Tim now. Saw Jill and Craig, only at the memorial as I was gone the day they stopped. Craig is doing really well now after having had a really really bad car accident. So glad he is well and able to walk now. Saw Jett a couple times, saw Rennie the most as he lives close. Saw Aleesha and her little baby Ava and the other new baby in the family River. Both are really cute. Bright eyed and sharp. Guess I forgot how cute babies were. Saw Aimee at the memorial but didn't get a chance to talk with her unfortunately. Anyhow it was nice and I saw lots of them and it was nice to do it in at a slower pace. We had a nice supper with Cassie and her family and a visit with her brother Tom the next day so I had some time again with them before we left.
The two +/- weeks spent with Heidi was harder than I thought but I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was so special and we shared some really wonderful time and conversations and special times. I will always have that time to remember. During that time I also got even closer to her dear children. That family has always been special to me, and I have been especially close with them as we lived together for some years. Heidi was like a dau and a sister to me both. I got to know her S.O. better too and they had a love like you see only on television. It was very emotional.
My nephew on Leroys side is a minister now and he conducted the memorial. That was kind of meaningful as his mother took care of Heidi when she was a baby. They played together, so it was fitting that he sent me on her way to a less painful life. She is now better and in no more pain.
Her dau set up the park so cute with pictures and videos and stuff all over. They had the greatest flowers ordered and a light lunch. It was great. And since Heidi was a great chef and baker extroidenare I made a sign that we put on an empty table saying There will be no desserts in memory of the cake lady Heidi Marie Boysen. About 150 + attended and it was held in a lovely park a few blocks from her house. There were many friends of hers, les', the kids plus lots of family we haven't seen. Bad to only see people at funerals but sometimes that's the way it is. Sad we can make time for that and not to see people when we could and are healthy.
But life goes on, even tho myself (and probably all of us) are still on the verge of tears. I am finally getting some sleep.
In this writing time we moved from red wing to a casino up by shakopee. We will visit Leroys sister a bit and then the weekend we will be at bonnies again and hopefully on our way out of the state by the first of next week. I think we are going to go to the state fair on thurs. Its just or was the best state fair ever so will be glad to see it.
We will then proceed to California where we have jobs as a camp host and etc at a place about 24 miles NE of Santa Barbara at lake cachuma. We will probably be there till first of DEC or Jan. So with a few quick stops on the way there we will get there in a timely manner and start our job.
We are all well. Iris has recovered from her spay by now and her thyroid was low so she is on thyroid medicine now. She is eating again and actually gaining too much weight. Everyone else is fine.
We also took out our washer/dryer and dishwasher out of the RV so Leroy is busy trying to figure out the best way to use that new space.
Jeff has a new puppy but this one he has to keep. Not taking another one of his dogs. He is stuck with this one. Its a pom/dauchund cross. He is cute now, hope he stays that way.
Oh I guess my bosses at the fairground from the summer gave me a gift certificate of thank you. Isn't that nice and quite the surprise. So maybe I didn't work so hard in vain.
So anyhow that about sums up the last few months and we will see if I can do it more often now and make it more interesting.
The two +/- weeks spent with Heidi was harder than I thought but I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was so special and we shared some really wonderful time and conversations and special times. I will always have that time to remember. During that time I also got even closer to her dear children. That family has always been special to me, and I have been especially close with them as we lived together for some years. Heidi was like a dau and a sister to me both. I got to know her S.O. better too and they had a love like you see only on television. It was very emotional.
My nephew on Leroys side is a minister now and he conducted the memorial. That was kind of meaningful as his mother took care of Heidi when she was a baby. They played together, so it was fitting that he sent me on her way to a less painful life. She is now better and in no more pain.
Her dau set up the park so cute with pictures and videos and stuff all over. They had the greatest flowers ordered and a light lunch. It was great. And since Heidi was a great chef and baker extroidenare I made a sign that we put on an empty table saying There will be no desserts in memory of the cake lady Heidi Marie Boysen. About 150 + attended and it was held in a lovely park a few blocks from her house. There were many friends of hers, les', the kids plus lots of family we haven't seen. Bad to only see people at funerals but sometimes that's the way it is. Sad we can make time for that and not to see people when we could and are healthy.
But life goes on, even tho myself (and probably all of us) are still on the verge of tears. I am finally getting some sleep.
In this writing time we moved from red wing to a casino up by shakopee. We will visit Leroys sister a bit and then the weekend we will be at bonnies again and hopefully on our way out of the state by the first of next week. I think we are going to go to the state fair on thurs. Its just or was the best state fair ever so will be glad to see it.
We will then proceed to California where we have jobs as a camp host and etc at a place about 24 miles NE of Santa Barbara at lake cachuma. We will probably be there till first of DEC or Jan. So with a few quick stops on the way there we will get there in a timely manner and start our job.
We are all well. Iris has recovered from her spay by now and her thyroid was low so she is on thyroid medicine now. She is eating again and actually gaining too much weight. Everyone else is fine.
We also took out our washer/dryer and dishwasher out of the RV so Leroy is busy trying to figure out the best way to use that new space.
Jeff has a new puppy but this one he has to keep. Not taking another one of his dogs. He is stuck with this one. Its a pom/dauchund cross. He is cute now, hope he stays that way.
Oh I guess my bosses at the fairground from the summer gave me a gift certificate of thank you. Isn't that nice and quite the surprise. So maybe I didn't work so hard in vain.
So anyhow that about sums up the last few months and we will see if I can do it more often now and make it more interesting.
Monday, August 17, 2015
8/17/15 Mon
Yest was Heidi's memorial. It was a sad sad day and lots of tears were shed. I spent the last 2 weeks caring for her and I wouldn't have been anywhere else. It was such a special time and we had some golden moments between the two of us. I wouldn't have given it up for the world. I also had some special time with her two children and saw a different side of her spouse I had never seen. She and Les had a special kind of love, almost like something you have ever seen, something like you see on television. It even astounded the minister. So she was about love and it was reflected in the 150+ people that came to the service. It was outside in the park and her daughter did such a beautiful job of getting it set up. She had a time line in pictures laid out and hung on a rope so people could look at them. It was special. She had a DJ that played music, she had albums set out and a video show playing. It was just great.
But I still miss her and her spouse gave me a small wooden thing he made that fits on a key chain and it is a small piece of her ashes. That made me cry all over again..
So today I just did some computer work and laid around mainly. I pulled a few of my sisters weeds in her garden and really accomplished nothing.
I think it will take me a long time to recover emotionally and physically.
But I still miss her and her spouse gave me a small wooden thing he made that fits on a key chain and it is a small piece of her ashes. That made me cry all over again..
So today I just did some computer work and laid around mainly. I pulled a few of my sisters weeds in her garden and really accomplished nothing.
I think it will take me a long time to recover emotionally and physically.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
7/30 Thurs
I am here with my dear sweet niece Heidi. She is winding down and soon will go to her heavenly home. It is hard and also a blessing to be at her side. I wish I could trade places with her as my life is close to its end and she still has so much ahead of her with three wonderful grandchildren now and maybe more to come. Two wonderful children and a very loving significant other. We spent the day looking at pictures of her life and that possibly we can use to in the future at her memorial service.
My blog will suffer again as my mind and heart are only with her right now.
My blog will suffer again as my mind and heart are only with her right now.
Monday, July 27, 2015
7/27 Mon
I have been so lax in posting this summer. It has been another summer in the northwest. One of mixed emotions. Working at the fairgrounds has been a mixed blessing. We have learned what kind of work we want, what we can do and how involved we want to get. They definitely have gotten more out of us than we did them. We have done lots of work on the fairgrounds and it has created pride getting the old fairgrounds in shape again. It had been neglected for almost 2 years and it is near and dear to our hearts so our community service was good for us. We got free lodging but sewage dumping was a pain, internet was a pain, managing campers for a while was a pain as they have a problem with the homeless. Things were better by the end as things were put in place to reduce vandalism and encourage good campers to come. I didn't take before and after pictures of the work I did and should have as no one realizes how much I did. I did most of the gardening, pruning, fixing flower beds, trimming, and that kind of work. It was hard physical work and the weather was in the 80-90's and with little shade but it helped me get in shape and lose a little weight. I cleaned bathrooms(lots) daily and got them finally in a nice state that got lots of kudos. Leroy took care of the campgrounds, did maintenance work, worked with the maintenance man and did garbage. We did painting and supervised a few 4 h work parties. We watched a lot of horse shows, mostly 4h but that was fun but very dusty. We didn't get together with anyone it seemed, and went out to eat only a few times. We were exhausted by the end of the day and flopped into bed and never did much else of anything. We tried to clean out our storage but didn't even get enough time for that and had a garage sale at the pole barn on the fairgrounds during chochokam (the citywide craft/art doings). We didn't even get to walk on the trails again. I only got a few times in at the boxing gym with my trainer (though she said I hadn't lost anything and came back in pretty good shape) and I got a month in with a trainer that had a gym at the fairgrounds which really helped my strength training and back issues. Even Leroy got something out of a few sessions with him. I didn't get to see my friend Bobbies house as I had planned or see the new Waif building. My friend Donna retired and we got no time together hardly as she ended up with pleurisy and blood clots in her lungs (the other way around) and she had a houseful of company all summer so we saw very little of each other. I didn't get any sewing done and Iris still had so much trouble with her gut and then was spayed that we didn't even get in any dog shows. I barely saw my little Annie either.
Now I am in Minnesota. I left WA quickly as my niece is ill and I needed to come to be with her. She has been ill for quite a while but this may be the end of the battle. I helped raise her when she was tiny as we all lived together for a time and I was quite active in their lives. Anyhow she is like a dau to me and watching her in pain is very hard. She has a darling dau and son who are adults and she has three sweet grandchildren. She is a person who has always done for others and doesn't realize how important she is to others. She has a devoted significant other who is doing a nice job taking care of her.
Leroy is wrapping things up in WA and will be headed east soon. He is trying to finish up some work with the car and the rv so he is busy. He would like to be in Sturgis for the rally as it is the 75th and since he was born and raised there and is 70 he has been around for most of all of them. The guy that started the rally sold him his first motorcycle. Our goal was to still be around and go for the 100th in a three wheeler, but that is stretching it a bit. I would be 93 and he 98, Can't you just picture that?
He will then come here or come here sooner should he need to and we will decide what to do after that.
The fairgrounds wants us back but not sure am ready to get involved in that more than we already have.
All for now.
Now I am in Minnesota. I left WA quickly as my niece is ill and I needed to come to be with her. She has been ill for quite a while but this may be the end of the battle. I helped raise her when she was tiny as we all lived together for a time and I was quite active in their lives. Anyhow she is like a dau to me and watching her in pain is very hard. She has a darling dau and son who are adults and she has three sweet grandchildren. She is a person who has always done for others and doesn't realize how important she is to others. She has a devoted significant other who is doing a nice job taking care of her.
Leroy is wrapping things up in WA and will be headed east soon. He is trying to finish up some work with the car and the rv so he is busy. He would like to be in Sturgis for the rally as it is the 75th and since he was born and raised there and is 70 he has been around for most of all of them. The guy that started the rally sold him his first motorcycle. Our goal was to still be around and go for the 100th in a three wheeler, but that is stretching it a bit. I would be 93 and he 98, Can't you just picture that?
He will then come here or come here sooner should he need to and we will decide what to do after that.
The fairgrounds wants us back but not sure am ready to get involved in that more than we already have.
All for now.
7/27 Mon
Well, I tried this on firefox and couldn't get it to work so will try on explorer and see if it posts
Thursday, June 25, 2015
can you believe it?
I can't believe it has been since may since I posted. Lots has been done but nothing for others to be interested in. Last I wrote was on the trip back.
We finally pulled into Washington. We got to Whidbey and settled in at the fairgrounds. There has been some changing hands of the property so it was rather confusing as the rate sign went up after we got here and the rates had gone up and the site has a date on it that you couldn't go beyond.
Leroy marched to the office that next day and attempted to clear it up. In the meantime he told them about workkamping and the next thing I know we are staying here rent free in exchange for helping fix up the fairgrounds. The grounds has been taken over by the Port for a year and they are trying to get it in shape after a couple years of neglect and to se if there are things that could be done to make it a more viable commodity that would generate income. I gave them the motto "Its not just for the FAIR anymore." Anyhow they got the best end of the deal as we put in between the two of us about 60 hours a week, 40 at the least. They get way more out of this than we do. My main job is to improve the curb appeal so I have been working on the front entrance and the flower beds and rabbit holes and etc. Also other jobs like cleaning the commercial kitchens that are here and the bathrooms, and etc. Whatever she needs. Leroy helps me, helps the main maintenance man they hired, and supervises a couple of young people who are also working to pay their rent. He collects garbage, helps with the bathrooms and the big projects, fixes things, and whatever she needs. We all have a grease board with our projects on it. We all have to be out by the fair time (end of july) so the fair association can come in and take over and put on a fair that lasts 4 days. Then after a couple of weeks the port moves back in. So the push is now to make things look good. We are making quite the progress and I need to post some pictures of my work. So that has kept us busy AND exhausted. I can't work on the computer unless I have complete silence and focus, so by evening that has been nonexistent, and I have hardly touched the computer. I actually like the work and by the time we leave I will have had my fill and be glad we sold the farm again. This fills my need to garden and work.
In the meantime we are here and have started what we came for. Cleaning out our storage units and condensing as much stuff as we can. We found we need so much less in life that there are things we can get rid of. Haven't put one box back yet that wasn't gone thru and either emptied or depleted. It is a big job. The fairgrounds has given us a spot to put the stuff we want to get rid of and we can have a garage sale mid July there. So I am pushing to get that done in time. Leroy gets so obsessed with the job here it is hard for him to take time away. Had we gotten here sooner he would have taken the maintenance job. then the story would have been written differently, but evidently God sends us where he wants us when he wants us, or so it seems.
There is a trainer here at the fairgrounds that has his gym here. So he is letting me work with him and is helping me. I just got back from a workout and worked so hard I am a bit nauseated. Part of that is because I was dehydrated when I went. Came home, ate a banana and drank some water and now as soon as I get my bearings back I will go do some work here on the grounds, then we will work on the storage unit a bit and then I have boxing class tonight and then go to bed and collapse. Those are my days which is why I do not record stuff better.
But my sports doc and ortho doc told me last week that if I don't keep going and keep it up I will end up in a wheelchair eventually. Because of my fibro and arthritis and chronic pain. That ain't going to happen, so I keep doing it and puffaw anyone who tells me to slow down and rest. I get plenty of rest and I feel so much better when I have exercise. Can't figure out why others don't enjoy the same feeling and shy away from exercise all their lives. It is the best high one will ever get.
We have gotten together with Jeff a couple of times, I always love that. Donna was house sitting here in Langley for a few days so she had us up to supper one pm. We get to see lots of horse shows as the 4H and the gaming groups use the horse arena on weekends and sometimes people come here in pm with their horses to practice. We are on a little rise just above the ring so we have a wonderful seat to watch it, also a wonderful seat to accumulate ever y bit of dust that goes up into the air. I truly can't keep this place clean. Oh well, its the price we pay. We are heading into our drought period here so you take what you get. Like a guy said today, we have two seasons in Washington, rain and drought.
As I can remember things from this last month I will enter them. I did get most of my appts with docs done and most with a clean bill of health. Having some problems with legs and feet but my sports med doc is helping me with that. I have to have my physical with a new doc next week. My regular doc retired. I think Leroy has another apt with the va. but we seem to be getting all the odds and ends done for our yearly visits.
Iris is doing better. She is on a minimal dose of Prednisone now and even then not daily so we may be able to take her off it completely soon. She may be able to be managed with her oatmeal and Metamucil.
All for this writing.
We finally pulled into Washington. We got to Whidbey and settled in at the fairgrounds. There has been some changing hands of the property so it was rather confusing as the rate sign went up after we got here and the rates had gone up and the site has a date on it that you couldn't go beyond.
Leroy marched to the office that next day and attempted to clear it up. In the meantime he told them about workkamping and the next thing I know we are staying here rent free in exchange for helping fix up the fairgrounds. The grounds has been taken over by the Port for a year and they are trying to get it in shape after a couple years of neglect and to se if there are things that could be done to make it a more viable commodity that would generate income. I gave them the motto "Its not just for the FAIR anymore." Anyhow they got the best end of the deal as we put in between the two of us about 60 hours a week, 40 at the least. They get way more out of this than we do. My main job is to improve the curb appeal so I have been working on the front entrance and the flower beds and rabbit holes and etc. Also other jobs like cleaning the commercial kitchens that are here and the bathrooms, and etc. Whatever she needs. Leroy helps me, helps the main maintenance man they hired, and supervises a couple of young people who are also working to pay their rent. He collects garbage, helps with the bathrooms and the big projects, fixes things, and whatever she needs. We all have a grease board with our projects on it. We all have to be out by the fair time (end of july) so the fair association can come in and take over and put on a fair that lasts 4 days. Then after a couple of weeks the port moves back in. So the push is now to make things look good. We are making quite the progress and I need to post some pictures of my work. So that has kept us busy AND exhausted. I can't work on the computer unless I have complete silence and focus, so by evening that has been nonexistent, and I have hardly touched the computer. I actually like the work and by the time we leave I will have had my fill and be glad we sold the farm again. This fills my need to garden and work.
In the meantime we are here and have started what we came for. Cleaning out our storage units and condensing as much stuff as we can. We found we need so much less in life that there are things we can get rid of. Haven't put one box back yet that wasn't gone thru and either emptied or depleted. It is a big job. The fairgrounds has given us a spot to put the stuff we want to get rid of and we can have a garage sale mid July there. So I am pushing to get that done in time. Leroy gets so obsessed with the job here it is hard for him to take time away. Had we gotten here sooner he would have taken the maintenance job. then the story would have been written differently, but evidently God sends us where he wants us when he wants us, or so it seems.
There is a trainer here at the fairgrounds that has his gym here. So he is letting me work with him and is helping me. I just got back from a workout and worked so hard I am a bit nauseated. Part of that is because I was dehydrated when I went. Came home, ate a banana and drank some water and now as soon as I get my bearings back I will go do some work here on the grounds, then we will work on the storage unit a bit and then I have boxing class tonight and then go to bed and collapse. Those are my days which is why I do not record stuff better.
But my sports doc and ortho doc told me last week that if I don't keep going and keep it up I will end up in a wheelchair eventually. Because of my fibro and arthritis and chronic pain. That ain't going to happen, so I keep doing it and puffaw anyone who tells me to slow down and rest. I get plenty of rest and I feel so much better when I have exercise. Can't figure out why others don't enjoy the same feeling and shy away from exercise all their lives. It is the best high one will ever get.
We have gotten together with Jeff a couple of times, I always love that. Donna was house sitting here in Langley for a few days so she had us up to supper one pm. We get to see lots of horse shows as the 4H and the gaming groups use the horse arena on weekends and sometimes people come here in pm with their horses to practice. We are on a little rise just above the ring so we have a wonderful seat to watch it, also a wonderful seat to accumulate ever y bit of dust that goes up into the air. I truly can't keep this place clean. Oh well, its the price we pay. We are heading into our drought period here so you take what you get. Like a guy said today, we have two seasons in Washington, rain and drought.
As I can remember things from this last month I will enter them. I did get most of my appts with docs done and most with a clean bill of health. Having some problems with legs and feet but my sports med doc is helping me with that. I have to have my physical with a new doc next week. My regular doc retired. I think Leroy has another apt with the va. but we seem to be getting all the odds and ends done for our yearly visits.
Iris is doing better. She is on a minimal dose of Prednisone now and even then not daily so we may be able to take her off it completely soon. She may be able to be managed with her oatmeal and Metamucil.
All for this writing.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
5/17/15 Sun
I am remembering things I forgot to post, for your enjoyment or/and my remembering.
When I was in the crowd of people for the Lincoln reenactment at the cemetery I worked my way to the front almost so I could see. I came to a break in the crowd and there were these guys who looked like secret service but I thought "oh, it must be part of the play. Then I thought they didn't have secret service then and these guys were dressed in very nice suits. So here I am right next to them, I mean touching next. So I watched them. They had earwigs in and they talked to their wrists and stood with their hands together and watched different directions of the crowd, looking all around all the time. They looked VERY serious. Then another comes up and says, " I want one of you to stay here and the rest to come with me". Then pretty soon the others show up with that guy, with some kind of dignitary and they are guarding him just like they do on TV. I have NO idea who he was. A lady tugged at his sleeve and asked for a picture of him (the lady standing next to me) and he said sure, the guys moved into place, and he leaned down and someone took a picture of them.. Now my memory was full or I would have taken pictures but it was soooooo cool. I felt very special watching that and since I watch so much TV it was just exactly the same. Anyhow, he was tall, a great smile, sandy blond/brown hair and very good looking. So anyhow, that was my brush with the other side of the world.
When I was in the crowd of people for the Lincoln reenactment at the cemetery I worked my way to the front almost so I could see. I came to a break in the crowd and there were these guys who looked like secret service but I thought "oh, it must be part of the play. Then I thought they didn't have secret service then and these guys were dressed in very nice suits. So here I am right next to them, I mean touching next. So I watched them. They had earwigs in and they talked to their wrists and stood with their hands together and watched different directions of the crowd, looking all around all the time. They looked VERY serious. Then another comes up and says, " I want one of you to stay here and the rest to come with me". Then pretty soon the others show up with that guy, with some kind of dignitary and they are guarding him just like they do on TV. I have NO idea who he was. A lady tugged at his sleeve and asked for a picture of him (the lady standing next to me) and he said sure, the guys moved into place, and he leaned down and someone took a picture of them.. Now my memory was full or I would have taken pictures but it was soooooo cool. I felt very special watching that and since I watch so much TV it was just exactly the same. Anyhow, he was tall, a great smile, sandy blond/brown hair and very good looking. So anyhow, that was my brush with the other side of the world.
5/17/15 Sun
Since I am not sure of this blog as we drive I broke this down into sections. I told about the Kentucky trip pretty much I think. It was so fun.
On the way home to MN we stopped in LeClaire Iowa and went to the American Pickers shop Antique Archeology. That was so cool and I had lots of time to talk with the girls in the shops and get lots of questions I had answered.
Then we went to MN. We drove to my sisters in Racine. We were able to pull right up beside her house and hook up to electric. We were right by the garage side door so I could jump out and run in the side door and have coffee. We mainly had plans to just hang out and we did. I washed clothes and dog beds, did very little for my sister as she wouldn't let me, we had meals together in and out, I got to see 5 of her surviving 8 kids. and spend some time with them each one on one which was fun. The ones I saw are 5-9 years younger than I am only. We watched TV and just hung out and it was just so nice and relaxing. Leroy did some chores for her. I washed dogs. We went to the cemetery I walked Iris around my old town (the only town I knew growing up as I lived in the country). I went to a three room school house there with 6 grades in it. It is now an apartment complex. We went along to my first church on Sun, we went to brunch with them on mothers day. We visited my other sister and we had her down for lunch one day. It was really a fun visit.
I did see my other sister twice. She just moved into a town home so we got to see her home. I wanted to see her three children but didn't happen.
We then went to MPLS/ST PAUL area and stayed at the casino campground close to Leroy's sisters house. They now live in a town home. We had three or 4 days there and it to was relaxing. She and I got to go the quilt store. I went with them to a bible study that was way over my head. We saw some of the other kids, we went out to eat and ate in (she is a tremendous cook). We got to take a drive thru my beloved MN Arboretum and drive around in general in our first area we lived together. She had an open house for all the rest of the kids so they could come and see us if they wanted or not. Most came and others had pretty good excuses. We got to see the next generation of nieces and nephews, and see the second generation more grown into adults. One we talked with was Matt who is a world champion unicyclist. He turned into a wonderful outgoing christian boy. We saw two of three of the first generation and the other one is a minister and had those kind of duties to take care of first. It was just fun and I loved it. Leroy got to go see Jeff's grandmother who recently went in a nursing home and that was special for him to. She is a nice lady and has loved Leroy and Jeff a lot.
We have wonderful families and they are the salt of the earth. None of us are fancy or rich or important but we are good, kind, thoughtful, decent, salt of the earth people and I myself am happy to think I am one of them. If I can aspire to half of what they all have done in life I have done well.
On the way home to MN we stopped in LeClaire Iowa and went to the American Pickers shop Antique Archeology. That was so cool and I had lots of time to talk with the girls in the shops and get lots of questions I had answered.
Then we went to MN. We drove to my sisters in Racine. We were able to pull right up beside her house and hook up to electric. We were right by the garage side door so I could jump out and run in the side door and have coffee. We mainly had plans to just hang out and we did. I washed clothes and dog beds, did very little for my sister as she wouldn't let me, we had meals together in and out, I got to see 5 of her surviving 8 kids. and spend some time with them each one on one which was fun. The ones I saw are 5-9 years younger than I am only. We watched TV and just hung out and it was just so nice and relaxing. Leroy did some chores for her. I washed dogs. We went to the cemetery I walked Iris around my old town (the only town I knew growing up as I lived in the country). I went to a three room school house there with 6 grades in it. It is now an apartment complex. We went along to my first church on Sun, we went to brunch with them on mothers day. We visited my other sister and we had her down for lunch one day. It was really a fun visit.
I did see my other sister twice. She just moved into a town home so we got to see her home. I wanted to see her three children but didn't happen.
We then went to MPLS/ST PAUL area and stayed at the casino campground close to Leroy's sisters house. They now live in a town home. We had three or 4 days there and it to was relaxing. She and I got to go the quilt store. I went with them to a bible study that was way over my head. We saw some of the other kids, we went out to eat and ate in (she is a tremendous cook). We got to take a drive thru my beloved MN Arboretum and drive around in general in our first area we lived together. She had an open house for all the rest of the kids so they could come and see us if they wanted or not. Most came and others had pretty good excuses. We got to see the next generation of nieces and nephews, and see the second generation more grown into adults. One we talked with was Matt who is a world champion unicyclist. He turned into a wonderful outgoing christian boy. We saw two of three of the first generation and the other one is a minister and had those kind of duties to take care of first. It was just fun and I loved it. Leroy got to go see Jeff's grandmother who recently went in a nursing home and that was special for him to. She is a nice lady and has loved Leroy and Jeff a lot.
We have wonderful families and they are the salt of the earth. None of us are fancy or rich or important but we are good, kind, thoughtful, decent, salt of the earth people and I myself am happy to think I am one of them. If I can aspire to half of what they all have done in life I have done well.
5/17/15 Sun
No church today as we needed to get an earlier start. Usually we go to church around the country which is a blessing and an education in itself.
I have been having problems with the blog on Firefox. It seems Firefox is down more than up lately. Must try to see what else I should use.
Yest afternoon we pulled into Rapid City SD. We found a camp spot (got a 50% discount) and settled in. We then took the dogs for a long walk. Then I got ready to go but somewhere in there I decided to clip Diesel and Carries nails and give them all their adequan shots and their frontline. Well all went well until I cut one of diesels nails, then I cut two and a small nice on the third one. Well he acts as if I killed him. Two were nothing but one kept bleeding. We stypic'd it and he would lick it and it would restart so we had to redo it, and finally use a bandage. Eventually it stopped but not before I felt really guilty. Then I also had to groom Carrie (the cat). I get stuck doing all the mean stuff so after nails and sufficient guilt we settled the animals and got ready to go to our party,
We got mail in MN on Wed. It in was an invitation to a party for Leroy's very close friend who was turning 70. He thought about it thurs and decided we would leave a day early from Mn and be able to get there by sat pm. We made it in plenty of time and after the dog walk we drove into town and before the party ran around to find a place we could find dog food. We were out so would not have been allowed home if we didn't check it out.
The party was amazing. It was held in a special spot in a steak resturant. Great setting. Food was incredible. The food was paid for and we only had to pay for drinks. Anyhow! Leroy hasn't seen this boyhood friend (whom he knew from cradle as he is 2 years younger)for thirty years. The last time was at the friends dads funeral when they called Leroy to be a pallbearer. We walked in, walked around the corner. He turned and looked at Leroy the same time Leroy turned and looked at him. You could see that Art had no idea of who it was and then couldn't believe his eyes. Leroy stood quiet. Then Art said "Leroy" and grabbed him and they hugged and cried, (well a lot of people cried). It was beautiful and touching. The daughter who planned the party and the wife knew Leroy was coming but did not tell Art. They just told him they had a big surprise for him. It was the crowning moment for this man as they have been so close. Many years have passed, many things have passed in their lives and they have had semi regular contact but not seen each other. But I think they were blood brothers and it was wonderful. They asked us to sit at the family table and others came in that Leroy knew. I had met the wife a few times but did not recognize her but she came and hugged me and we reacquainted. The daughter I hadn't seen since she was very small and she turned into a beautiful woman who is now studying to be a doctor. Her husband is older but very gregarious and able to manage a crowd and fond of his father in law. So he kept things moving along smoothly. We were there about 4 hours, and it was wonderful and it was so great to see Leroy so happy and enjoying himself and talking with his friend. It was like old times for him. I was so happy when I sent to bed I slept like a baby, in spite of the fact we had a terrible storm. :)
Today we got up and headed to Sturgis to check on the graves and a couple other errands. The quilt store selling motorcycle rally material wasn't open (will have to check on line). The Indian motorcycle shop wasn't open. It was so windy we couldn't put things on the grave and couldn't spend much time reflecting with his parents. Is a beautiful cemetary on a hill and has great trees. Part of the hill is full of his family and extended family and friends. I stand there and look around and see all the names I have heard about for 39+ years. I have known the family since I was 13 and Leroy since I was 15. We drove by a carving being done of Pappy and Pearl Hoyle (the people who started the rally and sold Leroy his first bike). Then we met two of Leroys other friends at a bar resturant for coffee and I had eggs benedict. Wonderful food so I was in my glory.
Now we are on our way to Wa and Whidbey Island. The wind is blowing in our faces terribly strong, it is raining (they had snow last week, or rather a few days ago) and it is blustery. I hate to even get out of the car, as does Diesel. But watching the storm systems it would seem we will drive thru it and break out on the other side. We are just going straight home on 90.
I have been having problems with the blog on Firefox. It seems Firefox is down more than up lately. Must try to see what else I should use.
Yest afternoon we pulled into Rapid City SD. We found a camp spot (got a 50% discount) and settled in. We then took the dogs for a long walk. Then I got ready to go but somewhere in there I decided to clip Diesel and Carries nails and give them all their adequan shots and their frontline. Well all went well until I cut one of diesels nails, then I cut two and a small nice on the third one. Well he acts as if I killed him. Two were nothing but one kept bleeding. We stypic'd it and he would lick it and it would restart so we had to redo it, and finally use a bandage. Eventually it stopped but not before I felt really guilty. Then I also had to groom Carrie (the cat). I get stuck doing all the mean stuff so after nails and sufficient guilt we settled the animals and got ready to go to our party,
We got mail in MN on Wed. It in was an invitation to a party for Leroy's very close friend who was turning 70. He thought about it thurs and decided we would leave a day early from Mn and be able to get there by sat pm. We made it in plenty of time and after the dog walk we drove into town and before the party ran around to find a place we could find dog food. We were out so would not have been allowed home if we didn't check it out.
The party was amazing. It was held in a special spot in a steak resturant. Great setting. Food was incredible. The food was paid for and we only had to pay for drinks. Anyhow! Leroy hasn't seen this boyhood friend (whom he knew from cradle as he is 2 years younger)for thirty years. The last time was at the friends dads funeral when they called Leroy to be a pallbearer. We walked in, walked around the corner. He turned and looked at Leroy the same time Leroy turned and looked at him. You could see that Art had no idea of who it was and then couldn't believe his eyes. Leroy stood quiet. Then Art said "Leroy" and grabbed him and they hugged and cried, (well a lot of people cried). It was beautiful and touching. The daughter who planned the party and the wife knew Leroy was coming but did not tell Art. They just told him they had a big surprise for him. It was the crowning moment for this man as they have been so close. Many years have passed, many things have passed in their lives and they have had semi regular contact but not seen each other. But I think they were blood brothers and it was wonderful. They asked us to sit at the family table and others came in that Leroy knew. I had met the wife a few times but did not recognize her but she came and hugged me and we reacquainted. The daughter I hadn't seen since she was very small and she turned into a beautiful woman who is now studying to be a doctor. Her husband is older but very gregarious and able to manage a crowd and fond of his father in law. So he kept things moving along smoothly. We were there about 4 hours, and it was wonderful and it was so great to see Leroy so happy and enjoying himself and talking with his friend. It was like old times for him. I was so happy when I sent to bed I slept like a baby, in spite of the fact we had a terrible storm. :)
Today we got up and headed to Sturgis to check on the graves and a couple other errands. The quilt store selling motorcycle rally material wasn't open (will have to check on line). The Indian motorcycle shop wasn't open. It was so windy we couldn't put things on the grave and couldn't spend much time reflecting with his parents. Is a beautiful cemetary on a hill and has great trees. Part of the hill is full of his family and extended family and friends. I stand there and look around and see all the names I have heard about for 39+ years. I have known the family since I was 13 and Leroy since I was 15. We drove by a carving being done of Pappy and Pearl Hoyle (the people who started the rally and sold Leroy his first bike). Then we met two of Leroys other friends at a bar resturant for coffee and I had eggs benedict. Wonderful food so I was in my glory.
Now we are on our way to Wa and Whidbey Island. The wind is blowing in our faces terribly strong, it is raining (they had snow last week, or rather a few days ago) and it is blustery. I hate to even get out of the car, as does Diesel. But watching the storm systems it would seem we will drive thru it and break out on the other side. We are just going straight home on 90.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
5/13/15 Wed
It has been a number of days since I have posted. I have been busy enjoying company of family and didn't want to give up any to sit on the computer. Problem is I didn't take time to work on the bills and paperwork either and now that is a complete and overdue mess.
I think I forgot to mention in previous posts things about Paducah. I told you that Leroy and I had a couple of nice conversations with Ricky Tims. He is the nicest man. I also had the nicest long chat with Justin who is equally as nice and is happy to be the man behinds the scenes and if it wasn't for him Ricky couldn't accomplish what he does. He is just kind and humble. Jeff met them once when they lived in Denver. He and Dustin went to their apartment for a visit. Little did I know it or did Jeff know who they were. He thought they were just friends of Dustins. Dustin at the time was one of the producers of Beadwork Magazine.
Anyhow, I took Leroy to the Ricky Tims concert. I have heard him a number of times but Leroy has not. He gives the very best concerts I have ever been to. He is funny, entertaining and his musical ability is astounding. He had at the concert at exactly 8pm, a live video feed on a big screen , a visit with Libby Lehman. He had worked all day on gettting it set up at both ends. There was not a dry eye in the house, including mine. It was so wonderful to see her and see how far she has come. She is the dearest lady and a very close friend of his. So that was probably the highlight of the whole time at the show. There was also a display of quilts by major artists that were inspired by her. It was interesting to see how different things about her inspired different things in different artists. It was a bit of a walk into her life and past to see all of them.
There was also a traveling exhibit that was inspired by the show or book or whatever WICKED. Now I have never seen it and have no desire to. The quilts were all black and lime green. I barely looked at it as I don't know the story and I was not at all interested in seeing them. Think its the first exhibit I ever walked away from.
There was an exhibit that was inspired by an Egyptian. Many of you may remember the exhibits a few years back about the Egyptian tent makers that came and the quilts they made. Well these were inspired by them. They were very colorful and so ornate they were almost busy. I appreciate the work but was not really blown over by my interest in them.
There was a red and white display that was interesting. There was an antique one hanging and then a new rendition of the same quilt next to it. That was interesting and some quilts were from the 1800's.
I found a new artist I want to follow and that is David Taylor. Look him up, you will be amazed at his stuff.
It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it as working there gave it a different feeling and you were able to go in and out at your leisure and go anywhere you wanted with your pass. It had such a relaxed feeling that Houston didn't have. Granted it was smaller but just as good.
I remember things slowly and later as I mull it over in my mind so I will post again as I think of things.
Right now we are in MN and headed for SD to a party on the way home to WA. Hope to make it home by the 20th.
I think I forgot to mention in previous posts things about Paducah. I told you that Leroy and I had a couple of nice conversations with Ricky Tims. He is the nicest man. I also had the nicest long chat with Justin who is equally as nice and is happy to be the man behinds the scenes and if it wasn't for him Ricky couldn't accomplish what he does. He is just kind and humble. Jeff met them once when they lived in Denver. He and Dustin went to their apartment for a visit. Little did I know it or did Jeff know who they were. He thought they were just friends of Dustins. Dustin at the time was one of the producers of Beadwork Magazine.
Anyhow, I took Leroy to the Ricky Tims concert. I have heard him a number of times but Leroy has not. He gives the very best concerts I have ever been to. He is funny, entertaining and his musical ability is astounding. He had at the concert at exactly 8pm, a live video feed on a big screen , a visit with Libby Lehman. He had worked all day on gettting it set up at both ends. There was not a dry eye in the house, including mine. It was so wonderful to see her and see how far she has come. She is the dearest lady and a very close friend of his. So that was probably the highlight of the whole time at the show. There was also a display of quilts by major artists that were inspired by her. It was interesting to see how different things about her inspired different things in different artists. It was a bit of a walk into her life and past to see all of them.
There was also a traveling exhibit that was inspired by the show or book or whatever WICKED. Now I have never seen it and have no desire to. The quilts were all black and lime green. I barely looked at it as I don't know the story and I was not at all interested in seeing them. Think its the first exhibit I ever walked away from.
There was an exhibit that was inspired by an Egyptian. Many of you may remember the exhibits a few years back about the Egyptian tent makers that came and the quilts they made. Well these were inspired by them. They were very colorful and so ornate they were almost busy. I appreciate the work but was not really blown over by my interest in them.
There was a red and white display that was interesting. There was an antique one hanging and then a new rendition of the same quilt next to it. That was interesting and some quilts were from the 1800's.
I found a new artist I want to follow and that is David Taylor. Look him up, you will be amazed at his stuff.
It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it as working there gave it a different feeling and you were able to go in and out at your leisure and go anywhere you wanted with your pass. It had such a relaxed feeling that Houston didn't have. Granted it was smaller but just as good.
I remember things slowly and later as I mull it over in my mind so I will post again as I think of things.
Right now we are in MN and headed for SD to a party on the way home to WA. Hope to make it home by the 20th.
Friday, May 1, 2015
5/1/15 Fri
Nice day today. Weather was beautiful. In the low 70's, sunny, no wind. Just great.
We went downtown to Springfield. We saw the Lincoln house, his law office, his church where they rented the pew, some old homes of the era of other people in his cabinet and etc. We had lunch at Zbistro and we ate outside. I love that but Leroy usually doesn't like to eat outside. So he did it for me. It was great. We went into the museum and library but didn't have enough time so we saved that till tomorrow. We went into the old capital where he was in congress and his boy laid in state. We saw the train as it had just gotten into town. Its a replica car of the train that brought his body back. The made an exact replica of his hearse, it was quite the story. I am interested in seeing it.
People were constantly coming up to you, especially if you had your map out, and they were asking if you had questions or needed help. People were around the town in period costumes. We got lots of great pictures. It was great. Business' and homes draped with mourning clothes. Quite an emotional and impressive status. Tomorrow they take the funeral procession from the train depot to the capital. Then Sunday they take the processional to the tomb at the cemetery. I hope to see that. We decided since we have the opportunity we would stay and see this. Lincoln was my favorite so seeing living history is great. All that walking and I still took the dogs on three walks. Got my hand projects ready to go so now I just need to finish my photographs.
We went downtown to Springfield. We saw the Lincoln house, his law office, his church where they rented the pew, some old homes of the era of other people in his cabinet and etc. We had lunch at Zbistro and we ate outside. I love that but Leroy usually doesn't like to eat outside. So he did it for me. It was great. We went into the museum and library but didn't have enough time so we saved that till tomorrow. We went into the old capital where he was in congress and his boy laid in state. We saw the train as it had just gotten into town. Its a replica car of the train that brought his body back. The made an exact replica of his hearse, it was quite the story. I am interested in seeing it.
People were constantly coming up to you, especially if you had your map out, and they were asking if you had questions or needed help. People were around the town in period costumes. We got lots of great pictures. It was great. Business' and homes draped with mourning clothes. Quite an emotional and impressive status. Tomorrow they take the funeral procession from the train depot to the capital. Then Sunday they take the processional to the tomb at the cemetery. I hope to see that. We decided since we have the opportunity we would stay and see this. Lincoln was my favorite so seeing living history is great. All that walking and I still took the dogs on three walks. Got my hand projects ready to go so now I just need to finish my photographs.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
4/30/15 Thurs
Well we left the state park near Marion this am. We decided to stay in Springfield for a day or so. I looked to see what there was to see and this is Lincoln country. And then found out that this is the anniversary of his death and they are doing a reenactment of his funeral procession from the train to his tomb. There are many different lectures going on but I hope to get in on something. Its the first time it has ever been done since 1856. I plan to take pictures. He was one of my favorites in history so it is special to be in on this. I would love to read that big book that came out a few years ago about him that everyone was reading and I never got around to. His family home is here and etc. so will be following on about that.
You will enjoy our silly story. We took a walk about 730 last night. We couldn't get satellite TV in the site we were in and we do like our late night TV. So we decided we would move. There was no one in this section of this huge 200+ site campground. So Leroy ran back, put the side in and unplugged the elect. And down he came, as it seemed like we could get a signal there. Well we did get a signal BUT the dumb elect wasn't working. So we had to move it back to the original site and replace the sign, the elect plug in, the car and the RV and it was pretty funny. No we were not the worse for wear as we watched a video but we got a good laugh out of it. We are not happy we watch TV at all but we do limit it to an hour or two a night, which is probably still to much. We watch it more in the winter than in the nice weather as we are outside so much.
Today it is sunny and windy here. It is in the 60's probably but the wind is cold. I am still having those darn headaches so don't know if it is due to the head injury or allergies now that I am back in this area.
I finally ate today and stayed away from beef. Man that just isn't setting with me anymore. I had a tuna sandwich at Jimmy Johns and it was actually pretty good. Never eaten there before. And, it was quick.
I think I mentioned I bought some apple pie moonshine so if anyone wants to try it let me know.
Have been embroidering on a pillowcase as we drove today. I got this set partially embroidered at a thrift store. Brand new, in fact the one that hasn't been touched is really stiff with sizing. Was going to give it to my sister but haven't done a nice enough job so guess I will just use it myself. I am getting a wool applique (small) project ready to do. A store lady talked me into trying one and it did look like fun. Then I got a small quilt all laid out that I got at the QOR action a couple years ago. The squares are all done and three rows were but I couldn't figure out her pattern so I took them apart, found a nice pattern in it and have it ready to sew up. I found a PERFECT fabric in Paducah to use for the borders. I also have a small Amish wall hanging ready to sew up and I plan on hand quilting that. Can't do anything though till I get home as my machine needs a tune up, bad. I have been giving it a workout.
We applied or are applying for a workkamper job in California near Santa Barbara at a nature center. If we get that I will have a nice winter to sit and quilt and work a little. Will let you know more how that goes.
All for today, lets pray this goes thru the first time and I don't need to redo it.
You will enjoy our silly story. We took a walk about 730 last night. We couldn't get satellite TV in the site we were in and we do like our late night TV. So we decided we would move. There was no one in this section of this huge 200+ site campground. So Leroy ran back, put the side in and unplugged the elect. And down he came, as it seemed like we could get a signal there. Well we did get a signal BUT the dumb elect wasn't working. So we had to move it back to the original site and replace the sign, the elect plug in, the car and the RV and it was pretty funny. No we were not the worse for wear as we watched a video but we got a good laugh out of it. We are not happy we watch TV at all but we do limit it to an hour or two a night, which is probably still to much. We watch it more in the winter than in the nice weather as we are outside so much.
Today it is sunny and windy here. It is in the 60's probably but the wind is cold. I am still having those darn headaches so don't know if it is due to the head injury or allergies now that I am back in this area.
I finally ate today and stayed away from beef. Man that just isn't setting with me anymore. I had a tuna sandwich at Jimmy Johns and it was actually pretty good. Never eaten there before. And, it was quick.
I think I mentioned I bought some apple pie moonshine so if anyone wants to try it let me know.
Have been embroidering on a pillowcase as we drove today. I got this set partially embroidered at a thrift store. Brand new, in fact the one that hasn't been touched is really stiff with sizing. Was going to give it to my sister but haven't done a nice enough job so guess I will just use it myself. I am getting a wool applique (small) project ready to do. A store lady talked me into trying one and it did look like fun. Then I got a small quilt all laid out that I got at the QOR action a couple years ago. The squares are all done and three rows were but I couldn't figure out her pattern so I took them apart, found a nice pattern in it and have it ready to sew up. I found a PERFECT fabric in Paducah to use for the borders. I also have a small Amish wall hanging ready to sew up and I plan on hand quilting that. Can't do anything though till I get home as my machine needs a tune up, bad. I have been giving it a workout.
We applied or are applying for a workkamper job in California near Santa Barbara at a nature center. If we get that I will have a nice winter to sit and quilt and work a little. Will let you know more how that goes.
All for today, lets pray this goes thru the first time and I don't need to redo it.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
4/29/15 Wed
Here I am composing another repeat post. I am having the worse time lately with these posts and not sure they are all getting posted. It would seem Firefox is my problem but we will see as this time I went thru internet explorer.
The first day of the Paducah quilt show we went down on Wed. We met the volunteer coordinator and learned more about the RSVP program. It is all over the US, 750 spots and it is a federal program to find volunteers to use in the country. So we plan on looking into it further to see if we can volunteer at other events we want to see.
We cased the town and the joint but didn't really look around. We looked up Ricky Tims as Leroy wanted to meet him also since he is now in his yearlong photography class. I have met him many times so we had a really nice visit and Leroy got his picture taken with him. I had the nicest chat with Justin and reminded him of my son Jeff and Dustin going to their apt in Denver one time to visit. So that was fun.
We looked around the town. We looked up Carol Byer Fallert's old house and studio she built. She sold it and it is now owned by another quilt person, I forgot her name, and she uses it for studios space and classes and such. I am not sure if she is a quilter or just an entrepreneur. Any how the place is gorgeous and I had to take pictures of it, outside of course. Saw the studio building partly but not the inside of the house.
The town is bigger than Oak Harbor and it is spread out for miles. It is a nice town with an old town section and some history. Its a town you could spend some days there as it is interesting from its history. Plus the young people said it really does rock in the downtown area on weekends.
It reminds me of Sturgis, S.D. anymore. Many business not in existence and names and purveyors of quilts and quilt goods move into town, take up the store fronts and sell their wares. Eleanor Burns has three places, only one of which is open year round. Quilt stores from other places set up shop and there are hundreds of vendors at the show. The quilt show is in a bubble type air building and a convention center. The bubble building is where the RSVP volunteers guarded the emerg exits so the building wouldn't deflate if someone opened the door. We found one little gal vendor in a deserted crummy building and she said she was selling out some stuff someone gave her. I got three garbage bags from her of jean scraps, all cut apart. I have been wanting some but she sold me the whole bundle for $5, that's cheaper than the thrift store. Nice pieces, clean, all cut well. I plan on using them for practicing some embroidery and then putting some together for a jean quilt for outside. So how to store them in an RV. I had a great idea, we bought some yards of heavy canvas from her for only another $5, made a dog bed to fit the car and stuffed them in there. Then plop into the car and Sallee has a bed to sleep on. It will get squishier as I use some but for now its ok. Pretty clever I thought.
Lets see, we went into an old brewery that was converted to a legal moonshine place. So I had different shots of moonshine till I found one I wanted to buy. Its my souvenir so if anyone wants to try it, come on over. I bought Apple Pie and it is pretty smooth. Wanted to try it as my grandpa was a moonshiner, as many were in those days and my mother told stories of her and her sisters being made to work at the still out in the woods.
We tried a couple eating places that were recommended by locals. One was at the Goldrush Café and they had some very interesting things on the menu. I had a mac/cheese 3 egg omelet with (believe it or not) bbq sauce. I have to say, it was pretty darn good. Leroy had some kind of doctored up meatloaf. We ate at the Shanty outside where we chatted with the waiters who were on break.
I worked Thurs afternoon and Fri am. 4 hours each. I never let myself just sit and read so I took a book that was a complication of 3 books and I got the whole thing read in the two days. Not only was it a good book but it was peaceful where I was sitting and relaxing. Since we got in free we went each day for all 4 days for shorter periods. We got free parking too, both of us got passes, got some bling, free food and drink, and it was really fun. They will call me again next year I am sure. The coordinator is a young gal all bubbly and enthusiastic for her job.
Sat was camper appreciation day at the park so in the am we went to watch an eagle nest which was really neat. Not so far us you couldn't see and you could get fairly close as they have nested their every year and seem not to be to disturbed. Then we went to a tree necklace class, mainly it was for kids. And we came back in the evening to go to their potluck they were hosting. That was a nice idea, we met all sorts of people.
Sun we hit a few more geocaches and Mon I went in and went to the Quilt Museum. That is one cool place. The quilts were unbelievable. A nice mixture of different kinds of quilts from modern to old, applique, pieced, landscape, miniatures, etc. The show was heavy on applique, and modern I think but the small art ones were where I really enjoyed myself. I do love traditional with a modern twist with color or something to make them a bit more innovative. They had some there. Definitely nothing I could ever do or even dream up. But it certainly was inspiring. I took lots of pictures and I put them in my folder of quilt shows and just flip thru them when I want inspiration.
Tues we went down the Land between the Lakes. There is one huge lake that is kinda U shaped and there is a long peninsula in between the two lakes. About the size of Whidbey from what I can tell.
The federal government owns that and it is so beautiful and peaceful. There is a buffalo preserve, and a nature center and an 1880's working farm, gobs of wonderful campgrounds. I hope to go there again as it is loaded with trails and bike trails, and back country spots. A beautiful piece of land for the people to enjoy. Some of it is even in Tennessee. That was a long day but pretty darn good.
We ate at Patties 180's settlement restaurant and the bread was to drool for and I had steak and I brought, we both brought home left overs. I had steak the nite before also and after two nites of it I have realized that I can't eat much beef anymore. I haven't eaten beef since I got sick in Feb and it is just to heavy for me. So guess I will stick to chicken and fish. I was or have been sick since I ate it. I haven't eaten hamburgers even, ME, can you believe that?
This morning we started out again on the road. We didn't get out of there early even tho we were up early as we spent lots of time visiting with our neighbors of the last 2 weeks. Just the nicest couple, we had so much fun with them.
So here we are only about 150+ miles down the road in Illinois. I had a headache, Leroy was tired, so we stopped and decided to veg out. We are at another great State Park in Illinois that is really really huge but barely anyone here. We are by the lake. Lake Rend.
Think I got most of it down for anyone who wants to read plus for me to look at later.
The first day of the Paducah quilt show we went down on Wed. We met the volunteer coordinator and learned more about the RSVP program. It is all over the US, 750 spots and it is a federal program to find volunteers to use in the country. So we plan on looking into it further to see if we can volunteer at other events we want to see.
We cased the town and the joint but didn't really look around. We looked up Ricky Tims as Leroy wanted to meet him also since he is now in his yearlong photography class. I have met him many times so we had a really nice visit and Leroy got his picture taken with him. I had the nicest chat with Justin and reminded him of my son Jeff and Dustin going to their apt in Denver one time to visit. So that was fun.
We looked around the town. We looked up Carol Byer Fallert's old house and studio she built. She sold it and it is now owned by another quilt person, I forgot her name, and she uses it for studios space and classes and such. I am not sure if she is a quilter or just an entrepreneur. Any how the place is gorgeous and I had to take pictures of it, outside of course. Saw the studio building partly but not the inside of the house.
The town is bigger than Oak Harbor and it is spread out for miles. It is a nice town with an old town section and some history. Its a town you could spend some days there as it is interesting from its history. Plus the young people said it really does rock in the downtown area on weekends.
It reminds me of Sturgis, S.D. anymore. Many business not in existence and names and purveyors of quilts and quilt goods move into town, take up the store fronts and sell their wares. Eleanor Burns has three places, only one of which is open year round. Quilt stores from other places set up shop and there are hundreds of vendors at the show. The quilt show is in a bubble type air building and a convention center. The bubble building is where the RSVP volunteers guarded the emerg exits so the building wouldn't deflate if someone opened the door. We found one little gal vendor in a deserted crummy building and she said she was selling out some stuff someone gave her. I got three garbage bags from her of jean scraps, all cut apart. I have been wanting some but she sold me the whole bundle for $5, that's cheaper than the thrift store. Nice pieces, clean, all cut well. I plan on using them for practicing some embroidery and then putting some together for a jean quilt for outside. So how to store them in an RV. I had a great idea, we bought some yards of heavy canvas from her for only another $5, made a dog bed to fit the car and stuffed them in there. Then plop into the car and Sallee has a bed to sleep on. It will get squishier as I use some but for now its ok. Pretty clever I thought.
Lets see, we went into an old brewery that was converted to a legal moonshine place. So I had different shots of moonshine till I found one I wanted to buy. Its my souvenir so if anyone wants to try it, come on over. I bought Apple Pie and it is pretty smooth. Wanted to try it as my grandpa was a moonshiner, as many were in those days and my mother told stories of her and her sisters being made to work at the still out in the woods.
We tried a couple eating places that were recommended by locals. One was at the Goldrush Café and they had some very interesting things on the menu. I had a mac/cheese 3 egg omelet with (believe it or not) bbq sauce. I have to say, it was pretty darn good. Leroy had some kind of doctored up meatloaf. We ate at the Shanty outside where we chatted with the waiters who were on break.
I worked Thurs afternoon and Fri am. 4 hours each. I never let myself just sit and read so I took a book that was a complication of 3 books and I got the whole thing read in the two days. Not only was it a good book but it was peaceful where I was sitting and relaxing. Since we got in free we went each day for all 4 days for shorter periods. We got free parking too, both of us got passes, got some bling, free food and drink, and it was really fun. They will call me again next year I am sure. The coordinator is a young gal all bubbly and enthusiastic for her job.
Sat was camper appreciation day at the park so in the am we went to watch an eagle nest which was really neat. Not so far us you couldn't see and you could get fairly close as they have nested their every year and seem not to be to disturbed. Then we went to a tree necklace class, mainly it was for kids. And we came back in the evening to go to their potluck they were hosting. That was a nice idea, we met all sorts of people.
Sun we hit a few more geocaches and Mon I went in and went to the Quilt Museum. That is one cool place. The quilts were unbelievable. A nice mixture of different kinds of quilts from modern to old, applique, pieced, landscape, miniatures, etc. The show was heavy on applique, and modern I think but the small art ones were where I really enjoyed myself. I do love traditional with a modern twist with color or something to make them a bit more innovative. They had some there. Definitely nothing I could ever do or even dream up. But it certainly was inspiring. I took lots of pictures and I put them in my folder of quilt shows and just flip thru them when I want inspiration.
Tues we went down the Land between the Lakes. There is one huge lake that is kinda U shaped and there is a long peninsula in between the two lakes. About the size of Whidbey from what I can tell.
The federal government owns that and it is so beautiful and peaceful. There is a buffalo preserve, and a nature center and an 1880's working farm, gobs of wonderful campgrounds. I hope to go there again as it is loaded with trails and bike trails, and back country spots. A beautiful piece of land for the people to enjoy. Some of it is even in Tennessee. That was a long day but pretty darn good.
We ate at Patties 180's settlement restaurant and the bread was to drool for and I had steak and I brought, we both brought home left overs. I had steak the nite before also and after two nites of it I have realized that I can't eat much beef anymore. I haven't eaten beef since I got sick in Feb and it is just to heavy for me. So guess I will stick to chicken and fish. I was or have been sick since I ate it. I haven't eaten hamburgers even, ME, can you believe that?
This morning we started out again on the road. We didn't get out of there early even tho we were up early as we spent lots of time visiting with our neighbors of the last 2 weeks. Just the nicest couple, we had so much fun with them.
So here we are only about 150+ miles down the road in Illinois. I had a headache, Leroy was tired, so we stopped and decided to veg out. We are at another great State Park in Illinois that is really really huge but barely anyone here. We are by the lake. Lake Rend.
Think I got most of it down for anyone who wants to read plus for me to look at later.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
4/19/15 Sun
You would not believe that I just lost a long post that I had written that was actually not bad. Well this one won't be. This has happened more than once and it really pisses me off. So her we go.
I have been busy. I have met some interesting people. I met a gal here at the park. They are a family that is going around the country interviewing children who are trying to change the world and making a documentary. They call it Journey to a generation of generosity I think it was. So watch for it. They are in their 9th month.
I met a guy down the street who was cleaning turkey feathers. He had gotten them from a couple of guys that had just caught themselves a couple. They are all over down here. After some stories he gladly gave me some feathers for Leroy's fly tying projects. Today he stopped me on the street and I got to hear many stories from the Vietnam war. Luckily I understood what he was saying from Leroy's history and stories. I enjoyed the stories but man it took a long time.
We had a couple move in today and they have the cutest white English Bulldog, Izzy. We got a heck of a charge out of her. She is a quilter who has been quilting for about 4 years.
Today Leroy and I went out looking for a geocache. It was at the marina and it took a bit of climbing and such to get it but we found it. That is always fun and we haven't done it for a long time. So I enjoyed that. Hope to start doing it more. Now instead of having a hand held unit you can find it on your phone and then you don't need to look it up at home on your computer before you went out.
Last nite or rather yest afternoon I went out geocaching by myself with the dogs. Well that in itself was a joke. Those two were such pains, wouldn't mind, kept getting tangled up, catching their leashes on the rocks and getting stuck. They were a pain. It was down by the lake and I was trying to climb around on the rocks and find the geocache. I managed to take a head first fall, so I have a skinned up forehead, and a skinned knee. As I was picking myself up a lady came up on a bike and started helping me. She was more agile on the rocks than I. We got talking and found out we were next door neighbors at the park. She was from up in Wisc. in a place we know well. They left today or she would have been glad to help me today. We never did find it as it got so late and so dark we had to go back, so she pushed her bike and walked home with the dogs and I. We just had a really good few hours.
Leroy is still sick but states he is getting better. Slowly but at least he was up most of today. So we did run into Paducah but only for groceries on Fri. Plan to go tomorrow to case the joint.
Today I went to Cowboy Church. It was quite the experience. Its an offshoot I guess from a Baptist church but its pretty straight forward bible teaching with country music gospel/bluegrass band. No frills, just church like it was a long time ago. It comes from the days of the old west. Anyway, Leroy didn't go, just me and I had a nice time. Glad I went. Would go again.
Oh I met another neighbor who does single shot shooting competitions. He had one this weekend and he said he did well. That was interesting. Its like stagecoach shooting. So I learned about guns too this weekend.
Well all for now and lets hope this thing will post.
I have been busy. I have met some interesting people. I met a gal here at the park. They are a family that is going around the country interviewing children who are trying to change the world and making a documentary. They call it Journey to a generation of generosity I think it was. So watch for it. They are in their 9th month.
I met a guy down the street who was cleaning turkey feathers. He had gotten them from a couple of guys that had just caught themselves a couple. They are all over down here. After some stories he gladly gave me some feathers for Leroy's fly tying projects. Today he stopped me on the street and I got to hear many stories from the Vietnam war. Luckily I understood what he was saying from Leroy's history and stories. I enjoyed the stories but man it took a long time.
We had a couple move in today and they have the cutest white English Bulldog, Izzy. We got a heck of a charge out of her. She is a quilter who has been quilting for about 4 years.
Today Leroy and I went out looking for a geocache. It was at the marina and it took a bit of climbing and such to get it but we found it. That is always fun and we haven't done it for a long time. So I enjoyed that. Hope to start doing it more. Now instead of having a hand held unit you can find it on your phone and then you don't need to look it up at home on your computer before you went out.
Last nite or rather yest afternoon I went out geocaching by myself with the dogs. Well that in itself was a joke. Those two were such pains, wouldn't mind, kept getting tangled up, catching their leashes on the rocks and getting stuck. They were a pain. It was down by the lake and I was trying to climb around on the rocks and find the geocache. I managed to take a head first fall, so I have a skinned up forehead, and a skinned knee. As I was picking myself up a lady came up on a bike and started helping me. She was more agile on the rocks than I. We got talking and found out we were next door neighbors at the park. She was from up in Wisc. in a place we know well. They left today or she would have been glad to help me today. We never did find it as it got so late and so dark we had to go back, so she pushed her bike and walked home with the dogs and I. We just had a really good few hours.
Leroy is still sick but states he is getting better. Slowly but at least he was up most of today. So we did run into Paducah but only for groceries on Fri. Plan to go tomorrow to case the joint.
Today I went to Cowboy Church. It was quite the experience. Its an offshoot I guess from a Baptist church but its pretty straight forward bible teaching with country music gospel/bluegrass band. No frills, just church like it was a long time ago. It comes from the days of the old west. Anyway, Leroy didn't go, just me and I had a nice time. Glad I went. Would go again.
Oh I met another neighbor who does single shot shooting competitions. He had one this weekend and he said he did well. That was interesting. Its like stagecoach shooting. So I learned about guns too this weekend.
Well all for now and lets hope this thing will post.
Friday, April 17, 2015
4/17/15 Fri
Well, here we are at a campground outside of Paducah about 25 miles. Its called the Kentucky Dam State Park. We have been hitting state parks as they are cheaper, you get a senior discount and this week is camper appreciation week so for every weekday you stay you get one day free.. Then they screwed up our site reservation (just one girl) and the supervisor is returning $50 for our inconvenience, which makes this camp site not quite $9/day. Not bad. You don't get sewer but you do get 50 amp elec. which we need with this coach and they have a dump site so what the hell. The two of us can go almost one week with out dumping just with normal life. So anything to save costs. Last year we spent to much money in learning our life but this year we are smarter and are much smarter. This is a life that gets easier and better as you go longer. You don't get the hang of it right away.
Leroy is sick. He had the fever and chills the other day and since then he hasn't felt good tho I can't get out of him an specific symptoms. Says his head feels fuzzy, he is dizzy, fatigued and aches all over. Probably the flue. He isn't drinking so if he could get that on board he would feel better I am sure. He isn't nauseated but says his stomach feels queasy. Hope it ends soon.
We have warm weather, not as many bugs as Mississippi, humidity but not as bad as the real southern states, and in the 70-80's with little cooling at nite. Typical middle America weather, which we are used to. Everywhere has had more rain than their usual.
Weather is changing all over the country. So one never knows now where the best area will be. Just as I have always said. There is going to be weather whether or not so take what comes and be glad you are here.
We are near train tracks it seems, closer in sound than distance. As I think I have mentioned we really like train sounds and it doesn't bother us. We never have lived very far from train tracks. Even in our place on whidbey we could hear them regularly on the other side of the water.
I keep thinking of things I have forgotten to write about, whether its for you or my log for myself. The only reason this isn't a journal in word is because a family member or friend might want to read it and I can't send individual letters to everyone. My arms/hands can't take that much typing or writing.
I keep forgetting to tell you Diesel is meeting lots of chihuahuas. Many it seems are babies. He loves little ones his size and he seems to know they look alike. In the last couple of days he met a beautiful little long haired girl, and I think he fell in love. She was 4 mo old. Maybe he felt more fatherly towards her. She was darling. Could have grabbed her and run easily and not looked back.
When we were on the Natchez Trace Pkwy driving, we went off for a short jaunt to a Kentucky Arts Center. Big building with so much stuff there from local artisans. Some beautiful things. Had some very basic quilts that were superbly made, but very straightword basic patterns. I do hope we can see some artisans while we are here but a lot of that kind of stuff is over in the eastern part of Kentucky.
I think I also forgot to tell you about in Texas at the park we got locked out of the RV. We both were on walks with our dogs and not together. We both finally got back at the same time and blamed the other one for locking it, well it was a total accident. While we were standing around deciding what to do we went over to talk to this young man who was visiting with some one near his long closed trailer. A big long enclosed white trailer with an obvious sleeping quarters at the front.
I ran over to him cause i wanted to ask what as in the trailer, I figured some kind of race car. Well, he took us in, it was a formula one style race car that he had just picked up. He has three others. We had the best conversation and look at the car. Nice kid. The we went home and proceeded to try and break in. We found an open window we could get open but Leroy would not allow me to go thru and he was to big. Low and behold, that kid came over, and two other young men from other spots all willing to help. Our little formula one kid slid in and came back out the door. They were all nice young men. There is a perk to getting old, you see how nice younger people can be and it helps block out all the horses assess in the world. It never ceases to amaze me how kind and generous and helpful younger people are to me and to us. I love it and we certainly don't deserve it but still they do.
I hope to look up the volunteer lady this week and get my passes for the show and get ready for that.
I also hope to get some hiking and biking in. This place is huge so shouldn't have problems with that.
I also hope to get down to the Land Between the Lakes. It is just a couple miles from here. It is a huge patch of land between two lakes that are long and skinny with this large patch of land between them. They are also connected at one end with water and bridges so it really is one lake. Anyhow the land is considered a preserve so there is massive amounts of trails and things to see there, nature things.
Leroy is sick. He had the fever and chills the other day and since then he hasn't felt good tho I can't get out of him an specific symptoms. Says his head feels fuzzy, he is dizzy, fatigued and aches all over. Probably the flue. He isn't drinking so if he could get that on board he would feel better I am sure. He isn't nauseated but says his stomach feels queasy. Hope it ends soon.
We have warm weather, not as many bugs as Mississippi, humidity but not as bad as the real southern states, and in the 70-80's with little cooling at nite. Typical middle America weather, which we are used to. Everywhere has had more rain than their usual.
Weather is changing all over the country. So one never knows now where the best area will be. Just as I have always said. There is going to be weather whether or not so take what comes and be glad you are here.
We are near train tracks it seems, closer in sound than distance. As I think I have mentioned we really like train sounds and it doesn't bother us. We never have lived very far from train tracks. Even in our place on whidbey we could hear them regularly on the other side of the water.
I keep thinking of things I have forgotten to write about, whether its for you or my log for myself. The only reason this isn't a journal in word is because a family member or friend might want to read it and I can't send individual letters to everyone. My arms/hands can't take that much typing or writing.
I keep forgetting to tell you Diesel is meeting lots of chihuahuas. Many it seems are babies. He loves little ones his size and he seems to know they look alike. In the last couple of days he met a beautiful little long haired girl, and I think he fell in love. She was 4 mo old. Maybe he felt more fatherly towards her. She was darling. Could have grabbed her and run easily and not looked back.
When we were on the Natchez Trace Pkwy driving, we went off for a short jaunt to a Kentucky Arts Center. Big building with so much stuff there from local artisans. Some beautiful things. Had some very basic quilts that were superbly made, but very straightword basic patterns. I do hope we can see some artisans while we are here but a lot of that kind of stuff is over in the eastern part of Kentucky.
I think I also forgot to tell you about in Texas at the park we got locked out of the RV. We both were on walks with our dogs and not together. We both finally got back at the same time and blamed the other one for locking it, well it was a total accident. While we were standing around deciding what to do we went over to talk to this young man who was visiting with some one near his long closed trailer. A big long enclosed white trailer with an obvious sleeping quarters at the front.
I ran over to him cause i wanted to ask what as in the trailer, I figured some kind of race car. Well, he took us in, it was a formula one style race car that he had just picked up. He has three others. We had the best conversation and look at the car. Nice kid. The we went home and proceeded to try and break in. We found an open window we could get open but Leroy would not allow me to go thru and he was to big. Low and behold, that kid came over, and two other young men from other spots all willing to help. Our little formula one kid slid in and came back out the door. They were all nice young men. There is a perk to getting old, you see how nice younger people can be and it helps block out all the horses assess in the world. It never ceases to amaze me how kind and generous and helpful younger people are to me and to us. I love it and we certainly don't deserve it but still they do.
I hope to look up the volunteer lady this week and get my passes for the show and get ready for that.
I also hope to get some hiking and biking in. This place is huge so shouldn't have problems with that.
I also hope to get down to the Land Between the Lakes. It is just a couple miles from here. It is a huge patch of land between two lakes that are long and skinny with this large patch of land between them. They are also connected at one end with water and bridges so it really is one lake. Anyhow the land is considered a preserve so there is massive amounts of trails and things to see there, nature things.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
4/11/15 SAT
I can not believe this but I had this huge long post and I must have accidentally hit something and it got lost. I am so mad as I can not completely redo it, so the first draft was good, this one won't be.
We are in Lebanon TN as the Cedars of Lebanon State Park. We will be here thru Tues it seems at this point. Then we will either head to Paducha or Memphis on way to Paducha.
We hated MS weather and will cross that off our state of places to live. It was hot (which we can tolerate) but the humidity is too much like MN, a bit worse. We were dying some days. Nice people and nice state, very pretty but too many BUGS.
I met some nice people. I met a lady at a quilt store out in the country that sold a small selection of fabric, selling a selection of a friends material who died, but she does hand quilting. I got an impromptu class in hand quilting. Gave me just the info I needed. It was hands on learning. I loved it. I got in the camper and took out the project I was working on and Man oh man can you see the difference from pre and post classes. So much easier and so fun. Easy to do as we travel as its not so small, not so intricate, and I can look around while I am doing it. So happy I am.
I met a lady at a quilt store after I checked out and she gave me a HAPPY for stopping and shopping. Its a small metal tin sewing kit with a woven thread thing to use for thread,scissors, tape measure and many other things. Just the stuff I needed to use for my hand work up front. I love it.
We have traveled to Nashville (which is where we are only a little ways out of) on the Natchez Trace Pkwy. It is one of those national treasure things you should see. It is a beautiful place to drive, very calming, nice road, with a million historic stops. Very interesting. It is where the soldiers walked to the south or some to the north and home again after the civil war. You really get an idea of what it was like in the civil war days if you use your imagination and try to picture the spots in your mind.
We stopped at Kowcichen , or something like that,and had the nicest visit with the ladies there at the visitors bureau. They told us the history of the town and it was named after a polish famous engineer who did many of the big things between the east and south, like bridges and etc. His name was Kowcizhen but they changed the name of the town. Probably because it is easier to say.
We took a walk in a spot with wildflowers, and man there was probably a dozen varieties. All these spots of blue and purple and white and gold. In blanket waves. They are so delicate and small some of them but they make an impact when they spread over an area. So beautiful. Loved it.
We went thru a swamp area with all these Cypress and another one I can't remember the name of growing out of this water. Gators and snakes in there. It is so very impressive. I even found a huge snake in a hole that Iris decided to look at. It was sleeping and woke up but wasn't upset with us. We left him alone. We saw lizards and birds and water snakes, it was impressive. Iris has continued to fuel her thrill of lizards and goes down the trail watching for them with tail held high and wagging away.
Diesel saw another little dash ornament at one of the stops and they were able to bark at each other. It was kinda funny. It was a little Russell type of terrier.
I am enjoying these vignettes of people and things and the flavor of the country. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Its so amazing. I use that word alot, but I can't imagine what else to say. I guess I need to learn some more adjectives.
We are outside of Nashville but won't go in till Mon. We went last nite to case the joint but there is a NRA convention in town and it is packed and noisy and places are blocked off for them and etc. Lots of construction going on in town. So we decided to wait till Mon and then enjoy it.
Today the weather is beautiful, in the 70's, and so Leroy took the dogs for a walk while I went to the stables here in the park and went for a trail ride. It was so cool to be on a horse again. I came in and since I got there before Leroy to pick me up I spent my time grooming a mule in the barn. I hope to get down there again and do some grooming and enjoying the horses as just being with them is a thrill for me. Then we ran to walmart and got my meds, and to the pet store to get food, and home to sit outside. While there a ball rolled in from some kids and soon we were besieged with kids. Diesel almost had a heart attack, Sallee was just nervous but Iris put up with all the around the belly hugs.
Yest we stopped at a really nice park in Nashville and the dogs or at least Iris got to go to the dog park and the others walked with dad. Iris can not make friends. She barks to much so she just runs around and sniffs and hangs around me. She doesn't dislike other dogs she just doesn't know how to communicate with them.
We had a huge but very short rain storm here the first nite but last nite and these few days have been warm and dry and perfect. No humidity, I mean just driving away from MS made a difference. I would like to go down by the gulf there someday but not inland.
We meet many people on the road. Many are living this life and we do not seem strange to them. Many older people live in their RVs even just in the parks as they can't afford anything else on SS, and some young people do it to save money till they save up enough to buy land before they have children. We did meet one couple with 5 children who live in a smaller than our RV and home school the kids. Nice family tho.
We saw the baby that I made the quilt for. So cute, very perfect looking. I am glad to see that before we left.
We will head towards Paducha after leaving here, maybe via Memphis. Then we will head to MN as my niece Heidi is ill. Then cut it short and head to WA to be there in time for MD appts., cleaning out the storage, seeing a few friends and hopefully get out of there in 3-4 weeks time or less. I am having trouble with my stimulator and my left knee so we will see what that brings. If we are there the first part of July I will head to Argus for the UKC classic and down thru Sisters for the quilt show but all of that is to be decided yet. We plan as we go.
I guess that is all for now and should end before i lose this again. Its a bitch writing it twice.
We are in Lebanon TN as the Cedars of Lebanon State Park. We will be here thru Tues it seems at this point. Then we will either head to Paducha or Memphis on way to Paducha.
We hated MS weather and will cross that off our state of places to live. It was hot (which we can tolerate) but the humidity is too much like MN, a bit worse. We were dying some days. Nice people and nice state, very pretty but too many BUGS.
I met some nice people. I met a lady at a quilt store out in the country that sold a small selection of fabric, selling a selection of a friends material who died, but she does hand quilting. I got an impromptu class in hand quilting. Gave me just the info I needed. It was hands on learning. I loved it. I got in the camper and took out the project I was working on and Man oh man can you see the difference from pre and post classes. So much easier and so fun. Easy to do as we travel as its not so small, not so intricate, and I can look around while I am doing it. So happy I am.
I met a lady at a quilt store after I checked out and she gave me a HAPPY for stopping and shopping. Its a small metal tin sewing kit with a woven thread thing to use for thread,scissors, tape measure and many other things. Just the stuff I needed to use for my hand work up front. I love it.
We have traveled to Nashville (which is where we are only a little ways out of) on the Natchez Trace Pkwy. It is one of those national treasure things you should see. It is a beautiful place to drive, very calming, nice road, with a million historic stops. Very interesting. It is where the soldiers walked to the south or some to the north and home again after the civil war. You really get an idea of what it was like in the civil war days if you use your imagination and try to picture the spots in your mind.
We stopped at Kowcichen , or something like that,and had the nicest visit with the ladies there at the visitors bureau. They told us the history of the town and it was named after a polish famous engineer who did many of the big things between the east and south, like bridges and etc. His name was Kowcizhen but they changed the name of the town. Probably because it is easier to say.
We took a walk in a spot with wildflowers, and man there was probably a dozen varieties. All these spots of blue and purple and white and gold. In blanket waves. They are so delicate and small some of them but they make an impact when they spread over an area. So beautiful. Loved it.
We went thru a swamp area with all these Cypress and another one I can't remember the name of growing out of this water. Gators and snakes in there. It is so very impressive. I even found a huge snake in a hole that Iris decided to look at. It was sleeping and woke up but wasn't upset with us. We left him alone. We saw lizards and birds and water snakes, it was impressive. Iris has continued to fuel her thrill of lizards and goes down the trail watching for them with tail held high and wagging away.
Diesel saw another little dash ornament at one of the stops and they were able to bark at each other. It was kinda funny. It was a little Russell type of terrier.
I am enjoying these vignettes of people and things and the flavor of the country. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Its so amazing. I use that word alot, but I can't imagine what else to say. I guess I need to learn some more adjectives.
We are outside of Nashville but won't go in till Mon. We went last nite to case the joint but there is a NRA convention in town and it is packed and noisy and places are blocked off for them and etc. Lots of construction going on in town. So we decided to wait till Mon and then enjoy it.
Today the weather is beautiful, in the 70's, and so Leroy took the dogs for a walk while I went to the stables here in the park and went for a trail ride. It was so cool to be on a horse again. I came in and since I got there before Leroy to pick me up I spent my time grooming a mule in the barn. I hope to get down there again and do some grooming and enjoying the horses as just being with them is a thrill for me. Then we ran to walmart and got my meds, and to the pet store to get food, and home to sit outside. While there a ball rolled in from some kids and soon we were besieged with kids. Diesel almost had a heart attack, Sallee was just nervous but Iris put up with all the around the belly hugs.
Yest we stopped at a really nice park in Nashville and the dogs or at least Iris got to go to the dog park and the others walked with dad. Iris can not make friends. She barks to much so she just runs around and sniffs and hangs around me. She doesn't dislike other dogs she just doesn't know how to communicate with them.
We had a huge but very short rain storm here the first nite but last nite and these few days have been warm and dry and perfect. No humidity, I mean just driving away from MS made a difference. I would like to go down by the gulf there someday but not inland.
We meet many people on the road. Many are living this life and we do not seem strange to them. Many older people live in their RVs even just in the parks as they can't afford anything else on SS, and some young people do it to save money till they save up enough to buy land before they have children. We did meet one couple with 5 children who live in a smaller than our RV and home school the kids. Nice family tho.
We saw the baby that I made the quilt for. So cute, very perfect looking. I am glad to see that before we left.
We will head towards Paducha after leaving here, maybe via Memphis. Then we will head to MN as my niece Heidi is ill. Then cut it short and head to WA to be there in time for MD appts., cleaning out the storage, seeing a few friends and hopefully get out of there in 3-4 weeks time or less. I am having trouble with my stimulator and my left knee so we will see what that brings. If we are there the first part of July I will head to Argus for the UKC classic and down thru Sisters for the quilt show but all of that is to be decided yet. We plan as we go.
I guess that is all for now and should end before i lose this again. Its a bitch writing it twice.
Monday, April 6, 2015
4/6/15 Mon
I know where my days are going, I keep thinking it is 5th month. Good grief. I was just thinking today, when did I wake up and found I was old. It seems that I was me and then one day I awoke and I was old. I didn't feel it happening. But its like now I realize I am, tho inside I feel like I am in my 30's. How does the rest of the world deal with this. Wish my mom was around so I could talk with her about it. She would have some insightful thing to say I am sure. I don't know if the other girls had times like that with mom but she gave me some insightful thoughts and was there for some good conversations at times. She may have lacked a lot as a mother but she did the best she could with the skills and experience she had. Each one of kids had a different experience with her as we were farther apart in age and her life was different. Bonnie came along when she was young and she first married Dad. Kathy came along when things were bad but Glenn was around for her. I came along during that time but stayed as an adult with her cause I couldn't bear the fact of leaving her alone. Then I became the old maid who didn't date and we became friends and I was the typical kid who stays at home. I saw a different side of her than the other two did and they saw different things than I did. I couldn't bear leaving her, we were too close, but still I resented being the old maid stuck at home. Leroy entered my life and after God gave us a second chance, I left home with terrible pain of ripping myself away. So life was hard to adjust to but I have. I have now been a Fors longer than I was a Pembleton. I realize that this year is 50 years from high school graduation and 37 years since I left college. I have left time left than I have behind me. All my dreams and hopes are probably unachievable now. But......... I still have things I want to do. I still want to lose weight and get my body back in some shape. I don't want to be a fat old lady who waddles around and people ignore. I want to be active and full of life and looking like I still have some spunk. I still want to do things and experience things and make the most out of the time I have left. I am not willing to sit and wait for it to come.
But my new knees get stiff and I eat to much and sit to much and totally become my own worse enemy. I wonder what is ahead in my future. Oh if we only could see, but maybe that would take out the adventure and the suspense and maybe the chance at happiness if we knew. We don't like to think about the pain or heartache that we might have to face, we want life easy and perfect and no problems. But it ain't so, don't happen that way. Life has ups and downs and we need to go over them like when we were young and in a car and over the hill fast and the butterfly's in your tummy when you flew oer the hill. You may have been going down hill but what a ride. Going up hill is like my driving my old ford up the mountain. Too steep and on a narrow road and a straight stick. Too many peddles and not enough feet, thank Goodness I had a friend to help me. Or when my old buddy from high school was teaching me to drive and I would get to the top of the hill and would stop because i couldn't see the road and he had to teach me to trust the road was there. Life is kinda like all that. Ups and downs and never knowing whats ahead.
Well aren't I philosophical tonight aren't I?
Tonight We are in Delphi LA at the Poverty Point State Park. I don't know what it will cost but it may be free for senior citizens. If it is that or cheap we may stay another nite. It is so well kept, the grass mowed, the sites large, lots of trails, not busy. You get here and you just go whew, its so great.
We left Shreveport this am after I had to wash some dog bedding and Leroy washed a small dog. Iris puked on the comforter on the bed and diesel had an accident in his bed cause Leroy wouldn't take him out when he woke up. So after that we hit the road. But had to find a quilt store in Minden that ended up being a long way out of the way on country roads, narrow country roads, and a confusing different way back. Anyhow, Leroy didn't seem to mind and then we were on our way to Rusten where we went to another quilt store. That was fun. It was run by the sweetest little southern lady. I got the piece I went in for, then as I walked out I found two pieces that were the complement pieces to another I had bought.Then I admired another quilt as I am leaving and Leroy comes in. She ends up talking him into it so I have to buy the layer cake that makes it. Good grief. She also almost sold me a small machine to take to classes. So anyhow we really got a taste of the people in that town. I walked across and down the street with another lady who talked and talked, nice lady. So then we stopped next door at the Sundown Bar and had a sandwich. I had a patty melt and didn't like the cheese on it, but the homemade french fries were delicious. Leroy had a meatball sandwich with onion rings. I tasted one of the onion rings, wow. He said the meatball po-boy was delicious. After that we went out of town so I could stop at a coffee place they suggested, and get a coffee and some beignets. That sounds like ben yays but its the Louisiana state donut. They are so good and its the first I had a chance to have them here. They are like a big puffy square with air inside that tastes something like fry bread and its rolled in powdered sugar. These today were tougher than I have tasted in New Orleans, those just melted in your mouth. we had to hit the road so we missed the other two quilt shops i wanted to go to because it was to late in the day. Oh well, there are others.
So we sat outside tonight until the good old Midwestern mosquitoes drove us in. We will decide tomorrow what we should do next.
Oh this morning the funniest thing happened. I came back to the camper and Leroy wasn't inside. I came in and saw some sprigs of paper on the floor but thought I had just missed them when I cleaned up. I started down the hall and all of a sudden a fluttering behind me and a little bird landed on my shoulder. My little fellow got himself out of his cage and was having a nice time out. With the dogs I must mention. The one door had not been closed correctly and that little stinker is a real Houdini and he got himself out. WE have to be really careful. Its his third or fourth time of doing that, little shit. I had almost left the RV door open too, so the chances for it to have been worse could have been so much worse.
We didn't make it to church Sun to our distress. We couldn't find the church we were looking for in time. So since it rained all day, hard at times we went to the casino to eat and then spent the day at home just hanging out, and reading and etc. Sat we went to a quilt store and looked around a bit. We went on a long walk as Shreveport/Bossier have a long trails on both of the river. It was a really nice walk. We went about 3 miles, and poor diesel couldn't handle it all so I took my shirt and we made a sling and he rode the rest of the way home.
Well those of you that are reading this are most likely bored to death. Oh well, no one is forcing you.
But my new knees get stiff and I eat to much and sit to much and totally become my own worse enemy. I wonder what is ahead in my future. Oh if we only could see, but maybe that would take out the adventure and the suspense and maybe the chance at happiness if we knew. We don't like to think about the pain or heartache that we might have to face, we want life easy and perfect and no problems. But it ain't so, don't happen that way. Life has ups and downs and we need to go over them like when we were young and in a car and over the hill fast and the butterfly's in your tummy when you flew oer the hill. You may have been going down hill but what a ride. Going up hill is like my driving my old ford up the mountain. Too steep and on a narrow road and a straight stick. Too many peddles and not enough feet, thank Goodness I had a friend to help me. Or when my old buddy from high school was teaching me to drive and I would get to the top of the hill and would stop because i couldn't see the road and he had to teach me to trust the road was there. Life is kinda like all that. Ups and downs and never knowing whats ahead.
Well aren't I philosophical tonight aren't I?
Tonight We are in Delphi LA at the Poverty Point State Park. I don't know what it will cost but it may be free for senior citizens. If it is that or cheap we may stay another nite. It is so well kept, the grass mowed, the sites large, lots of trails, not busy. You get here and you just go whew, its so great.
We left Shreveport this am after I had to wash some dog bedding and Leroy washed a small dog. Iris puked on the comforter on the bed and diesel had an accident in his bed cause Leroy wouldn't take him out when he woke up. So after that we hit the road. But had to find a quilt store in Minden that ended up being a long way out of the way on country roads, narrow country roads, and a confusing different way back. Anyhow, Leroy didn't seem to mind and then we were on our way to Rusten where we went to another quilt store. That was fun. It was run by the sweetest little southern lady. I got the piece I went in for, then as I walked out I found two pieces that were the complement pieces to another I had bought.Then I admired another quilt as I am leaving and Leroy comes in. She ends up talking him into it so I have to buy the layer cake that makes it. Good grief. She also almost sold me a small machine to take to classes. So anyhow we really got a taste of the people in that town. I walked across and down the street with another lady who talked and talked, nice lady. So then we stopped next door at the Sundown Bar and had a sandwich. I had a patty melt and didn't like the cheese on it, but the homemade french fries were delicious. Leroy had a meatball sandwich with onion rings. I tasted one of the onion rings, wow. He said the meatball po-boy was delicious. After that we went out of town so I could stop at a coffee place they suggested, and get a coffee and some beignets. That sounds like ben yays but its the Louisiana state donut. They are so good and its the first I had a chance to have them here. They are like a big puffy square with air inside that tastes something like fry bread and its rolled in powdered sugar. These today were tougher than I have tasted in New Orleans, those just melted in your mouth. we had to hit the road so we missed the other two quilt shops i wanted to go to because it was to late in the day. Oh well, there are others.
So we sat outside tonight until the good old Midwestern mosquitoes drove us in. We will decide tomorrow what we should do next.
Oh this morning the funniest thing happened. I came back to the camper and Leroy wasn't inside. I came in and saw some sprigs of paper on the floor but thought I had just missed them when I cleaned up. I started down the hall and all of a sudden a fluttering behind me and a little bird landed on my shoulder. My little fellow got himself out of his cage and was having a nice time out. With the dogs I must mention. The one door had not been closed correctly and that little stinker is a real Houdini and he got himself out. WE have to be really careful. Its his third or fourth time of doing that, little shit. I had almost left the RV door open too, so the chances for it to have been worse could have been so much worse.
We didn't make it to church Sun to our distress. We couldn't find the church we were looking for in time. So since it rained all day, hard at times we went to the casino to eat and then spent the day at home just hanging out, and reading and etc. Sat we went to a quilt store and looked around a bit. We went on a long walk as Shreveport/Bossier have a long trails on both of the river. It was a really nice walk. We went about 3 miles, and poor diesel couldn't handle it all so I took my shirt and we made a sling and he rode the rest of the way home.
Well those of you that are reading this are most likely bored to death. Oh well, no one is forcing you.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
4/2/15 thurs
The last post got the wrong date on it and I missed it so will go back and change it when I am in done.
The weather has been in the 80's all day. There is a breeze. We don't have windows open when we drive or air conditioning on so it gets stuffy in there. The minute we stop, we open windows and door and it cools down quickly. In the meantime we often just sit outside in the breeze, which is what we are doing now.
We are set up at Diamond Jacks Casino in Shreveport, LA. Its like the twin cities. One side of the river is Shreveport and one side is Bossier. We are on the Bossier side.
Casinos always have good food and often cheap. The lodging is cheap and like this one we have a big space with lots of grass. We are backed up to the river (the railroad too) but the trains have NEVER kept us awake as we have both lived separately and together by the tracks and its like sleeping pills to us. So doubt it will be a problem. One going by right now in fact, can you hear it?
Its over a bridge on the river so there isn't even any place for hobos to jump off. Not that that is as big as it was in my younger days. I plan on making my hobo quilt as I grew up with stories of the hobos coming thru the country side and the marks on the fence. My grandmother had signs on her fence as she was good and always fed them and gave them a place to sleep in the barn. The kids stayed out of the barn at nite just in case. So I grew up with first hand stories from mom telling about that. Not sure if my sisters remember them but I do as they fascinated me so when I was old enough I started reading stories about it. So I loved the hobo quilt book.
As I sit here I see two dead dogs in the grass, a dead one on Leroy's lap and a dead cat inside on the chair. The birds are having a heyday chirping and talking to the birds outside and with the river here it is very bird noisy. Probably drive our neighbors crazy but these two are not screechy. The twitter and whistle mostly and try to talk.
A couple quilt stores here I may check out and there is a casino on a river boat I want to go see. Not sure what else but we will mostly likely leave here Sat am. And then on down the road Hwy 20 to Jackson Miss. Hey, HWY 20 has lots of quit stores Donna.
The weather has been in the 80's all day. There is a breeze. We don't have windows open when we drive or air conditioning on so it gets stuffy in there. The minute we stop, we open windows and door and it cools down quickly. In the meantime we often just sit outside in the breeze, which is what we are doing now.
We are set up at Diamond Jacks Casino in Shreveport, LA. Its like the twin cities. One side of the river is Shreveport and one side is Bossier. We are on the Bossier side.
Casinos always have good food and often cheap. The lodging is cheap and like this one we have a big space with lots of grass. We are backed up to the river (the railroad too) but the trains have NEVER kept us awake as we have both lived separately and together by the tracks and its like sleeping pills to us. So doubt it will be a problem. One going by right now in fact, can you hear it?
Its over a bridge on the river so there isn't even any place for hobos to jump off. Not that that is as big as it was in my younger days. I plan on making my hobo quilt as I grew up with stories of the hobos coming thru the country side and the marks on the fence. My grandmother had signs on her fence as she was good and always fed them and gave them a place to sleep in the barn. The kids stayed out of the barn at nite just in case. So I grew up with first hand stories from mom telling about that. Not sure if my sisters remember them but I do as they fascinated me so when I was old enough I started reading stories about it. So I loved the hobo quilt book.
As I sit here I see two dead dogs in the grass, a dead one on Leroy's lap and a dead cat inside on the chair. The birds are having a heyday chirping and talking to the birds outside and with the river here it is very bird noisy. Probably drive our neighbors crazy but these two are not screechy. The twitter and whistle mostly and try to talk.
A couple quilt stores here I may check out and there is a casino on a river boat I want to go see. Not sure what else but we will mostly likely leave here Sat am. And then on down the road Hwy 20 to Jackson Miss. Hey, HWY 20 has lots of quit stores Donna.
4/2/15 Thurs
Well we are on the road again. We went from Sanger to Tyler Texas ST PK yest. The park was beautiful. Gobs of trails to walk but we only took a short one. We had a very short thunderstorm in the evening but it was after we grilled supper and took our walk so it worked out perfectly. Nice to go to sleep by. No TV, alas, but I read instead of watching my one or two favorite shows. I don't watch much anymore but I do love my favorites and they are all coming to a close till Oct so miss the endings. Oh well, maybe I can catch them on netflix or amazon.
I forgot to record. My little Ella, or Rosie Ella as we sometimes call her is going thru Spring Hormones. It's a bird thing. She decided to lay eggs and laid two. She becomes a force to be reconded when that happens. In her cage she is fierce and downright mean, outside she is loving and never leaves my side. So finally when I cleaned cages and she was out stretching her wings I took them out, cleaned her cage, gave her some other things to keep her busy and she was fine. For now that is. We may go thru it again before she is over it. It is hilarious to watch. With my sewing machine right there I got to watch the whole thing.
We just stopped for gas and I saw an old man(our age) and he had the most muscular body I have ever seen. A regular Jack La Lane. See some old men can't be sexy if they don't get pot bellies and work at it. Of course that is true for women too. Why as a society do we feel we can just let ourselves turn to shit as we get older and especially if we are married? Americans are LAZY!!!
We left Sanger yest. and it was like leaving home. The owner hugged me and said, are you OK, really. It was cute. We have a second home. They will never turn us away. We finally have a fall back plan. If all goes to shit for us we will just head back there and live there. At 300 (0r 325 if you want a tree :)) per month we couldn't live anywhere cheaper. Plus we have found a church home and friends near and close, a place to walk, a state park close. It would work out if needed. So we can relax as we have an alternative plan finally, tho not one we will plan on, just a fall back plan. Oh, and the alpacas there and we could work off some of our rent. And a big room to use when I need to sew big projects.
The weather has been in the 80's and a little muggy, not bad tho. And I am tolerating it pretty good. Actually better as each day goes. I can acclimate to hot temperatures. Who would have thought, eh?
I tried Lavender oil ,as a lady at the park suggested it, for the dogs and traveling. It really works folks so if anyone has trouble with dogs and car sickness or anxiety, it works. I love it. Have had some and used it for myself for sleep but didn't even think of it for the dogs.
Think that is the last of the news for these few days. Sometimes I remember things as I go along.
I forgot to record. My little Ella, or Rosie Ella as we sometimes call her is going thru Spring Hormones. It's a bird thing. She decided to lay eggs and laid two. She becomes a force to be reconded when that happens. In her cage she is fierce and downright mean, outside she is loving and never leaves my side. So finally when I cleaned cages and she was out stretching her wings I took them out, cleaned her cage, gave her some other things to keep her busy and she was fine. For now that is. We may go thru it again before she is over it. It is hilarious to watch. With my sewing machine right there I got to watch the whole thing.
We just stopped for gas and I saw an old man(our age) and he had the most muscular body I have ever seen. A regular Jack La Lane. See some old men can't be sexy if they don't get pot bellies and work at it. Of course that is true for women too. Why as a society do we feel we can just let ourselves turn to shit as we get older and especially if we are married? Americans are LAZY!!!
We left Sanger yest. and it was like leaving home. The owner hugged me and said, are you OK, really. It was cute. We have a second home. They will never turn us away. We finally have a fall back plan. If all goes to shit for us we will just head back there and live there. At 300 (0r 325 if you want a tree :)) per month we couldn't live anywhere cheaper. Plus we have found a church home and friends near and close, a place to walk, a state park close. It would work out if needed. So we can relax as we have an alternative plan finally, tho not one we will plan on, just a fall back plan. Oh, and the alpacas there and we could work off some of our rent. And a big room to use when I need to sew big projects.
The weather has been in the 80's and a little muggy, not bad tho. And I am tolerating it pretty good. Actually better as each day goes. I can acclimate to hot temperatures. Who would have thought, eh?
I tried Lavender oil ,as a lady at the park suggested it, for the dogs and traveling. It really works folks so if anyone has trouble with dogs and car sickness or anxiety, it works. I love it. Have had some and used it for myself for sleep but didn't even think of it for the dogs.
Think that is the last of the news for these few days. Sometimes I remember things as I go along.
Monday, March 30, 2015
3/30/15 Mon
Can you believe that March is almost done. Man I can't. Guess I have been living to much in the future and not enough in the moment, that is what makes the days longer. Usually I do well but evidently not these last couple months.
Well the weather has warmed up there. Mostly sunny but some days overcast. It has been in the high 70's and low 80's. Beautiful.
We did our horse show thing. We drove to Tyler on Sat and joined my friend Heather. She was the volunteer coordinator and she is the one who asked if we wanted to volunteer. It was at the Texas Horse Park and it is an unbelievable facility. Gorgeous. It was a three day event and there were three venues. We were there to work for the cross country event. Now the place has 17,000 acres. Some of that is in home tracts but the facility has capacity to board 700 horses, numerous barns and numerous arenas. It is beautiful. We were shuttled out to our spot. We got to work together and first we handled the pedestrian traffic. People are so dumb, they just walk right across the course. So we got to see lots of the jumps from there. Then they had a need covering the first and second jumps so we got that. Leroy managed the two way radio and I did the recording. We were outing a beautiful grassy field, in the sun or under a tree, with a warm breeze blowing. Sitting and watching beautiful horses. I mean, it was heaven. It was a long day. We worked from 11 to 7 . They gave us little cooler bags that were loaded with snacks and water and sandwich's and we got t-shirts. They took great care with their volunteers and were very appreciative. We hope to come thru and work at another of their shows at some time.
Leroy is in Denton today trying to get his brochures and cards and stuff for his new business printed. It is called Chipfix. Say a few prayers and wish us well.
Yest, my friend Lori, came over and went to church with us. After church they had a potluck and also considered it a farewell to us.. They got so attached to us they plan on having a party when we return too. They hugged us goodbye like they were saying good bye to immediate family. Don't know when we have ever felt so loved. Lori then stayed to visit awhile before she headed home. We have sure enjoyed our time with her and I have learned a lot about herding. We were at her house the other day and Leroy was working on some fix it project. I had told her that the little lamb she had bottle fed couldn't see very well or was blind. So to know for sure she took her to the vet the next day I was there. Sure enough she had congenital cataracts and there was no lite going thru at all.
Nothing can be done and so I think she will put her down one of these days. She raises herding sheep and teaches herding so she really isn't equipped to manage another special needs sheep. That is probably why Mom wouldn't accept it. They know. She is such a cute lamb I took lots of pictures.
I finished two more table toppers, one for myself, and one for the WCFO conference. Mine will be the southwestern one and the other is in the WCFO colors. I will try to post some pictures today.
We are packing up and getting ready to leave. We secured and cleaned cupboards the other day. WE had gotten sloppy with our dish rattles so we got everything back to shape so it won't rattle. I have cleaned up my sewing projects so can put the machine away today. It needs cleaning and servicing so will get that done while I am in Wash. Leroy has checked all fluids and filled all the tanks. So now just to wash clothes, and clean and we should be fine. Hope to get out of here early Wed. am. We will probably head for the coast for a few days. Feel like I am leaving home we have gotten so attached to these people and this place and town and church.
Well guess this is all for today.
Well the weather has warmed up there. Mostly sunny but some days overcast. It has been in the high 70's and low 80's. Beautiful.
We did our horse show thing. We drove to Tyler on Sat and joined my friend Heather. She was the volunteer coordinator and she is the one who asked if we wanted to volunteer. It was at the Texas Horse Park and it is an unbelievable facility. Gorgeous. It was a three day event and there were three venues. We were there to work for the cross country event. Now the place has 17,000 acres. Some of that is in home tracts but the facility has capacity to board 700 horses, numerous barns and numerous arenas. It is beautiful. We were shuttled out to our spot. We got to work together and first we handled the pedestrian traffic. People are so dumb, they just walk right across the course. So we got to see lots of the jumps from there. Then they had a need covering the first and second jumps so we got that. Leroy managed the two way radio and I did the recording. We were outing a beautiful grassy field, in the sun or under a tree, with a warm breeze blowing. Sitting and watching beautiful horses. I mean, it was heaven. It was a long day. We worked from 11 to 7 . They gave us little cooler bags that were loaded with snacks and water and sandwich's and we got t-shirts. They took great care with their volunteers and were very appreciative. We hope to come thru and work at another of their shows at some time.
Leroy is in Denton today trying to get his brochures and cards and stuff for his new business printed. It is called Chipfix. Say a few prayers and wish us well.
Yest, my friend Lori, came over and went to church with us. After church they had a potluck and also considered it a farewell to us.. They got so attached to us they plan on having a party when we return too. They hugged us goodbye like they were saying good bye to immediate family. Don't know when we have ever felt so loved. Lori then stayed to visit awhile before she headed home. We have sure enjoyed our time with her and I have learned a lot about herding. We were at her house the other day and Leroy was working on some fix it project. I had told her that the little lamb she had bottle fed couldn't see very well or was blind. So to know for sure she took her to the vet the next day I was there. Sure enough she had congenital cataracts and there was no lite going thru at all.
Nothing can be done and so I think she will put her down one of these days. She raises herding sheep and teaches herding so she really isn't equipped to manage another special needs sheep. That is probably why Mom wouldn't accept it. They know. She is such a cute lamb I took lots of pictures.
I finished two more table toppers, one for myself, and one for the WCFO conference. Mine will be the southwestern one and the other is in the WCFO colors. I will try to post some pictures today.
We are packing up and getting ready to leave. We secured and cleaned cupboards the other day. WE had gotten sloppy with our dish rattles so we got everything back to shape so it won't rattle. I have cleaned up my sewing projects so can put the machine away today. It needs cleaning and servicing so will get that done while I am in Wash. Leroy has checked all fluids and filled all the tanks. So now just to wash clothes, and clean and we should be fine. Hope to get out of here early Wed. am. We will probably head for the coast for a few days. Feel like I am leaving home we have gotten so attached to these people and this place and town and church.
Well guess this is all for today.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
3/26/15 Thurs
Going to try and keep this up more often, but of course I have said that before. But this is my travel journal and whether anyone reads it or not is beside the point.
Today is sunny but we had a heck of a storm and wind blow thru here last nite. Sometimes living in a motor home requires bravery too. I don't get scared anymore when we rock and roll and have a bit of a fatalistic look at life. If this is my day then I just need to be ready to accept it. Its all for the good.
Anyhow, it didn't last long and I didn't lose television reception or lites so I was a happy camper so to speak. Leroy worries a lot about the awning and if things could go wrong but not me anymore.
Decided not to see the house in Thornton as we wouldn't do anything about it even if we did like it. We really aren't ready to make a commitment to settle down yet. We will know when we should, we will know when we are ready. All will happen in the time frame it should happen in. I don't worry. We will know.
Today Leroy is going over to Lori's to do some finish up work that he started there. I gave up trying to teach Iris to herd cause at this point it seems she is to old to pick it up but that's OK she still can do a lot. The next pup will learn that.+\
We met some overnight campers last pm, nice people. They needed a jump start for their Jeep. We all went out to Babes Chicken Dinner. Guess it is well known. Its family style and its OK but I didn't jump for joy. Too much chicken batter for me. If we eat out here it is usually at The Old west Cafe, that has the cutest decor and the best food, especially breakfasts. There is also a great little donut shop here in town. This is really a bedroom community for Denton and Ft Worth/Dallas so it is just a spit in the road. But it is a great little community and it is so much like home to us. We do love it here.
Tomorrow Leroy has his last training session for the window repair. It will be an unofficial optic-kleer associate. He is calling it Chip Fix, so guess it is our new business. Need to get some brochures and a shirt printed up but he is on his way. Hope he puts enough into it so that with camp hosting it helps financially and we can build some more nest egg.
So this will be a quiet little day for me. If it warms up or quits blowing so much I will work outside doing stuff and walk and play with the dogs but mostly I will sew. and finish up a couple little projects to be done before we move on.
Guess this is all for today.
Today is sunny but we had a heck of a storm and wind blow thru here last nite. Sometimes living in a motor home requires bravery too. I don't get scared anymore when we rock and roll and have a bit of a fatalistic look at life. If this is my day then I just need to be ready to accept it. Its all for the good.
Anyhow, it didn't last long and I didn't lose television reception or lites so I was a happy camper so to speak. Leroy worries a lot about the awning and if things could go wrong but not me anymore.
Decided not to see the house in Thornton as we wouldn't do anything about it even if we did like it. We really aren't ready to make a commitment to settle down yet. We will know when we should, we will know when we are ready. All will happen in the time frame it should happen in. I don't worry. We will know.
Today Leroy is going over to Lori's to do some finish up work that he started there. I gave up trying to teach Iris to herd cause at this point it seems she is to old to pick it up but that's OK she still can do a lot. The next pup will learn that.+\
We met some overnight campers last pm, nice people. They needed a jump start for their Jeep. We all went out to Babes Chicken Dinner. Guess it is well known. Its family style and its OK but I didn't jump for joy. Too much chicken batter for me. If we eat out here it is usually at The Old west Cafe, that has the cutest decor and the best food, especially breakfasts. There is also a great little donut shop here in town. This is really a bedroom community for Denton and Ft Worth/Dallas so it is just a spit in the road. But it is a great little community and it is so much like home to us. We do love it here.
Tomorrow Leroy has his last training session for the window repair. It will be an unofficial optic-kleer associate. He is calling it Chip Fix, so guess it is our new business. Need to get some brochures and a shirt printed up but he is on his way. Hope he puts enough into it so that with camp hosting it helps financially and we can build some more nest egg.
So this will be a quiet little day for me. If it warms up or quits blowing so much I will work outside doing stuff and walk and play with the dogs but mostly I will sew. and finish up a couple little projects to be done before we move on.
Guess this is all for today.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
3/22/15 Sun
I am having trouble today looking at things so don't know if I have a draft in that didn't go out or not. This thing goes goofy sometimes and errors on me in the midst of what I am doing. Some times it has posted and sometimes not. Guess the latter is what happened last time.
Well we have been here at wagon master RV park long enough to make it feel like home. This young couple (anyone is younger anymore) really makes this place feel like home. The spaces are big, the rules are acceptable, the laundromat is cheap and they are just the nicest people. And you can go at 430 and help with the alpaca feeding and handling. It is an alpaca farm also. Couldn't want for a nicer place to live. And the permanent residents who live here in their RVs are lovely and its like a family. Spent this aft. in the laundromat visiting with one of the nice ladies that I met at the baby shower.
We took the quilt over to the gal the nite I finished it. Only about 3 days after the shower They are the sweetest couple and they truly appreciated it. She even hand delivered a hand written thank you note. Now who takes the time to do that anymore. They are just darling.
We keep going to the little old Methodist church here and they just seem to fill us with love. they are so glad we come every week. Next week will be our last time I think so they are dedicating their potluck as a farewell to us. I mean, these people are unbelievable. these people are true Christians.
We have been over to the state park a number of times walking and to the great little park they have in town that has the loops marked so you know how far you have gone.
The weather has been intermittent rain days but the weather has been warm. I am so glad they are getting the rain and moisture they need. We escaped all the bad weather last year so we got it this year. That seems fair. But the days are warm, sometimes hot and beautiful. Enjoying every minute of it.
I finished another table runner that was easy but a little thinking involved. It had turned back curves on some places, like cathedral windows. I did them by hand cause wasn't sure of my machine skills for that. Its done and just needs to be quilted and bound. I have another cut out that is for a fund raiser for my freestyle dog dancing group and their international conference. Hope they like it.
Leroy is still in training for the optic-kleer window repair. The weather is slowing that down. We would like to get out of here but are sticking around to get that cleared up. I think I said I sent back all the airpohoto stuff as it wasn't worth the time and effort I needed to put in it. Leroy enjoys this and it should pay little by little doing the parks and places we visit. Then when we settle down he can do it in one place. Its something he can do for a very long time.
We are helping with a horse show next sat. its a big time show in Tyler. Its a big deal horse show. We each are going to be jump judges. I guess we have 2way radios and we tell them rider # so and so went over the jump # so and so. Hope it isn't to hard for us. It should be fun. We got the chance thru a horse friend of ours. The one that owns the great horses I show pictures of. Hope to see them on my way out of the state too.
We will have hopefully about three weeks to get to the show inPaducka, we have our RV site reserved. Then we work our way to Minn and then we will go thru Minn to wash. for a few weeks. While there we will hit our doctors, and try to condense our storage units to less, and I plan on visiting my best friend Donna for a few days. Then we will be out of there and headed somewhere else to do something else. Who knows, we will see. Life is an adventure.
So can't remember what else I had said in the last one I wrote that didn't go thru but its all I have for today.
Well we have been here at wagon master RV park long enough to make it feel like home. This young couple (anyone is younger anymore) really makes this place feel like home. The spaces are big, the rules are acceptable, the laundromat is cheap and they are just the nicest people. And you can go at 430 and help with the alpaca feeding and handling. It is an alpaca farm also. Couldn't want for a nicer place to live. And the permanent residents who live here in their RVs are lovely and its like a family. Spent this aft. in the laundromat visiting with one of the nice ladies that I met at the baby shower.
We took the quilt over to the gal the nite I finished it. Only about 3 days after the shower They are the sweetest couple and they truly appreciated it. She even hand delivered a hand written thank you note. Now who takes the time to do that anymore. They are just darling.
We keep going to the little old Methodist church here and they just seem to fill us with love. they are so glad we come every week. Next week will be our last time I think so they are dedicating their potluck as a farewell to us. I mean, these people are unbelievable. these people are true Christians.
We have been over to the state park a number of times walking and to the great little park they have in town that has the loops marked so you know how far you have gone.
The weather has been intermittent rain days but the weather has been warm. I am so glad they are getting the rain and moisture they need. We escaped all the bad weather last year so we got it this year. That seems fair. But the days are warm, sometimes hot and beautiful. Enjoying every minute of it.
I finished another table runner that was easy but a little thinking involved. It had turned back curves on some places, like cathedral windows. I did them by hand cause wasn't sure of my machine skills for that. Its done and just needs to be quilted and bound. I have another cut out that is for a fund raiser for my freestyle dog dancing group and their international conference. Hope they like it.
Leroy is still in training for the optic-kleer window repair. The weather is slowing that down. We would like to get out of here but are sticking around to get that cleared up. I think I said I sent back all the airpohoto stuff as it wasn't worth the time and effort I needed to put in it. Leroy enjoys this and it should pay little by little doing the parks and places we visit. Then when we settle down he can do it in one place. Its something he can do for a very long time.
We are helping with a horse show next sat. its a big time show in Tyler. Its a big deal horse show. We each are going to be jump judges. I guess we have 2way radios and we tell them rider # so and so went over the jump # so and so. Hope it isn't to hard for us. It should be fun. We got the chance thru a horse friend of ours. The one that owns the great horses I show pictures of. Hope to see them on my way out of the state too.
We will have hopefully about three weeks to get to the show inPaducka, we have our RV site reserved. Then we work our way to Minn and then we will go thru Minn to wash. for a few weeks. While there we will hit our doctors, and try to condense our storage units to less, and I plan on visiting my best friend Donna for a few days. Then we will be out of there and headed somewhere else to do something else. Who knows, we will see. Life is an adventure.
So can't remember what else I had said in the last one I wrote that didn't go thru but its all I have for today.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Mon 3/2/15
Was going to post for myself someday and for anyone who cares. I was at the baby shower the other nite and there was a lady there who had recently retired and moved into an RV with her husband who was still working and moving around. She complained she was so bored.
Well, I never get bored or make it a purpose to never get bored. Here is what I do. I do my paint/drawing hobby, I do my music, I sew/quilt, I play and train my dogs and my birds, I read (outside when its nice or in the pm), I watch TV in the evening, I do computer projects and watch training videos for dogs and birds and sewing, I organize my pictures on the computer (a really big and unending job) as I have a bit of a photography bug also. I try to learn my new computer and phone and camera(on going in order to keep up)I walk, or I hike, I bike occasionally, I do other assorted hand projects like felting, knitting,crocheting, and etc (anything that looks new and fun) I clean and wash clothes as those projects never quit no matter where you are. We go to museums, historical things, we hike anywhere we can find, try out new trails, go to local events and things that are going on, do some touristy things but not the big really "touristy" things, we find its more fun to do the local things and meet the people, as new things pop up all the time. I meet new people and ,as I have the gift of my mother, I know all about a person in a matter of minutes. I usually learn more than I intended. Oh I keep the books and pay the bills. I also do a bible study each day, which may surprise many of you. And I follow an exercise routine mostly every day, either Jessica smith, my boxing trainers routine, or a vigorous walk or hike. And I cook, some of the meals, Leroy does some of those two, maybe more than me. I love to bake. I help out where I am if there is an opportunity as helping the owners with some job or doing work at the pound like I did in Missouri. I tried selling Air Photos but it didn't really pay for all the work I put into it so I put that on hold. Am open for other opportunities that come up and new ideas.
I wanted to retire so I could flex my creative muscles, let my interests stretch and become the best I could be in the last third or fourth of my life. I plan on going out kicking and having used myself up and done everything I could ever have thought of or dreamed of. I do not plan on sitting and waiting for it to happen. I sleep about 8 hours a nite if I am lucky as my legs often change that plan and its usually less than that. I am thankful for anything more than 6. I respect my fibromyalgia, arthritis, and asthma, and chronic pain but i am determined not to let them, or my mieneres and what is becoming my severe TMJ, rule my life. I am falling apart slowly but if I sat still I would fall apart faster and no way am I letting that happen.
Someday we will settle down, probably when Leroy is ready as I doubt I will. I am a gypsy at heart, having never had a stable life as a child. I never knew what tomorrow would bring and I learned to live liking it that way. I never liked set schedules, routine jobs and I enjoy traveling as long as I have a house now in my old age to take with me. Taking my house with me allows me to work around my infirmities and not let them get the best of me. The world has so much to see and so much to do just in our own little country. I may not be able to travel abroad, which I confess I would like to, but I can explore this one. I always wondered why people wanted to go to other countries when there was so much here to see. The grass isn't always greener somewhere else. To me our country is our backyard.
I find that my favorite place is where I am. I find that I am me wherever I am. If I don't like myself the place won't change that so I am trying to like myself better. This life is helping me learn more about myself and in turn like myself. I know I could live anywhere as I think everywhere has its own beauty, its own bad weather and its own good weather, its own problems and its own politics of both sides. There is always someone you can dislike but its easier to like people than not. The ones you don't like you stay away from. Traveling helps that too.
I have found that things are just things. You don't need as much as you think, in things or space.
I realize a marriage based on a friendship is probably the most permanent. A person you can respect and admire holds when things are thin. You can love someone but want to kill them on certain days.
No one person will fullfill all your needs or wants.
I have learned, don't gain weight, as when you lose it you still aren't the same and you will never look like you did, so don't gain weight in the first place.
I have always known that if you laugh, laugh from your core. It seems to brighten others as well, as I have been told many times when I have been embarrassed by my laugh. I learned to laugh and keep busy and open myself to the world many years ago when I was going thru severe depression. Its also when I learned to love to walk. It has held me well over the years and I battle depression at all times, but less and less with each day. You laugh and smile even if you don't feel it and it does change the way you feel. I still struggle to remember that when i get down.
Life is a gift, use it wisely, make the most out of it, leave your mark, and Love freely.
Wish I could have shared this with that lady at the baby shower but it wasn't the time or the place.
All I shared was the two points of wisdom of parenting we were asked to share and they came from my mom. "Don't do anything You would be afraid to tell me and I won't do anything I would be afraid to tell you." and "I will love my kids no matter what they are like or do, but I want others to like and love them as much as I do so I want them to behave for that reason".
Well, I never get bored or make it a purpose to never get bored. Here is what I do. I do my paint/drawing hobby, I do my music, I sew/quilt, I play and train my dogs and my birds, I read (outside when its nice or in the pm), I watch TV in the evening, I do computer projects and watch training videos for dogs and birds and sewing, I organize my pictures on the computer (a really big and unending job) as I have a bit of a photography bug also. I try to learn my new computer and phone and camera(on going in order to keep up)I walk, or I hike, I bike occasionally, I do other assorted hand projects like felting, knitting,crocheting, and etc (anything that looks new and fun) I clean and wash clothes as those projects never quit no matter where you are. We go to museums, historical things, we hike anywhere we can find, try out new trails, go to local events and things that are going on, do some touristy things but not the big really "touristy" things, we find its more fun to do the local things and meet the people, as new things pop up all the time. I meet new people and ,as I have the gift of my mother, I know all about a person in a matter of minutes. I usually learn more than I intended. Oh I keep the books and pay the bills. I also do a bible study each day, which may surprise many of you. And I follow an exercise routine mostly every day, either Jessica smith, my boxing trainers routine, or a vigorous walk or hike. And I cook, some of the meals, Leroy does some of those two, maybe more than me. I love to bake. I help out where I am if there is an opportunity as helping the owners with some job or doing work at the pound like I did in Missouri. I tried selling Air Photos but it didn't really pay for all the work I put into it so I put that on hold. Am open for other opportunities that come up and new ideas.
I wanted to retire so I could flex my creative muscles, let my interests stretch and become the best I could be in the last third or fourth of my life. I plan on going out kicking and having used myself up and done everything I could ever have thought of or dreamed of. I do not plan on sitting and waiting for it to happen. I sleep about 8 hours a nite if I am lucky as my legs often change that plan and its usually less than that. I am thankful for anything more than 6. I respect my fibromyalgia, arthritis, and asthma, and chronic pain but i am determined not to let them, or my mieneres and what is becoming my severe TMJ, rule my life. I am falling apart slowly but if I sat still I would fall apart faster and no way am I letting that happen.
Someday we will settle down, probably when Leroy is ready as I doubt I will. I am a gypsy at heart, having never had a stable life as a child. I never knew what tomorrow would bring and I learned to live liking it that way. I never liked set schedules, routine jobs and I enjoy traveling as long as I have a house now in my old age to take with me. Taking my house with me allows me to work around my infirmities and not let them get the best of me. The world has so much to see and so much to do just in our own little country. I may not be able to travel abroad, which I confess I would like to, but I can explore this one. I always wondered why people wanted to go to other countries when there was so much here to see. The grass isn't always greener somewhere else. To me our country is our backyard.
I find that my favorite place is where I am. I find that I am me wherever I am. If I don't like myself the place won't change that so I am trying to like myself better. This life is helping me learn more about myself and in turn like myself. I know I could live anywhere as I think everywhere has its own beauty, its own bad weather and its own good weather, its own problems and its own politics of both sides. There is always someone you can dislike but its easier to like people than not. The ones you don't like you stay away from. Traveling helps that too.
I have found that things are just things. You don't need as much as you think, in things or space.
I realize a marriage based on a friendship is probably the most permanent. A person you can respect and admire holds when things are thin. You can love someone but want to kill them on certain days.
No one person will fullfill all your needs or wants.
I have learned, don't gain weight, as when you lose it you still aren't the same and you will never look like you did, so don't gain weight in the first place.
I have always known that if you laugh, laugh from your core. It seems to brighten others as well, as I have been told many times when I have been embarrassed by my laugh. I learned to laugh and keep busy and open myself to the world many years ago when I was going thru severe depression. Its also when I learned to love to walk. It has held me well over the years and I battle depression at all times, but less and less with each day. You laugh and smile even if you don't feel it and it does change the way you feel. I still struggle to remember that when i get down.
Life is a gift, use it wisely, make the most out of it, leave your mark, and Love freely.
Wish I could have shared this with that lady at the baby shower but it wasn't the time or the place.
All I shared was the two points of wisdom of parenting we were asked to share and they came from my mom. "Don't do anything You would be afraid to tell me and I won't do anything I would be afraid to tell you." and "I will love my kids no matter what they are like or do, but I want others to like and love them as much as I do so I want them to behave for that reason".
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