NORTH TO ALASKA

Tomorrow is the day!!! We are finishing up all loose ends today...packing the last items, running the last errands, etc.
Our trip will take us about 3850 miles and we hope to make it in 8 days.
Zack is taking vacation next week so we can enjoy being together.
Kelsi is having some pain...baby Lucas is growing fast and causing her legs to hurt. Doctor gave her a "belly band" to aleviate the pressure. So, maybe the guys will go exploring and I can stay at the house and keep Liam busy so Kelsi can rest :)
Will add another message here when we arrive in Alaska!

Almost time to go again

We only have 12 more days until we start for Anchorage. It seems our TO DO list doesn't get smaller. We scratch something off and add 2 more TO DOs :)
The trailer got a test run last weekend when we stayed at Dolliver Park and had a family 65th Anniversary party for Mom and Dad. Had family from Georgia, Des Moines, Churdan, Marshalltown and Fort Dodge. We ate out for lunch and then had cake and ice cream at the community room at Northridge Apartments.
Well, I probably won't add again till we are on the road North to Alaska!!!

We are home!

We have been home about 10 days and have been busy most of that time.
First thing on our list was to find a nice pickup camper to take to Alaska next month. We found a new one in Walcott, IA which was our backup plan. Then we saw one on Craig's list south of Des Moines. We drove down last Saturday to look at it. As promised I called the guy on our way there to let him know when to expect us. BUT even though he said he would call if he sold it first, he didn't. He sold it Friday night. So, we called and met Sara and the boys at Bass Pro for a snack and visit.
Sunday we found another on Craigs list in Mechanicsville, IA and that afternoon we drove over there to see it. We bought it but need to get air shocks put on our truck before loading it, so plan to go after it Thursday if the air shocks come in time.
Today we sold our old pickup camper, also on Craigs list, so that is out of the way.
Bill has been busy getting the yard and garden work done.
I have spent some time getting the house cleaned and laundry caught up.
We are hoping for a nice day tomorrow so we can do some more yard work and enjoy the weather.

The end of our first Snowbird winter.

We had an unexpected event on Sunday afternoon. On the way to and from church we noticed a whitetail doe laying by the fence across the road from our park. We went to town again in the afternoon and she was still there. Then on our way back home a deputy was there. She had a broken leg and he shot her. Bill went over and asked what would happen to her and was told they had no one to pick her up and if we wanted her it would be OK. So we took her back to camp and Bill butchered her in the woods. We cut up the meat and put it in a cooler of ice and brought it to Georgia.
Monday we took the traiter to Camp Bullis for storage. Bill bought a cover to proctec it from the sun so we put that on. It took us a total of 4 hours for this process but it worked well.
We went back to the park and hooked the new utility trailer to the pickup. We stayed there that night and headed out Tuesday morning.
We got to an Air Force base in Shreveport, LA that night and they had a nice camp ground. Wednesday night we got to Pell City, Alabama and found a campground on a lake.
We arrived in Fayetteville at Rachel and Chris' about 1 PM on Thursday.
We went to a Weight Watcher meeting with Rach about 5. Chris got home before we did and put the trailer in their garage and our truck in the driveway.
The pictures I am including are of the morning coffee group and Bill and I by the river next to the RV Park!

The thrill hunt of my life!!!!!

Tuesday I went on my axis deer hunt. I was going for a doe.
Joe, my guide dropped Bill off at a blind to hunt hogs.
We went to another blind about 5 PM. We saw plenty of whitetail but they aren't in season to hunt.
Two does come along but the had babies. Another joined them but she was pregnant. Then 2 does arrived with no babies and not pregnant. This was about 630. Joe told me the right side doe was clear to shoot if I wanted to, but I could also wait and watch awhile more if I wanted. I decided to wait. About then we heard a bellow in the woods. Joe told me it was a buck. Then we heard antlers thrashing in the bushes and trees. A bit later here he came. My heart just pounded when I saw him. I asked him the price difference between a doe and the buck....Then I texted Bill to see if he agreed I could shoot him. He was in a valley and didn't get me message. So after 10 minutes I decided to go ahead and shoot. I aimed and squeezed the trigger and BOOM, down he went.
Joe said it was a DRT....Dead Right ThereA :)
We took some pictures and then went and got Bill and took more pictures. He field dressed it and we all went to a processor an hour away (after stopping at the camp to show Patty and Darlow).
Got home at 10 and it was 2 am before I was calmed down enough to sleep.
I am getting the horns mounted and Bill is tanning the hide. We will pick up the meat Tuesday and head for Fayetteville to see Rach and Chris!

The park is emptying out.

Three or 4 more trailers left today. But next weekend is a big motorcycle rally in town, so the emply spots will fill up fast. Patty and Darlow are leaving this coming SAturday. We will take the trailer to Camp Bullis Monday and then head out in the truck with camper on back Tuesday. The trip to Fayettevill will be a route we have never been on, so that will be interesting.
We will hunt Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I am hunting an axis deer and Bill wants to get a hog or 2. We will hunt late afternoon before the animals bed down for the night.
Yesterday was an absolutely miserable day...44 and windy with some rain. It is still windy today but no rain and should get to 70. I guess it is much better than the cold and snow we are hearing about up north.
I'm on my way to choir practice and then we are taking a scenic ride in the country. We need to take advantage while we can.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's another beautiful day. 69 and calm.
The restaurant at the motel next door had corned beef and cabbage for lunch and LOTS from our park were there. We sat with a couple from Canada and got lots of info about traveling in Canada to prepare for our trip to Alaska in May.
Bill is washing the truck and then I will help him wax it.
We will be hunting next Tues., Wed., and Thursday. I will try for an axis deer (stay spotted) and Bill wants to get a hog or 2.
We will have them processed and sharp frozen and pick them up on our way out of town the following week. We picked up a couple of coolers at a garage sale last weekend, so have plenty of room for the meat. The 5x10 ft covered trailer we bought will bring everything home comfortably.
Time to wax the truck.

A fun day!

We had guests today. Chris' sister and brother-in-law teach school in San Antonio. We invited them up for the afternoon and took them on a tour of the hill country. We went to our favorite restaurant in Medina that has a cat mascot. While we were inside waiting for our food it jumped up on Katie's lap and purred till we went outside to eat.
We drove around and showed them all the exotic wildlife in this area.
We had Dairy Queen when we got home and they just left.
It was a great day and we look forward to seeing them again next year.

We love the deer

We have been taking a ride after supper lately to see all the deer. Most nights we see 100-200. And that is in the city limits!! We go with Patty and Darlow. They love them too :)
Last night we took popcorn and threw it out the window and then drove up a few yards and watched them come out and eat it.
Yesterday we went and bought our utility trailer 5x10 ft. We will use it to bring back the things we don't want to leave in storage in our big trailer. Then we will use it to go to Alaska in May.
By putting things in it we can use the pickup camper to eat/sleep/etc. Otherwise, we have everything on the bed and table booth and can't LIVE in it.

Back from El Paso

We drove to El Paso Thursday. It was close to 500 miles and most of it all looked the same. Rest stops were 75-100 miles apart. Towns were few and far between with populations from 30 people to 7800. We stayed at least half full of diesel. Didn't want to get stuck low with no gas station in sight :)
Planned to stay at a camp ground at a casino near Cousin Dave's house. Called for reservations on the way and they were full (found out why when we got in the area...there are only 10 spots). Anyway, we realized Fort Bliss was in El Paso so we got a room at the Army Lodge. We both got our military ID's renewed Friday morning.
We met Dad's cousin David and his wife Fabiano (Fabi) about 4 that afternoon. They took us for a drive to see the sights of the area. Jaurez, Mexico is behind a BIG fence across the Rio Grande and is the most dangerous city in the world. NOONE goes across the border anymore. El Paso has about 600,000 people and Jaurez has 1.6 million. After our tour they took us to Texas Steakhouse for a great meal and then up the mountain to see the 2 cities after dark. Lights EVERYWHERE!!
We spent the night back at the Army Lodge and back home today.
The owners of our RV park had an appreciation meal tonight and the rec. room was packed. It was a good meal.
Oh, I went horseback riding Wednesday and loved it. 2 hours out at a nature park going up and down hills, across streams, etc. It is very rocky. Next time I am going to do it in Bandera.

Off to El Paso

Tomorrow we will take a side trip to El Paso. My Dad's cousin has lived there since the 50s and recently found us on Facebook. We will drive over tomorrow. Dave and his wife will give us a tour of the city on Friday and go out to eat that night. Then we will come back on Saturday to get here in time for an appreciation bbq here at the RV park!
Next week we are supposed to get warmer weather...70s!!
All for now.

Another month gone

We have had a nice week. No rain and plenty of sun. Today was in the low 60s and windy. We are to get rain tonight.
I have a private horseback riding lesson Tuesday morning. Instead of riding in a line behind a guide, I will be with one gal who will teach me instead of lead me. It will be a 2 hour lesson. I hope my behind survives :)
We have planned a trip to El Paso the end of the week. Dad's cousin Dave Spirek lives there. He grew up in Fort Dodge but haven't seen him for decades. We decided to go visit. It will be in the 70s there this week so we thought it would be a good time to go.
We went to a place 5 miles down the road tonight for supper. You take your own meat and grill it there and they supply the potato, salad, roll and dessert for $4. They had 2 guys who played the guitar and sang country music. Really a fun night.
One month left.......

Hot and Cold

Sunday it got to 79 and today we got a little snow. The park had a potluck tonight...MMMMM GOOD>
Bill's aunt Nita and uncle Max stopped on their way to San Antonio to visit their son.
Tomorrow we are driving up near Dallas. Thursday-Sunday is the largest swap meet in the world.
We will come home Friday.
Time is going much too fast!!
We are really enjoying spending time with Patty and Darlow!

Beautiful Day!!

We are enjoying wonderful weather. It gets close to freezing at night but by noon it is in or near the 50s.Next week it should be the 60s.
Yesterday Aunt Patty called for us to come over (just across the lane). Bill's cousin LeRoy and his wife Darci took a week off and came down this way to visit. They live near Cimarron, Ks.
They took us out to eat and we had a good time. They went to San Antonio today to see The Alamo and The River Walk. They were meeting up with LeRoy's brother Richard tonight. Don't know if they will be stopping back here on their way home or not.
We got our tax paperwork mailed to our Accountant in Burlington today. Then I dropped Bill off 3 miles out of town and he is walking home.
I will relax the rest of the afternoon with my quilting.
This is the life!!!

So Sad!!!!

I got a call this morning from Rhonda, Anita and Lin. They were at the airport in Omaha. Their flight had been cancelled because of snow in TEXAS. All along we were worried about them getting from Fort Dodge to Omaha. Oh, No. That went fine. But it is snowing in Texas and they can't land for the first leg of the trip.They tried to get to somewhere else (Kansas City, Chicago, etc) but the soonest they could get here was late Saturday. Their return flight would be early Monday. That just isn't enough time to justify the price of the ticket :(
I have a big pot of soup simmering, so we invited Patty and Darlow to eat with us tonight.
It is rainy here but snowing up north. It is to be a nice weekend, in the high 50's and low 60's. Guess we will have to find something else to do.

Patty and Darlow arrived

Aunt Patty and Uncle Darlow have arrived!! They traded for a larger motor home last month and have spent that time getting everything organized. On the way, on Sunday they had a front tire blow out. Then on Monday the same thing happened to a rear tire. They have some damage to get repaired...their slide won't go out on the motor home. Also they are trying to get their TVs hooked up.
We had them over for chili last night and saw Darlow at coffee in the office this morning.
Today I get my hair cut. Hope I get the cut I want :)
Then tomorrow Rhonda, Lin, Anita and Jill arrive and will be staying at the motel next door until Monday!
It was supposed to freeze last night but was 34 when we got up! The next 3 days are to be in the 50s in the daytime and 30s at night. That is better for the Iowa gals but cool for us.
I am getting food ready for tomorrow. Gotta go.

Good News

The electrician came yesterday and it only took him 1/2 hour to complete the job. It wasn't our trailer at all, but the electric post here at the RV park. The 50 amp plug was only getting half power so half of our outlets, etc. didn't work.
After he left we walked to downtown (1/2 mile to Main Street). This is Cowboy Mardi Gras weekend and there were people EVERYWHERE!
We finally got our awning out and big plastic rug mats down. It rains a lot and they help keep the grass/mud outside instead of in. We grilled for supper. It was 69 yesterday and sunny, the first really nice day since we got here. But compared to Iowa they have all been nice.
We will walk down to the parade at noon and then sample gumbo at the gumbo cooking contest.
We think Bill's aunt and uncle Patty and Darlow will be arriving Sunday. They traded to a bigger motor home and it took a bit longer to get it ready to go.
Super Bowl party at the Community room tomorrow evening. There is always something going on down there....3 get togethers this week.
Better "clean house" (it doesn't take long) so we can go have some fun.

Quite a trip

Our drive to Texas started out last Sunday morning. We stopped at an information rest stop just inside Texas. Bill noticed a problem with one of the trailer tires. The trailer was resting on the tire. It turns out the axle broke. We called AAA. Figured we would have to have it towed to the nearest town and who knew how long it would take to find someone to fix it. Well, AAA sent a 24/7 vehicle repair. He had a welder on his truck and fixed it on the spot! 3 1/2 hours and over $400 later and we were on the road again. WHEW!!!!
We stopped for the night about 5PM and stayed at a motel. Weren't in the mood to hook up the trailer in a campground.
We arrived in Bandera about 1PM Monday. Bill hooked up everything outside and I put out the slide and started setting up inside. When Bill came in we noticed that some of the electrical outlets were not working. Next door neighbor told us of a camper repair place in the next town that made "house calls".
I called them Tuesday AM and made appointment for today. It started raining last night and rained steady all day. That was not a safe time to work on electricity so had to reschedule for Friday. It is supposed to be sunny and in the 60s then. After describing the problems we were having we were assured they could fix it, just don't know how long it will take.
I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of 4 of my high school girlfriends to get here next Thursday for a 4 day weekend!! 8 of us get together in the Ozarks in August. This year one of us is in Corpus Christi and I am here near San Antonio, so 3 are flying out of Omaha to meet us Snow Birds for some warm weather.
Zack called with news from Kelsi's ultrasound. It is another Grandson. That makes 4!!!!

New Orleans

Tuesday we drove to New Orleans. We found a really nice campground on the Pontchartrain Landing that had a free shuttle down to the French Quarter. We ate lunch at Bubba Gumps on a 2nd story balcony, walked and walked and walked. Saw street performers on Bourbon Street, and rode a mule drawn carriage and a cable car. Two days wasn't enough to see it all, but will go back another year when we are here.
We are beginning to pack up for our trip to Bandera, TX on Sunday.The time here has flown by and we will miss Terry and Joyce and the area, but time to move on.
More next week from Texas.

Time is winding down:(

Bill and Chris decided to stay an extra day hunting and called Sheri and I to drive up and join them. Little Lilly (almost 4) went along. I sat in the deer stand for almost 5 hours Saturday afternoon and WE DID NOT SEE ANY DEER :( Bill enjoys just being out in the woods. I, on the other hand. would have liked to see some wildlife : Sunday afternoon we went to a bar/restaurant and listened to a band with Terry and Joyce.
Needless to say, the people around here were all glued to the football game and are SOOOO excited the Saints will be in the Super Bowl.
Monday is our laundry/cleaning day. With that done, Bill is out walking and I will join Joyce and a friend to walk 4-5. Having Joyce and Terry for supper to grill. It's ONLY 62 today. This is what we came for!!
Sunday we will head for Bandera. This month has gone very fast.

Ouch!!!

I bit down on something hard and immediately knew something was wrong. This morning I got a dentist referral from Joyce and made an appointment at 1045. The tooth is next to my "eye" tooth top left side. It split top to bottom. He took off the back piece that was loose and filled it in. He didn't see any exposed nerve on the x-ray but said it still could be in need of a root canal. I will know more after the pain of this procedure wears off.
Bill is off deer hunting till tomorrow night, so I can relax and heal up. They said the pain should be gone in 3 days.
It is another beautiful day...72 at 1245. Windows are open.Next week it will be back down in the 50s and 60s. I can handle that.
I think I will run to the fabric shop for backing material for my quilt. I found what I like and want to get it before it is gone.

Warmest Day Yet

It is 2 PM and 76 degrees. I am baking a pie and had to open the door and windows to cool it off. There is a nice breeze. It was supposed to rain all day, but did in the night and early morning. Now it is partly cloudy and wonderful!!
Bill is going hunting tomorrow and Friday with Terry's son Chris. The season ends Sunday. Chris hunts and fishes for all of their meat each year and needs 1 more deer. If Bill gets one he will give most of it to Chris.
The news says Iowa is getting hammered with ice. Glad we are missing it :)
You have an open invitation to come and visit here or in Bandera anytime before April 1.

A Beautiful Day!!!

It is 58 and not yet noon. We started out the day doing chores. Bill empties the sewage tank on Mondays :( and I clean house. Then he left me at the laundromat and he went and walked for 90 minutes and picked me back up. I like Mondays because everything ends up clean!
Tonight we are grilling. This week is to be in the 70s with rain Wed. and Thursday.
In 2 weeks we will be in Bandera. Time does fly.

Jan. 17

We went to early church so we could go to dinner with Terry and Joyce. After that Bill and I spent the afternoon driving the backroads sightseeing. No sense spending a beautiful day sitting in the trailer :)
Our visit in Louisiana is over half over. Time does fly.

Strange

By the way, who else has ever seen drive through daiquiri shops...like Starbucks only booze....
They even serve it at movie theaters.

Cafe des Amis

Went to a wonderful cafe in Breaux Bridge, LA for breakfast. They are famous for having a zydeco band on Saturday mornings. Several men of all ages grab gals from their tables to dance. The food was authentic cajun. Bill had never had crawfish for breakfast before :) I had coush coush (cold cornmeal type cereal) and grits.
We are ready for naps!

Baton Rouge

Today Bill wanted to take me sight seeing. We went to Baton Rouge to a HUGE mall that he saw the other day when he went with Terry to delivery plants for a wholesale nursery in New Iberia.
When we got to the mall Bill gave me some money and told me to buy something for myself. Well, I just couldn't find anything I couldn't live without but found birthday gifts for Isaac and Noah :) I have more fun buying for others, especially the kids!!
On our way back we took the backroads and ended up in Breaux Bridge. There are bunches of antique and gift shops. We walked around till about 330 when it started raining. It is supposed to rain all day tomorrow but be clear by Sunday.

A relaxing day

I am working on my quilt and Bill is taking a nap. It is 63 out and not even 1 PM!!
Next week it is to get in the high 70s!

January

It has been cool down here for the locals, but we LIKE IT. The lows have been in the 20s the past week, but it is warming up to and we will enjoy 60s in the daytime for the next 10 days at least.
We have been sightseeing and exploring. It is a very different terrain. Lots of water. Also, the language is a combination of English and French. The food is really good too.
This weekend will be rainy, so we are going to New Orleans the following Saturday.
We are settled in our trailer.
Time to go for a manicure.
I LOVE RETIREMENT