Saturday, November 23

Under 50

It did not make it to 50 degrees today. The bubble wrap( see earlier post) is helping to make our spot much cozier and it did not take me long to set it up. When I take it down I will roll it up and put it away for the next cold snap. This one is supposed to last till next Friday. That is a long time for a cold snap here.
We had chili today as I suspect nearly everyone in the park did. Butch and I faithfully walked our two times today dressed in our winter wear and we could smell chili simmering in several locations.
When I encounter an unpleasant sensation such as cold weather I have noticed that my inclination is to stay still until it passes. That works fine if you have a cold or the flu but not so much for cold weather. I must get busy tomorrow and actually do something. Feeling as though you have wasted a day is another unpleasant sensation.

Friday, November 22

Sweat to freeze

This morning it was so hot and muggy you would not believe it wasn't mid July in Iowa and then at about 3:00 PM it started to drop as the "blue norther" came barreling through. Lightning, thunder, wind and rain...lots of rain and as I write it is still raining and the furnace comes on periodically. Now mind you at 3:00 PM we had the AC on because it was nearly unbearable at 87 degrees and about 95% humidity. Current temp is 51 and dropping. They are telling us we are in for an entire weekend of temps in the 40's with daytime temps and night time temps not differing very much. Now we have had this kind of weather in the past but not in November for crying out loud! So we are all hunkered down for a long winters nap. Actually Butch is in the pool hall. It was raining when he left and it is still raining ...hard, 2 hours later. I have plenty of activities to keep me busy but the old guy will surely get restless although he is much better about that than when he was a young man.
I plan to get some baking done and some drawers cleaned and perhaps some beading. Butch has started watching the Downton Abbey series on Amazon so that should entertain him for quite some time. He is still in the first season. I am looking forward to the new season. I think the date is January 5th, 2014. In Iowa I watch PBS a bunch. It is my favorite station. Down here it is owned and operated by the catholic church and it is very different experience from what I see in Iowa.
Butch and I were thinking about Elise this morning and how her Nana Susan's pantry is her favorite feature of  her grandparents home. Butch says it is her own Home Shopping Network. After a meal she wants to check out the pantry for dessert. When we were there she chose Pringles for her "dessert". She is quite the little lady.
Yesterday I washed up 4 average sized sweet potatoes and threw them in the crockpot on low (High for 4-5 or low for 6-8) and they were the best sweet potatoes I have had in a very long time. Keep the skins ON and do NOT add water. It is my method of choice for sweet potatoes from here on out. Loved them and so did Mr. Pickypants!

Wednesday, November 20

Busy day of details and a few tips

We went to Walmart and picked up some new wiper blades for the car,then to HEB for a few groceries and then to the Flea market for some watermelon.
Doesn't sound like much as I wrote it but it took half a day to get done. We have been running the AC because the humidity has been so high but come this weekend we are to get a whole week of cool temps with highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's. Bernie's fruitcake will be made this weekend and that should help warm up the place. We will close up the shades and maybe even use the bubble wrap tip if it feels too cool in here. The motorhome does not hold the heat like a stick built house or even as well as a mobile home. So these little extra measures help a lot.
Tip for winter: To cut down on cold transfer through your glass windows cover them with bubble wrap. I put bubble wrap on our up north door windows before we left too.

And here is another tip I can pass on today just because they have been a topic of conversation lately. Butch has had to switch to a stronger form of allergy medication. This is not unusual for him down here. If he catches it soon enough it is much more manageable. For me that medication keeps me wide awake if I use the non-drowsy ones. It has never affected Butch that way...until this time. So after two nights of being wide awake for most of it he took some melatonin and that has done the trick. He has slept fine now for the past two nights. It is one of those over the counter things that one should keep on hand.

Another tip:
Jason was telling us that Laura has a snoring problem. Jason's snoring drives her nuts. It doesn't bother Jason at all, thus it is Laura's problem. They were watching an infomercial for a mouthpiece to stop snoring. It was pricey of course but Jason being the innovative person he is says it is nothing but a football mouthpiece so he went to a sporting goods store and bought one. He says it is important that your jaw jut a bit forward so it took a bit to get it formed correctly but he reports that it works very well and for a fraction of the cost. Hey, It might be worth a try for peace and quiet in your happy home.

And here is a pic from our house to yours. Ripe Olives over on Cherry street


Big little Leo

Thanks Amanda for this great pic of your growing boy.

Tuesday, November 19

Costco Run

Peggy and I went to Costco today. Shopping wears me out. But I did find some great fitting jeans and some super delicious Bartlett Pears and a few other things I really like. Back to the Bartlett pears. In my growing up years we had a pear tree on our property and today's delicious pear experience took me back there in a heartbeat and added to that, pears were also one of J. R. Brooker's (Butch's Dad) favorite fruits. And J. R. Brooker was one of my favorite guys.
Butch played golf and came close to getting a hole in one. On the 9th hole and a par 4 hole his drive was two feet from the hole. He was pumped. Would someone please remind him of this when he says he hasn't played good golf for over a year? The only thing wrong with his golf game is his memory.

Monday, November 18

Heat and Humidity

Tonight on the news the weatherman said the "cold" front headed our way is going to stall out just north of the lower valley and then in a day or two it will turn around and head north as a warm front. I bet you have always wondered where those warm fronts come from and now you know. The cold fronts come down here and get warmed up then turn around and go the other way! Who knew?!

He also said that Sunday would feel... I am trying to remember the word and can't... but he meant it would be a real cold front and it would get here and be genuine. I may do some baking that day. I have been wanting to make Bernie's Fruitcake. We will always remember you and your fruitcake Bernie Craig.

This mornings beginning outdoor temp was 75 degrees and the air hit like a wet cloth the minute you opened the door. Butch came to get me because they needed another shuffler and I said I would fill in. It was fun and I am glad I did.
Till next time...