Our view

Butch caught this woodpecker stealing from the hummingbird feeder

Sunset

The sun was setting behind the mountains to the right of this picture
and the sun was finding its way through and highlighting the trees.
Remember you can click on any of the pictures for a larger view.

SMR Arrival

This was the way it looked upon arrival at Snow Mountain Ranch

The next morning we have a dusting of snow

Butch is brushing off the tow car shield

Jason gifted us with a hummingbird feeder before we left.
It took an hour and a half for them to find it.

Latest Location

Snow Mountain Ranch
We're here! I will get some pictures on when I have a bit more time.
I am looking at a blanket of snow this morning, albeit a thin one but snow none the less.
Yesterday it rained for at least half our trip and whenever we were above 7000 feet elevation it turned to snow.
We are in the Geronimo Campground at site #14.
I am having a bit of trouble adjusting to the altitude. Headachy, sinus's acting up, shortness of breath upon exertion and more tired than normal.
Hopefully it will go away as my body adjusts. They have instructions on how to handle it so I have been drinking tons of water. Peeing excessively!
I think we will like it once we get acclimated, adjusted and acquainted. And that has all started.

Sunday Bike Ride

Brooker Boys on the trail


Jason, Sherri and Butch at the depot

Quiet Contemplation

Wild Hydrangea? Just a guess

My Calendar Girl

Click on pic for larger view

Jefferson Album

Here are pictures I have taken so far while we have been in Jefferson even though not all of them were taken here. There is one that I consider better than the rest in many ways. Can you guess which one? Remember...click on the first picture to see all of them and then you can choose to see them as a slideshow.

Jefferson '07

Quote

If only we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time.
- Edith Wharton

At Leo's

We are parked at Butch's brother Leo's and his wife Keri's place. And will be until we head west around the 27th. We have gotten a couple of nice walks in...always a good thing. Last night we enjoyed popcorn, wine and conversation getting caught up on the doings and happenings of friends, family and the town of Jefferson. Leo has four fat ducks waddling all over the place. Also Lexi the dog and numerous cats and kittens. A little too much animal activity for Angel.
Jason came over from Boone IA yesterday and golfed with Butch while I went shopping in the old hometown and stopped by Shirley Franey's place to assist her with a couple of computer issues. So ordinary life is taking place and we all need plenty of that in between adventures.
I have plans to get some kitty pics. The ones I have seen are fluffy little balls of energy and I am sure will give me plenty of photo ops. I understand there are some newly born ones too but they will not be out and about before we head west.
Till next time...
Barb

More Lake Anita Pics

My yarn scraps are in the robin's nest

Boys fishing with their dog

Merlin and Bevs grandson Mike

Merlin helping Mike with his catch. Merlin and Bev put their new pontoon on the water for the first time and we were lucky enough to get a tour of Lake Anita in it.

Catch up

I have added more photos to the Lake Anita Album. Just click on the album below and you can see the added photos along with the ones already there.
Butch had an appointment with his surgeon this morning and his PSA was at zero which is the desired result so he is "good to go". I am in the midst of dental fittings and such with one of the last fittings on Monday. Tomorrow is my annual physical. Other than too much weight gain things should be okay with that.

Storm Damage

We keep getting phone calls inquiring how we weathered the storm. We barely noticed it! But today we left the park for the first time and discovered we were very near some serious damage. I would say we missed it by less than half a mile. There are pictures in the album below of Jack Longs place south of Anita on highway 148.

Anita Storm Damage

Lake Anita Web Album

Click on the picture to view all pictures in the album. Keep tabs on this one because I will add pictures as time goes on.

Anita State Park

I have been trying to get some pictures posted to the blog and it has been so slow going that I am still trying. Today I am adding 1GB of RAM to this computer and I have hopes it will make a difference. It can be so many things when something isn't as it should be or it seems to suddenly behave in a different manner. This wasn't sudden. Ever since we left the valley it has been slow and I have attributed it to the change in Internet connection from cable/DSL to Verizon dial up. And that alone may be the issue. At any rate I am taking measures to alleviate the problem today. So there may be pictures on this site and the Magnolia one later today or tomorrow. Kay Voss got some great bluebonnet pics on their way home to Minnesota and I would like to share them with all of you.
We have had appointments every day since we arrived at Lake Anita. I thought we were going to get a four day break but it hasn't worked out that way. The dentist called yesterday and he didn't like the impression we had taken the day before and wanted to try again. So we did. Just arrived home from that when the computer place called and were ready to add the memory but I put them off till today.
Last night Jack Long (Butch's second cousin) and his friend took us out to eat at the Redwood. We had a nice visit and a wonderful meal.
Tonight we are eating at the China Hut in Atlantic with Oakland IA friends Dick & Leslie Cleaveland.
I haven't sent a reminder to look at the blog in quite some time. When I visit with friends in other ways, such as on the phone or in person I have no problem telling if they are blog checkers or not. I know life gets frantic at times and keeping up with us isn't always easy in more ways than one! The blog is a way for me to stay in touch with many people at one time without being too intrusive on your inbox. So check in on the blog and I hope make a comment if you are moved to do so.
The Lake Anita campground is full. Every year the State of Iowa offers a free camping weekend to Iowans and it is traditionally the first weekend in May. We were forced to close windows and turn on the AC last night due to smoke from campfires. This too shall pass.

Casey Square Dancers

Those who could make it from the Casey Square Dance Club met at the Redwood in Anita on May 1st. There were about 25 to 30 people in attendance. Some we had not seen for a very long time. Phyllis and Adele are pictured above.

Keith and Lonna Jennings pictured above

Webshot album

If you would like to view the webshot album in a might easier fashion click on the link on the right side of this page.

Meyer 50th Anniversary

Meyer 50th Anniversary

Lake Anita

We are enjoying our place on the lake. We have seen Canadian Geese, about a thousand Coots, Deer, a Skunk, a Beaver, Ducks, Fishermen and many different birds. There aren't many folks here yet so we pretty much have the place to ourselves. We decided to stay near one of the restrooms because it is tornado season. A run for cover would be easier to do here than in some places we have stayed. Although Butch seems to have a fatalistic approach to that sort of thing I believe in doing what I can within reason.;-)

Spring in Iowa is something special and not experiencing it for a time makes one appreciate it even more. The way sunlight plays in the trees with only partial leaves on the trees makes me grab my camera. The trees are budding and some are blooming. All things are new again in a way that is never true in the South. Every part of the country has its special features, true only to them. I am reminded to "Love the place you are"...and I do.

My Verizon Internet connection here is better than the WiFi in Peculiar and Carthage. It seems that WiFi is great in some places and a frustrating experience in others.

We have arrived at Lake Anita State Park and we are paid up for two weeks. We had a nice calm trip North from Peculiar Missouri. The only little bump was a turkey who decided to cross the road with barely enough clearance. Kinda scary after having a windshield so recently replaced.

We had a pleasant week with the Gary Brooker family.

Ahead of us now are doctor and dental appointments.;-) Not nearly as much fun but necessary. We anticipate that all is well.

We are on lot #108 at Lake Anita State Park. That is near the newest restrooms.

Truman Library and Museum

Click on pic for entire album:
Butch and I had never been to a presidential library before but now we have.

Truman Library and Museum

At Gary and Susan's

Click on the picture to view the whole album

At Gary & Susan's

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

I cannot take credit for taking this photo but we saw a bird like this while in Carthage. It is Oklahoma's State Bird but we won't hold that against it.;-)
 

Short Smooth Trip

We had a short smooth trip north to Peculiar MO on highway 71 or 71 highway if you are from Missouri.;-) Our windshield was replaced yesterday and it was a long day trying to entertain ourselves waiting for it to be done. Angel, who was locked in the bedroom didn't like it either and was also glad to see the day end.
We are going to be here for a week and then we will continue north to Lake Anita State Park until our doctor appointments are all taken care of.
Hope to see many of you soon.:-)

Sittin'...Waitin'

We are waiting for a new windshield to be installed before moving on. We caught a sizable rock in the drivers side windshield on our trip south last fall. That was after the tangle with the toll booth guard rail in Oklahoma. About an hour after. So we may wait till fall, October, before getting the rest of it fixed. So we are sitting and waiting...a little less patiently.;-)

Eastern Bluebird

There is an Eastern Bluebird nesting in the park. She has babies and is too busy to be shy. Bluebirds have always been a favorite of mine.
 

Brrrr

Southern Missouri...not that far from Texas...44 degrees at 2:30 PM. It snowed this morning. No, it didn't stick but it did snow.:-(
We are hanging around the house (motorhome) watching golf (not my choice)bundled up in afghans. There is chili in the crockpot for supper. All in all a cozy little winter day in APRIL!!

Quiet

Been awful quiet for a number of reasons. I have soft water, REALLY soft water at Coachlight RV park and I am washing everything in sight. The water in our deep south Texas location is so hard, really hard and the contrast is remarkable. Secondly it has been cold here too and we are not acclimated to it so I have been hibernating. Thirdly, I am working on a Swedish weave afghan for Amanda and Brad who are getting married in July. I did have it started this winter but had darn little time to actually work on it. I can say now I am only a few rows from being half finished. So we really haven't done much that is noteworthy. We do enjoy hitting the best restaurants in the area that we like. We have already looked over the historical sites in the area in years past. And fourthly my Internet connection in Texas is super(cable/DSL) and what I have to rely on when we leave (Verizon ) is less so and takes some getting used to.
Butch went golfing today. It looks like it will be the best weather today till sometime next week. I love to be able to go out the door without a seconds thought about needing a jacket or coat. Haven't had much of that this past winter and now not getting much of that this spring.
Bad news: Not spending much time outdoors
Good news: Getting caught up on indoor work projects.;-)

Catching S-no-wfish

 

Hwy 71 North to Carthage MO

I had myself really worked up about this trip north. Butch had decided that he had had it with Oklahoma roads and I did have to agree with him. They charge you for the privilege of driving on them and the roads are the pits. So he decided we were going to give highway 71 in Arkansas a try.
Highway 71 is far better than I had imagined it to be. There is sufficient shoulder and for the most part the road surface is smooth. It is twisty turny but
not to an extreme and it was not all that difficult to find
places to pull over. We stayed at the Y City Mountain Inn and
Campground. They have 3 spots with 30 amp electric near the road and
they offered us a spot for $10. We are happy about that.;-) We do not
mind paying a reasonable fee for a minimal service spot.
I am a far more nervous traveler than I would like to be. I
frequently have little mental talks with myself about how Butch is an
experienced driver. He has driven trucks all his life and has never
had an accident. etc. etc. I also ride with my eyes closed in some situations.
But now I know that highway 71 in Arkansas is not all that bad.

So now we are freezing our buns off in Carthage MO. We are paid up for a week and we have some things to attend to on the motorhome and it will depend on the scheduling of those issues on how long we stay here. Also with this cold I can't say we are all that anxious to go any further north any too soon.
I saw a beautiful little Mountain Bluebird this morning and couldn't get to my camera soon enough. But I will get back to taking some photos ASAP.

Rockport Maritime Museum

It is an album...so click on it.;-)

Rockport Maritime Museum

Flower Collage

Click on picture for larger view. I got these shots in an interesting way. I held the camera by the strap at ankle or calf level. I like the way they turned out. I am guessing it looked weird to onlookers.
 

Rockport Texas Area

Click on photo below to view entire album

Rockport TX

Rockport TX

We left the Rio Grande Valley this morning. Angel got out when I was putting my frog planter in and we had quite the ordeal getting her to decide she was coming with us. But after surrounding her with the help of neighbors, she let me pick her up. Our trip up to Rockport was uneventful and that is a good thing. We are staying at the Ancient Oak RV Park at the south edge of Rockport. The smell of the sea is awesome! We ate at Charlotte Plummers, said to be a great local restaurant right on the coast. The food was good. While waiting for our dinners of shrimp(me) and catfish(Butch) a boat came in with several burlap bags of oysters. We watched the negotiations on the selling of the catch. It looked like serious business. We are settled in for the evening but tomorrow I will take my camera and walk along the shore. We are here until Wednesday morning unless we decide to stay longer. We shall see!

Keeping Up

Magnolia Park looks pretty empty today. Not many of us left here. Butch and I will be leaving Sunday morning and going to the Rockport TX area for a few days before going to Carthage Mo so the motorhome can have its annual physical before we head to Iowa so Butch and I can then have ours.

Best friends

Huey and Tippy are best friends and rarely seen apart at my sister Myrla's home in Rockwell City Iowa