Pictures from Llano Tx

Butch and Terry Linder on hole # 8 which happens to be a few feet from the motorhome

 Butch says "Bye" " See you in a few hours"

Lisa and I went for a walk near the river

Some campers a stones throw from the river

Lisa said that white goose looks like a chaser. She was right.

Last Spring when we left Llano going north I spotted this sign. It will surely gain ones attention.

Here is the explanation of it

This stone has become very overgrown. There were a couple of 2012 graves so it is still being actively used.

Lucy Lee Murphy...liked her name

Lelah Belle born in 1893 and died in 1897

I am sure the request was to be buried in the shade of a tree.

This woman's name was Texas Calvin- DAUGHTER of a Mr. McCoy

 Llano Historical Museum

Her picture was hanging in a shop named Whimsy. Doesn't she look "whimsical"?

Refrigeration in Llano Tx

We drove over to Burnet, Tx (30 miles)and the Lee Hoffpauir RV and Truck Repair facility yesterday afternoon and were treated most kindly. We waited a mere 15 minutes for service and they were able to temporarily fix things so the fridge would work until the repair part gets here. It was the recall box. There had been a previous recall and it was this box that went bad. The bouncy roads of Oklahoma had helped loosen a battery cable and may have been the cause. Butch suspicions it anyway. But the part has been ordered and they trust Butch to put it on so we can drive over in the car to pick it up when it gets here. What it really means is that we are here till the part arrives and may delay our departure to the Rio Grande Valley. We were planning to leave on Sunday but it may not happen. I will call and tell those expecting us what the deal is if we are delayed. If they are blog readers they will already know!

Our friends Terry and Lisa Linder from Canyon Lake Tx arrived yesterday while we were gone but we quickly caught up. Went to the Burger Bar for supper and we are finding it easy to eat out on South Beach if we are careful when we order. Butch had chicken fried steak and a salad while I had chicken salad on a bed of lettuce and tomatoes. Tasty and filling. My BS level this morning was a normal 100! BS=Blood Sugar in case you attach a different meaning to BS. wink, wink.

Today's plan includes golf for the guys while Lisa and I are going to take a long walk and then be Llano tourists. Llano is a small town similar in size to Jefferson and their beautiful courthouse square is surrounded with interesting little shops.They do not have a bell tower, however. One of the shops is called Stuffology and contains just what you might imagine-stuff. I plan to be busy with my camera today. Llano's motto is Llano-Land of Legend and Lures. Maybe I can find out what the legend is. The lures refers to fishing I am guessing. The RV park we are staying in is connected to a 18 hole golf course and a river. Their rates are very reasonable...one of the reasons we are here.

Here is what I found out about the Llano River which runs by us about a 100 yards from our RV. We are staying in the Robinson City Park.

Llano River

Llano River is one of the last wild rivers left in Texas. Starting in Kimble County, which boasts over 1000 springs, Llano flows eastward from Kimble Country, through Mason Country and into Llano County before it empties into Lake LBJ at the junction with the Colorado River at Kingsland, Texas.  The Llano River flows through rocky terrain covered with mesquite, bee bush and cactus. It is dotted with live oak and post oak trees.

Some of the fauna you might view along the Llano River include bald eagles, hawks, kingfishers, owls, wild turkey, quail, dove, white-tail deer, escaped exotics, wild hogs, rattlesnakes, coyotes and all manner of varmints inhabit the river banks.

The Llano River flows over granite and limestone with sand and gravel bars common. Wading is easy for fishing. Fly fishermen can do wet wading from the middle of Spring until the first freeze which usually occurs in late fall.  Fishing from a canoe or kayak is also great on the Llano.  

The Llano is a navigable stream. As long as the angler is in the water, it is considered public land.  Property rights of landowners should be respected at all times. Frequently you will be allowed access if you ask. Public access is available at the James River Crossing, the Highway 87 Bridge south of Mason, the town of Castell, Rio Llano east of Llano, Robinson City Park in Llano.

We are in Llano Texas

They wouldn't even talk to us about the refrigerator in Norman at either RV place. They just said, "Too busy", "Our schedule is full and we have no idea when we can even look at it." So we bought a cooler and some ice and headed on down the road to Llano Tx. We have arrived and in time to call a dealer in Burnet, Tx, a 30 mile drive from here. Marlene and Bernard will be familiar with the area we are in, as they used to own a house not far from this area before buying a place in the Rio Grande Valley.
They were very kind to us at the Lee Hoffpauir RV & Truck Service in Burnet, and letting us know it was a favor, gave us an appointment for 2:00 tomorrow afternoon.
The trip here was uneventful and we listened to a great book. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of  Mr. Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce.
"Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in 20 years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then, as happens in the very best works of fiction, Harold has a chance encounter, one that convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. And thus begins the unlikely pilgrimage at the heart of Rachel Joyce's remarkable debut. Harold Fry is determined to walk 600 miles from Kingsbridge to the hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie Hennessey will live. Still in his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold embarks on his urgent quest across the countryside. Along the way he meets one fascinating character after another, each of whom unlocks his long-dormant spirit and sense of promise. Memories of his first dance with Maureen, his wedding day, his joy in fatherhood, come rushing back to him - allowing him to also reconcile the losses and the regrets. As for Maureen, she finds herself missing Harold for the first time in years. And then there is the unfinished business with Queenie Hennessy. A novel of unsentimental charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry introduces Rachel Joyce as a wise - and utterly irresistible - storyteller. "

The book finished about 15 miles from our destination...incredible timing.
So we are settled in and trying not to think about the food in the freezer and refrigerator that is relying on ice to survive.
Tune in tomorrow for the next episode of the Warm and Toasty Fridge.

Quick note

We are parked at the casino in Norman OK. When we arrived and after a trip inside the casino, I won 20 and Butch lost 20, our refrigerator started beeping and would not quit. It was an L1 fault code and the book said it could not be owner corrected and to contact an authorized dealer. So I went online to find one and in so doing found there was a recall on ours and to turn it off immediately if the numbers were such and such. They were. It seems it is a fire hazard. So our first order of business will be getting that fixed. I found several dealers in the area. So tomorrow will not be an early start for us as most do not open till 8:00 AM.
Otherwise the trip was fine but windy...very windy!

Quiet Weekend with Missouri Family

As quiet as a weekend with a two year old can be. Gary has been on Football overload, not of his choosing, and it will not get better till the season has passed thus we were not able to see much of him. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Let's just say he will have much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.
Here are some pictures from our weekend.

Missouri sunrise on Saturday

They have not had a frost here as yet so the leaf color is still quite vivid.

Elise helping Nana Susan get a treat.

Butch was sitting this way and Elise was copying him but she would quit when I pointed the camera at her.

On the grandparent swing.

Hairdresser Elise

So many pictures had to be deleted due to a blurry Elise. I left this one in.

Here nose needed wiped but otherwise a great shot.

Her favorite playmates

Elise with her Mom. Amanda is expecting another one next April so Elise's world will be changing. We find out soon if Elise will have a brother or a sister.

Just a swingin'.

Catching Nana Susan as she comes down the slide.

Missouri- Fall 2012

We enjoyed a calm trip to Peculiar and will be here till Monday morning. Last night we attended a football game in Lone Jack MO that son Gary was coaching. The first time we had attended a game since 1981. I was worried that it might be colder than I could bear but as it turned out it wasn't bad at all. Watching great grand Elise made it a pleasure. It is hard to imagine the amazing things this wee one does and says unless you can witness it. She knows her directions...yes, north,south,east and west and what is even more mind boggling is she knows the phases of the moon! Her mother asked her what kind of moon it was last night so she looked and said "waxing crescent". Come to find out her Grandma Susan knows the phases of the moon and taught her, but still, Elise was two last May! I know very few adults who know the phases of the moon! And by the way you can look it up. Last nights moon was a waxing crescent.

Butch is traumatized. Our TV antenna on the motorhome is apparently malfunctioning. We do not know if that is even possible but Butch has isolated everything and says it has to be the antenna. Stay tuned for more on this one.
For those of you traveling and trying to stay on  South Beach diet, McDonalds  salads are mighty tasty and legal. Good to know.
Today we will be going to Elise's house to visit with her parents and grandparents. We are the Great grandparents and that does not seem possible.

Clean Slate

For the first time in a very ,very long time I have a clean slate. What a treat for the day before we leave. This morning Butch and I worked on the sealer in the shower. Neither of us like that kind of work and it is a toss up who is better at it...but I would say neither. At any rate it is done!
Many other little things were finished up and we will be pulling out in the morning...
till next time!

Sunday Supper

I overlooked a very important evening last Sunday. I guess my focus has been on work, work, work! Norma Milligan invited us for supper Sunday night as a going away party for us and a birthday party for Leo. We enjoyed an excellent meal as well as excellent company. Leo, Keri, and their daughter Emily, Dr. Steve and Julie Karber, Norma and her friend and neighbor Charlotte. It was a great group and the conversation was lively. I am not a dog person as many of you know but Norma's dog Bella kept snuggling up to me and did so all evening much to the befuddlement of Norma. As we were getting ready to leave I rediscovered the forgotten porkchop in my pocket. Mystery solved!!
We were also invited to another birthday party, this one for Denise Van. We caught up with them at Jerrilynn and Petes place. More great conversation with the deja vu bunch. That is what I have labeled the group of us Jeffersonites who were here as kids and have returned in retirement. More lively talk, laughter and fun.
How could I have forgotten!! Leo tried to jog my memory with some pictures...I finally got it but the pictures are of me...so no pictures.

Our Southern Belles

Nina Grace and Scarlett Ann are our great granddaughters who live in Georgia/Florida with their parents and grandparents. I am always tickled to see their pictures on Facebook and then I snip them for the blog. Beautiful little girls!

Nina Grace

Scarlett Ann

Fall View from kitchen window at 402 N Cedar St.

Jefferson's New Overpass

The opening ceremonies will be in November and we will be south by then but per a special request here are the latest pictures of the overpass.

On Highway 4 looking south

Taken from the Fareway parking lot

On McKinley street looking north

Same area

On Reed street looking north

Okay, where were we?

On Monday Butch and I went to Ames and returned two boxes of flooring at Lowes. And then we went to Fort Dodge and Menards and did another cabinet analysis and we are very glad we did! We were helped by Rhonda Clark who we found out is the daughter of Jeanette Walker who is the sister of Roger Conant who is the husband of my cousin Sherry. And Rhonda was a classmate of Leo's! We are never far from home no matter where we are!
We went through all of the computer set up of things. Getting pretty familiar with the routine by now and we were very pleasantly surprised with the outcome and feel that we most likely have hit upon the way we will be going. We still plan to check on a couple of others to see how they stack up but as of this writing I think Rhonda and Menards will get our business on cabinets. And while we were there we found a vanity ensemble that BOTH Butch and I liked very much and we would have brought it home but it was special order. It will still be there 7 months from now, I am sure of it.
Today we have both been energized and have been making great strides toward the goal of leaving Friday. We had a rather large pile of scrap lumber we wanted burned so Butch has been steadily working at that along with the usual things it takes to get ready. I have made 40 million trips to the house with things from the motorhome we plan to leave here. Flower beds have been put to rest and all the decorations with them have safe storage in the garage. The motorhome front screen and tire covers have been taken off and stored for travel. Butch will be starting the motorhome and running everything to make sure it is in order. It is always a good idea a couple days before takeoff in case you run into a snafu which happens now and then.
So better get back to laundry...

Merriam-Webster: Visual Dictionary Online

Link of the Day:

Merriam-Webster: Visual Dictionary Online
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/

"The Visual Dictionary is designed to help you find the right word at a
glance. Filled with stunning illustrations labeled with accurate
terminology in up to six languages, it is the ideal language-learning
and vocabulary dictionary for use at school, at home or at work."

J.I.G.S. in Nevada Ia.

Ventured forth from Jefferson to meet up with other JIGS at Cafe Vada in Nevada. Very nice place a bit on the upscale side. There were 6 of us in attendance, we can never tell about that as the date gets set and whoever can make it does and those who can't miss a good time. Being on day 6 of South Beach I had a burger without bread. It was tasty but I do hope to enjoy some of their finer offerings next time I am there, perhaps next summer. We all really got into the round table discussion sharing our happiness, heartbreaks, tears and laughter. After our LONG lunch we went to a neat little shop on main street called JulieAnns. She had some really neat stuff to look over. One of the things I took particular notice of were old windows with a sticker price of $18! I had carried 15 just like them to the curb yesterday. The only difference was a chain and two cup hooks. If I had the room I would haul all 15 back again.
 I will miss JIGS while in Texas but it is something to look forward to when I get back next spring.

Butch and I vedged out the remainder of the day. We haven't done that for a while and it felt good.
Anybody need a window? All you need besides is a hank of chain and two cup hooks.

Today and Yesterday

Yesterday we went to the clinic for a final checkup before heading south next week. We were both okay and even lost a pound or two. I saw a picture of myself from the family reunion on the 6th and that was my wake up call to start on South Beach. We have done it before so it isn't unfamiliar. So far -so good The first two weeks are kind of strict but we are hanging in there.
While at the clinic we received our flu shots and then we went to the pharmacy and got our shingles vaccine. I received mine in the opposite arm than the flu shot but Butch went with both in the same arm. They assured us there were no problems with this either way. In our opinion they are wrong. She also said that any side affects would be past in about 3 hours. During the evening we were both tired and cold...perhaps not unusual. I went to bed about nine, Butch was later. He woke during the night with his arm and shoulder aching and it continued into the morning. I awoke early and then became quite chilled so I went back to bed to warm up. We both were just off our stride most of the day. I hope we are back to normal tomorrow.
We did get the garage straightened a bit and took several items to the curb...and they disappeared...at least part of it did. We need to go to the landfill with lots of stuff but decided to try the curb giveaway first. We are glad we did. It will lessen our landfill bill.

Yesterday after the doctor appt., we did get the trap door finished and the remainder of the flooring in the stool compartment. We will have two full boxes of flooring to return to Lowes. At $70+ a box that is good news.
I am still loving that floor and would recommend it to anyone.
Tomorrow I have another JIGS gathering to attend and it will be great to see many of my old classmates one more time before we leave.
until next time...

Ta Da! We are floored!

Peggy called while we were laying the flooring and I asked her if we couldn't delay our conversation as we were in a spot that was hard to stop. So we decided when I posted pictures of the finished flooring it would be a good time to call. Donn and Peggy live in the pacific time zone and that complicates it even further but at any rate, although not quite finished we are close enough. We have the trap door to finish up on. We had to glue that part and wait for it to set and the stool enclosure and then we will be completely done with flooring....well not completely. We left an area where the cupboards will be located and we stopped short with the thought that we will apply those 3 pieces after the cupboards are in place next spring. So here are flooring pictures...

Looking into bathroom

Main room

Kitchen area on the left

From bedroom doorway

Taken from closet looking toward kitchen area through the bathroom

I love the flooring. It is Armstrong Vinyl Plank Flooring and we purchased ours at Lowes in Ames. It is easy to install, looks great,and very durable. Butch has pounded it with a hammer on occasion to get a corner to lay down and he didn't harm it one bit. I think it will serve us well the rest of our days.

So Peggy, you can call now...or I will call you...say after 2 PM our time?

Picture update

New Onyx shower

Cupboard behind the stool

Sundays progress on the flooring installation

House progress

We have some details left to do on the shower but 99% of the shower installation is complete. So yesterday we started installing the flooring and it is going much smoother than the other stuff we purchased and returned. This is Armstrong vinyl planks Light Maple. The quality is great and it looks good too. Once finished many will not be able to tell it isn't a wood floor. Once we finish with the flooring our thoughts and plans will have to turn towards getting ready to head south. We have more to do to get ready this year, of course, but mainly because we want to tie up loose ends and have a semi-clean slate to start with in the spring.
We still want to make a trip to the landfill as we really need the room in the garage, much of it taken up with items from the old house we saved because surely someone would want it. Some friends and family have taken things they can use in craft projects but there is still way too much of it.
I know I promised some pictures so I will go in right now and take a few putting them on here later today...later...