Enough already!

Today was colder than the coldest day we had all winter in South Texas. It did not get out of the 30's today and there was snow coming down now and then. We had Chili for supper and it was the proper meal for the day. Really hit the spot.
We are doing odds and ends on the house but we are really stymied until the trim work and plumbing are done. And the plumbing should wait for the trim. You know how it goes...it is a priority thing...always.

And on a lighter side here is Baby Leo and his sister Elise. Baby Leo is 5 days old in this picture but he looks so alert and has from the day he was born. It looks like the siblings are high fiving each other. It starts early!

What a day it has been...

Or maybe two days. I was looking over our several thousand dollar order at Menard's when I noticed the refrigerator had not been paid for. Hmmm I found that perplexing so I called them and found out another trip up to Fort Dodge would be necessary to get some loose ends tied up. It will not delay delivery but we needed to get the ball rolling a bit better. It was a worthwhile trip getting some questions answered etc. 

Now with our Discover card we get a 5% discount from home improvement stores up to $1500 for the months of April, May and June and we far exceeded that with the Menards order. We still needed to buy laundry appliances so I went online to look and after much research and reading many reviews decided on a LG washer and dryer. We have a Lowes card so we get 5% discount with it AND they had a lower price on the washer than Menards did so after getting things wrapped up at Menards we drove to Ames and the Lowes store. Last day for the sale!! We did not know that but we seem to be very lucky that way...and we are grateful!

We stopped in Boone and the new Wal Mart store and visited with Jason and later Laura for a bit before coming home.
With all this buying and getting ready for things to get done our mental wheels have been very active. I woke up about 4:00 AM and started thinking. Not very conducive to sleep. And then I noticed Butch was awake too. I said, "You know what we could do?" Butch said,"What?" I said, "Get up and get a walk in before the rain starts." He said, " Do you think I would have time to clean the gutters out before it starts raining?" I said, "I'll check the radar." And yes the rain was a ways off so at 5:30 AM we are out cleaning gutters and then we were able to get a walk done too. It wasn't long after getting home that the rain did start and is now raining with some intensity.
So at this hour I am in the motorhome and Butch is in the house and we are both busy. Most likely we will nap later

Picture catch up...

When we went to Menard's and I posted what we purchased I forgot to include the bathroom vanity. I even took a picture of it while we were in the store.

Yesterday, one of the Deja Vu group, Judy Peacock Wills went with me to Corning Iowa to the Arts center for my sister Theresa's art show. It was great seeing her new work and visiting with her for a few hours. We do not get together as often as we would like.

Some of the pieces behind Theresa are hers and some are the work of her students at Lenox Iowa where she teaches.

A bit of an oops!

Meant to post on Our blog and hit the Magnolia one instead...sorry about that.

Snipped from Face book

Jason being his usual entertaining self!

A great shot of Jason and Laura while on a bowling excursion with Laura's family

And this is from a few years ago when the two of them were on a trip to Las Vegas.

Menard's and Us

Butch and I spent most of the day or at least it seemed that way in the Menard's store. Those of you in the northern US are familiar with Menard's. Menard's come out on top in choosing between them and Lowes or Home Depot. We spent a bunch of time with Rhonda and then we spent a bunch of money with Menard's! We came away happy. We purchased their top of the line cabinets, a stove, a refrigerator, countertop, sink, faucet, cabinet hardware and trim for around doors and windows. This will take care of the bulk of getting our house back together. All this will be shipped to our address and we should have it by May 1st.

Deja Vu

Deja Vu is a name I have tacked onto a group of Jeffersonions who grew up in the area and our now back in Jefferson and calling it home. Last night a portion of us (7) went to The Port in Panora to try it out. The Port has suffered many set backs over the years, having many different owners, some successful but many not. Being on Lake Panorama they try to keep the ambiance upscale. Part of that would come naturally of course being on the lake but the rest of it is by design.
We were there on a Thursday evening and there were very few people in the restaurant.
I do have to give the place several thumbs up however.
1. We were greeted warmly when we arrived.
2. We were barely outside of early bird/happy hour times but they gave us all the benefits as though we were inside the time.
3. The waiter was attentive but not overly so.
4. If you are a bit creative it is not any more expensive than any other restaurant. I enjoyed chicken quesadillas off the appetizer menu and they were half price because we were within the time limit so my meal was $4.50. Butch had cheeseburger and fries...of course he did!
5. The food was very tasty. Everyone ordered something different and everyone was pleased with their food. No miss co bobbles on that score.

So adding all that up, gives them 5 stars.

http://www.experiencetheport.com/dining.html

We all felt sorry for them because when we left  at 8:00PM  there were no other customers.

Baby Steps

Baby Steps has double meaning for yesterday with the birth of a new great grandson and taking a critical look at what needs done in the house. We started off the day with a blood draw at the hospital in preparation for a doctors appointment next Tuesday. It took 13 minutes from the time we walked in the door till we walked out the door. The benefit of small town living. And then we indulged in breakfast at the Uptown Cafe. I had my usual scrambled eggs and bacon. Not being able to exercise is making me feel I am not making any progress. Wanting and needing to get back to my walking routine. May dress for the arctic north and do it anyway today.
Then we went in the house to measure for trim, anticipating a trip to Menards today to order cabinets and other stuff with hopes we can resume work on the house. Yeah!!
Off on a baby step...
later

Leo Norman Teeter

Baby Leo has arrived!!

Leo Norman Teeter

8 lbs. 15oz. 19 1/2 inches long and all are doing well

Not acclimated!!

We are ever so grateful for the beautiful travel weather we had and the great weather we had getting our motorhome into its spot. The alley was dry...until last night when the thunder rolled and the rain started. The high's today have been in the 40's and the forecast is even worse for the next 3 days. I can deal with cold weather I told myself but this along with the wet penetrates to the bone and once I am chilled it seems to take a whole lot of warm to get me warm. The only place I have been completely warm has been in bed...with the electric blanket on.
We have chores to do, like go sign our taxes, a trip to the courthouse to renew our vehicle licenses,and city hall to pay the water bill. But go outside and get even colder??? Not I. Not today, maybe tomorrow.

Mid-afternoon arrival in Jefferson Iowa

We had a pleasant drive from Peculiar to Jefferson. We are listening to an audio book and that always makes the miles go quickly. Two pleasant surprises upon our arrival.

Last winter we discovered our TV antenna on the mortorhome was not working so we purchased a new one and were pleased with our reception in the Rio Grande Valley but did not know how well it would work in Jefferson. It works very well, meaning if we wanted to we could get along without DirecTV. I do not see that happening however. One of us has a TV addiction.

The second nice surprise is that with the new booster antenna that I sold many of in the park this year I have an adequate Internet connection without Verizon. So Goodbye Verizon!! Our internet Verizon contract will expire next month I believe. That is a savings of $60 a month!

The mailman was walking by just as we were getting settled in so he knows we are back. We went to the post office and picked up the mail that we had held since we left the RGV. There wasn't much. I used to look forward to the mail. Not so much anymore.

The weather is perfect today but I understand we have some cold and wet stuff coming our way soon. It was great to have nice weather for getting parked in our spot and settled in. I am very grateful for that and the safe and easy trip home. I would love to put my rain barrel out but I took a peek at the temps for Thursday and the bad news for that one day at least is 33 degrees for a high and 25 degrees for a low. That is way too low and I like my rain barrel way too much to have it freeze and crack.

And we continue...

We came back to the motorhome about 6:30 after supper with Gary and Susan. Of course we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby Leo. His room is ready with the theme of The Lion King.

 I think his mama is being optimistic on the Lion sleeping. Cute however.

People look at Amanda and their eyes get as big as her belly. And below Papa Butch can feel Leo's hiccups.
She was due today-April 7th but it looks like Leo has other ideas.


His sister Elise is ready for him to get here too.

But in the meantime she is being entertained and entertaining.

With her favorite Papa Gary at the "beach"

Tomorrow we are heading even further north. We will not leave early letting the morning traffic slow a bit before heading out. We should be getting to Jefferson in mid afternoon.

Busy

Been super busy with the kids...no time to post or too tired. Take your pick. Yesterday Butch and Gary spent the day together. And a phone call just happened that let me know I gotta go. later

Sitting in a Peculiar Place

When we checked in yesterday they told of us about a new restaurant in Peculiar called Lucille's. Located in the building just west of Sonic next to the Pizza Hut. Their Wednesday night special is a big tenderloin but we already had plans so we went there for breakfast this morning. Butch had biscuits and gravy and I had an omelet both of which were very good and reasonably priced. Butch was very pleased to discover it is also a bakery with all the sugary stuff you would ever see in one.

Last night Elise told her dad she wanted 5 cookies. He said, "If you want 5 cookies you have to finish everything on your plate." Elise said, "Actually, I want 3 cookies." "Brad said, "For 3 cookies you must eat 5 pieces of your pork chop." This conversation went back and forth for a while and then she bargained for one cookie. Elise will celebrate her 3rd birthday next month but her grandpa wants her along when he buys his next car. She has definitely got the first rule down pat. Always ask up front for more than you will accept in the end.
The bargaining girl in her Easter dress.

Smooth Sailing

We left Arkansas this morning and arrived in Peculiar just a few minutes ago. Smooth sailing. We have paid up till Monday morning so Monday we will be venturing further north...to Jefferson Iowa.
This evening we will be at Amanda and Brad's place and I understand Brad is grilling Iowa Chops for us. Amanda's due date for Baby Leo is Sunday so we could have a new great grand any day now. If not we will have to come back on Elise's 3rd birthday in Mid May to meet her new baby brother.
Till next time...

Won't be still

Tufted Titmouse

Greer's Ferry Dam

Red-headed woodpecker

Pilleated woodpecker

Red-headed woodpecker

Pilleated woodpecker

Pilleated woodpecker

Pilleated woodpecker

Pilleated woodpecker

It is all the same bird but would not be still for a photo.

Monday in Arkansas

The feeding station

If you look closely in the tree branches you can see the waiting line for the buffet. 

A pileated woodpecker was camera shy

Easter Sunday

We enjoyed a pleasant Easter Sunday at Bill and Jo's here in Arkansas. Jo is feeding us well. One of the great features of being here is watching the wildlife. Many wonderful photo opportunities. Towards evening we went for a 2 mile walk and that helped make me feel like I was back on track.

This is a windmill Bill made from copper a few years ago.

Maggie is nearly 12 but still enthusiastic about a frisbee chase.

Bill ran across this weather vane many years ago for a bargain price.

And his creativity was quite evident many years ago when he fashioned this plane.

Bill and Jo's house

When Marion Brooker passed Bill and Jo used the memorial money they received to plant this Allee Elm tree

A view down river at a neighbors place