My yesterday

Butch went to Mickeys to help put her new shed together. My original plan was to ride to the river but the wind was up a bit so decided I could burn more calories working in the yard. Last fall Butch seeded our formerly mud area in the backyard with grass seed and I am sure many of you know that in so doing the grass seed does not always stay where you want so I had plenty of unwanted grass patches between my pavers on the path to the Moho. I dug them all out. Cleaned up the area around the hostas on the north and in those few words and two chores I spent all morning! The belltower started chiming and I started counting and was shocked to hear it was noon!
My improvement plans for the southwest corner of the living room are 3/4 done. A couple of years ago we dismantled a desk and used part of it for Butch's hideyhole desk in the closet and the rest of it to hold odds and ends next to my desk. It looked unsightly and unfinished so I planned to dispose of it. However, my teammate asked what I planned to do with the stuff in the drawers. Buy something new? As I am all about reuse and restore I changed my thinking and with Butch's help and some paint we now have a new printer stand.

I have also been thinking about something to hold the NuWave oven and induction plate and my first thought was a small kitchen island but that thought meta-morphed into a stainless steel cart. Went to my first source for such things, Amazon.com and found one for $130 but that did not include the casters-another 40 bucks! So I kept dragging my feet. I would go look at it then click out without buying and I did this for several days in a row. Then on Wednesday in my email was a Costco notice for online only items and there was a cart! $77 and it already has the casters on it and free shipping. It is slightly smaller than the other one and  it will fit better. Sometimes when something is holding you back it is for a good reason. And for those of you trying to help, I looked in many other places than those two, Craigslist, Wayfair, Overstock etc to name a few.
So the new cart will be here Tuesday and I will post pics of the finished improvements of the southwest corner of our living space.

River Ride

Decided to get another ride in today and when I started out, my legs said, "Really? We  are going to do this again?"  And I said, "Yes, but I will go slow and if you give me any trouble at all we will stop."
So down the trail we went headed for the Raccoon River Valley Bridge. The weather is perfect, very light breeze, full-on sunshine, birds singing and flowers blooming. It was a perfect day and a perfect ride and I hope it is the first of many more.
We have a flooding situation. The bridge always makes me a bit uneasy when it is in the flood stage.

OMG

Just returned from my first bike ride since October of 2015 and I am a pooped pup! I started out and thought, "This isn't too bad." But then I started thinking it was really too easy and noticed the wind was from the northeast but I kept going. The trail is always easy going DOWN to the river and not as easy coming back UP to town. Funny how your memory sometimes fails on these things. I thought I will just take it easy. It will be okay. But then I decided perhaps it was a bit too much for my first go of the year so stopped short of the river probably a half to three-quarter of a mile. I am  so glad that I did because the trip back was the workout of the year. Now I am home and recovering. Butch is on the golf course getting his workout but I know mine was tougher!

Naturally pleasing arrangement.

This was my turn around point. Picture faces south.

Artistic bend

Early this morning, a few minutes after 6:00 AM this was the view on my wall. It was created by the sun shining through an east window and making this artistic feature on a west wall. I like it. A true artist does not owe anyone an explanation.  

Latest project- ironing board desk

This is not the best of pictures but it gives you the idea.
Ingredients:
1 adjustable ironing board
1 5 ft.x 16 inch laminate white board
8-10 right sized screws.
Directions:
Mount best-looking side of board evenly centered on ironing board. If you have any DYI skills at all you can figure the rest out. And to answer the first question- it is far sturdier than you might imagine.

Wah la- a new desk!

And now I can see outdoors while computing. Yeah!

Our Missouri kids

Our Missouri kids went to the zoo! The one thing I enjoy most about Facebook is keeping up with the grands through pictures. Snipped a few choice photos.

Devon is 13!

 We had a great time at Devon's birthday party. We played Five-Straight, a game that Jason introduced us to many years ago. A fun way to spend a rainy day and celebrate Devon becoming a teenager..

Cold to the Bone too

It has been very cold here this past week and we weather it much better in the house than the motorhome but it is still not good. Yesterday we went to an auction. It is in a big old building that is not heated. Once we became thoroughly cooled we came home. My only purchase of the day was an ironing board I acquired for a dollar. It wasn't even on the auction. I have been looking for one and there it stood right by the door so I asked the auctioneer about it and he sold it to me and even asked me how many I wanted. Apparently they are not a hot item at auctions. If you start looking on Pinterest you will want an ironing board too.

These folks are better acclimated than I am.

They do not appear cold at all.

So we came home and heated up some leftover chili, the perfect meal for the day.

A few days ago when the sun was still shining the neighbor cat came over for a visit. She laid claim to our place and many others over the winter. Her name is Fluffy and she keeps her distance. I do not mind having cats around as they keep the mice away. So meet Fluffy:

 I spent too much time on Pinterest this morning getting inspired for projects. Butch will soon have lots of things to do. If you feel you are in a rut just visit Pinterest and soon you will be flooded with all kinds of ideas for all kinds of projects.

This afternoon we will be going to a birthday party for a new teenager, Devon Hiller. He is a good kid so I think we are all safe for now.

Whether the weather is cold,

Or whether the weather is hot,

We will weather the weather,

Whatever the weather,

Whether we like it or not!

45 degrees!

So I have not been walking since we landed back in Iowa. And I have really missed it. Cold weather, rain, and wind have been a few of my excuses. So today I said to Butch let's pretend like it is winter, dress for it and actually go for a walk. One of the things I have always admired about my guy is that he is usually willing to go along with my crazy ideas. Crazy, huh? So we bundled up and ended up walking to the other side of town and visiting with our friends Jerilynn and Pete and returning home with a stop at Hy-Vee on the way home. Total was close to 2 miles.
Tomorrow we will be checking out an auction and Karla will be coming over for it too. Should be fun as it has been quite a while since we were at an auction.

Rainy, Cool Indoor Day

Butch and I have been busy getting things done outside. I know most of you can relate to that. It is the only argument I can give for staying in one place all the time...but even then you must wait for the right weather for whatever you choose to do. Being south works better for that than north...but that isn't going to happen for us. I have long had a theory about why things seem neater in the north, like yards and farm houses etc and that is, in the north you are always working with deadlines like getting it done before cold weather sets in or getting itchy fingers to get out and dig in the dirt come Spring. And in the south it is always, " I'll get to that tomorrow, Ma." which is a line from Ma and Pa Kettle that gets used around here quite often regardless if we're north or south. Said with a smile, of course.
So today has been laundry day, computering day, nap day, stay inside day and all things good day.

Sticker Shock

Butch and I went to the grocery store for the first time since returning home. That tells you I was well stocked. I had green peppers on my list and that was my first consternation. 4 for $5! Really? And besides that, there were many that were a bit wrinkled. Oh, to leave the land of plenty and inexpensive and return to the place of over-a-dollar-each green peppers is always a shock.
There was a fellow thumping watermelons and Butch and I were watching him with interest. He had his ear right down on the melon so he could hear if it was think, thank, or thunk which is also our determination of ripeness. He found a thunker and he was trying to get it loose from the pile when he noticed the sticker price of $7 each. We engaged in conversation and he said for that price he could wait till they were in season and I had to agree.
We engaged in far more conversation than I really wanted but he seemed to need it so I endured for a bit. Found out he had recently moved to Greenwood, a senior housing place near the golf course and overlooking the river valley, and he was enjoying it very much with all the wildlife and all. He described the wildlife and its behavior in detail.  He said his wife had died recently and then shared that he was 73. I am 73 but I didn't tell him that and actually, I was not given a chance to share it had I wanted to. I slowly walked away and noticed he was engaged with another lady and sharing the same info with her. One thing we definitely agreed on and that is $7 is too much for a watermelon in April or any other month.
So it may take me awhile to adjust my thinking and start spending for groceries indiscriminately. It always does!

A week today

We have been here a week today. Who would have guessed it would take me two weeks to settle in. I developed a bad cold on Tuesday and spent a few miserable days in a row for the third time this year. I get real ticked off and depressed when I get a cold. So this is why you haven't heard from me. I am better now and Butch is on the tail end of having it too so we should soon be able to return to normal, everyday living. It is sounding not only possible but welcoming to me. I did manage to get several loads of laundry done and the bugs cleaned up. I do not know if they died a natural death or from the bomb but there were a fair amount of them.
We visited Leo and Keri and their grandson Jorgen and daughter Emily were there too. Leo and Jorgen have a strong bond. Jorgen thinks his Grandpa is the greatest thing since dinner.

Oh yes! And Lucy!

Missouri Kids

Elise testing her new batch of dress up clothes

Nana Susan helping little Leo burn off 3 year old energy.

Papa Gary helping Elise do the same.

Brad Teeter cooks

Getting Settled

Oh, where to begin?
We came home about 1:30 Sunday afternoon and the most challenging part of the trip was after we turned west off I-35 at Grimes. We had wind and some rain from that point on. We fueled up at Sparky's in Jefferson for $1.99 (Deisel). After getting parked we set off bug bombs in the house and immediately thereafter Butch tuned into the Masters and watched until he became disappointed and those of you who also watched will know why and the rest of you won't care.

We had to wait two to four hours for the bug bomb to subside and have it safe to go in the house so I went over to Mickeys to see her new home. It is beautiful and I love it. Mickey has probably 5 years or more to get it just the way she wants it but that is indeed what keeps her going so she is tickled pink.
Mickey fixed us Mexican and Keri joined us and we got caught up on Jefferson news.
Monday morning first thing-8:00- I called City Hall to have the water hooked up and they suggested I call the shop so I did and they came right away and hooked up the water meter. Blaine stopped by to get paid for snow removal. ($340 for two lots). I went to the post office and picked up the mail and stopped at the telephone company to have Internet connected. I had Internet in less than an hour after returning home. I love small town living!
And then I started in on the MoHo refrigerator, emptying, cleaning and carrying the goods to the house refrigerator. Six or more trips later it was done on both ends.
So we have a good start on getting settled in and it will continue today but we have a ways to go before we can say it is done.
Today's plan is to get groceries and canned goods transferred, all things needing laundered and then I can breathe just a bit easier.

Update in photos

This rocking horse/table was on the Linder's back deck. I thought it to be  a unique feature.

I thought the view between the two RV's was  appropriate- A ring of bluebells around the steps with a patch of blooming aloe in the background.

This view is from the front porch. The RV's are barely visible through the trees

The Linders daughter Tara had this sign made for her Mother's day gift to Lisa.

Tara taking a picture of her Mom and Dad under the new sign.

Terry hanging the sign while his brother Doug looks on.

from L o R- Rodney, Terry, Lisa, Tara and Doug

One of Lisa's roses in full bloom.

Morning sunrise at Big Cabin OK.

Leo story

Nana Barbara and Nana Susan are going to school to have lunch with Elise tomorrow. Leo heard these plans. He said if the Nanas were going to have lunch with Elise the Papas should have lunch at Leo's school. Nana Susan had to tell him it didn't work that way. Leo is in preschool and will be having his 3rd birthday on Monday.

Elise Story

I asked Elise if she had any dress up clothes that she could give up so I could take them to my friend Sherri for her daycare girls. She said,"No". But then Nana Susan reminded her of one she had worn recently that was uncomfortable for her. Elise said, "You mean the polka dot one?" Nana said ,"yes." Elise said, "No, that one still fits Leo." Being the writer, producer and director of her productions she is not about to give up a good wardrobe asset. How lucky she is to have a little brother willing to go along with her shenanigans. The day will come I am sure when Leo will say "No". But then again maybe not!

Update on accidents and trip.

We watched the news while at the Downstream Casino to see if the accidents were covered and indeed they were. The bus was taking 23 high school students and chaperones to the zoo for a field trip. They were all able to get off the bus safely and another bus was brought for them to continue their trip. The people in the van were not so lucky. They were all(?) trapped in the van and one was killed instantly. I assume it was the driver. The passengers said he was from New Mexico and was very tired.
We did have one close encounter when a Sara Lee truck tried to run us off the road. It was a close one! Butch gave him the big horn.
We ate lunch at the Downstream casino, Exit one, partaking of the $6.95 per person buffet and the food was excellent. We would do the lunch buffet again, however, the night buffet hovers around the $20 per person range and that my friends is out of our range.
That is with a players card which is easy to get in the gift shop of the hotel and also lets you stay in the RV portion of the place for free. Their spots have electric and water. It is a good deal all around.
We paid our "rent" by playing the machines in the casino so it was a win/win for them and us.

We waited till the rain let up before heading for Peculiar arriving about noon. Our only battle on that leg was the winds. We met up with our kids at the school, went to a Mexican restaurant for supper and caught up with family news.
I am preparing supper for tonight and Butch is watching day one of the Masters at Gary and Susan's place. I am also catching up with the blog and other Internet stuff. So now we are on with the show!

Withdrawal and 2016 Spring Trip notes

I have not had Internet since leaving the valley. Well, I have on my phone but not full blown "do anything you want"  Internet. So now we are in Big Cabin OK at the Big Cabin Deisel Services location. They have EXCELLENT Internet in the 10 space RV park behind their business. FYI-this park is open to anyone. We pull in  their pull-thru full hook-up sites then go to the business office to pay the fee. Butch is talking to them now so I cannot tell you right off what their fee is.

It could take me a good long time to catch up, not having Internet since last Tuesday the 29th. So be patient with me.

Our trip thus far has been silky smooth and uneventful for us. We let Google take us on a bit of a different route than we had planned on the Canyon Lake TX to Thackerville OK-361 mile leg but we will go that way again as it sliced off many miles and time- besides being low on traffic and good surface. Highway 51 out of Gainesville Texas is the road I am referring to and it angles southwest and gets us away from lots of city traffic around the Denton Texas area. I have to make note of these things or the memories of it are less than accurate.

Today's 287 mile leg from Thackerville to Big Cabin was all interstate. On the east side of Oklahoma City in the westbound lanes were two major accidents just a few miles apart. A school bus was completely burned up and it was a gray shell sitting at an odd angle alongside the highway. When it was ablaze it had to have been a spectacular sight. Butch assumed it was an old bus because of the shape. Traffic on the inside lane of westbound was moving but slowly. Two or so miles down the road was another ugly accident where a white van had run into the back of a tanker truck. The van was about halfway under and it looked doubtful there would be survivors. Both accidents had been there long enough for rescue to be there. We were supposing that traffic was at a complete halt in both lanes at the time of the first accident and the driver of the van didn't notice in time to stop, creating the second accident.

Now we are settled in and most of our chores are done. Butch is washing the bugs off the front using the fabric softener method. (But a couple of dryer sheets in a bucket of water, wet down the windshield and let it sit a bit-5 to 10 minutes- then wash as usual and the bugs come right off-MAGIC)
I just watched it happen so I can verify it works.

Trek North in 2016

2016 Northbound Itinerary 

Leave Magnolia park Wednesday, March 30th-headed for Terry and Lisa Linder, Canyon lake TX (285 miles)

Leave Canyon Lake on Sunday, April 3rd via 281 to Jacksboro TX-then 380 eastbound to north on I-35 to Exit 1 in Oklahoma staying overnight at the casino at Thackerville OK.(361 miles)

Monday, April 4th to Big Cabin, OK (283 miles) via I-35 North and I-44 East

Moho serviced on Tuesday, April 5th at 8:00 am.

Leave Tuesday after servicing to Downstream Casino Resort, 69300 East Nee Road, Quapaw, OK 74363 (50 miles) On I-44 east

Leave Wednesday, April 6th taking I-44 east to I-49 North formerly Hwy 71 for Peculiar Park Place, 22901 Southeast Outer Road, Peculiar, MO 64078 (148 miles)

Leave for Jefferson IA  Monday, April 11th because Butch wants to watch the Masters on Sunday. (267 miles).

I refer to the blog on occasion to see about past trips and routes taken.