An Afghan from Peggy

Last Spring I asked Peggy if she would make me an afghan. Peggy has made a gazillion of these for many people in many sizes. The pattern for this is very popular. I sure wish we had had it on hand when we were still in Iowa this fall. We have had a few cool nights since we have arrived here and it has been a blessing. It is heavier than most and reminded me of those therapeutic blankets they now recommend for people who suffer from anxiety. I love our new comfort cover!

Devon on net neutrality

Devon is my Grandnephew and the son of Karla. He has made a video about net neutrality and why it is important to all of us. I am so proud of him for getting behind this cause. We need more awareness of the issues and the willingness to stand up and be heard.
https://youtu.be/YquXYYTnN00

The Play-Elf Junior

There are also some great video's but I have to get them in email before I can share them. I could not decide on just a few of the still photo's so you are getting them all.

More ...

Karla's Christmas Cactus

Before we left I asked around about someone adopting a Christmas Cactus for at least the winter. No takers. So I decided to divide and re-pot it and maybe if they were smaller someone would like to have one.
Karla said she would take one but knew nothing about the caring for it. So I sent her some directions. She sent me a picture of it and apparently the plant is very happy at Karla's place.

My visit with Leo

The cheddar bite mentioned in the video was in the small space beside where one attaches the seatbelt and had been there for several days.
https://youtu.be/cWkysKFBJKM

If you need further translation let me know. This young man likes to talk.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It is so hard to believe we are already at Thanksgiving. Maybe that is true for me because I can think of a thousand things a day that I am thankful for.
My top 6 today:
1. My 58-year marriage and talented big rig driver.
2. Healthy and happy family all-around.
3. Friends old, new and in between.
4. Two tiny abodes both of which offer us a great deal of comfort.
5. Enough-food, warmth, coolness, love.
6. Thursday night trivia in Jefferson!

Getting back to normal-Fall 2017 Trip

I have been a long time without Internet or at least it feels like that to me. We left Iowa one week ago this morning. I did try to write posts even though I could not get them posted. You will find my efforts here.
Thursday,

Blog-Fall2017

11/18/2017

Butch and I spent the day with Susan and Leo and it was a very fun day. I have some video of Leo talking to me in the car on the way to his school. I currently do not have an internet connection and will not have one until we get into our spot in Magnolia Park on Tuesday so I am trying to get this written in chronological order and some other jewels of the last 2 days will have to wait. He proudly and properly introduced us to his teacher and her assistants. I will write down the pearls of wisdom from little Leo as I recall them. When we headed to the play Leo needed to hold someone's hand while crossing the street and that hand was mine. Leo has had a runny and congested nose ever since we arrived but as we were crossing the street, holding hands, he says,"Don't worry Nana, It isn't a cold. It's just allergies." The way that little 4-year-old mind works is a continual wonder. 

The play was fantastic. This group of children from 8 to 13 and one 7-year-old (Elise) did a really fine job of presenting the play Elf Jr.

Elise was on cloud nine throughout the entire time we were there. Her mother and her grandmother both noticed that many little things that would usually be a big irritation to her didn't have any effect on her at all. She was so excited and exclaimed over and over how happy she was. She didn't need to tell us as it was all over her face. Absolutely beaming. And we are so happy for her. A star is born!

Saturday:

We woke to misty rain and 30 mph winds. The good news was that it was a north wind and we were headed south. It would rain much harder and sometimes gust to 45 and when we turned west headed for Joplin it jerked us around pretty good. It was a short day for us and Thank God for that. We arrived at the Downstream Casino at Quapaw OK a little bit before noon. We indulged in the buffet and played in the casino for a few hours. We like this casino because you can often play for a couple of hours and be lead along enough to keep you going. I won $8.00 and Butch won $1 or $2. We left happy. So now we have been resting, napping and enjoying some downtime. The forecast for the next 3 travel days looks good. So in this week of being grateful, we truly are as happy as clams and exceedingly pleased for all we have been blessed with.

Sunday:

We woke to the sunshine, cool but the sun was shining and minimal wind. So we expected a good travel day. And it was...mostly! I asked Butch about the GPS and he didn't think we would need it until we were closer to Oklahoma City. Wrong! There have been some changes to the Tulsa area since the last time we came this route. So there were a few fast and scary decisions on turns. And then there is a 20 mile stretch of road construction that will not be completed anytime soon between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. In hindsight, Butch said it wasn't all that bad you just had to be careful to not run into the cement barricades. The barricades were on my side. I didn't like it.

We arrived at the Winstar Casino, Exit 1 at Thackerville OK. We decided to eat at the casino and gamble a little. I put in $6 and came home with $20. Must be on a roll. And Butch put in $4 and came home with $5. Talk about big winners! I do believe we qualify.

Rested well.

Monday:

Left the casino park earlier than usual and for my own info we went to Gainesville TX, 6 miles and exited to Hwy 51 headed for Decatur Tx. The reason for this is to avoid Interstate 35 between Gainesville and just north of San Antonio. We pick up 380 west at Decatur( had a bit of trouble finding 380 west) toward Jacksboro where we find HWY 281 South.

In the morning we plan to go down to 1604 on 281 and go east to pick up I-35, followed by I- 410 and then I-37. I-37 becomes 281 once again and we follow it all the way to the Rio Grande Valley. The last part we have done many times over so it is more for others info than ours on that bit.

This park, Roadrunner RV park at Johnson City is more than we like to pay. $40 per night. And as I type this I remember why we accepted this last Spring (April 2017). We had just come through an 8 inch rain with high stress driving . The water on the interstate was halfway up our Motorhome tires and you could not see!

I usually brag on Texas roads but I have a few complaints. It most likely would not be noticed all that much in a car but the motorhome was bouncing pretty good. It straightens up at Hico TX and we had a nice parking lot there too for a lunch break. It is located on 281 about a block before/after turning depending on direction.

Other news: 

I heard that Elise fell asleep backstage during intermission on her Saturday night performance. She was very tired. She did her performance without mistakes but her family could tell she was tired throughout. 

Her Sunday performance was back up to her usual sparkling self. She is a trooper!

So to continue...

Tuesday November 21st.

We did not take 1604 In San Antonio. From Johnson City, we followed 281 south to 311and then hwy 46 over to I-35 south.

We will not take 311 again, at least not in the motorhome. 8 miles and it was very narrow and curvy. Butch found driving in San Antonio traffic challenging and then we remembered we usually try to go through cities on Sundays. And we were doing San Antonio on a Tuesday. We will try to remember our (cities=Sundays) rule from now on.

After leaving San Antonio things smoothed out nicely. We have never minded the trip after getting on I-37. We listen to audiobooks and the time flies. It is, however, a long way. 5 hours at least for us in the motorhome.

As we neared the valley we decided to have our motorhome washed in a truck wash. We had never done that before but last season Wayne Bruun who we know from the park recommended it so we decided to check it out. It is I-69 Truck Wash near Edinburg. They washed the car at the same time. And they wiped it down, all for $45. We filled up with fuel afterward and arrived at Magnolia about 4:30.

If you have read this far I admire your dedication!! 

Take off

Yesterday the sun was shining and we were up bright and early to begin the trip south. Despite the attempt of our neighbor(owner) to the south to impede our departure at the last minute, we were able to exit with the motorhome and be on our way. It felt good to be on the road again and headed in the right direction.
Traffic was relatively light even in the Kansas City area. So we arrived at the Peculiar Park Place RV Park in the early afternoon.

The Gary and Susan Brooker household is active and hectic. I remember those days myself with activities of all kinds keeping the schedule full and constantly on the move. Looking back it seems to have passed quickly. So our goal now is to work in and around their busy lives for a couple of days before continuing our southward movement.

To back up a bit, I was mistaken about Elise's play. It is not in conjunction with the Harrisonville High school although she has performed with them on more than one occasion. This time she has joined a children's theatre group and it is an ongoing thing with one play being closely followed by another with only a week break. She is thrilled to be living her life's dream at 7! Her parents and grandparents may wear down long before she will especially as it nears opening night.
There are two age brackets for this and even though she is only 7 she is in the older group. It might be less polished than the high school group, I am still sure it will be highly entertaining.
Elise was at dress rehearsal last night so we didn't see her but we did have the pleasure of little Leo's company and that can be an adventure in itself. He talks nonstop and that is not an exaggeration as all family members can attest to. If he is not talking to a person he is talking to himself or a toy or perhaps just the air!
As it nears bedtime his mother limits his liquid intake. He said he was thirsty and was trying to get Papa Gary to give him water. Papa Gary said he could have a little bit indicating about an inch in a glass. That was not what Leo had in mind so he continued to negotiate. And then he said very dramatically, "All of this just because I MIGHT pee the bed." Oh and this talking thing? He inherited that from his Greatgrandpa Butch. Gary Brant, one of Butch's best friends and the best man at our wedding nicknamed Butch "Windy" for that reason.There are many other instances we could cite to support the claim.

Last Dr. Appointment and other stuff

Today was the last Dr. appointment and it was with the plastic surgeon, following up on the surgery I had before the other surgery. It has been very busy this fall! He said all was well but I do have a spot needing a biopsy so will be seeing somebody in South Texas to get that done as soon as I find someone I take a liking to.
So now we are getting the last bits done before take off in the morning. We are more than ready as it keeps getting colder each and every day. Oh and then there are the promises made by the weatherman. I know they are trying to put a positive spin on the forecast but all it does is tick me off when it is so far off the mark.
The overpass at Grand Junction( next town to the east) that began last winter was to be completed and opened for travel today at noon. We hoped it would be open by the time we returned from the doctor appointment in Ames. My appointment did not take very long so we were too early for the opening. Not even sure it is open yet. It really does not affect us however as we are heading south out of Jefferson and not east. Next Spring will be soon enough for our inspection.

Good Morning!

They promised 50 degrees yesterday. Didn't happen. They are promising the same today despite the clouds. It is starting out warmer this morning. OMG! It is 44 at 7:31 AM.
Yesterday we went to the telephone office and stopped the Internet on Thursday. Checked in at the post office to make sure my online address change had actually gone through. It had. Then to the grocery store for a few items.

I have several audiobooks on an MP3 player for us to listen to on our trip and we have started on one.


Listening to audibooks makes the miles go faster as well as being entertainment if your overnights happen to be in a dead TV zone.
Also for Netflix fans:
We recently watched Alias Grace. It is on the dark side but kept our interest through 6 episodes.
In addition to that, I am once again making bracelets. Hey, I have all these beads, you know! I have made 3 and working on a 4th.

Still Hunkered

Written yesterday:
Still cold. They say it should reach 50 degrees today but without a shred of sunshine, I do not expect it.
We are ready to go. Should not take long to get the final pieces in place on Thursday. Looked at the 10-day forecasts for the places we plan to be and I hope it holds true because it looks very promising. Experience tells me that when we arrive at our destination we will be acclimating for a few days. When a person goes from winter to summer in the course of a few days it shocks the body. Cold to Hot= severe sweat. Hot to Cold= severe shivering.  I prefer the first to the second and it all settles out in time no matter which way it goes.
The pictures from my perch in the motorhome.

 I wish I had caught this shot just a few minutes earlier when Piggy,(that is what Butch calls him) had his front paw(?)on top of the feeder while looking this way as if to tell Butch, "Hey, it's empty!"

Northern Flicker

Sharing?

Turkey for Two-reposted

Reposted but perhaps something you may want to make note of...

Turkey for Two
Did you have a meal with friends and family on the holiday and miss all the turkey and dressing leftovers at your house? Or there are just the two of you and you do not want to cook a big ol' turkey for two people. I discovered an easy way to have it all. Grease the sides of your crockpot or use one of those nifty slow cooker liners ( I swear by the liners). Place a small package of dry stuffing mix in the bottom. Sprinkle with a 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth. Slice an onion and dice a celery stalk and layer on top of stuffing. Place a thawed Butterball 3 pound turkey roast (found in your grocer's freezer) on top of celery and onion. Cook on low all day or high for 4-5 hours and you have the best of both worlds. A scrumptious turkey dinner for two with some for leftovers if you are moderate eaters.

Veterans Day

Oftentimes we get caught up in our own daily life and I must say that has been very true for me this past summer and fall. But on this veterans day I am brought up short and reminded of who is responsible for this cushy life I am living. So this is a time to be reminded of all we are grateful for and that includes our veterans.

Crack of Dawn

Butch and I arose at 6:00 AM to be sure to make the 8:00 AM appt in Ankeny with my surgeon. She gave me the ol' AOK and said she will see me next Spring for a final assessment.
The drive into Ankeny was beautiful despite the 19 degree temperature. We kept the car nice and toasty warm.
We are back home now and waiting for it to warm up as the weatherman has promised. Butch managed to make himself a bit of work that he is waiting for warmer weather to tackle. At the Elks Club on Wednesday, he ran into a tree trimmer and since we have waited for another guy all summer that hasn't shown up Butch asked him to take care of a tree that has worried Butch for as long as we have lived here. He came yesterday! So now Butch has lots of branches to get piled up in an orderly fashion to wait for Spring and be out of our way.

Last nights trivia session was a disappointment. Some nights we know little to nothing. We did great the first half but the second half tripped us up. It is fun despite the outcome. We enjoy the visiting with friends as much as anything. And very much look forward to next Spring and more trivia.

SLOW COOKER MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE

This one is a proven winner. I put this recipe on Facebook and Marie Kelley (Marlene's Granddaughter-in-law) told me that it was a huge hit with her son Nolan. I asked Devon and Karla if they wanted to take home the leftovers and Devon enthusiastically nodded "Yes".  Butch and I thought it was mighty tasty. So it has the stamp of approval from several different directions.

SLOW COOKER MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS
1 package (16 ounces) elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1 cup 2% milk
2 large eggs, beaten
1/8 teaspoon paprika
DIRECTIONS
Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker; add butter. In a large bowl, mix 3 cups cheese, evaporated milk, condensed soup, 2% milk and eggs. Pour over macaroni mixture; stir to combine. Cook, covered, on low 3-1/2 to 4 hours or until a thermometer reads at least 160°.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cook, covered, on low 15-20 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with paprika. Yield: 10 servings.
Originally published as Slow-Cooked Mac 'n' Cheese in Taste of Home February/March 2002, p13

Details of Life

It is a little bit fun to have plenty of time to take care of the details of life. The weather plays its part being too dog-gone cold to do much outside. That takes care of about half our daily chores like walks, golf, and yard work.

The house is all set and we are living in the motorhome. As cold as it is, it would be more pleasant to be in the house but staying in the motorhome serves several purposes. There is a danger to the motorhome when temperatures are lower than freezing and by living in it, it is easier to monitor all of its systems and be sure they are up to snuff. Yesterday we were getting low on propane, our major source of heat. In Texas, the propane guy makes his rounds in the park and he fills us up and we pay him. Easy, peasy. In Iowa, it involves taking the motorhome to the RV dealer. The routine for moving the motorhome is the same regardless if it is moved one mile or 500 miles. It was good to go through our routine of getting ready to move. It is easy to forget details if you haven't done them in a while. We didn't forget anything and we are back in our spot waiting for the day to move south.
We are not forgetting any items this year. At least I believe that to be true. We have it all, right down to the clothespins. Neither of us can think of one more thing to take and we have had plenty of time to think about it.

Today it is supposed to be colder than anything we have experienced for several years. A high today of 35 and a low tonight of 18. We can endure in the motorhome but to say it is pleasant would be an exaggeration. We close off all the windows giving us one more layer of insulation, run an electric heater in addition to the propane furnace and wear several layers of our warmest clothing. Needless to say, it is similar to living in a cave and if you know me at all that is not on my want-to-do list. I can do it for a short period of time without complaint. The limits on it can get pushed easily and that is why I say I am a hot- house flower and we head south every fall.
 I did take a few pictures this morning through my tiny window. I haven't pulled the shade down yet. It was a beautiful sunrise this morning.

My surgeon changed my appointment from today to tomorrow. So tomorrow morning with the temperatures predicted to be 18 degrees we will be headed to the city for an 8:00 AM appointment. You can only imagine how thrilled Butch is about this development. That's the bad news-the good news is that it is our last appointment with her. And all is well.

Cheesy Bacon and Potato Soup-Slow Cooker

Cheesy Bacon and Potato Soup-Slow Cooker
“ I saw this recipe on Facebook and it looked simple and yummy so I tried to copy and paste it. It was a video so I tried to go to the website from which it originated and it was just another video! This irks me and most often I would give up, thinking it was not worth it. However having a bit of extra time I followed through, watched the video (grr) and wrote down the recipe by pausing after each ingredient and each direction. Rarely is this much effort worth it to me.” -Barb

Ingredients:
1 32 oz pkg Chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 bouillon cube
1 32 oz pkg frozen diced potatoes (hashbrowns)
3 C grated cheddar cheese
½ C real bacon bits

Directions:
Pour broth into slow cooker, add creamed soup and whisk to mix. Cube cream cheese and add to pot continuing to whisk it in. I found this step easier by letting this mixture heat up in pot first. Mix in frozen potatoes, and then the cheese, keeping some cheese for garnish. Cook on high heat 3 ½ hours or until potatoes are tender. Add bacon bits for last 15 minutes of cooking holding back some for garnish.

Rarely does Butch rave about a recipe but he did this one and I had to agree. Easy to put together and mighty tasty.
PS. I am not a fan of bacon bits, real or otherwise, so I cooked real bacon to extra crispy.
Enjoy!

Hunkered Down

 When it is cold I do not want to move. Yes, I know moving would get blood to flowing and muscles warming but my instinct is to snuggle under a warm blanket and go into hibernation mode. I like windows open. Warm southern breezes. Heading out the door without a second thought of putting on a coat.
10 more days and we will be on the road and after a pleasant stop in Peculiar we will be headed south taking as few days as possible to head for the border!

The winter forecast for South Texas is above normal temperatures this winter. Yea!!!

Posting

I reread the post of last night and I should never do a post when I am tired. So now the mistakes have been corrected and I can admit to making and then deleting a blank post as well.

Saturday Morning thought:
Sure hope the sun is shining in Texas. I am getting quite tired of this daily gloom.

In the Motorhome

We are all moved in and living the RV lifestyle. Tonight I made spaghetti and meatballs. And when it came time to boil the pasta I had to go to the house to get it. I had forgotten it. I made spaghetti and meatballs because Toni (Averill) Roberts, another of the genius members of the class of '61, had dropped in and gifted us with a loaf of very tasty pepperoni bread. It paired up beautifully!

Earlier today, after my November haircut, we decided to go on a tour. Karla was home and sick with strep throat so we stopped by with some chicken soup for her and then we went to Boone to drop off some donated clothing I was ready to part with. We took the scenic route from Ogden to Boone. It was a wonderful day for it as the sun was making a rare appearance. On our way back to Jefferson we took the traditional and official detour by going north to Dana on the pavement. If you haven't done that for awhile you really should. The windmills and/or turbines are massive and plentiful. It is a site/sight to behold. and then we decided to see how many "campers" were still at Spring Lake. I think they must be workers putting the windmills together. There were 6 or 7 of them. But the main attraction was the geese!! Spring Lake is overrun with geese.

 It was a lovely day. It would be better if warmer but I am grateful for the sunshine and no rain or snow. We are 13 days from takeoff!