Tuesday

[Shirlv]

Morning All, it is not snowing, sleeting or raining so off to run errands. Be safe

[asirimarco]

Good Morning to all - well today our winter in Mexico ends for this year. We will be crossing the border back in to the USA some time this afternoon. Will stay in Amado, AZ for a couple of days then head on home. We spent 90 days in Mazatlan. Shortest time in Mexico ever. Just wasn't that fun this year. Also want to get home to get the vaccine.

[Irmi]

Good morning ladies!

Tina, such wonderful news knowing you're getting out and about! I'm already looking forward to your next update! O'Sharon, I've been talking to a friend sort of around your area and know you've had your share of snow and hope things will start getting warmer for you. Sheila, I know how difficult it can be trying to line up help to take care of your mother and wish you the best of luck. Shirl, Liz, Anne and others, I'm enjoying reading about the container gardens you are planning or in Anne's case, already reaping the rewards. Sue, your house must always look brand new with all the painting and fixing up you're doing. BJ, I loved the Valentine's Day card your hubby made. Cheryl, is Texas starting to warm up where you are? I was watching the deep freeze around the country and that couldn't have been fun. Lyn, it's good hearing from you. Velda, I hope things are going well for you, both at home with your son at working out at Curves. I went there for ten years just before I retired. Barbie, have you figured out what to do about the small cracks in the gourd? Beth, I really miss the gorgeous views in the western area of the country and always enjoy your pictures. I know I missed lots of others here, but I enjoy all your posts.

We woke up to the high 50's this morning and will get into the mid 70's today. Someone will be coming today to install the kitchen cabinets that arrived yesterday and the bathroom vanity will also be installed in our casita. Next week the tile floor is supposed to be laid. Once the floor is down, we can have the furniture delivered. Pictures to follow.

Today is our 48th wedding anniversary and I'll make something special for dinner. I've gotten back to coloring which takes up several hours a day. Right now I'm working on a devil lionfish. He's quite a challenge.

That's my itty bitty news.

[IrishIroamed]

Hi ladies~~~

Cheryl,  is Texas starting to warm up where you are?   I was watching the deep freeze around the country and that couldn't have been fun...

Yes, it's definately warmer here. Back to shorts and T-shirts instead of winter clothes including a heavy coat. Been in the mid 70s for daytime temps starting on Sunday. We were under a boil water order too, but that's been lifted. Haven't done that since I'm still using water in my tank filled before the freeze.

I'll be to heading to Port Lavaca then to the Rio Grande valley for a few days on Monday. I'm guessing the 12" of snow that fell in Del Rio will be gone by then. Slowly will be starting to work my way back to Illinois, but I'm in Texas thru March. After 4 winters on the road, I've finally learned not to head back that way to early. Duh!

Unfortunately, a retreat/campground between Kerrville & Fredericksburg where I stayed for a month with some Grand Design RV owners just I know before and after I went to Big Bend NP didn't fair so well.  No water or electric due to freezing temps, ice and snow. They finally got a gennie working 2 days ago so they could get water to the deer.  They lost almost 20 head of axis and black buck deer. Those poor things weren't able to handle the weather. At least the fallow deer and white tail made it thru OK, but it's now a wait and see if the pregnant does lost their babies too. One ranch west of San Antonio reportedly lost 85% of their various deer stock. So sad.

The trailer made it thru the cold snap with no problems, and I actually only went thru 2 full tanks of propane, but I'm glad I bought extra to have on hand. It was a bit warm for  sleeping, but keeping the underbelly warm was a priority.

...
Cheryl, I learned the hard way that when the temps are really low you either must drain and winterize the hot water tank or keep it heated...

Beth, not sure about your RVs, but in all 3 of my Grand Design owners manuals, it is mentioned specifically to NOT to let anti-freeze get into the water heater. They all also have had bypass switches to prevent that from happening when winterizing.  My tank was fine by making sure it and all water lines were empty, with faucets opened, at night. Plus it helps having a four season camper with artic insulation.

In another note, I did do a bit of sightseeing on Sunday and did the self guided tour of the USS Lexington down in Corpus Christie. Tomorrow I have a tour booked at the King Ranch which I've known about since my horse days. Excited about that visit.

Happy to see that Tina is getting out too. Keep getting better!

Happy anniversary Irmi & Steve!

That's it from my neck of the woods. Be patient. Spring is coming!

[Bethers]

Cheryl, I was not recommending antifreeze in the hot water tank. I was recommending either having heat on to it or draining it which is how you winterize it including using the bypass if you have antifreeze that could get in it. Many turn the heat off and even in most cold weather rigs, it's having them on that keeps them safe if they have water in them in really cold spells.

Nothing new here. I have a maintenance guy coming to look at some dry root on the edge of the porch roof tomorrow. He says it shouldn't be a big deal to fix or on my pocketbook. I hope he's right. I ran out to Safeway and went in. Shock! It cost me twice as much as ordering pick up. That's another reason to do pick up! Both my freezer in the rig and the casita are full. Time to quit making purchases and eat what I have.

[Acadianmom]

It got up to 77 today but it doesn't feel that warm because the wind is blowing. I decided to go fishing this afternoon. I have quite a variety of things in the pond. I caught a few perch, a small bass, a pretty good size white perch and a crab. The crab is from the water from Hurricane Laura. They usually die. I will have to put a crab trap on my shopping list.

Cheryl, so sad about all the deer dying. We got to tour the horse barn at the King Ranch because we went to pick up a horse we bought. I don't keep up with the NCHA anymore so don't know if they are still raising cutting horses.

Carol, sorry you had to cut your Mexico trip short. Things are just not the same anywhere.

Martha

[Irmi]

Hi ladies!

The general contractor was here today installing the kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanity. Pictures follow:







The first picture was taken from the den area showing the paddle fan and the kitchen cupboards. The next picture are our hickory kitchen cabinets with the under counter refrigerator in place and the last picture is the vanity in the bathroom. We still need to buy the shower door and the floor tiles will be laid next week and the granite counter top will be installed at some point. It's taken a while but we're getting there.

[Bethers]

Irmi, looking beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Out of curiosity why did you go with a smaller fridge?

[Irmi]

Beth, the reason we went with the smaller fridge is because we have so little counter space, I didn't want to lose that. I know some people here that put their refrigerator in what I call my music room. But we have the full size refrigerator in our coach, so this space is for "extra" things and for overnight guests. I hope that makes sense.

[Bethers]

Irmi, it makes perfect sense.

[JudyJB]

Nice to hear so many of you are also night owls. I spent most of my childhood being accused of being lazy because I stayed up late and slept in. We spent most of the summer and a lot of weekends at our cottage on Lake Huron, often with a slew of cousins around. People used to think it was funny to try to wake me up early in the morning, especially my father!! And I still tend to grade papers very late at night.

Had to get up at 5:45 am this morning to try to get a campsite in Florida, but was unsuccessful. However, I knew i needed to get here to Big Bend of the Colorado State Park early because it was first-come, first-served, like all Nevada State Parks, so I just stayed up and left as soon as the sun came up. Got here at 9 am Pacific time. Which reminds me--I hate this area because Arizona is on the east side of the Colorado and Nevada on the west side. I don't know if I am losing it more lately, but I have been going nuts trying to figure out what time I should leave if I have to be somewhere by a certain time the next day. I have decided to stick to Mountain time regardless because that is where I am going to be mostly in the next couple of months. Will head to Homolovi SP on Thursday morning. Still have not heard from New Mexico if my reservations are going to be good on the 27th.

ANd I am going to be in bed by 10 tonight because I had so little sleep last night!!! Or at least try to get to sleep early.

[snowball]

a much nicer day temp wise as well as wind... sun out and clear what wind there was was just a breeze... so nice spent some time outside... my friends came and picked up their utility trailer..while I was gone they parked it in front of the 5th wheel as sorta a stoppage. I tend to be paranoid when I leave the trailer...
got my dishes done need to remember to turn of the heater... haven't done so... and tomorrow really need to go get water done to the lowest red spot...should have done it today just not sure if I want to get the water out here or go in and pay part of me says that it's mostly for washing dishes and flushing the toilet do need to decide what to do...
Irmi you must take notes I never remember what people have been doing to reply to what they said...
have started another afghan had thought and bought the yarn to do it for the most part but while at the store I got this idea to use yellow in one section and dark green in place of yellow in the next section... oops I forgot so did two sections of yellow... now I need to figure out how to "fix" it not pulling out twenty rows... so I can either do the next two rows green then 2 of yellow ect and do 8 sections or stay with the 7 sections and just do the center section green I will have enough yarn to do it either way but what I don't have is enough yarn to do it all yellow... I was hoping that I had by chance gotten 4 yellows but nope 3 of each... guess I need to take Shadow out he is pacing...
you all have a good day
sheila

[BarbaraRose]

Played putter golf this morning. Was nice out but no breeze so it got pretty warm in the sun. Was in the mid 80's today. Then made a trip to WM for a few things I needed and back home. Had lunch and then lost my motivation for cleaning. I did get motivated to start on a gourd project tho. I scrapped the gourd I was going to use since I didn't get any real answers to how to deal with the cracks in it. Did a similar design on a smaller gourd and spent the next couple hours working on that. The final coat of sealer is still drying tonight but I think it turned out pretty good. I will post a photo tomorrow. I am seeing a theme with the gourds I have done so far. They all have teal, copper and/or gold colors. I think I need to expand my color schemes! My house seems to be following that theme as well...

Tomorrow is a short day at work again so hopefully, I can get a couple outdoor things done before it gets dark. My golf cart still isn't charging. Will have to call the cart guy tomorrow.

Supposed to get really windy again tomorrow and Thursday. Up around 60 mph gusts again! Yikes!

Tiger Woods got in a horrible car accident this morning in LA. Looks like his golf career is over for good now. That is too bad. He was planning to start playing again soon, after his 5th back surgery. Not gonna happen now. His reckless life outside of golf has really taken it's toll on him over the years. He sure did a lot of good for the game of golf tho.

Got my fitness tracker but the instructions are so itty bitty, that I can't even read them with my reading glasses. Might have to buy a microscope so I can learn how to use it!

Irmi, I love your ceiling fan! Are you going to keep the cabinets natural or will you paint them?

Have a good night!