Saturday coffee anyone?

[asirimarco]

Good Morning All - Well we are less than 300 miles from home so should be there later today. Then the work begins. I hate the thought of getting everything out of Jennie and settled back in the house. And I wonder if I'll be able to get the Internet up and running at home....
Yesterday we went from TX to KY over 530 miles. Once we start towards home we really get into it.
Safe travels everyone - keep dry and warm

[Cedar518]

I can hear those wheels a-hummin'! Safe travels and

Welcome Home!

[bikerchic777]

OK now girls! Really! Is everyone sleeping in? I'm awake, but not out of bed yet. Did I tell you I'm addicted to my Droid phone? I'm going to suffer major withdrawals if I can't afford the media plan to use all these features!!!

Had a little get together last evening with a few friends. Friends, M&M are leaving here this morning for their summer travels. They have reservations at the COE park I will be working at for a couple of wks in Aug to go to the IA State Fair and see us. It will be interesting to see if they stick with that plan now that we will be divorced. They are already acting different. It's sad that people think they have to act different in these situations. I'm still the same person...hello!

Don't have any definite plans for today. Taking it as it comes. Supposed to be nice, so may get out for a mtc ride and go to Ft Island Beach for awhile and relax! Doesn't that sound good? Hope you girls have a great day! Tell us about it!

Linda and Rags

[bikerchic777]

That's a lot of miles, Carol! Do you have someone to share the driving with? I don't like to go that far in a car anymore, let alone a mh! Your house will feel strange to be in again, I'm sure. I won't experience that this year, being full time now. Before, I had a hard time adjusting back. I found myself finding excuses to be in the RV! Just felt too big in the house! Anyone else feel like that? The dogs preferred the house, I'm sure, with the space to run. Now I have to run them with my bicycle to wear them out...lol. Anyways...glad you made it back safely! BTW...We must have posted about the same time so there are 2 Sat threads. Should keep everyone on their toes...lol.

[Redetotry]

Good morning everyone. Carol glad to hear you are almost home the driver sure rolls down the road! I wondered as I read your post, what you had missed most about your house while you were gone.
Linda I too found most of the friends one has when married sort of disappear after a divorce except for the ones you knew before you married. I think it is just part of what happens when lives change. Many years later some of the friends who disappeared have now come back into my life and it is wonderful.

[dpf]

Oh yes...I'm up. It was my job to make the reservations for the annual 4th of July camp out and on the state's 90 day time frame today was the first day I could make reservations for June 25-July 5. Had to be up bright and early so I was ready to start reserving at 7:00 sharp AND I did get every site that we wanted! Woohoo! All of us look forward to that week every year. Made reservations for 5 sites and two other couples are going to try to get in on June 29...but from the looks of the reservation calendar...they are going to be SOL.

Not much on the agenda for me today. Supposed to go to a bridal shower this afternoon but I think I'm going to drop my gift off at the groom's mother house and ask her to take it....just have to think of a very good excuse why I just can't make it! Don't think "I don't feel like it" is going to cut it! The groom is one of our neighbors sons and he was in the same class as our oldest son...the two of them were never really friends nor have I been close with his mother. On the other hand I'm in the process of helping host a shower for another neighbor's son in April...her son and mine have been best friends since they were toddlers. Ryan is going to be one of Jon's attendants...Karen and I are really close and our furbabies are best friends too! I really should finish making the invitations for that today. Probably should clean a little too...before the health department closes me down.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING ALL!

Nice to see that someone else started the coffee pot today! I slept and slept and slept, until I could see the sunlight hitting my front deck! It's only 5 degrees out there, but my woodfire has it toasty inside! I am hoping the nasty winds of yesterday will not develop today, and that the sun will warm things up enough to allow me to spend some time in the trailer, getting things arranged and re-arranged for the summer season.

I watched a lot of Lily and Hope yesterday, and saw her playing with the elastic band that holds the camera in place----was hoping it didn't get around little Hope's neck and necessitate a rescue by Lynn or Sue. I see by their daily log notes that they discovered why Lily is getting that elastic band more often now as she is using that very tree with the camera tube elasticized to it to haul herself out of the den each day. I love that we all are learning new things about bears each day, including the ones involved in the study who have the hands-on-bear contacts with them. This is the way all classrooms should be-----perhaps some day in the future. A movie of the Battle of Gettysburg is so much more informative and true-to-life than the reading of the facts in some dull textbook. Something I could have done without yesterday, however, was a TV show depicting the hideous torture devices and killing devices the old English used on people who had done wrong! Actually hearing about the workings and seeing a device used to 'draw and quarter' people to death is vastly different from a mentioning of it as a manner of punishment in a book. ACK!

Liz, how wonderful that you saw your former student in a position of importance in the competitions you attended! And that he mentioned your name as being one of the major teachers/people in his life who actually made a difference for him! Now that's the kind of feedback that has to make you feel so good, and makes you realize that what you did back then when he was a kid actually enabled him to become an active, productive adult! And in a position where he has to speak to the public, as well, after his being a child who never talked-----amazing! Congratulations! Teachers don't get enough of those days, and, when you do, it makes your day and lets you know how important you were to someone along the line.

I am not sure what's on the docket for me today, but maybe I'll take a drive to Chazy and spend a night with my mother-in-law who is also all alone now. I could watch her new HUGE screen TV her son gave her for Christmas! And Molly and I could get out where the snow is now long gone and walk through the apple orchards behind her house. The more I think of it, the more I think it sounds like a good plan.

Thanks for checking in with us, Carol----and WELCOME HOME!

I, too, always feel at a loss in a big house for the winter as I live in my trailer all summer, mostly just out in the yard! But I am still glad I have a rooted house in the world----although a house-on-wheels will give me freedom when I retire, I will still appreciate my 'roots' here. I can't imagine my being so free and wafting in the breezes that I won't love the knowledge that I DO have roots somewhere! I like to think of myself as a melkweed plant, with seeds that ride the breezes in the fall, but with roots to grow again the following spring!

Safe travels to those of you on the roads today!

Happy Saturday to all!

[avalen]

Good morning everybody
not a routine saturday for me, have daughters graduation party to attend this
evening, and of course she had to call and tell me what to wear!! and do
your hair mom She does it everytime we have a family function. I suppose
I'm going to meet her new boyfriend, and ya never know, this just could be the
one.
So, off to jump in the tub and get a long soak, and I did discover (with help
from a friend) that if I turn the propane burner on the hot water tank just
before it runs out of hot water, it heats more and I can get a bit of deeper
hot bath. It heats quicker and hotter using the propane as compared to just
relying on the electric.
Will check in later after I make a quick post. Enjoy your day and be safe.

[Ladyhawk]

Coffee and Cap'n Crunch this morning. (Really need to get to the grocery store.) The storm we were expecting never materialized, so I was able to get Jess out for a walk this morning. Cleaning and homework for me today, although I'm sure I'll be spending parts of the day planning my next trip.

Have fun tonight, Ava!

[Echo]

GOOD MORNING SISTAHS!!!

Gad the wind here today is insane!!! Went to bed after midnight, between the wind trying to blow me to Oz and Shade trying to burrow under the covers and under my arm? I've been up since 6am. Blugh! I'm sick of the wind and dust. If it weren't for being paid up until April 9th we would be packing and leaving today. Thank goodness I have everything staked down and have run guy lines out. I did have to go out and reset a couple tent stakes to the north side of my tent tho. Also added 2 more guy ropes. Geeze! I have never, ever had to stake and tie down a tent like this before, ever!!! I'm not a neat freak by any means but the dirt and dust that covers every single little thing is driving the both of us nuts. I swear it will take a month of showers and scouring to feel clean again. I don't even want to think about cleaning the dirt/dust up and off everything to pack and leave. We will do 97% of the tearing down and packing the day before we leave. Then we can take showers. The 9th when we finish up packing we will have to take showers again before we leave!

I'm sitting in the screen house, Kelly is sitting in her tent with her laptop because of the wind and dust. Shade is in the tent with her! LOL She does NOT like the flapping tarps on the screen house at all. She hides under the table but every time the wind hits and makes the tarp flap and crackle she jumps.

Come he77 or high water we are gonna do everything in our power to have some sort of an RV for next winter. That way we can hide inside from the wind!!! Have heat, ac and a potty!!

Ok other than going insane with the wind and dirt there's nothing much else going on here. Hope everyone has a super great day. Be safe!

Welcome home to Carol and Bill.

Love to all

[bluepinecones]

Good morning at least what little is left of it

Apparently the wind is bad over most of the country today. Carol, glad you are nearing home and off the road for now. Looks as if Sparkle and Beth will be fighting wind in their travels today. Echo, at least you are not driving in all that wind - glad to see you checkin. Soos - heading for a warmer spot sounds like a grand idea. The Gulf Coast should be cleared of bad weather by Monday so Liz will have decent travel weather to TX.

Liz - That was great story about your student. Know you are proud. I had a fifth grade teacher who was my saviour in the education system and she probably never knew what a difference she made for me - but I will always be thankful for her intervention.

A bit chilly here today but sun for now. Storms moving in tonight and tomorrow doesn't look good at all. Weather service has already issued severe weather watches/warning for Sunday - heavy rain, high winds, hail and potential for tornados. We've already had 5 inches of rain this month. At least I think we are finished with freezing temps until next winter. All sorts of spring blooms popping out now. Even discovered that a little rose bush I planted late last year actually survived the winter. I thought it was a goner but it has a few leaves unfolding now.

Husband's brother called last night; he and wife will be arriving tonight and will stay for a few days. Her mother is not doing well (in her 90s, lives in nursing home here) so the visit is for her. Brother-in-law is to have hip surgery on 5 April and will be a while before he can travel again. I probably should be cleaning house but motivation for that chore is low at the moment. If I let it get much worse, you may see me on one of those new hoarder shows . (haven't watched the show, ads are too scary)

My sister is having a bad bout with flu, spiking high fever and been in bed most of the week. At least she did finally go to the doctor. Her overall health is just not good and I worry about her tho I realize that doesn't help.

Had dinner out with a friend last night. Enjoyed the company and food but the place was very noisy making conversation difficult.

Okay, have convinced myself to get to work doing a little straightening up, washing, etc. Love it when a pep talk actually works.

Hope all have a safe and fun day.

[Bethers]

Jean and I are stopping for lunch right now. We were sidetracked yesterday. Jean had another hitch problem and had to call Good Sam's. Some wonderful folks came to take care of it - but we had to overnight at the picnic area we were in. Not a bad idea because the winds were high. However, we wondered if we were somehow visiting Soos - as the temps went into the teens overnight and SNOWED. Yep - I have a pic of Jean's rig and the snow - and the guys. Will put them on my blog when I have a chance (if I have internet tonight where we stop, maybe). And will giving the guys a recommendation in the appropriate room later, also. They went above and beyond to take care of Jean and her truck.

Meantime, this is a quick break - as we want to get some more miles behind us. We hit a snow storm this morning with low visibility, but knew (hoped) we'd be driving out of it as we went to lower elevations (and we did). Actually, I think I preferred that snow to rain on those hills right now.

[bikerchic777]

Man, there are some tough chicks on here! I admire all of you driving in snow, camping in tent in high winds, etc. I did my share of tent camping with little ones in my younger days! Storms blowing the tent over on top of us, feeding the baby in cold rainy weather, etc. I am so blessed to be able to buy a mh! I hope I don't have to sleep in a tent again! I'm glad you figured out the hot water solution, Ava! I like to turn on both elec. and propane for the water heater when I have company so we can both take showers without staggering night/day. It works great!

I did get out on the mtc. this afternoon. Don't know what the high was, but I'm sure it got up to 80 I packed my saddle bags with all I needed to lay on the beach and read. I rode over 46 miles to Pine Island, only to find that it was full and there was a line of cars waiting to get in. I hate crowds like that and it was hot sitting on the already hot mtc, so turned around and headed for home. Round trip was 92 miles...I guess you can do the math, all of you teachers I guess I will have to try it during the week and maybe a not so popular destination. At least I got out for a nice ride A friend just called and invited us to their fire, so will be heading over to their site now. Guess that should go on the campfire thread Hey! Think I'll take my marshmallows! Mmmmm! Haven't had those in awhile. They're probably all stuck together

Linda and Rags

[BarbaraRose]

Hi all, sorry it's so late. Worked until 1:30 at the salon and then came home and took a 3 hour nap! It was a crappy, rainy, windy day today. Not enough rain to do anything tho. It would have been nice to get a hard, soaking rain and that would have taken care of the ice on the lake, especially with the wind to break it all up! Next week is suppose to be in the 70's tho! That would be nice! Gotta get my bike out and get it cleaned up. Got a new seat and water bottle holder for it, so need to put that on yet. We have a new trail across the street that used to be the railroad track. It is paved and goes about 5 miles to the west of here and about 10 miles to the east (around the lake, so great scenery!).

Ava, how old is your daughter and what is she graduating from?

Amy, didn't you just dig out from a huge snowstorm last week? I remember when I lived out there, one day in late May, it was around 82 degrees in the early afternoon, when a fast moving front blew over the front range and the temps dropped 50 degrees in an hour! We had 6 inches of snow on the ground by 6 pm that night (in the foothills)! What a shock that was! It was all melted by noon the next day tho! That is the way the weather is out there tho!


Echo and Kelly, I feel for you dealing with all that wind and dirt! I would hate that! Glad you are moving to a new place soon! Hopefully, there will be less wind and more trees and grass? lIke we've suggested earlier, maybe a pop-up tent trailer would still be a good option for you. You can store quite a bit of stuff in those when traveling and maybe figure out how to store stuff on top of it when hauling as well. Or just downsize your stuff!

Hope everyone had a good day! I get to sleep in tomorrow! Yay!