Summing it Up...

Now, that I'm way on the wrong side of sixty, I feel that being true to self is important. "I yam, what I yam." Kindness and smiles are to be given away. Women are strong. Men are more vulnerable than we believe. Husbands may come and go...but one thing I know for sure is that I will NEVAH live without a corgi or coffee in my life if I can prevent it. Come piles of dog fur or hot water!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Dog Days...

We had a chair and a half recliner delivered today. When something new is added to a home everybody has to try it out. Also, when one change occurs, such as the new shelf that Jim made for me...other changes happen. We gave our double bed away that was in the guest room, where my craft corner is, and replaced it with a twin. Now, there's walk around, and elbow room. Better for scrappin'! Also, the furniture has been rearranged in the living room. ( Jim's still a little tense about that.) Our house is only 720 square feet. That's right, that's not a misprint...720 square feet! A cottage really, a corgi cottage. An oversized doghouse. We have our two big butts living here as well, which causes all the problems. It's a dog eat dog world, and we're all wearing milkbone underwear.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Craft Corner...

Jim's been busy making me a shelf unit to house all my scrapping supplies in my little craft corner. I found a desk last summer for a dollar at a yard sale. It couldn't accommodate my growing collection of papers, stamps and scrappin' stuff, so he ciphered a little and came up with this shelving unit.
It has a fluorescent light on the bottom which angles as needed. Isn't it great? It's my Christmas present this year, and I got it early. Yahoo! It's great being married to a man who can build things!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Turkey Thoughts...

Everybody has their own memories of Thanksgiving. Positive or negative, the holidays affect us. It's amazing how a couple of special days a year, invoke feelings, of remembered sights and sounds and smells.
My parents always invited someone over to sit around our table on Thanksgiving. There was always a stray, lonely man, adopted by us at holiday time..when we were living in Michigan, and Indiana too. Mr. Hoag, who by today's standards would have frightened most parents. He was a scruffy,tiny, somewhat dirty old man who lived across the road, in a shack. Really, I don't know what else to call it. I think that he collected stuff, as it was all over the place. He would come, in a worn out suit, and would sit at the end of the table, with a prized turkey leg on his plate. My folks were good like that.
Harold, lived a lonely life across the street from us in Indiana. He always walked with his hands behind his back, and his head down, slightly bent over. That's how he died, walking like that, in his eighties by then, and was hit by car and died. Anyway, he was a bachelor man, who stuttered and was painfully shy. He would come dressed in an old wool jacket, and a bow tie. He barely spoke a word to us as he ate his Thanksgiving meal. He was genteel in his own way, and tolerated my two brothers and I well. He was always grateful, and took home a foiled covered plate of food after spending several hours in our company.

It was so interesting, and almost magical getting the food ready for turkey day. It was food we only ate once or twice a year. The grocery list included exotic things like coconut, real butter, colorful cranberries, and a twenty-something pound bird that took up the entire refrig. The night before we tore up the bread for dressing into huge crockery bowls. A gruesome smelling pot of giblets boiled on the stove, as we chopped celery and onions and browned them in a pan of melted butter. This was an annual ritual in itself. Holidays were big doings in the 50's and 60's, in our eyes. The good china and real silver came out, along with the good white tablecloths that needed to be ironed. The leaves were put in the table, and every spare chair, stool, and piano bench brought out. I miss those days, I really do. I've never been able to recreate those special times. I do wonder about the memories that are housed in my kid's heads about their childhood Thanksgivings. Jim and David always made a turkey, for the two of them. Today, David makes a big bird in his great grandparents roaster, and stirs the gravy, just as his dad taught him. Our kids live in different states, and celebrate in their own way, with others, making their own traditions; most years anyway.
My siblings have their own children to feast with, and live miles away. Jim and I will be home with the corgi kids, and have a quiet day. We'll call our mamas, and aunts, and kids, and maybe use the video cam for the first time. We'll be thinking back though, to memories of Thanksgivings past, and seeing faces of people long gone in our minds eye. Once again, experiencing those warm, secure, thankful feelings all over again. Thank you God for those memories, and for the family who gave them to us.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Two Years...already???

Today is the second anniversary of this blog. I can't believe how much we were able to travel the past two years, and how fast that time went.
We took a chance, quit our jobs, and were able to live a dream many have...to see America while still young enough to enjoy it. It was a gift we gave ourselves. We've met wonderful people across this land, and have been awestruck by the beauty that America beholds. We don't plan to visit another country because there is SO much to see and do and experience here.
Each state is vastly different. The landscape, terrain, food, customs, and accents of the locals all vary so much, from state line to the next. There's still much to see, but, reality bites, and we're going back to work. The motorhome has been put to bed for the Winter, but come Spring, the old girl will get fired up again. Just not as often, or for as long on the road. It will be weekends, and vacations for us until our "real" retirement. What a ride though, and what fun it has been to share it all with you folks.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

I'm clicking my ruby slippers as we unload the motorhome, catch up on skads of laundry, and face a mess of chores. Oh well...we're home! I'm thrilled to get back to a full sized shower, and a fifty gallon water heater; washer and dryer that don't require quarters, and our KING sized bed! The corgi kids are happy to have more room to roam, and their fenced in back yard.
Jim, I don't think is as happy to be back eventho he's been gone, virtually since Memorial Weekend. There are eaves to clean, and before winter chores to get done. Sigh....it's always so good to go. So good to come back. Why do leaves fall, grass grow, cobwebs happen, if the house isn't being used?

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Getting Closer to Home...


We crossed 'Big Muddy' this morning into Illinois. The flat plains, and blustery day are murder on high profile vehicles such as semis and RV's. We were still killing bugs left and right, today, it seems with a little more vengeance. We're putting political parties and faces on the bugs today. The dogs were a little nervous there for a while.
The pantry door latch broke as we went down the road; so I bagged up all the canned goods en route. Jim found a bungee cord (what a marvelous tool, huh?) and it's OK until we get in our driveway.
We can't go past Springfield, Illinois without stopping at Cozy Dog on old Rt. 66. Hot dogs on a stick and a cherry Pepsi. Unpeeled, hand cut fries, made famous on this strip since 1950.

It's been two years since our last visit, when a Rt. 66 Festival was going on with an additional 80,000 folks in town. We didn't go downtown that day to see the historical district, but today we did. Springfield was one of Jim's routes, and he used to make stops at the Lincoln Library, and the Auditor General state offices.
Downtown is something else; it's a blend of old and new. There is lots of reconstruction and revitalization going on. The new Lincoln library and museum; bricked, train depot with a clock tower; the State Capitol with rotunda; and the state capitol of Lincoln's day, are all impressive buildings. We've decided to go back one day, leave the RV in a nearby campground, and explore it all by car and on foot. There's so much to see and do, and it was disappointing not to be able to go today.

Tonight, we're in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Monticello, Indiana. It's two hours from home, but it's been a long, tiring day. Going down our alley, unhooking the car from the motor home, and lugging stuff in, just didn't sound appealing. As Scarlett would say..."tomorrow is another day!"

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Pretty travel day through Missouri...



The Ozark Lake area in Missouri is just beautiful. We drove through a state park on the edge of this area; stopped at Osage Beach where I exchanged a can of green beans (for their food pantry) for a free, fresh cup of delish coffee at the local McDonald's; and drove a very skinny 2-lane bridge across the dam on Lake of the Ozarks.
In Jefferson City, the state capital, we stopped for salads, and election updates. Jim used to deliver to the Supreme Court Building there. Missouri is such a pretty state, coming from the South.
The rounded mountains, rocky bluffs, hilly downtown streets, and nice people make it very pleasant to travel through.
Luckily, we filled the car in Branson for $1.89 a gallon. Gas today has ranged from 1.93 to 2.15 a gallon. We filled the motor home with diesel at $2.70. Whatta bargain! We're lucky to be traveling while prices are lower. This summer, diesel was $4.65.
Tonight we're in America's Hometown, Hannibal, MO. We were here about 8 years ago...in our pop-up. Jake, was just a puppy. We didn't have any grand-kids then either. Heck, we were still nearly newly-weds! Mark Twain's name and image are all over the place. Even the high school bears his name. We're in the Mark Twain Cave Campground, just as we were that hot July. They were closed for the season, but let us stay tonight next to where their maintenance workers stay. The Mississippi River flows slowly by this sleepy town with old, historic buildings, dating back to the 1800's.
I think, that if we ever want to get back home, we're going to have to hit the interstates one of these days! It has been fun though, seeing the real America on these scenic byways, at a slower speed.

Monday, November 03, 2008

Silver Dollar City and Caverns...Missouri Treasures!




On Sunday we met up with the nicest people, John and Joyce, who have been workampers at Silver Dollar City the past 3 months. Jim and John shared many phone calls last winter, but we had never met. They were purchasing a diesel motorhome, similar to ours, and had questions that could be answered by the Winnebago know-it-all, Jim.
Anyway~they treated us, using their passes, and we spent the day with them enjoying the 5-million Christmas light extravaganza at the park. We saw two terrific shows; The Living Nativity, a 15-minute musical, reminding us of the true reason for Christmas; and A Dicken's Christmas Carol. This show was an outstanding musical production, lasting an hour, which by far, surpassed the Andy Williams show we spent $39 a ticket for the previous night!
There were a dozen holiday shows to stop and see. Food booths, rides, glass blowers, and blacksmiths were just a few of the attractions, as we hoofed the hill and dale paths, through scenic sections of the park. We really liked this place, and hope to be workcampers there ourselves one day. The park closes down the last week of October to change out all the merchandise, food and decor from Autumn, to the Holidays.
You just cannot imagine all those lights, covering every surface it seems. John and Joyce were delightful people that we hope to see again. By using their buddy passes, they saved us the $42 entry fee to get in. Just a wonderful day!

Today we said goodbye to our good times in Branson, and head homeward; as far as Springfield, Mo. We drove a hilly, narrow, two lane country road, rv and towed car behind, to Fantastic Caverns. We got to see the "inside" of the Ozarks. There are over 5,600 caves in Missouri, which is why it's called the Cave State. The guide shared lots of information, helping us understand the formations better. It was well worth making the stop.
We decided to forget about Bass Pro Shop, and kept heading north. Tonight we're in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Camdenton, Missouri, about 57 miles southwest of Jefferson City.
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TOMORROW!

Y'all come back now...

Y'all come back now...

Everyone is special, and counts!