Travel day

We had a lazy day yesterday, doing laundry, surfing the net and enjoying being in one spot for two days.  Sweet.

And the day got even better when we met Norm and Harriet for a fab dinner.  We met them through motorhoming and have become fast friends.  We were glad they could squeeze us in before hitting the road themselves.  Love you guys!  See y’all in Florida in January for sure.

We hit the road today as well, driving about 300 miles to somewhere in Michigan.  I am not being evasive…we just are not definite about where we will wind up.  With it being a holiday weekend coming up, campgrounds may be pretty full.  Our intent is to stay put and just do day trips in the ‘toad.’ 

Can you believe this is the last day in June?  Happy birthday to Dick’s sister Carolyn, BTW!  This year is flying by entirely too fast.  Or maybe we are just too busy.  Or something.

More miles and smiles!

If it is Wednesday, it must be Ohio

Yes, it is Wednesday and Ohio is where we are.  MM and I left western New York yesterday morning and were at our cg outside Akron by mid afternoon.  It was a BOGO!  I love BOGOs.  We are members of Passport America, whose members offer discount camping. 

This cg offered a free night if we stayed two nights.  Perfect…because we met these two for dinner last night…Loyal and Marge…folks we met on a cruise in France a few years ago and have since cruised with again:

And now we will meet two more friends for dinner tonight.  Notice how we tailor our travels around friends and food?  Smart!  This cg was centrally located between both sets of friends.  Sweet!

So we finally have wifi for the first time since we hit the road 10 days ago.  Using my iPhone exclusively was getting old, since I can’t do everything on it.  Yes, I am rather fond of my computer…and so is MM.  He has been doing some heavy duty surfing on his computer since we got a connection.

We shall enjoy this day of leisure…and no long distance driving.

Life is good!

Hello Pennsylvania!

A brief hello to this west tip of the big state before our Ohio destination near Akron.

Whose idea of making concrete roads??? They are bumpy and awful. Despite that, we have seen several deer and lots of crops and hills, much like Mayberry.

We shall stay two nights, since we are having dinner tonight with Marge and Loyal tonight, and Harriet and Norm tomorrow night. We have friends spread out everywhere. Whew...this is one big country, but we are trying our best to see lots of good folks.

MM thought we had a flat just now, but it was just the sensor Thingy acting up. Behave! We don't want any troubles.

Miles and smiles. Life is good y'all! Except for the no Internet. But still.

Goodbye, NH!

The trella park is now empty. We cooked out with the kids last night Nd said our farewells this morning. Some are on a plane home; some are rolling there soon.

Our plans are to visit some friends in Ohio, then go to Illinois for some work on our fridge.

The weather is absolutely beautiful, and Missy is safely settled under a chair.

Miles and smiles, y'all

Sunny Sunday

So the sky cleared and the sun smiled upon Meg and Jay yesterday. They are officially Mr. and Mrs. and the celebration was joyous. Lots of friends and family attended.

This morning, Bob and Lynne are hosting a family brunch, which will be more intimate Nd relaxing. Most everyone will hit the road or airways tomorrow, but MM and I will stay at least one more day. There are some clean-up chores that need to be done.

I don't know what Blogger did with all my missing posts, so I am trying a different approach. I hope this works. I know y'all will let me know.

Make today special. We are creating some good memories. I hope you will, too!

Busy guy

Dick has been working hard to get Bob’s new radio/MP3 player installed in their moho, along with a new back-up camera.

Well, one step forward, and then two back.  It worked; it didn’t work. 

MM is one determined guy.  He wasn’t about to let one small piece of electronics stymy him, no sirree.  He has worked on bigger pieces than that puny little piece of equipment.

He won!  He is a happy camper.  Bob and Lynne will now enjoy their new stuff.

So today is wedding day for Jason and Meg.  Blessings to you both as you begin your new life together.

Life is good, when everything works as it should.

Trella park

I posted this photo on Tuesday…and it and all the other iPhone blogs this week are floating out in space somewhere.  Sheesh.  I haven’t changed any settings; that setting used to work.  What’s up???

Maybe because that is the last time we saw the sun?   The humidity must be the problem.  That’s it!  It has been raining all week, and more is expected…for the wedding tomorrow.  Tents went up today.  Yippie.

Wish us luck!  Those kids will get hitched, regardless.

Monday funny

O.M.G., I’m rich!

Silver in the Hair,

Gold in the Teeth,

Crystals in the Kidneys,

Sugar in the Blood,

Lead in the Ass,

Iron in the Arteries

And…

An inexhaustible supply of Natural Gas.

I never thought I'd accumulate such wealth!

Gotta love Maxine.  She tells it like it is, and is one smart cookie!

This is a pre-post, since I knew we would be rolling down the highway all day today.  Or would that be rolling UP the highway, since we are headed north?

If I see anything out of the ordinary and I can snap an iPhone photo, I’ll post as we go.  Or if I want to tell y’all anything new and exciting; otherwise, it is one more mile after mile…but we shall see some beautiful scenery, no doubt.  This is one GREAT country.

Get the “lead out” and enjoy life, y’all.  It is far too short!

Happy Father’s Day

Happy, happy day to you fathers out there.  We had our celebration for Dick last weekend when all the kids were around.  Joy was instructed to take hugs from ME to her dad, which I know she did.  She shares him with me, and I appreciate that.

The moho is mostly ready to roll, so we’ll pull out some time later today and drive in the cool of the evening, probably stopping around midnight at one of those special “"Wally World” campgrounds.  Destination:  New Hampshire…and a wedding!

So y’all be good and enjoy today, giving thanks especially for those dads serving our country far from their families.

May you always have Love to Share, Health to Spare, and Friends who Care.

Life’s lessons…more

Frame every so-called disaster with these words, 'In five years, will this matter?'

Forgive everyone everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Time heals almost everything.  Give time, time. 

These are some interesting thoughts to ponder, especially at this particular time for our family, and for the family of a BSP sister whose hubby is rapidly losing his battle with cancer.

On a happier note, Miss Ansley enjoyed all your birthday wishes.  Haley had four extra gals over last night for a cook out and spend-the-night party.  Grumps and I went over for the cook out part.  There is nothing like the energy of six giggly gals!  And nothing like being able to leave them behind when our tummies were full!  Whew…I’m sure we will get more sleep than anyone at their house will!

So today we are loading up the moho…and checking our to-do list…and making sure our house sitter will be happy.

We are going on a little trip.  Want to come along?

More life’s lessons…

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
It's OK to let your children see you cry.
Be eccentric now.  Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.


Dick has earned yet another moniker – Mechanic Man!  He had to take a quick run up the road to fix an engine for one of our stranded chitlins so they could all get back home.  Dear Dad to the rescue!  Same child reminded Dad that this was maybe rescue #5 for her.  She does appreciate her dad!

Don’t forget that Sunday is Father’s Day, y’all!

High over Copenhagen

Nephew Jeff sent these recent photos from Copenhagen.  This first one is from the ground, looking up.  Anyone interested in going up there???

 

Jeff says:

we were busy having dinner 150 feet up in the air hanging by crane over Kongens Nytorv (Nyhavn in the background) with a sunset view to Sweden!

Now this is beautiful!  Dick and I have been there (on the ground) a couple of times…so have Brian, Amy and Jason.  Haley and Logan, y’all need to go over.  See what you two are missing!  Cheers, Jeff and Bjarne!  They are excellent hosts.

This is a photo Jeff took during the Japanese Cherry Festival:

I hope you enjoyed this little trip across the pond.  We sure hope to go back there again some day.

We have been getting some rain here in Mayberry, and we sure need it.  I was noticing that I haven’t seen any deer in awhile, then wham…one was up by the shop two days ago, and just yesterday, two crossed over our front yard!  They are beautiful creatures.

Enjoy your Thursday…and be sure to count your blessings.

New addition

MM asked me recently if I would like a cantilevered deck over the water. Sure…our lake levels fluctuate, so we have no beach to make getting out of the water easy. Plus our big dock is still next door and a wee hike for anyone having walking issues, so this was a perfect solution for many reasons. Remember that ‘new’ diving board on our deck? Note the ladder on this lower deck. Bingo!  Eureka.  I can see a connection.

Dick did try out the diving board while I was away last weekend, which probably prompted the idea for this new addition, ya think? I think! I can also predict many miles of swimming for some wee kids between here and the dock next door. Love it!

No wonder Dick has two knees hurting, with all the squatting he did constructing this. Poor baby. He’ll never learn.  He is also known as Projects Man.  He does wear many hats, bless his heart, but a Tactful Hat, naw.  Not so much.

I’m loving our cooler, sunny weather.  It’s a perfect day for a few projects of my own…beading and stamping!  Yeah baby!

Have a great Wednesday.  That’s it from paradise, y’all!

Happy Birthday, sweet gal!

Do y’all know that today is Flag Day?  I’m wearing my R/W/B.

There is also a very important milestone this day.

Grumps and I are wishing Ansley a very Happy Birthday today!  She is 13, and I seriously don’t know how our first-born grandchild can now be an official teenager.  I so remember her exciting birth, followed by a fast trip to Atlanta for the college graduation of one proud Unka Brian that very afternoon.  We got a double blessing that day…make that a triple blessing, since our graduate already had a JOB!

This young lady has a bright future ahead of her, I just know.  Grumps and I are cheering her all the way.

We are all incredibly blessed.  Life is good, y’all!

Search and rescue

First of all, let me say that this story is true and has a good ending.

We learned at our Father’s Day dinner here last night (which was good, by the way), that Brian had gotten a late afternoon phone call on Saturday from a friend, saying that she and her hubby had been cycling earlier; she left him to do one more loop in a forest service area while she went on home.  He should have been home a couple of hours earlier; it was after 4, and still no hubby.  She was getting worried.  And cell service isn’t good where they had been cycling.  Brian knew the area well.

Brian grabbed his running shoes, jumped in his truck and drove the hour or so away to join the by now frantic wife to look for the missing hubby.  Hubby’s car was still parked where they had left it earlier; and his lunch was inside, uneaten.  Not good.

Now Brian’s friends are both ironmen participants, so we are talking about folks who are in excellent shape, but Jennifer had a slight injury and couldn’t keep up with Brian, so he took off running down first this road, then another, looking for Marty, and wishing he had brought his motorcycle with him.  He had Jennifer go back to the car, just in case Marty might wander back to it.  Other friends had been alerted, so Mark and Steph arrived to help.  Mark (a former EMT) called 911 and got those folks there, but they had the disadvantage of not knowing those forest service roads the way Brian did.

Long story shortened…Brian found Marty (also a former EMT).  He had hit a rock about 1:15, so he had been lying there for several hours by rescue time…and was very happy to see Brian’s smiling face.  Marty was certain he had a broken tibia, but he had managed to crawl away from the wet ditch he landed in.  And of course had no cell service.  Brian had to climb a hill to snare a signal to alert the rescue folks to their location.

Marty was airlifted out to a hospital at dark, and had surgery yesterday to fix his broken bone, so he will heal and be ready to ride again.

Brian was just a bit tired after his ordeal, but it was a happy-ending tired.  And if Brian had been the one missing, those guys would have gone out to search for him.  No doubt.  This mother finds that very comforting.

I told Brian “no riding alone in the woods!  Stuff happens.  I’m sure Marty and Jennifer are counting their blessings right now.

Life is good, y’all!  Don’t take it for granted.

Wine whine

Mother Superior called all the nuns together and said to them, 'I must tell you all something.  We have a case of gonorrhea in the convent.' 

'Thank God,' said an elderly nun at the back.  'I'm so tired of chardonnay.' 

Chardonnay, merlot…whatever!  I want to fill up my new bottle tree.  See it?  Dick first made me a short version that I called a bottle bush, poor puny thing.  Well, he got busy and welded up this stout number and planted it in our back yard.  Thanks to good friends, we have two more bottles to add to it tomorrow, so it is slowly getting filled up.  All pretty (empty or full) donations are appreciated.  Dick stuck the bottles on it, but I think the red bottle needs to go on top.  What say you?

So tonight is our Father’s Day dinner for MM.  We believe in celebrating whenever all the kids can get together, so tonight it is, despite the calendar proclaiming it to be next Sunday…and that is OK.

And the chicken in wine sauce last night?  Well, it was good, but it needed more spices.  I always try to go according to directions when making a new dish, but this one just needed some more uumph to it.  I’ll get around to posting it, maybe tomorrow.  I am busy playing Betty Crocker today.

Whatever you do, have a fabulous Sunday.  Make someone smile, OK?

Life is good indeed, y’all!

Saturday funny

An old guy (not in the best of shape) was working out in the gym when he spotted a sweet young thing.  He asked the trainer, who was near by, "What machine in here should I use to impress that sweet thing over there?"

The trainer looked him up and down and said, "I would try the ATM in the lobby."

 

 

Yep, that might do it.

So what’s for dinner?  Chicken in Wine Sauce in the crockpot.  Another new one…I’ll give a review tomorrow.

Stay cool and enjoy your day, y’all!

Friday stuff

Ivana asked where Dick was while I was away last weekend:  He stayed home (a relative term).  He worked some up at his shop, but he did get out on the jet ski a couple of times, so it wasn’t just work and no play…and he had Missy all to himself! 

MM is always a ‘projects’ guy, doing this, doing that.  He got Jason and his helpers to move an awning over to the E side of our deck where it is needed more than at its previous location.

Now the swing will be shady in the mornings.  Umm, I think it is OK to take the heater off the deck now, honey, since it has gotten hot enough to try out the new deck addition:  the diving board!  That one is definitely HIS toy.  I have totally NO, NONE, NADA interest in diving, but then again, I was never on the swim/diving team like he was in high school and in college.  I’ll take the photos, thank you very much.  And I know you’ll do a water safety check before diving in.  MM is one smart guy.

It’s Friday already.  Boy, where did the week go?  I hope everyone has a great weekend.  No big plans here, other than to enjoy paradise on the water with friends and family.  Life doesn’t get much better than that, y’all!

Final BSP convention photos

Beverly, Pam, Marilyn, Karen, me (where did that spot come from???), Ursula, Jennie & Joy at the Friday night jammie party.

OK, enough of this posing business, let’s get some popcorn and watch the movie!

These crafty ladies made this beautiful quilt to raffle off, along with a beautiful yellow rose paper-crafted wall hanging (dang, no photo of that).  They also sold some BSP tote bags, bracelets and earrings (all sold out at this point!).  Those funds go into our coffers to be given away to worthy causes.  We do good works!

So yesterday was the last day of school for two of our family teachers, so I had all the kids over for an impromptu dinner celebration of summer freedom.  Joy gave me a cookbook of crockpot recipes that I have been trying out, and last night’s selection was a winner—chicken with creamy chive sauce.  If you want the recipe, click here and enjoy some easy peasy goodness.  You know it’s good if the kids all love it!

Share a smile today.  Life is good, y’all!

Wednesday wishes

Joy called me early yesterday with the very sad news of the sudden passing of our sister’s hubby.  Herb had been in bad health, but he and Dianne had both been thoroughly enjoying their time in Tennessee.  I hope that these fresh memories will carry Dianne through these next few days as she makes her way back home to bury her husband, and begins this sad venture into widowhood.

Life is fragile.  None of us has a guarantee for a tomorrow, so live life fully, and remember to make each day special…and always give thanks for your blessings.

Dianne, all your sisters are holding you and your family in our hearts and prayers during the coming days. 

Safe travels, my friend. 

More BSP convention photos

Saturday night, we were supposed to come dressed as our fave movie character.  Hello?  How many movies do MM and I see each year?  Maybe ONE.  So here is Jennie dressed as Sandra Bullock, Mark Ballard (a local artist/designer/crafter/chef/author—a real HOOT!), Karen as Phyllis Diller, moi as Diane Keaton, and Dale Evans Joy!  Mark was our emcee for the evening, and he had us laughing all night long.

Here are the gals from our chapter:

That German (Maria Von Trapp) outfit is authentic, as is the wearer of it.  Mark thought Ursula was just being “in character” and pretending to be German, but she is the real McCoy…and can even yodel.

Lucille Ball, Wynonna and Cleopatra joined us, along with Cher, Julia Roberts, a great Carol Burnett, plus many others.  Some gals really went ‘all out’ on their costumes.
Next year the convention will be held in Augusta, probably in September…and hopefully it will be cooler.  Or the hotel will have a better A/C.  If not, there may be a riot.
So today finds Joy, Jennie and I having lunch in Chattanooga with three different online sistas, as well as Joy’s cousin.  We are in a local chapter, as well as in an online chapter.  Got that?  One gal is from Virginia; one is from Pennsylvania, and one lives in northern Tennessee.  Beta Sigma Phis are everywhere!
Let the sisterly fun continue!  Photos will follow.

Joy, with a basket of joy!

Look what lucky Joy won at convention—a wine basket!  Joy had ticket #18; I had #17.  Bugger.  But she will share with her BFF and driver-to-convention.  She is a sweetie.

So the 8 of us had fun with sistas from mostly Georgia, totaling almost 200 attendees this year.  Numbers are down in this economy.  No surprise there.  But we had fun, fun, fun!

Friday night was a pajama/movie party, with a hotdog dinner and popcorn galore as we watched Miss Congeniality.  The movie was good, but the chairs, not so much.  Joy and I made a hasty retreat just as soon as it ended…to our room that never cooled down enough.  If it wasn’t cool enough for Karen and me, Joy and Jennie were SUFFERING!  Well, almost.  Those two do like an almost cold room.  I know it had been 102 outside, but still.  The A/C was not so good at this facility, anywhere.

And this Marriott did not offer free internet.  Pox on them.  I am not paying $10 for your internet, no sirree, so I won’t be staying there again, even with their comfortable mattresses.  And they ran out of regular coffee for the in-room coffee makers.  Hello?  Didn’t purchasing see that there were THREE conventions scheduled at this lovely establishment over the weekend???  Sheesh.

Kudos to the BSP Macon convention committee.  Y’all put on a great weekend for the sistas.  More later.

Welcome home…to mail, laundry, and normal stuff.  And making up my own bed.  But this is also where my sweetie and Missy are, so home is good, y’all!

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Minus hats and gloves. Enjoying a good brunch, then heading to Mayberry.

Life is good, y'all!

BSP fun

Not only do we have fun, but we get educated...Macon's crime prevention officer gave us a very informative talk on home and personal protection, and he even got some good tips from a couple of own own sistas!

We learned about proper skin care from an Avon rep, just finished lunch, and are about to see a fashion show.

Life is hawt...but good in Macon, y'all!

Convention time!

It is time for state convention and party with the sistas!  In HAWT Macon.  In June.  We may not leave the hotel all weekend!

Joy, Jennie, and Karen are riding down with me this morning.  Joan decided a moho trip to Alaska would be too much fun to resist---and I can’t blame her!—and will be in Yellowstone today, but we will sure miss her.

Our sweet Scooter turns “3” today!  He is such a sweetie pie.  Amy wanted lap desks for them to use on their trip this summer, so of course Grammie had to buy two of them.  What fun they will have!

Have a great weekend.  We gals sure will!

More observations on growing older…

~ Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~ Your husband has a night out with the guys, but he's home by 9:00 P.M.  Next week it will be 8:30 P.M.

~ You read 100 pages into a book before you realize you've read it.

~ Notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!

~ What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

And a personal best for me:  did not read email thoroughly enough and arrived at granddaughter’s award’s ceremony a full 24 hours too soon this morning!  Yes, I now see that it says FRIDAY.  That would be tomorrow.  Oy…go ahead and laugh, y’all!  I can take it.

The “G” is for GONE!

 

I pulled up Bee’s blog as I was getting my coffee and greeting the morning and thinking about “what to blog today?”

Oh NO!  Our fave restaurant on the beach in Lake Worth has closed.  For good.  She said they will reopen down the road in Manalapan, a very ritzy address…and they will NOT be on the beach!  Horrors.  John G’s not on a beach?  What are they thinking???  And paying rent in Manalapan will be pricey.  Oh well…this is our last photo from the old location with Bee and Sarge.  The end of a great era.

Let us now pause for a moment of sadness.

OK.  Done.  We’ll survive…and create new memories next winter in Florida.  We adjust well…and move on…and smile.

The only constant in life is change.  And sometimes that is GOOD.  We shall see if the new location is a good change.

I am taking Ansley and Macey to their ballet practice today (recital is Sunday).  I am excited about spending time with these two special gals.  They make me smile…and often laugh at their many antics.  But that is what kids do, along with aggravating the snot out of you at times!  All four of our grands are blessedly normal.

Enjoy your hump day.  That’s it from hot paradise, y’all!