Thursday, May 28, 2009

Here Comes the Sun!

5PM and the sun really is out there! After two days of temps in the 50s requiring sweater and space heater in the morning, the sun has made its bright warm appearance!

Noticed 3 inches of rain in my rain gauge -- yes! When I move in, I move in -- plants, garden ornaments, bird feeders, rain gauge!!

Weather man is continuing to predict rain on and off for a few days -- I won't complain -- 'cuz sometime this summer, I'm going to wish for a 50 degree morning and some rain! But, the one thing I thoroughly enjoyed about being in Iowa last summer was spending days outside at the picnic table with Li'lBit -- I'd go out with coffee in the morning or ice tea in the afternoon -- my laptop, a good book, the news paper -- and stay there until it was time to come in and get something to toss on the grill.....oh, how I have dreamed of getting back to those lazy summer days.....won't be long now (I Hope!)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Did I Go Too Far North?

Woke up to 57 degrees! Don't think it ever made it to 60 degrees! Rain the last couple of days -- damp and dreary. Unpacked the space heater.....this is the end of May, isn't it!

Worried about Holly, the ancient cat from hell. She seems to have an unsettled stomach with this move. She got sick the first day on the road -- and has been sick a couple of times since -- no change in food, no change in attitude or behavior....notice she is sleeping alot -- but it has been much cooler here than in central TX.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE HOME

After a late afternoon arrival on Friday and bare minimum set up done at that time -- Saturday was make-it-look-like-home day. But my get up and go got up and went! I guess it was the crash-and-burn phase after three days on the road. I really didn't accomplish much.

But, here it is Sunday and it is starting to fall into place. The rains that had been predicted still haven't made it here, so outside chores topped the list. The windows are washed on the outside (well, most of them!), the shephard hooks are in the ground, the red, white, and blue (really purple) petunias are in window boxes on the back bumper. The hanging baskets are in their place on the scooter lift on the back of the RV and the herbs are repotted and in the baskets.

The bird feeder and bird bath are up, the hummingbird feeder is up, the oriole feeder is up! WHEW! The grill is cleaned, put together and ready to go. I'm tired just thinking of it!

Went for breakfast with my sister this AM --- stopped for a Sunday paper -- did a little grocery shopping -- important stuff -- dog food and cat food! We drove through the cemetary with all of the flowers, decorations and flags out for the holiday. Things are starting to fall into place

There is some kind of a musty odor coming from under (or around) (or near) my kitchen sink -- I can't seem to identify it -- I can't seem to locate it. I've been around the walls and under the cupboards on my hands and knees twice. I find these phantom problems very irritating.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

SUMMER IN IOWA

I'm here! Arrived Friday about 2:30PM. Randy came to back me in about 3:30 -- unhitched, utilities hooked up, slide out, plants out of the shower so I could use it!! That's about all accomplished yesterday.

Bea brought roasted chicken, spring pasta salad, ice tea, garlic bread and ice cream treats for last evening! Ate at the picnic table, enjoyed the cooler air - and all of my get up and go got up and left! WHEW! I'm here and I'm pooped!!

Today, Saturday, is clean up inside and set up for the summer. Supposed to have some rain on and off this weekend -- naturally, Helen's back in Iowa and the weather is changing! Hope the storms stay away! Woke up to a breezy 59 degrees. Nice to be north.

Noticed hummingbirds and an oriole flitting about last evening -- need to get the bird feeders up! Also desperately need to wash my windows or I'll never see the birds from inside!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

HOMEWOOD KANSAS

Arrived at the RV park in Homewood KS about 1PM. It was only a 263 mile day. Averaged 13.6 mpg....no major city traffic and not much road construction. Just what I like - an uneventful trip!

Nice park......my picnic table is in the shade of my RV so it will be a nice evening outside with Li'lBit. She really does need a good brushing!!

The folks that own the park greeted me with a freshly popped bag of popcorn! What a delightful treat -- popcorn with my afternoon ice tea after hooking up the electric and, this time, the water. Still can't take a shower -- the plants in the tub make it look like the Garden of Eden!
I should be really RIPE by the time I get to Iowa!

The park is only about a block or two from the interstate -- and yes, you can hear the trucks going by but it is muffled -- not loud or irritating. Will put this park on my route back list!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

GUTHRIE OKLAHOMA

Left Gatesville about 7:30 AM -- went by Gatesville Tire Co and the guys checked all of my tires and sent me down the road -- or up the road since I'm traveling north!

Did make one BIG mistake that I will NOT make tomorrow morning -- took my blood pressure meds -- shouldn't have done that! Good thing I travel hauling my own bathroom around behind me!

The eye held up quite well -- I was off the road by about 3:15 PM. Had a little mental difficulty just south of Oklahoma City maneuvering through and around those damn concete barricades they use to designate lanes in construction areas. OK -- I know -- if the semis can make it, I can make it -- but it's a nerve-racking experience with the right eye screwed up!

Then, I realized a little to late I needed to be over one lane to my left to make the ramp for I-35 -- so I just put on my blinker and moved over -- To hell with 'em if they can't take a joke! Got a few one-finger salutes!!

Nice little RV park here just south of Guthrie, Pioneer RV Park -- well, it isn't too little -- from the park map, there must be about 80 slots -- a little close together -- no picnic tables -- but nice and airy. They have a small store, propane, showers and laundry....the water is delicious! Hopefully I'll be able to stop here on the way back to TX in the fall.

I'll be in no great hurry getting out of here tomorrow -- I'll only be going about 275 miles -- will stop just south of Kansas City for the nite.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

IT'S HITCH ITCH

It’s a rainy Saturday – woke up to 65 degrees which was quite a change from the 90 degree daytime, 70+ degree night time weather we have been having. Decided this was a good day to get my check lists printed and my packing materials out……Yup! I’ve got Hitch Itch!

Been in Gatesville since the first part of April. Have completed all of my medical appointments except a couple this Tuesday. The critters have been ‘vet-checked’ and are up to date on all of their shots and vaccinations. Managed to get Holly, the cat from hell, micro-chipped with a Home Again chip. After my ‘near loss’ of Li’lBit last Christmas Eve in Rockport, I decided that Holly needed her own chip. She isn’t an ‘outside’ cat – even tho she has slipped out the door a couple of times. Fortunately she has stayed close to the RV and run right back in when I opened the door. Of course, the other problem is who in their right mind would try to pick her up to read the chip number!! But we are all medically ready now to hit the road.

I really don’t relish the thought of having 2 doc appointments on Tuesday the 19th – that is the day I have to hitch up – will be heading out first this the morning of the 20th. Will stop by Gatesville Tire and let the Orville and his guys check the tires all around and then head north.

Johnnie’s son Toby will be by after work on the 19th to help me hitch up – Lee, the one that usually helps, is working out of town now….not too convenient for Mary Jane after her fall.

Didn’t get to see or spend as much time with Mary Jane as usual – she decided to take a fall and end up with a compression fracture the day before I got back – so between hospitalizations and immobility, our paths haven’t crossed much. She did get to town and took me out for a birthday lunch at the Chinese Buffet here in town…and she found a Tres Leche cake – she knows it is one of my favorites!

Eating and coffee-drinking seem to be the main stays while I’m here. When Brenda was on early shift, it was Brunch with Brenda and when she was on a later shift it was Lunch with Brenda – we have definitely eaten at all of the places here in town – and most of them more than once! Brenda is the ‘keeper’ of my mail and that is a debt to her that it will be impossible for me to repay!

Then it was afternoon coffee and Sunday dinners with Johnnie and her family. Had to fill up on lots of coffee and lots of time with Johnnie – will have to last me until I get back this way in the fall. And just catching up with her kids and their families takes some doing – grandkids ranging from high-chairs to high-school!! Always something going on. Between her husband and her sons, I manage to get most of my questions regarding mechanical and electrical things answered.

Had the opportunity to have a couple of lunch get-togethers with Andrea -- one with her husband at Double Daves Pizza for noon buffet and once with her son -- home from college -- for Whataburgers -- a Texas Tradition! Hard to believe that William is in college -- he was all involved in Pokemon as a pre-teen when I first met him!

Never have enough time to make schedules mesh and get together with lots of folks, but that’s just the way life is in today’s world. For the first time in a long time, I had lunch with Rebecca without her kids…can’t believe they are BOTH in school now – sure makes me feel old!!!

Had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with John and Donnah Nordstrom....John and I worked together at the prison -- we are both originally from Iowa. Both John and Donnah are nurses and are on the road full-time RVing.....John is working for one of the traveling nurse associations and they are back from Arizona visiting with family here-- then headed back southwest shortly. So I'm glad our paths crossed and we got to 'play catch-up' on our visits.

My sister called to say she had made an appointment for me at the eye clinic there in Marshalltown for June 1. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they have the “magic” cure or treatment.

YUP! I GOT HITCH ITCH!