Monday, July 30, 2012

Hot and No Rain!

The summer has been hot and dry and crops are failing; sweet corn is skimpy on the cob and not very moist. It is still just as sweet and tastes as good; just looks really puny and the juice doesn’t run down your arm while eating it! Not much change expected in the weather for some time, stifling nite time temps, triple digit daytime and a very meager chance of rain. And most rain that does come to the area, don’t make it to the ground, it evaporates before it gets there.

I can’t say I’m really impressed with the A/C in the trailer – oh, it cools, but the blower just keeps blowing! I feel like I’m in a wind tunnel even when it is on low! I try to open the door and windows in the AM until I just can’t handle the heat and stuffiness (no breeze). I usually last outside with Li’lBit until about 10:30-11AM, then it is back inside, close everything up and turn on the A/C.

I can tell I’m back in Iowa and eating too much beef, pork, corn and other carbs! My feet look like cantaloupes attached to the end of my legs!

On Friday night, my sister and I took a ride out to find the small rural cemetery where the children would be buried. So sad! Their funeral was Sunday afternoon.

Monday I decided to go into town and stock up on non-salty-carb snackies! My feet still look like melons!


5 Sullivan Brothers from Waterloo, IA
 Tuesday the 10th Bea and I made a road trip to Freedom Rock over by Greenfield, then up to Casey to find the mural in the city park I couldn’t find last year. Day-tripping is not my sister’s idea of a fun way to spend the day, but since I don’t have A/C in my truck right now, she has volunteered to be my “designated driver!”

The Helicopter never changes. It includes ashes of Viet Nam Vets
We stopped for lunch at a nice little café just off the interstate. Great onion rings! The Rock was wonderful this year – one side was the Sullivan Brothers from Waterloo, Iowa that were all lost on the USS Juneau during WWII. Up to Casey and there was the mural – right in the middle of town. How could I miss a mural in the middle of town when the town has the population of 426. Down a section of the White Pole Road to Menlo and then back to the Interstate – my sister is an Interstate-kinda gal!
Memorial Park, Casey IA.  Painted by Ray Sorenson, painter of Freedom Rock

On the way back we did some shopping (more up my sister’s alley!) and then stopped at Okoboji Grill -- Groupon had a coupon for ½ price, so we had great rib-eye steak sandwiches.

Wednesday we met Gene and Vickie at Calvin Rockets, a sports bar kinda place in town. Great sandwiches. I had seen Vickie in the grocery a couple of days prior so knew they were back in town. Earlier in the day I had gone to a Town Hall Meeting at Pizza Ranch. Not much reason for me to get involved in Marshalltown politics, but the park owner, Mary, had told me about the get-together so I wandered up. Rick Santorum was the speaker along with the Republican slate of local candidates. Interesting to find that the problems here are the problems nearly everywhere.

Thursday the 12th must have been crop dusting day. I woke to sound of planes coming low, back and forth, over the fields across the road. Only in Iowa do I wake up to the rhythmic drone of the crop dusting plane!

Thursday evening, schoolmates, friends and family of the 3 children who drowned on the Fourth of July turned out at the Community Center for a gathering for those in need of comfort - in need of a way to process the terrible tragedy. Counselors from Rogers Elementary and Anson Elementary and Area Education Agency crisis teams were on hand to provide support. Counselors and teachers led children in the favorite activities of Thay Mo, Se Rae and Lee Meh. Games such as Twister, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders and Sorry were chosen since children tend to share more when they play games. If the staff members had a feeling of Déjà Vu, this gathering was similar to the one they help for Andres Favela a couple of weeks prior.

Friday the 13th my truck went in for the A/C repair! Hope this dates isn’t an omen of things to happen!  But it means a weekend of being 'truckless!'  You have no idea how that messes with my independence!



Thursday, July 26, 2012

The River Sometimes Wins!

Brother and sister, Se Reh, 7, and Lee Meh, 9, and their 7 yr old cousin, Thay Mo drown in the Iowa River on the 4th of July. Their fathers are brothers.

On Wednesday about a dozen Karenni (ethic tribal group from Burma) family members went to fish and swim at the Iowa River. It is part of Burmese culture to gather at natural bodies of water. The children were swimming in the river with family when they went missing. Family members saw the children go under the water about 6 p.m.

Search-and-rescue efforts included Marshalltown fire and police departments, Marshall County Emergency Management, Marshall County Search and Rescue team, the State Center Police Department, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Mercy One-Air Wing, Marshalltown Area Paramedic Service, K-9 Authority Incorporated, Marshall County Medical Examiner's Office and the Marshall County Sheriff's.

Due to the recent drought, shallow waters and steep banks kept authorities from putting in boats nearby. Most of the search took place from the banks. Rescuers pulled the children’s bodies from the water after a 2½-hr recovery operation that included an aerial search by a hospital helicopter.

Before arriving in the United States, the children’s parents fled to escape a military dictatorship in Myanmar (Burma) and spent most of their lives with 150,000 other refugees living in camps along the Myanmar-Thailand border. The children were born in the refugee camp. They came to Marshalltown summer 2011. The difficulty of losing their children was compounded for these families since they do not speak English.

Marty Mitchell, funeral director at Mitchell Funeral Home in town, put it best when he said, “It is no time to point fingers. The family needs to be loved and supported, not challenged. Tears come in English as they do in Spanish as they do in every language. Hurt is hurt in every language."

Nearly 1,000 people from Myanmar live in central Iowa. Most started arriving here about 3 years ago to work at the meatpacking plant in Marshalltown. Myanmar is a mountainous country and each region, each valley, each tribal family,due to geographical isolation, has their own dialect. These families speak Karenni, one of an estimated 135 dialects spoken in that country.

Nearly 300 adults are enrolled in English classes in Marshalltown; most are enrolled in pre-literacy courses because they can’t read or write in any language. Most of the families in Marshalltown speak one of 3 dialects and even struggle to communicate amongst themselves.

The principals of Anson Elementary School and Rogers Elementary School visited the homes of both families Thursday morning. Lee Meh and Se Reh were enrolled at Anson and Thay Mo was enrolled at Rogers.  (My sister is the principal at Anson and the grandson of the owner of the RV park where I stay each summer is the principal at Rogers)

The principal of Anson said the district tried to gather cultural information to help the families organize a funeral, but ran into difficulties because the district’s interpreter, a Myanmar native, doesn’t speak the families’ language/dialect.

Mitchell’s funeral home provided a grave-side service for the children in accordance with Burmese customs at the Center School Cemetery just outside Marshalltown where other Burmese have been buried. . A Burmese Priest was brought in from New York to perform the Sacred Rites in the Karenni language.

Hundreds packed the funeral home to say good-bye to the children. License plates from several states filled the parking lot. Thay Mo lay in an open casket; sharing a second casket just a few feet away was Lee Meh, who had her arm around her younger brother Sae Reh.

They were buried with toys, favorite foods, clothes, traditional dress and blankets. In the family’s culture, they believe the things they have in this life will be taken to the next.

This was the second local drowning tragedy in a matter of weeks. A 10-year-old Marshalltown boy, Andres Favela, died June 18, after jumping into the river at the Center Street dam, which is less than a mile upstream from where the Burmese children lost their lives. The river, even at its low stage is treacherous. A section that appears very shallow can drop down into a 12 or 15 ft hole within a few feet. There the current runs swift.

Thay Mo, 7, of Marshalltown, died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Marshalltown. Graveside services will be held on Sunday, July 8, 2012, at 2 p.m., at the Center School Cemetery in rural Marshalltown. Thay was born in Thailand and attended the Rogers Elementary School. She is the precious daughter of Sae Reh and Thar Meh, sister of Boe Meh, Oo Reh, Por Reh and Lee Reh, cousin of Pae Reh, Nae Reh and Ta Ngae and was the precious grandchild of Boe Meh.


Lee Meh, age 9, and  Se Reh, age 7, of Marshalltown passed away Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Marshalltown. Graveside services will be held on Sunday, July 8, at 2:00 p.m., at the Center School Cemetery in rural Marshalltown. .

Se and Lee were born in Thailand and attended the Anson Elementary School. They are the precious son and daughter of Ko Reh and Tay Mo, the beloved brother and sister of So Meh, Ma Dia and Moe Zan, the cousins of Pae Reh, Nae Reh, Ta Hgue, Lee Reh and Day Duy, Khu Ai and the precious grandchildren of Boe Meh.

Later in the week, a special evening was planned at the community center for the classmates of the 3 students and any other members of the community that wished to attend.   The children played the favorite games enjoyed by They Mo, Lee Meh and Se Reh and told stories of the 'fun times' they had with their friends and classmates.


Andres Alejandro Favela-Lopez, 10, of Marshalltown, died Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Funeral services and a celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 25, 2012, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home.

Andres was born July 30, 2001, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Lori Perry and Javier Pantoja. Andres had just completed 5th grade at Lenihan Middle School. Andres is survived by his mother Lori Perry-Pantoja of Marshalltown, his step-dad Javier Pantoja of Mexico, his siblings: Patrick (Ashley) Frink of Pleasant Hill, Cody (Tanya) Perry of Marshalltown, Traviss Snelling of Marshalltown, Javier (Sebastian) Pantoja of Marshalltown and Isabella Pantoja of Marshalltown, his grandpartents; Robert and Betty Perry of Marshalltown and his step-grandparents Ma Del Carmen and Maximino Pantoja of Mexico.

Needless to say, the city has established a committee to consider methods to keep the kids from playing in the river. There is a swimming pool and an aqua center in Marshalltown, but many families cannot afford the ticket price. Last week the city set up the sprinkling system configured to cool/mist the bike riders coming into town with RAGBRAI. They put it to use in the city parks for the children during this central Iowa heat wave. They are establishing a schedule to move the system around to the various city parks. The aqua center and Mitchell’s Funeral Home have set up a way for people to donate passes to the pool and aqua center for those that cannot afford them. But, I doubt anyone will ever come up with a way to keep kids from the rivers.

June 25 - July 4th....BORING!

June ended with the weather hot and dry! Jim and Kathy were back in town and we met at Calvin Rockets for tenderloins. They are working on genealogy and I love to hear their stories. Wanted to drive down to Centerville for the Great Tractor Ride, but after spending the weekend in Maquoketa, thought it best I not try another 100+ mile trip especially with “iffy” air conditioning in the truck!

Didn’t do much but try to stay cool! We did get some rain but it was not enough to make up for the moisture lacking in the fields. I'm sure the farmers would take all they could get -- and I was not-so-patiently waiting for my sweet corn vendors to show up in the parking lots around town.

July started with hot, sticky and no rain. Strange, most spring/summer weather I’m dodging wind storms and tornadoes – but this year I’m just praying for some wind (gentle breeze!!!) and rain!

It’s too sticky to sleep without my A/C. l tried sleeping with the fan -- worked for awhile -- but didn’t take long for the trailer to ‘overheat!’ I knew it was too hot when I got up and Li'lBit was sleeping on the floor (not even on her rug!) Turned on the A/C (I thought) but it didn't seem to cool off much. Woke up in the AM to find, in my 1/2 awake-1/2 asleep state, I'd just turned it on FAN and not to cool! Gonna have to put some florescent paint on the A/C spot, I guess. This was not the first time I did this! I try to sleep without the A/C when possible ‘cuz I cannot run the A/C, oxygen concentrator and CPap at the same time – so A/C and CPap running means no oxygen!

Sweet corn vendors started appearing just before the 4th of July but the corn, although sweet, was not moist enough to dribble down your arm while eating it! And what good is corn on the cob if it doesn’t drip down your arms and chin!

Just can't believe it is nearing 100 degrees by noon most days. Wonder how we survived before we had all of these "heat advisories' and "heat alerts!" Heavens, I remember when we didn't have A/C! WHEW! Thought it was a luxury to have a box fan in the window! My travels have been curtailed since the A/C in my truck gave up and finally died. The earliest appointment I could get was Friday the 13th. Hope there is no significance to that day!

Most mornings, when I take Li’lBit out, I try to leave the door open and open the windows, turn off the A/C – just to get some fresh air into the trailer, but the heat has been stifling.  Kathy gave me a bunch of Iowa travel magazines so they kept me occupied. When tolerable, I sat at the picnic table, pencil in hand, making notes of possibilities for day trips (when the A/C is fixed in the truck!)

It’s really getting routine when the most exciting thing I can say that happened in a day is that I emptied the kitty litter and had a nice visit with the owner of the park at the Dumpster!! Water the plants, feed the birds, take my ice tea and book and magazines and go outside -- as long as there is a breeze and it is still overcast, being outside is tolerable. I know it is too hot to be outside when Li’lBit abandons her shady spot and sets on the steps waiting to go inside! At least with all of this dry weather, it isn't bad setting outside during the day -- the skeeters are way down!
July 4the was brats and chicken on the grill at my sisters. I took all the ingredients and made her lemonade pie when I got there – just not enough room in my RV fridge to store a pie! Besides, I forgot to pack my mixer and didn’t even have one of the oldie but goodie hand mixers! Definitely need to get one to keep in the trailer.

The evening news on July 4th brought sadness and news of an unbelievable tragedy to Marshalltown.



Saturday, July 7, 2012

Back Home for the Class Reunion

Friday the 22nd I was ready to load the truck. Had taken care of the kitty litter and emptying the sewer tank the night before. Emailed last minute instructions to my sister about taking care of the “kids.’ They were staying in the trailer and she would come by and let them out.

Made it back to Maquoketa about noon. The A/C started working again but when I got there and found I had forgotten shampoo and a hair brush, off to WalMart I went. Coming back to the motel, the A/C stopped again. Guess it only likes highway driving.

Checking in was a wonderful experience. First, their free WiFi -- ISN'T -- it may be Free but it doesn't connect to the internet – that was OK, I had my Verizon MiFi.

Before I could settle into my room, I made 3 trips to the office. (1) My card didn't work; I couldn't get in the back door by the parking lot, so back to the office I went. (2) Then I could get in the back door but not my room; back to the office I went. By now there is a pile of stuff outside the door 'cuz with each trip I’d carry something with me! Good thing there aren't a lot of folks in the halls or I may have lost something! (3) The room key AGAIN didn't work, so back to the office I went. I wasn’t real confident that I would be able to get back in if I left the building! I wonder just how many times you can reprint those key card thingies before they stop working!

Friday nite was a social get-together at the Eagles Club: cash bar, provided munchies kinda thing at 7PM so I had plenty of time to kick back and let the hassle of getting into the room wear off! A warm bath and a nap took care of that!

WHEW! Out 'till 11PM -- had to get back to the motel before I turned into a pumpkin! My jaw and cheeks ached from yakking and laughing so much. The weekend is off to a great start!

Saturday, although my motel was next door to McDonald’s, I chose to venture out and I pigged out on breakfast at FlapJacks -- a Maquoketa Institution (almost!) -- ran into some class mates -- I really did go to school with some awesome folks (kinda hard to imagine that when I look back at the way we WERE!)
Drove around town retracing the steps I made from home to school, only this time I was driving and not walking. Drove through the old neighborhood, neighborhoods of school friend, and visited the cemetery -- all of the family I have in town reside there now. Then, social hour and dinner with the class. So many to visit with - so little time!

Sunday morning I loaded the truck, checked out of the motel and headed out to the Country Club to meet the class for breakfast at their brunch buffet. Then On The Road Again! Great weekend -- but ready to get back to my Holly & Li'lBit! Amazing how much I miss them.

My head is bursting with memories and my heart aches when I think of those that are no longer with us, except in memories. It was a wonderful weekend with great people and good food....I don't think our class ever missed a meal! For the record -- I'm gonna get Ingrid -- at brunch she started singing that standard school bus pep song "Everywhere we go, People want to know, who we are, so we tell'em....." I'm sure every school sang it -- well, it got stuck in my head and it ran thru my brain the entire THREE HOURS coming back to Marshalltown! Ingrid - you are gonna pay for this, Ingrid!

My hopes and prayers went with Sherri, Carole and Marti – three from our class that are from Colorado and with the wild fires, I pray they find their homes safe and sound.

Oh, we are the Maquoketa High School Class of ’62! This was the 50 year celebration!  We are the Cardinals, the mighty, mighty Cardinals!

Summer in Iowa: Adjusting to New Pollens!

Thursday, June 7 A whole new set of pollens! I brought my nebulizer and inhalers but needed to get busy unpacking and setting up the inside of the trailer – I did remember to bring allergy meds – it was just a problem of finding them!

I also found myself mentally challenged trying to remember how to get decent AM radio reception IN the trailer (I need my morning AM radio and can’t make it thru a long ‘can’t sleep’ night without George Noory and Coast to Coast AM!) AND, where were the instructions and the county numbers for my weather radio? Both problems eventually solved. BUT, in my travels, I do need to find some sort of better antenna for my radio. Even the radio ‘built-in’ has horrible reception. Spent much of my first few days remembering where I put stuff and remembering how to do stuff!

Kathy picked me up and we went for lunch! What a wonderful treat to not have to start cooking right away. Just loved the visit – and how can you go wrong with a good friend and a Chinese buffet!
Noticed I still had a drip at the hose connection to the trailer. It seems really positional. Put a new washer in – still a drip now and then. Will have to take a better look at that this weekend.

I’ve been bruising on my arms and legs – not sure if it is from the meds I’m taking after the stent placement or if it is just that I’m klutzy and banging arms and legs while setting up and unpacking. When I got here I noticed bruises on each thigh just above the knees and up and down both arms. Seems like every day I was noticing a new bruise somewhere -- no problem with bleeding gums/teeth or nose, etc….all those warnings they give when on blood thinners. I stopped taking the baby aspirin temporarily, also backed off on the allergy meds since they do contain aspirin. A few more days and I should be used to the trees!

Headed into town on Friday to get some laundry done. Needed to pick up some veggies so I could get off this high-carb diet I’ve been eating while on the road.

Stopped at that KwikStar by the laundomat and got my newspaper, coffee (decaf! CRAP!) and my breakfast sandwich, then to the laundromat -- ended up with 2 loads -- still have a comforter and another load of sheets to do next week. They have either turned the heat down on their dryers or they need to be checked 'cuz it took forever to dry my stuff (@ 25 cents for 6 minutes!) I'm thinking they lowered the maximum heat so the laundry didn't warm up so fast and keep their A/C going! Washing machine price is now up to $2! At least the place is clean and the machines work!

Stopped at Fareway to get vegetables -- picked up some lunch meat and bacon so I can have BLTs. They had mushrooms and sweet peppers stuffed with crab meat so I got some of those.

Then off to the flower tent by DrugTown -- picked up a few plants to replace those Holly and Li'lBit slept on while they were stowed in the trailer! Went by my sisters and picked up my bird bath and my shepherd hooks. Time to get busy tending to my ‘garden’ and my birds!

Monday June 11th I was off for an early morning appointment with the eye doc. The gal that checked my eyes prior to seeing the doc wondered just how I managed to drive up from Texas with my glasses! I explained I hated to get new ones until I knew something definite about the bad eye. She changed my mind about that! So, off to Wallyworld to get new glasses.

Eye appt went REALLY well, I think. Dr Graether said he feels I'm ready for corneal transplant evaluation, however, he doesn't do it anymore and the new cornea doc doesn't come in until August. I tried really hard to convince the appt desk lady that I needed one of his FIRST appointments! Mary doesn't close this park until the end of October -- If I could get an August appointment, then if it was a “go” on the surgery, I would have plenty of recoup time before I hit the road. I planned on leaving after Labor Day but I'll stick around as long as I can if this looks possible -- or I'll ask him to put me on his schedule for next summer and I’ll get up here early May when Mary opens the park. My appointment with the cornea doc is August 14 – guess I’ll cross those bridges after I get his evaluation.

Tuesday AM I almost had to get out my hoodie! 54 degrees! Brrrrrr! Even Li'lBit peed fast and came right back in! Headed into town for stops at Good Will and the Dollar Store to pick up some odds and ends I forgot to pack and will need – like bowls!

Menards (hardware/gardening) built a new store. I can see I won't be running in to just to pick up a couple of items! That store is tooo big! But, I think I saw it all! It was nice that they put a patio furniture display right in the middle of the store so there would be a place to rest. Next time I go, I’ll just pack my lunch!

Wednesday the 13th Bea and I went into Des Moines. I wanted to get a blouse for my class reunion.....always need an excuse to get something new to wear! After hitting a couple of stores, I found what I was looking for – in fact, I found a couple of extras! We stopped at Felix & Oscars for pizza to use my Groupon that was about to expire. Good Pizza – never had a pizza with the cheese on the crust before – I’m used to the cheese being on top! When the waitress set the pizza on the table, it was topped with pizza sauce. At first I thought they forgot the cheese – ‘til I took a bite! It was good.

On the way home Bea drove down by the turbines in Laurel -- all last summer I was trying to find where they were putting them up -- amazing I couldn't see a thing and some are so close to the road!

The 14th I headed into town to wash the shirts I bought and try to find BLUE shoe polish! I have a pair of navy blue shoes that have scuffs on the toes. Couldn’t find any – guess I’ll try magic marker!

The minute I got home, Li’lBit was rarin’ to go outside – out the door she came as soon as I opened it and she wouldn’t go back in unless I picked her up and put her inside – so I unloaded the laundry, grabbed my book and some ice tea and we spent some time outside.

Friday the 15th Jim and Kathy invited Bea and I out for steaks on the grill. They finally have their home repaired after all the damage during the derecho last year. And, I had my first really fresh strawberries of the season! YUMMY!

My glasses were to have been in Monday the 18th but you know how THAT goes! They made it by Tuesday so I can’t complain. And I can see better! Isn’t that amazing! It’s only bee 4-5 years since I’ve had them changed!

The birds have found the feeders – between the wrens, finches and the woodpeckers, I don’t need an alarm to wake up in the AM.

On Tuesday the 19th a 10 yr old boy from Marshalltown went missing while swimming in the Iowa River. They recovered the body the following day. Fortunately for my sister, it wasn’t one of her students, but the boy did go to Mick’s school. Mick is the grandson of the owner here at Shady Oakes and the one that built the tree house. He is an elementary school principal here in town.

The A/C in the truck is messing up again! Naturally – Friday I head to Maquoketa for my class reunion and no A/C for the trip!

Had a short power failure during the nite. No idea why it went off – wasn’t storming -- just WHAMMO -- it was off! I could see there were lights on in town -- figured if it stayed off too long, I'd just call my sister! I hadn’t recharged my power packs since I arrived…and I really do know better!

Wednesday 20th I had an appointment with my sister’s doc to have the bruising checked. Everything is OK – WHEW! I’m back to taking the aspirin and he renewed one of my Rx that was running out. After the appointment I went to Culvers to meet Bea and Marilyn for ‘chicken nite.” They really do have some great fried chicken!

Li'lBit and I were outside for awhile earlier in the day and Judy stopped by to make sure I was OK after the power outage – Mary and Judy do worry about me – no wonder I like it here!

Wednesday night/Thursday morning we had some wind an rain. Got about ½ inch of rain – could use a whole lot more. The corn is really looking dry. I heard the wind coming before I felt the trailer rattle and roll -- about the time I was really setting here shaking and rattling, the weather radio came on to say the alert for Marshall county was cancelled -- the conditions were no longer favorable for thunderstorms! RIGHT! That was a lot of rockin’n’rollin’ for a cancellation!

Went to town for last minute laundry before my trip to Maquoketa and to look for one of those fans that set on the dash and plug into the cigarette lighter. I finally got up into the back of the truck to clean it out – hadn’t done that since I arrived and the bed of the truck was full of oak leaves from the live oaks in TX and the burr oaks up here.

Friday June 22 I headed back for my 50th high school class reunion. My sister was critter setting! I plan on doing a lot of visiting and 'catching up!" A 3 hour trip without A/C in the truck –I was definitely ready for a shower when I got to the motel!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Recipes

Cole Slaw without mayonnaise

1 medium head cabbage
1/2 C sugar
3/4 C oil
1 C vinegar
1/4-1/2 tsp dill seed (adjust to preference)
1 tsp Celery seed
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt

OPTIONAL VEGETABLES: onions, green peppers, grated or thinly sliced carrots, sliced radishes

Grate or finely chop the vegetables to preferred size (I use a processor to get them pretty fine.) Boil the sugar, oil & vinegar in a saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop, until sugar is dissolved. (Do NOT use microwave)

Stir in seasonings. While hot, pour entire mixture over veggies & cover tightly.

Refrigerate at least 24 hours so it can marinate.
Coconut Cream Pie

1 graham cracker crust
1 T sugar
1/2 c milk
3 oz cream cheese-softened
1-1/3 c shredded coconut
8 oz Cool Whip
1/2 t almond flavoring

NOTE: I like to toast a little coconut and put in on the crust before I pour in the filling. Just gives it a 'toasty' flavor!

Beat cream cheese fluffy. Blend in sugar and milk until smooth. Fold in coconut, Cool Whip and vanilla. Spoon into crust and freeze firm 4 hours. Let stand room temp for 15 min.
Ice Cream Topping ala Magic Shell

1 (6 ounce) package chocolate chips
1/2 stick butter or margarine
1/4 cup corn oil

Melt chips and butter together (microwave on low). When melted, add oil.

Pour over ice cream and it will harden.

OPTIONAL: Use the white chocolate chips and cherry flavoring

JUNE 4, 5, 6 - ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

June 4th -  headed to Iowa.  Stopped at Orville’s to have my tires on the trailer checked on my way out of town. Sad to say, he has sold the place, but was there in the AM and introduced me to the new owner. Sure hope I get the same kinda service! I’ll miss Orville.

Just south of Fort Worth, a trucker pulled up next to me and rolled down his window hollering, "check your rear.” I just knew it was another wheel problem! And then when I walked around the back and saw the slide out, I was wondering how in the world I was going to get it in -- the motor requires electricity! Stupid me! I had 12 volt with the trailer plugged into the truck. Just takes a lot longer! And you know, after that, I was stopping every hour or so and checking - but it was OK -- just must have been that stupid peanut butter jar that tipped over against the switch -- why in the world did they put that switch for the slide out in the PANTRY!

Arrived at my routine stop, Pioneer Park, Guthrie OK, by supper time. As usual, plug in the electric and the water – don’t bother to unhitch – put the slide out – call it HOME! Fell asleep before the sun went down -- still had my clothes on! Woke up at 3 AM - got out of my clothes and didn't wake up until 6AM. Guess my ol' body just gets really pooped driving!

In no hurry to pull out in the AM – don’t even fix breakfast. I'm about 1 1/2 hr from the first service center on the Kansas Turnpike with a McDonalds! There are plenty of other places along the interstate to get something but the service centers are easy in and out!

I can't get into the park in Homewood KS until 3PM and it is only about 4-5 hrs from Guthrie; I make a lot of stops along the way! I do enjoy the short driving day after the 6 hr trip to Guthrie. I have decided that 6 hrs is about my limit for driving -- those long 10-12 hr days are GONE! But it sure is nice to be able to get out of the truck and walk around the trailer, checking tires - and now rear slide! -- and not getting out of breath! What a difference that one little piece of plastic made!

When I wake up Wednesday June 6 in Homewood KS, I’m only 5 slow and easy hrs from Shady Oaks. Watched the local highway reports prior to leaving that AM and made notes of the construction areas. This has been a fairly good trip as far as construction – not a lot of detour or delay.

There it is! Welcome to Iowa – pull over at the visitor’s center in Lamoni – they serve Made-Rite sandwiches (loose meat sandwiches if you watched the Roseanne Barr show on TV) Wish I hadn’t left my camera in the truck – I ordered a strawberry malt – comes in the metal container they mix it in – that’s a LOT of malt! Is this Heaven? No, it’s Iowa!

Arrived at Shady Oaks a little after 3PM – pulled up to my spot waiting for Randy to come from work to help be back in – creamed the side of the trailer with the extension on the dumpster! OOPS! Well, I was just trying to get over! No major damage – just going to need some fiberglass mending patches!

By the time my sister showed up from work, Randy and I had just about finished setting it up. Then it was catch my breath – apply a little more deodorant and head out for something to eat with my sister! I’m Here!  Li'lBit and Holly are happy campers!



Headed North

Ron came by to help me hitch up the trailer and I headed out of Rockport before noon on Wednesday May 23. Arrived in Gatesville TX just in time for supper. Fred was there to help me get ‘level’ and unhitch. It’s a great feeling to be “home.” And it didn’t take me long to get out to Johnnie’s for coffee. Oh, how I miss our chats when I’m not in Gatesville!


After a night of tossing and turning, waking up with back pain and leg cramps, I realized it might take me some time to get back into that On The Road mode! Woke up Thursday AM knowing I hadn’t gone for enough north! 76 degrees at 7 AM! Headed out to Johnnie’s to do my laundry, visit and drink coffee!

In less than 24 hours I was coughing, spitting, sputtering, nose plugged, short of breath!! Hmmmm…must be back in Gatesville!

Had the truck out to Orville’s at 7:30 Thursday AM -- Planned on it taking awhile so had my book -- but he got me in right away -- oil changed -- brakes checked and OK - tires checked and OK -- got out of there for less than $100! Dog-gone diesel oil change isn’t cheap!

More coffee with Johnnie and lunch with Brenda. Brenda brought my mail – a huge sack of junk mail and advertising. Most of my “real” mail is now coming to Rockport. Stopped at the license plate place and got the trailer tags -- then went to WalMart to see if they can put my old glasses back together -- I sat on them! They are my spare pair!

Saturday 10:30 AM Li'lBit’s appointment at the vet. Saturday at 6PM Michael fixed me deer meat stew and corn bread last – good food – good friends! Even brought a bowl home!

Met his cousin while there – she was having a yard sale on Saturday so you know where I went Saturday! And – I found an indoor grill – I have regretted selling mine at the yard sale when I was moving into the RV – but just didn’t think I’d need it in the RV. WRONG!! I now have a new one!

Sunday lunch at Johnnie's -- chicken fried steak, "Toby tators" and all the trimmings! Ate way too much – and she even had one of her ‘famous’ chocolate birthday cakes for me! A really nice surprise.

Got some rain Monday nite - At least it cooled it off a little -- all the way down to 72 degrees!

Went to vote Tuesday AM - what a disaster -- no wonder folks don't go out and vote -- no one seemed to know what was going on and it was all in one place -- the county court house! All but one of the precincts voted there and the right hand still didn’t know what the left hand was doing!

Met Mary Jane for lunch at Andy's -- had a really good salad -- made the mistake of trying to bring what I couldn't eat home -- didn't last too long in the truck while I was drinking coffee with Johnnie!

The truck went into Dodge for its well baby check up – having some A/C problems and it needed some routine checks. Then lunch with Brenda -- then coffee with Johnnie -- then back home to rest! Do you see a pattern here?

Picked up the truck -- gave 'em $600!!! But I'm up to date with all service and it shouldn't give me any trouble -- and shouldn't have much of a bill in the fall! My A/C is OK -- but there is something with the computer board and when it idles, etc etc etc -- damned if I understand it. I really can't complain -- the last couple of times I've gotten out kinda cheap -- just minor stuff -- but I'm at that mileage point where everything needs to be done and since I'm "passing thru" we do it all at once.

Major part of the storms passed us by Wednesday nite -- didn't get much rain so I had to water my plants – one of these days I’m gonna stop carting all of this greenery back and forth! At least it was down to 68 degrees and only into the 80s for a couple of days.

Met Brenda and Samantha for lunch at Ranchers - like their onion straws and hamburgers on sour dough buns. Glad I got to see Samantha, never did get the time to get “Brenda and the girls” together at Dairy Queen this trip. Then to Johnnie's for coffee and to do a load of laundry.

Ran into Laurie and Cindy (used to work with them at home health) when I was at Ranchers. Stopped by home health one day before I left town to visit for awhile.

Johnnie’s grandson, Colton, graduated June 1 – didn’t go to graduation since it was outside at the football stadium in 90+ sticky, hot, humid degrees. But I did go to his party/dinner at The Feed Mill. I can’t believe he is graduating! Seems like just yesterday…

Gotta start packing up - hit the road Monday, June 4!