Packing it up and heading out, Yeah!

Just a quick note to say my RV is repaired and back home. I have it about packed up, with just a few more things to carry out, bath for Izzy, shower for me and we will be on our way!

Oh and ....... my very first Great-Grandchild was born this morning after an almost 24 hr labor, but healthy! I will be seeing little Ayden, and grand-daughter Maddie (1 yr old) who I have not seen yet. I will love seeing all my kids, grand and some friends.

Also planning on some plein air painting of the fabulous Pennsylvania hills! Hope to be posting from the road if I can get it figured out.

Thanking the Lord this morning for all His many blessings!

More Changes ... Good Ones

My #1 daughter surprised me the other day with a new header for my blog. Thank-you, Tina!

My RV is still at the repair shop. They did finally get the fuel line in. The repairman said it is only 24" long but has many bends and turns in it. They had to try 4 different lines before they found one that would work and also had to buy new bending tools to get it bent just right without kinking it. But now they need to finish getting it back together and test-drive it to make sure the problem is solved.

So I went on a color binge! Having color around me makes me happy. I saw this colorful quilted spread at WM and thought "why not?" It goes really nice with the bright woolen afghan my Grandma Miller made back in the 1950's????

......and set out a few other fall decorations I had.

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I decided to use my waiting time to do needed projects around theoutside of the house. I cleaned out old gardening supplies, used plant starter trays, and ridded out gardening tools I'll never use again. Oh, I kept one of each of the main tools because I still have flowers, bushes and a small herb garden. There were old plant pots, and buckets, chick starter feeders and waterers, some rabbit's water bottles, old hoses, old plant supports, you-name-its.

I repaired a decorative bird house that I will be re-mounting on a post.

I planted some new mums to fill in some bare spots in front of the porch.

I had hung some of my "older" paintings on the porch as part of my "spruce-it-up" plan.

I also cut a bundle of cornstalks and went to the neighboring farm to buy a few pumpkins to set around.

(This hibiscuis still needs put in the ground)

I love the fall time of year and I do plan to spend alot of it in the RV, but I want to see a welcoming sight when I come home. Also ......., plans are always subject to change. If by chance I get stuck here, I aim to enjoy it!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Preparation for the Journey

Thanks to all who have stopped by and left such encouraging comments. I will be visiting your blogs as well. I feel like a sponge wanting to soak up all the info I can on how to plan, what I will need to take with me, tools, cooking stuff, dog supplies, etc, as well as how to look after my rv.

I thought I heard her calling my name today as I drove by the repair shop. She was sitting outside (probably still waiting on the parts to come in). Thought I could hear her saying "why did you leave me here all alone? When you coming to get me?"

Actually I was on my way to get a new cell phone that would give me the best cell service all over the USA. The one I now had, the coverage dropped off drastically past TX. I had pulled the coverage maps up on the internet and compared them. I went with ATT's pay-as-you-go plan. I know I won't get coverage just everywhere, but we had had ATT in the truck before and it seemed to do a good job then.

I also got an air-card (whole seperate deal) and have 30 days to see if it works for me. My idea was to be able to cut the home internet, IF..... the air-card would work at the house as well. I figure I will probably be spending half the next year in the rv and half at the house, and then decide from there .

I also picked up a Fix-a-Flat for large tires, a can of de-icer, and a sunscreen for across the windshield. I write things down that I think I may need, from what I learn reading other rv blogs. I've got a pile of tools together. But not sure what else I need in this area. Are there any tools you would not leave home without??

Welcome to new followers, I am pleased to have you join me! Hopefully I can get on the road soon, maybe by the first of next week :) Planning to head to the beautiful colored fall trees in Pennsylvania, to see all my kids and grands, and to do some painting! Till then, stay cool.... or warm, whatever the case, and may God keep you safe on your journeys!

Oh,I see I have some RV'ing followers already, and some from my old blog! Welcome and thanks for joining me! I look forward to following you as well. I need to learn alot, so who better to learn it from than those who are already out there?

I love adventure, don't you?

I thought that as long as I am still on the mend, and my little RV is also in the repair shop getting a new fuel line installed, I'd post a couple pictures that I have of the inside.

This is looking toward the front. Driver's area has a kinda "Retro" look, like the owner :) The gauges are all round and the gear shift is a skinny little stick, ummm, not like me. I have asked a couple garages about putting in full shoulder-strap seat-belts, but they did not think it would be possible. It only has the lap belts. I am still looking...

The "bathroom ... :)" (its tiny but has shower, sink, and commode) is across from the table and benches, and in front of that is the driver's area with a full size bed over top. Directly on the left is the fridge/freezer.

This photo is looking toward the back. Lots of cupboard space and hidy-holes, a four-burner stove and double sink on the right, microwave up over top, and coffe-maker on the left, and the entry door is on the left between 2 closets. The couch makes into a nice comfy bed. It also has an extra post and table for in front of the couch should one be needed.

The couch and table benches look gray in the photos but they are really a powder blue and the carpet a medium blue. I haven't decided yet whether I will leave the carpet in.

Here is a shot of the nice big windows on the back corner of the RV. Oh how I love that!

There is also a large window in the "dining area".

This little 21' camper came with Onan generator, propane gas, auxilary batteries, and of couse electric hookups. The gas tank and water holding tanks aren't huge, but they will do fine for this first-timer.
As Izzy is used to sleeping in a crate at home, I got her a smaller one to tuck under the table to close her in at night. This may change as we do more and more RVing. I kinda have to feel my way into these things.

I know I am rearing to go and Izzy is too!

"Angel" Visit

My #3 daughter, Rachel, is an office manager at a place called "Visiting Angels". This last week she got a chance to be one; flying down to be with me for bladder stone surgery last Thursday. I was so grateful to have some family with me. The doctor said the surgery process and its complications, went very well. I am now on the mend, although it will take a couple more weeks than I had expected.

Izzy was also grateful, getting lots of attention even though I was under the weather. (sorry, no pictures) Rachel became the one to go to, to be fed, and cuddled, let in and out.... and in and out.... "oh! Kitty is out there to play with me!" and in and out ....... and there was no shortage of pettings or belly rubs.

I know the other three daughters wished they could have been here as well, but because of "life" being what it is, was just not possible. The check-calls came in on a regular basis though, and everyone was kept up-to-date.

Thank-you Rachel, for being my "visiting angel"!

Winter wood Supply

Thanks to a very generous crop farmer, I have my winter wood supply cut, split and stacked!
These guys have been fantastic! Not only did they supply my winter's wood , but earlier in the summer they planted a volunteer Maple tree in my front yard, trimmed back bushes that were growing into my second story window, cut an 8" diameter broken tree limb that was hanging directly over my propane tank from storm damage, and several other jobs I could not have handled myself.

Thanks so much to you, JWS, and your Dad, and helpers! Because of your kindness I will be able to continue to use my wood cookstove and enjoy the warmth of wood heat this winter that I have been so accustomed to for the better part of my life.

Accomplishing small tasks ...

I have been working the last few days on cleaning, ridding out , and re-lining my pantry shelves. It was a task I have been wanting to tackle for some time. It may not sound like much of a task, but given my age, and the toll my husband's death has had on my physical staimna (yes, it is a documented fact that the physical is affected as well as the emotional) I have found myself to be slower than I remember being.

But, the task is finally accomplished. I love the look of my new bright shelves.

And, I planned a reward for myself :) I went ahead and purchased paint to do my laundry/utility room and the hallway as the next project. I am actually looking forward to this, as I have some "decorating" I am planning as part of it. Oh... I can hardly wait to get started.

But first, I have bladder stone surgery to get through .....