My time in Tucson

So I have been here at my brother's home since a week ago today. I had been here 4 years ago, and they had flown back to PA for their 50th wedding anniversary a couple years ago, but it sure was good to be able to visit again. I was going to leave Wednesday, but he wanted some tips and help with his beginning oil painting. Since all I have is time, I thought, "It's not like I need to be in a hurry.... I have several days more that I could spend here as I am not committed to be anywhere....", so I decided to stay. Its good to have plans, but also good to be flexible. I enjoy being with my brother and sister-in-law. She is the perfect hostess; always concerned if I would like to eat with them, if I need anything, I am welcome to use the washer and dryer.... Besides I get to do what I love most! helping and encouraging someone else to be creative. ( as well as painting myself ....) Can't beat that :)  It has also been fun reminiscing our childhood adventures.

 Their property boasts beautiful desert plants... as well as a couple orange trees

                                               

Here is my motor home, all set up.

...... and set up for our first art lesson....

So it is fun, but I would still like to be out in the deserted desert before Christmas.

Just a preference of this "hermitess" lady.

The wind has been high  all day today and according to what my brother saw, its to be up to 40+ mph tomorrow. I felt the wind hit the side of the motor home a couple times today. Can't imagine what it will be tomorrow. Hmmmm.... maybe we should be painting waves instead of desert the way the wind rocks me around! 

Safe travels everyone and Merry Christmas to you all!!

Isaiah 9:6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting  Father, Prince of Peace.

From Paducah, Kentucky to Hot Coffee, Mississippi

It took me 2 days to get to my next destination. I left Friday noon heading toward Mayfield KY, on to Union City TN, then 45W to Jackson, TN. From there I took SR 18 into Holly Springs,MS. I found a Wal-Mart and dry-camped there overnight. The next morning found me heading across Rt 4 to Senatobia on I 55. That little stretch was a hairy ride to say the least!! I went that way to avoid Memphis, but there has to be a better way. Won't do that one again! I continued down I 55 to Jackson, MS and on to Mike Conner State Park near Collins, MS. I got there just about dark but did get parked in a pull-thru site. I waited till next morning to set up. My DD and SIL met me at the main road and guided me in. I had been there before and used their dump station, but had forgotten exactly how to get to it, and it would not come up on my GPS.

The next day, we went on a joy ride around the countryside and they took me to a lil town called "Hot Coffee". Yes there IS such a place ! You can even find it on You Tube, so they tell me!

Not much to it but worth it to say I been there! Its not quite as big as Luckenbach, TX! (south of Fredericksburg, where 'Willie and the boys' sang)

                                                               









                                               

On our way back to camp, on a back road that Timmy knew, we passed this dilapidated old house. Now, I just love old houses, always seeing the character, the charm; always wondering if it was a happy home or if grief had been experienced there;

 I'm sure some of both, as that is the way life seems to go....

I just had to get a closer look. And because my daughter is a bit like me, well... 

There was no "No Trespassing" sign, at least we didn't see one, although we really tried not to look too hard. SIL said he'd hold the barbed wires apart for us, but HE wasn't going in.

So we got a bit closer, close enough to know it wasn't safe at all. The old tin roof was quite rusted but the chimney looked in fairly good shape. At least it was still standing. The brick porch posts were leaning and the porch floor looked like a heavy tree branch could finish it off.

The mammoth tree in the front yard was truely magnificent! I wondered if it had at one time held a tire swing on one of it's strong branches....

It was a beautiful tree with lovely form!

We did walk around a bit more, then exited the property, touching nothing. We made our way back to camp in time to walk the pups again, chat a bit, then they went home.

The next morning I was awake earlier than usual.

The campground I stayed at has a beautiful lake. The mist was just rising as I took the pups out for their walk about 7:15 Monday morning. The sun was shining bright and no wind, but still freezing cold, about 28*. I had a hard time getting the pups to sit still while I snapped a few pictures. 

I returned to the RV and put a roast in the crock-pot with a dry onion soup mix, and a small jar of my home-made tomato sauce. Then I got out the mid-sized crock-pot and started sweet potatoes and apples in that one. Later I cooked up some kale with bacon and onion, and a small side-dish of white beans. Later after DD and SIL got here I cooked up a cornbread in the convection oven. It was the first time I had used it. DD helped me figure it out. I am a sight learner. Reading directions? Not so much..

That was our early Thanksgiving dinner together. And we had plenty to be thankful for!We had a very good visit; talked a bit, and laughed alot! It was so good to be able to enjoy each other's company! I had purchased a painting from DD, Rachel, and she brought it to me. I promptly hung it on my wall. It looks beautiful in my new RV!  

Oh..... and the best part? A cotton bouquet from my SIL. Thank you soooo very much Timmy Ray!

Thanks you all for coming along with me. Leave a comment if you care to

I hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving. What you eat is not so important as sharing time with ones you love. God bless you each and every one!

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, rejoice!

Exploring on the Backroads

My grandson came to visit me for several days. One day we decided to go exploring. He loves nature and the woodsy areas around where I live, so I took him to this newly discovered (to me) area I had found last spring. It was on Pump Station road off of Creek road. I should have gotten a picture of the pump station, which consisted of several about 6" or 8" round pipes coming out of the ground and joining about 3' above ground. The design was interesting.

There was a sign that said 'no motor vehicles beyond this point, walk in only", so we did.

However I did get some nice pictures of the water, trees and reflections.

Color up and down the creek....

Beautiful water reflections!

 We could also see where others had had campfires circled round with stones, and paths where they had walked back through, and bare areas that looked like someone had been tent-camping. But we just enjoyed the beauty around us, and PM even pointed out fish in the water.

Getting out in nature rejuvenates the soul. We enjoyed experiencing some of God's beautiful creation!

Thanks for stopping by. 

I hope you also enjoyed this little journey through our pictures!

Next stop - Mississippi!

Two days after leaving Kentucky I entered Mississippi  Nov 4th on route 59, and made my way to daughter #3's home just north of Hattiesburg. I was set up on no time right handy to their home.

 To make a long story short, I spent 5 wonderful weeks there, getting to know her future husband and some of his family. Also spending time with my daughter,

seeing some of the local sights

 

 painting, having coffee together in the mornings, going to Hobby Lobby together (for art supplies and to keep each other in check :)  )
 I also enjoyed very much attending her church with her. It's called OverFlow and is located in McGee, MS. A really down-to-earth pastor and a congregation full of love,
as evident in their ministry.

Also daughter #4 and family made the trip from Dallas, TX to come spend a few days at Thanksgiving time.

 Lots of hugs and good times! Daughters made Christmas wreaths, enjoyed shopping and painting together. Bond fire in the evening with family and friends topped it off!

Time to leave the area was hard, but I needed to get on with my travels.

We said our "see ya later"s and I left to head down toward Gulfport.

Delays ..... But Not all Bad

One week later....
Waiting on the right rheostat for the fuel feed to come in to be put in my RV. After two new rheostats that neither one fit, I decided to go ahead and have the used one put in as my son had assured me that they ever rarely go bad. Trying my best to be patient  <smile>. 

Then, on the other side of this, I am also looking at the possibility of full-timing for a while. I am feeling such urgency to get away. I guess with all the activity here at this home, making it a home, isn't very satisfying for me. I "re-created" here what mimicked the happiest times of my life, a home with animals and garden, just like Hubby and I had, and like we did when kids were growing up. A councilor once told me that sometimes we seek to go back to the happiest times of our life so that we can start from there and heal. But having no one to share the work and rewards with has left me feeling quite empty.
Tonight I took a ride in my truck just to get out of the house (area). As I drove around, I wondered what was keeping me from feeling peaceful, what was nagging at me. Finally it occurred to me that
I am not the same person that I was then.... why am I trying to be?

Isaiah 26:3

Switching Blogs For a Time

As I won't be traveling til sometime next year, I decided to switch back to my former blog,

"Just Plain Country Living"

Just click on the name to go there.

I hope to record my adventures of making a go of it on 1 and 1/3 acres. I have some catching up to do, but it has been an exciting summer so far for me.

Thank you all for following along as I went through my adjustment to widowhood and learning about RV'ing.

Hope you all have happy travels and sunny days ahead!

May the Lord bless your journeys!

"Lady Blue" and Other News

Lady Blue is back home today. The guy at the transmission shop told me that wherever I had had it serviced (I am thinking it was west TX, on the way home) they put the wrong gasket on the oil pan and had dinged the pan in and that was the cause of my leak. He kept it there an extra day just to make sure of no leaks. Said it drove and shifted like it should. I am very thankful thats all that was wrong.

 

My brother and SIL left their home in Tuscon, Arizona today to make their way here to PA in their motorhome. Their kids and grands are anxious to see them. What a reunion that will be!

 

I have been making some progress as to getting back to a realistic meals/snacks plan, and as a result I have been starting to feel better. I have been able to do more yard work and have been enjoying it. I decided that some of these overgrown flowerbeds are just going to have to be totally pulled out and re-done. I did find a good natural weed killer on-line. Would you believe white vinegar???? Full strength in your sprayer. Well if it doesn't rain I will be trying it tomorrow and will take before and after pictures to post.

 

My electrician grandson came Sunday afternoon and put up 3 ceiling fans for me! I was so glad to get this done. I had bought them last year. This year is already warm and quite humid. 

 

A week ago I "inherited" a couple of my grandmother's paintings, as my 3 cousins were settling my uncle's estate. He had passed away in Dec of last year. These are now hanging over my loveseat in the room where I paint.Great inspiration for me.

 

 

Memorial Day weekend will find my family gathered at my son Robert's home for a picnic, as he is still in a wheel chair. So we are bringing the picnic to him! He has been a trooper with very little (in his eyes) advancement and his wife has been very faithful and consistant in his care. She has been a jewel! It will be good to have us all together in one place at the same time.

 

Hope you all enjoy your Memorial Day celebrations. I am sure we will all be remembering those who have given their lives for our freedom.

 



Another trip to Mexico

Saturday morning we decided to make a run to Mexico so I could get some of my medicines. Soon as we walked out of the parking lot, we go down this ramp and through a building walkway to the right, through a gate, into the Mexican side of Nogales.

As soon as we got to street level we saw all the taxi's lined up, both sides of the street, to take visitors wherever they would wish to go.

Drivers stood calling out, "Taxi, taxi, you need a taxi??" The wall on the right where the taxis are lined up, is the border between the states and Mexico.

 My brother was getting some stitches removed at the dentist office where he had had some work done recently. I like the intricate detailed street lights. The pace here is slow and people take time to sit or stand and chat. There are benches made from metal at various places along the streets.

I was delighted to see these "dancers" coming down the street. I had never known of this before.

They had goat-like hats on their heads with horns and droopy ears, and masks on their faces.

One carried a box for donations, one a drum, others with maracas...

They wore belts of shot-gun shells, made to add to the music as they did their dance,

And legging-like things made from soda cans into hundreds of little bells that tinkled in time to the music. Oh what fun this was to watch them as they imitated the goats and did a dance much as you would see in the movie "Dances With Wolves". That was the highlight of my day!! 

Here is a picture of some of their wares that I hadn't seen last time. Lots of neat metalwork.

When I saw this blanket I could not pass it up. This was just made for on my sofa at home in my den! It is made from Alpaca wool. More than I wanted to pay (even after bargaining him down to half)

but well worth it. It is beautiful and soft!

We finished off with getting a fantastic meal at a restaurant called "Lee's", recommended by a local person. It was beautiful inside, and the food was excellent!

Oh, yes.... I drove the RAV4 for the trip there and decided I like it VERY much!

 

Later this week, we leave for a camping trip to the Dragoon Mountains. It will be My brother's and s-i-l's first RV trip.  We are planning to have a great time!



No Good at Keeping Secrets!

Ok.... here is the surprise. I give up.   I  , er, Tex-Cyn just can't wait till I spill the beans! (j/k)

And this is partly why my painting challenge won't be done on time.

We, Brother and s-i-l and I, have been looking and looking for an RV for them to be able to make trips to Pennsylvania to visit their kids and grands, as well as enjoying getting out and spending some time for much-needed enjoyment and relaxation. So after looking locally and coming up empty, we took a trip to Camp Verde, AZ to see this.....

'94 Minnie Winnie 28 1/2' Ford 460

Ain't she pretty???

Its alot like mine and I think they will be very happy with it.

They are getting their license and insurance taken care of, and all that happy stuff done, as well as purchasing needed supplies.

I have left them to do what they need without my interference (I've already given them plenty of that, ha!) and left there yesterday to go to Ajo...... which is another story.

I am so happy for them!  We will be RV'ing together a couple times before I head back to PA in the springtime ..... in time to plant my garden!

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