Home on Wheels, or House and Land

Wow! Its been almost a year since I've posted on here! My RV has been sitting in my driveway since last summer when I got it back from the dealership where I bought it. It was in need of several repairs and a good general going over after my 7 and 1/2  months of travel. I had a whole list for them and they fixed every one.
Then came summer's end, with canning and preserving what I could from my garden and the Amish farm market near by, all the while my right knee getting worse. I knew I had to get the surgery done and had put it off as long as possible. Since I was having repairs and upgrades done on the house as well as a greenhouse added, I decided to wait till as close to wintertime as I could.
After Thanksgiving I had the total knee replacement. My eldest daughter stayed with me for almost a month after, taking care of me and my few chickens. Fortunately, the weather stayed pretty good through Dec. my recovery was slower than I had expected, much slower than when I had the left knee done 6 years previous. Now that I am back on my feet I am realizing just how much work this place requires and the fact that I don't have the strength to manage it properly. I warred all winter long in my mind whether to sell my RV or to sell my home. I did alot of journaling, writing down my thoughts; pros and cons on both. I disliked the RV sitting in my driveway, being paid on each month and not being used. I also disliked paying property taxes, insurance, and heat-in-winter bills for the house when I am out in RV for at least 6 months at a time. after giving it much thought and prayer, I finally came to the decision that I was not attached to any "thing" here. I could sell it all and live in my RV as had been the plan and purpose of buying the RV in the first place. The desire was still with me to travel full-time and paint.
I called the realtor and she came out a couple days later to look my place over, told me what I needed to do yet to advertise it and wanted to list it by May 20. YIKES!!! No way did I think i would be ready, but we shall see. If it sells, I will be free from alot of work which I don't need at my age, and if not I will still leave in the fall for another winter of travel and painting.
I will continue blogging on my progress. Meanwhile, the cover is off, batteries charged up, and I have an appointment to get my RV inspected (required in PA) on Monday.

Thanks to anyone who stops long enough to read my ramblings. I will be keeping up with my progress. Leave a comment if you wish!

Feeling Better.....

I haven't done much except lay around and sleep alot the last couple days. I set up to get Netflix on my 'puter and watched a couple movies. One I really liked was  a story about Michael Angelo painting the Sistine Chapel, starring Charlton Heston. I also watched Penn of Pennsylvania, an old black and white movie.

        Other than that I knitted some on my latest pair of socks although sometimes I barely had the energy to hold the needles.This yarn is Chroma fingering yarn by Knit Picks and the color is "Mesa".

 It was a Christmas present from Daughter #1.



I got up this am feeling like myself again, so I stumbled in to brother's house and got a shower. Washed away all those yucky flu germs! So thankful to be feeling better!
This afternoon we went to a farm/feed store to get seed for the birds and I got a dog brush for Curley Joe, who insists on rolling and scratching in the dirt, and brings half of it in the rv with him. Up until now, the comb I had for Izzy also worked for him, but not in this sandy soil.We also stopped at a Michaels store so I could get more 4" x 5' canvases to finish my "painting challenge" paintings on.

Other than that, there was a nice sunset out last night I was able to get a couple decent photos of it from my doorway.

 

Hope you all are having a nice weekend! The weather should be great here in southern Arizona!

Is there a "Right" Time to Boondock in Arizona?

I have been researching boondocking sites in Az and from what I see, the ones that sound inviting are north of Tucson, with good chances of bad weathe. I thought I could b/d in the Saquero National Forest but not very acceptable for camping with 2 very curious fur buddies. Not really wanting to go to Quartzsite with so many ppl there. I like being where I am basically alone for the most part. I am not a social butterfly. A few ppl at a time is great!

 

I thought we were taking a trip to Nogales MX, to my brother's dentist, but the office is closed till the 25th. CCW class that we intended to go to, well, the guy had a mishap, so that is not happening.... I know there are other classe but the cost is relatively more.

 

Maybe, also the fact that my stomach has been queasy the last few days may be contributing to my feeling a little bummed. In fact I am probably going back to bed after I finish this post.

 

Need to find a place to get an oil change in my rig, get some groceries, and get moving. After my stomach settles down....

Cold Weather Comforts

I finished these the other day, just in time for this cold snap that is hitting Tucson now. I am wearing them this morning! Comfy warm!

My s-i-l, Desert Shade (Carol), makes these insulated hot-pads. she happened to have one in my favorite design, sunflowers! 

This pretty hot-pad comes in handy, along with the tea-pot cozy made by my daughter #1,

 to keep my pot of tea hot longer.

I also used it this cold morning to keep hot my warm dish of oatmeal w/ apricots!

Yesterday, Deaf Ranger and I took my rig to dump the tanks, fill up on propane and diesel fuel.Other than that not much happpening except walking the dogs, and painting. I did a couple western scenes which you can view here if you like. You also may like the one I did of the Rv / auto light bulb.

Still doing a painting a day!

 

Can anyone tell me what the weather is like in Quartszite or Yuma desert? I'd rather hear it from someone who is there than the weatherman.... just sayin  ;-)

 

Stay warm wherever you are, and count your blessings for they are many!



Correction and News...

I had mentioned goting to sales over the weekend with my brother and s-i-l, but called it by the wrong name.  It's the Girls Estate Sales. Website is www.thegirlsestatesales.com also have a store at 3728 E Grant Rd in Tucson.

I have posted a few more paintings on my painting blog "Sunny's Studio" if you care to look. Trying my best to keep up with one painting a day but when brother wants to take me somewhere to show me a place, I usually cave and go. Not his fault, mine. Plus he says I am always rearranging or organizing and I guess he's right. But I think I am finally pretty well done with that now.

Today we took a drive to West Saguaro National Park. Trying to decide where I want to go next week as I am still in his back yard this week......

Plus, I am not very happy with me right now as I seem to be getting my days and nights mixed up. I slept in til 10 am this morning! Thats 12 noon eastern time. I am always up by 6:30 or 7 am back there in PA. What is WRONG with this picture?? I don't even LIKE sleeping in. Its a waste of time far as I am concerned. My dogs will let me sleep the day away... they aren't supposed to do that!

I got the new lens and some bulbs for my porch light today. I was about to walk out the store when I spied these outdoor RV mats, 9 x 12, on sale. I had wanted to buy one before but always more money than i wanted to pay, so I got one today.

Tomorrow I need to patch a small hole in my awning. That means getting up on the ladder as the tear is next to the RV side. That and fill up with propane by the end of the week and I'm about set to roll, ....somewhere....

Later.....



Keeping busy while waiting.....

I have been delayed on getting my vitamins that I usually take and have felt like I was dragging for the last several days. I had intended on picking them up in OK when I went to visit Susan but now that that trip has been canceled because of the bank card issue, I won't be going after my year's supply of vitamins as well. I have taken these same liquid vitamins since going on the truck with my husband in Jan of 2002. I was one of their first hundred or so customers.

Anyway I called the company and was told the TA at x 68 on I-30 east of Dallas carried them. They would cost more but at least I could get a bottle to get me through. So Friday I pulled together enough cash to get my Lady Blue fueled up and get my vitamins. I got there, fueled,  and went to look for the stand with the attendant who sells the vitamins at this particular TA. I found the stand, but the attendant was nowhere to be found.... just a small sign with a phone numner to call if you wanted to make a purchase. Sooooo, I called and got a viocemail saying to leave a msg. I ...left ....a .... msg. This is Monday evening. My call was never returned. No vitamins. Nada. There is a slim chance I can pick some up at another TA when I leave here. Don't cha just love it when life hands you all these little irritating little monkey-wrenches one right after another?? Just got to plow through and weather the storm, find something good to keep yourself occupied till the storm passes.....

 

Sunday afternoon Daughter's family and I met with cousin Connie and husband Bud over near Fort Worth and had a nice visit and dinner at golden Corral. Connie and I both like GC pretty well and it was not too far from their home. After that we stopped back at the ATT store and they finally conceded that my wi-fi unit was not working properly, and replaced it with a new one. I tried it out this morning and all the issues I had with the other one were gone. This one is working perfectly! So now that problem is solved.  I have been knitting in the evenings. I have about 4" to go and this pair of socks for D-I-Lwill be done. The Grand sometimes comes out to the RV and will watch a movie with me. Last night we watched "The Willows in Winter", a grand old classic.

This morning after walking the dogs, having breakfast and putting in a load of laundry, I got out my paint and went to work again on the painting of my grandson's piano lesson. I spent a good 4 - 5 hrs on it, working mainly on the checked shirt the piano teacher was wearing. This painting is quite different for me than my usual landscapes  but so far I am pleased with the results. This evening daughter and I went to another thrift store and I found another "working" string of Christmas lights, some clips to hold it to the awning, and a garland for over my doorway. Also found a few more VCR tapes; some oldies, but goodies.

 

Yay! I got my new bank card in the mail this afternoon, so now I can be on my way moseyin' over to Tucson, AZ. Want to make a couple stops along the way. Thinking about the Alamo, maybe...

I will be leaving here Wed morning. Bet my S-I-L will be glad to have my RV out of his driveway, LOL.

 Oh yes.... now I can call and have my vitamins shipped to my brother's home in Tucson!

 

Well, I'm tired so goodnight to all.

Pleasant dreams and safe travels!



Another delay.....

Yesterday and today have been very busy days.

Yesterday, because I went to do my online banking and found several hits to my checking account that I did not, and could not, have possibly made. Long story short ......... someone, somehow, had gotten my debit card # and decided that it would be easier to live off of my funds than to work honestly to earn their own living. Having eight hits totaling $2028.00 between Nov 23 and Nov 26, my bank and I are glad I keep a close eye on my account. They found where the debits had been made from, put a stop on my card, and set in motion for me to be reimbursed said funds. There is only a 2 day wait on my funds, but a 7 - 10 day wait on my new bank card to arrive at my daughter's home where I have been camping out in their driveway. I had planned to leave later toward the weekend to continue my way to AZ. However I had 2 people I had wanted to visit before going very far, and now cannot as I have limited funds until my card comes in the mail. 

 

Today errands were to take the dog-pals to the groomer recommended by a near-by neighbor, a Chik-filet stop for the daughter and a StarBucks stop for me, then a doctor appt for my daughter, Wal*Mart shopping for a small electric heater and other needed supplies, a stop at the thrift store, pick up the dog-pals, pick up the Grand from the school bus, pick up the husband from work (hers.... not mine) Papa Murphy's for pizza supper, drop the husband , Grand and pizza at home where he baked the prepared pizza's while we drove to Aldi's for some grocery items and filled the car up with gas. Whew!! Wore me out. We were back to the house just as the pizza's were ready. The guys had ham and mushroom pizza and we girls had thin crust chicken, spinach, and artichoke pizza. Yummmmmy!!

 

At the thrift store I got a VCR movie for $1.49 (which will play in my tv set) of  "The Willows in Winter" and a cheerful Christmas cappucino mug for myself for $.89 .  I had picked up a documentary VCR film on the History of the Railroad Steam Engines, but had a notion to check it, and glad I did as it had on corner broken on the edge that fits into the player, so I decided not to chance it. I would have loved to watch it :-/

Daughter found a few clothing items. She always finds good deals at these places. We had wanted to hit another thrift store she knows of but there just wasn't enough hours in this particular day.

And my doggie-pals look just gorgeous! I will try to get a picture of them tomorrow to post.

 

Among all the busy-ness today, and the frustrations of the day before, I realize how very blessed I am. My troubles are few compared to many, and I am humbled by the goodness of the Lord to me.

I have so very much to be thankful for......

 

Count your blessings,

          Name them one by one........

 

 



Yuck!

Got up today with flu-like symptoms.... headache, tummy rollin' and slight dizziness. Some of the neighbor gals were supposed to meet at my house tonite for knit-night but I had to cancel out on that. I had finished one of a pair of socks that had the reinforcement yarn in the heel and toe, and I wanted to show them, so I was disappointed. They will meet at Norma's house while I am gone.

I ended up spending the day on the couch with hot tea, almost dry toast and later some of that instant hot apple cider mix.

No packing today, although I did pull a few things out of the closet and put by the door. Hoping I can get back to it tomorrow.

 

Last night I ran over to my daughter's house who had just driven back from visiting her son in NC.... with a broken ankle! Daughter, not my grandson. They were walking in a park on Sunday, her last day there, when she stepped in a hole and down she went. Grandson, Tim, took her to get it looked at. Fortunately, a clean break and nothing displaced. She is in a boot and on crutches, with pain meds and orders to follow up in 10 days with her doctor ............ but, she had to do a 10 hour drive home by herself on Monday, and couldn't take the meds while driving.

 

Well, there was the car accident my grandson was in in May, then my son 's logging accident in July, and now Tina's ankle. My, oh my!

And they all wanted me to move back to PA so they could look after ME  ;-)

 

 

 

Footnote for those who have asked;  My grandson is almost back to normal, his shoulder is healing since the surgery in August. My son is gaining in strength, and adjusting to his limitations, but as yet no leg movement. Thanking the Lord for His goodness inspite of the circumstances!

Happenings in the life of a painter

This ..... is a true story.

http://atsunnysplace.blogspot.com/2012/09/clown-box.html

Enjoy!

Solar Lights

Well, I made it through my late husband's birthday  (Sept 7th) okay. I wasn't sure how that would go. Also my son got home okay from the hospital yesterday and I spent this afternoon and evening visiting with Him and his family. 

On solar lights... do any of you carry those solar yard lights with you to put at the edges of your awning or camp space? I am putting in an order for a couple post lights at home and got to thinking about that. I have run across some at Amazon.com that were really reasonable and if I order over $25, then its free shipping. I thought it might be a nice investment. What do you all think?

Thanks for stopping by

Stuff from my Garden ......... and Memories

I had fun pulling produce from my garden today. Besides what is pictured here I also pulled a dozen onions and a few shallots which are laid out to dry. I had planned on having these last 2 handfuls of green beans for supper tonight but ended up going to my daughter's home to knit with her group for a while, and ate there instead.

I have 4 trays of tomatoes, 1 tray of mixed peppers, 2 trays of shredded zuchini, and a tray of mixed veggies in the dehydrator. The mixed veggies were in the freezer, but I like to fill ALL the trays so as not to waste any space or energy when running it. Besides I can take them with me and use in a soup pot.

Since my Marigolds were spilling out of their spaces in the garden beds, I decided I may as well bring some inside for some pretty fall color. That Butternut squash is the same one as pictured above. There are several more out there, beets and carrots coming on, and my celery is soon to be picked as well.

Last box (and they were BIG boxes) of sewing stuff is emptied out so now I have my dining area back. One of my daughters will be coming over and we will go through some quilting material so she can make baby Maddie a little quilt. I am still trying to cut back to minimum or a little over.

Re-homing stuff right and left.

Two days left..... just 2 more days and my son will be back at his home just a few short miles from me. I am so glad for his whole family. It has been a long hard struggle, and will still be, but at least they will be together. The rest of us will be going over and pitching in to get the rest of his firewood cut, split, and stacked on their porch for winter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can still stack wood, yes I can

 and if I do say so myself, I am pretty good at it.

and this is the stove that burned the wood that I used to stack

and now.... I am missing 'him', but in a good sort of way. Remembering with fondness all the good times we had and how blessed I was to have him for as long as I did.

"Gathering Firewood"

Kentucky Home 2010

My strong oak, my Love .......still.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, back to the present.  Lets see, tomorrow I might be doing up some corn, if it's ready. Or I may be painting... or loading up my RV. Izzy goes to the groomer next Wed and I plan on heading out within 2 weeks max!

It's Raining, It's Pouring....

Some leaves are falling....

Some are just starting to change...

My grass needs mowed but its wet out there. Here are some of the last blooms of the season.

So I am doing inside chores today.

I cleaned the beta's bowls. I know they are happier.

Oh, yes, I figured if Tex-cyn could take her dogs with her in her RV, (of course I'll take little Izzy) ,

I could also take my bettas :) If I could find a way, I'd take chickens for fresh eggs, but I don't think you can take them across state lines without alot of fuss.

Oh yeh, my new dehydrator arrived and my food processor. Now I won't take these in the RV, but I will dehydrate food to take with me. Better that weighty home-canning jars. so tomorrow I will be heading over to the farm amish farm market to pick up some corn and their later green beans, and see if they have any cukes left. I have more squash to do and tomatoes. Also want to try bananas and apples, Yumm!

My son goes home from the hospital this coming Saturday, so I'll be hanging around a couple weeks to see if I am needed to help in any way before I get going. I don't know if I'll make it to Maine to see the leaves in good fall color or not, but that's my plan. Till next time....

Baby Blue.....

.... has a new home!!!!!!

Goodbye, Baby Blue

I am going to miss you!

But your new owners will give you lots of attention,

and take you lots of places.

It's time to move on.

Thanks so much for the fun times we've had together.

and the times when I could hide in your smallness

feeling like I was wrapped in a cacoon

Sheltered from the hurt I had endured.

Just me, Baby Blue, and Izzy, too.

Getting Things Done...

Finally got all my bathroom closets arranged and stuff put away.... yes it has taken me this long. I also have my sewing room (almost) organized. Getting one room done leads to another being able to be organized. The shelfs I was using until I got my dresser painted is now available for use in the sewing room. and since I moved stuff out of there I can get my quilting material out on the shelves, .... and maybe finish the border on my grandmother's Flower Garden quilt!!!!

I have also been taking things out to the RV to get loaded up and ready to go. I have been mapping my route I'd like to take up to Maine, and the stops I want to make along the way. Everything depends on what all happens here though, and I have been wondering whether I will be able to take off soon enough to see the changing of the leaves in the far northeast.

I rolled up my garden hoses today and got the yard mowed. I do have some yard work I will do if I get stuck here, but thats just the alternate plan; more birdhouses up, a couple more garden beds for next year, and re-doing some flower beds.

I've  completed another painting. (It's on my other blog,  Sunny's Studio) and am working on a couple more. I will also be giving my first painting lesson this Saturday. I will have a painting buddy.... Yeah!

One of my neighbors knits a lot of baby sweaters, and knows of a couple more gals who would be interested in getting together twice a month for a "Knit Night" at one of our homes, another back-up plan so if I am stuck here for the winter, I'll still have plenty to do! Or at least I will take part when I am here.

My cousins and I took a trip to the large Crawford County Fair this week. We had a grand time looking at all the displays in the home buildings, arts, crafts, garden produce, honey displays, ooooh, luscious stuff all!! I got my usual hot sausage sandwich with green peppers and onions, and later an ice cream cone to cool off my burning mouth and stomach. Well..... that was the excuse I used anyway :) My cousins had eaten before we left so they just got some french fries and had an ice cream cone with me. I only took a couple pictures in the farm show building with my 3G phone, nothing really to post. We did see lots of animals too, but really weren't interested in visiting the barns. I think we had all had enough of that growing up and in our later years.

Well this post is long enough, so you all take care and remember how blessed we all are! I know I am!!

Update on my son .... and Spam

Sorry to have to do this, but I have had to start comment moderation again due to some "spam" I've recieved lately. However, no "word verification" needed.
That stuff is a mess :-/

Update on my son, as some of you have asked. I was able to visit him most of yesterday. he is wheeling around in a wheelchair to and from therapy, and had some feeling in his foot yesterday also. We are hopeful that this is the beginning of him getting his feeling back in his lower chest on down to the tips of his big toe!! His logging and trucking crew was there to visit him on Sunday afternoon, and very encouraging to him. He told me how blessed he was to experience the feeling on his foot. He has always been a hard worker and now that he is pretty much out of danger, he is looking forward to going forward. He still has 2 weeks of antibiotics for the staph infection, but doing very well. The blood loss has stopped and he has needed no more blood since a week ago.

Thanks so much for all your kind thoughts and prayers! And most of all, thanking the Lord for His mercy and love toward us.

3rd Time's a Charm you say??? Guess again.... and Tex-Cyn's visit.

Ok, this is the 5th try..... (3 times today). I guess the problem was I was using the "old" blogger publisher and needed to switch to the new one. Who knew??

Here is Tex-Cyn with some of her beautiful Saluki dogs.

 I am amazed at the grace which they move about, every step is graceful!

My photos are surely lacking but the beauty of these animals is not.

National Champion "Feather". (Correct me if I am wrong, Cindy)

and this is Cyn's "Dog Palace". (my words, not hers). I think they have more creature comforts than she does in her (their) motorhome.

The thing that I will always remember, is the joy and pride in Cyn's face as she walked her canine friends. Got to hand it to this girl... she sure is dedicated!!

Cyn also makes some really nice jewelry. I only got a photo of some bracelets, but the earrings and necklaces (for gals and guys) is very nice!!

This is the one she gifted me with. I love the colors!!

It was a pleasure meeting up with a blogger friend, not only once but twice since she was in the area. It was such fun and she had alot of pointers for me on my new-to-me motorhome and selling my retro one. Hope to cross paths with Cyn again in the future. Safe travels, Girl!!

Some Raised-bed Garden Photos

So far so good. We shall see if they produce......

which I was told they would do better the

2nd and 3rd years.

Here is my asparagus bed which has rhubarb at the near end and a couple winter squash plants at the other. I expect the bed to fill in to all asparagus by the third year and I'll need to move the rhubarb plants to another location. Love asparagus!!

Looking across the other 2 beds. Lots of lush growth. Yes, my tomato cages are upside down. Something I learned about on the "web" and thought I'd try it.

Left to right; pole beans starting, basil, zucchini and sumer squash (one of each), Roma Italian(flat) beans, and 2 kinds of lettuce with marigold seperating them.

Middle bed (L to R) has 4 Roma tomato plants, 2 Grape tomato plants (lots of these tiny salad tomatoes), green onions, celery, swisschard, carrots, and 4 different peppersplants, oh and beets in between the tomato plants.

This is my lettuce and behind it are the Roma beans ....

Celery in the middle between the swisschard and onions...

See those little carrots coming up?

... and 1 each Green, Red, Yellow, and Sweet Banana pepper plants, with purple curly (I forget the name of) basil in front.

So this is how my garden grows.

I hope you also take advantage of all the fresh, local produce this summer. It'll do your body good!!

Is there really any such thing as *NORMAL* ???

.... or is that a figment of imagination? Time to fest up... my life has not been normal lately. Although that probably took none of you by surprise, sometimes it does me. Ready or not, life happens. I don't usually post about personal stuff but today I am making an exception.

Anyway, what has been going on the last 6 weeks, is first my 21 yo grandson had a horrific car accident in which he was litterally projected out of the vehicle, was lifeflighted to Pittsburgh Presby hospital trauma unit where he was in a coma for 5 days, and had sustained multiple head, brain and other physical injuries. Much prayer went up for him and to make a long story short he has had a miraculous recovery although he will still be undergoing surgery on his shoulder to reattach his muscle in August. He will not be able to go back to work until Dec or Jan, depending... We are very fortunate to still have him with us.

Got to thinking all our family could breathe a little easier, when last week my son who has worked in the woods all his life, was injured through a freak accident of a treetop come crashing down on his back and laid him to the ground. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where they took xrays. We were informed he had no broken bones, although he could neither sit or stand, and 2 days later he was released from the hospital. After another 3 days he was life-flighted to Pittsburgh Presby hospital with extreme bloating, 104* temp, and loss of feeling in his legs. That was Tues night. ( I was in NY, on my "shopping" trip at the time with my sister, but took a quick trip home the next morning)

They found he had a huge cyst full of infection from the impact, 5-6 broken vertabrae, and many fractured ribs. He was in surgery yesterday where they put 2 steel rods in his back after they cleaned out the infected area, then took him back into surgery where they worked on cleaning out an infection in the esophagus. He was in there several hours. They are waiting to see if the swelling caused the loss of feeling in his legs, and if so should therefore return to normal.

Today is a new day, and again, we are so blessed to still have him with us. Could have turned out much worse. I am just so thankful for all the many prayer groups who have taken the time to pray for him (them).

Remember to tell (and show) your loved ones how much they mean to you.

Annie.... Git Yer Gun!

Don't know if I posted about this before or not but I have a groundhog problem here....

Now I love watching the critters but when it comes to them backing me in a corner, I'll come out shooting (literally). They live (or supposed to live) in the woods behind the houses all along this road, and we all have long back yards. But because my house sat empty for a year before I bought it, they probably figured it was their playground.

Hole #1

Hole #2

They have been known to even ruin a foundation.

They have been digging under my deck,

coming up ON my deck in broad daylight.....

I had been hearing noises under my house from time to time

and didn't know what it was until I saw one run under.

Hole#3

and now have burrowed under my garage.....

the small section that has a wooden floor .....

not a good situation.

Hole #4

They have also ruined (eaten and broken down) several of my coneflowers plants.

So I nailed one last week and 2 on Monday . Then because of the circumstances, which I will not go into, my son came over and sited the gun in for me and we did some target practising.

~~~~~~~~

Another scenario........ Izzy would not come out to the main living room area all the next day, just layed in where she does in my bedroom at night. I was beginning to wonder if she was sick. I tried to coax her with food but all she would only come as far as the kitchen to get a doggy biscuit, and carried that back into my room before she would eat it.

Finally yesterday morning, July 4th, she ventured out.and was almost acting herself.... until the evening when the fireworks started. It seems I have a gun-shy dog. Or any loud abrupt noise for that matter. She's never been around either noise before so I had no idea. I really pampered her lately for putting up with all that noise.

Learn something new everyday.

Back to the subject at hand...

Traps would never work as there are so many "hogs". I do know of another "solution" but hate to use it. I will block off the holes best I can to the house and garage. Hopefully there's no more hogs under there. I really hope I don't get any flack from this post as I already have it from the highest authority that I am in charge of what is mine to take care of (Gen 1:28) NASB

You all take care and thanks for stopping by.

Going to miss Mayberry's sheriff, Andy. How about you?

The Honeymoon is Over

You know how when you get that job you've been wanting, or made a change in your life that you've been looking forward to for so long; you feel on top of the mountain , you've accomplished your goal! Then the newness wears off and it becomes the regular everyday again. Well I think I have slid down that hill and reached level ground for now.

I have pretty much settled in; and whats left to do isn't all that exciting or pressing.

The kids and grands are used to me being here now and everyone is getting back to their lives, as they should ..... and so should I. I am realizing more as each day passes, I am longing to follow my dreams that were basically put on hold as I became tied up in making the move from Kentucky to Pennsylvania. I am beginning to dream again of far away places, days being away from the crowd, and just enjoying peaceful aloneness. I find myself searching the RV ads almost daily for a possible trade.

I needed to go into WM today for some waterhose repair.... (yes I did .... I ran over it with the mower :-/ ) and some groceries. I happened to see an Itasca RV there and stopped to talk with them. I could see it was an older model, perhaps '90's, but longer too. Of course one of my first questions was "How many MPG do you get? and "What is the length of your Rv?" Well they get 10 mpg and it was a 24'. I was telling her about the "bathroom " in mine and how you have to stand in one spot in the shower. She got this pitying look in her eye. Guess I won't mention that again. Anyway they were just back from overseas, picked their RV up in PA, and were on their way home to Alaska.

I am just writing all this here to record my process of going from point A to point B. Talk to you all later. Have agood week. It's going to be a hot one :)