Tuesday, Welcome Home

Jacki and Geoff returned from their holiday last night.  Tired but glad to be home.  Jacki said Rocky missed her the most.   Good to have um back.  Key Largo is way far away.  They did have a great time.   We had dinner with them at O'Charleys tonight.  Yummy food, better company.  Can't wait to see their pictures, and hear more about their trip. 

My morning started with laundry and more laundry.  Little bit of cleaning, more coming tomorrow, started packing for my Ohio trip.  Seats still look good.  Today was Tim's first day back to work.  He works Tuesday thru Thursday.  With all the rain this past weekend, the grass seems to have grown a foot.  He certainly is feeling his age tonight, whatever that might be.

                                                  A couple pics of my grandpuppy sitting
                                                     This is Murphy, a Chinese Crested

                                                       Sitting with Riley, a foster puppy
                                             He likes someone sitting by him while he eats


Life is good
God is great
Nite all

 

Saturday, Catch Up

There is one problem when I try to post multiple days together...forgetfulness.  I do have a few pics for Wednesday.  And actually I remember that day clearly.  So I will start with that.  Our new friends that are also workampers and from Ohio.  Not only that Wanda graduated from Franklin High School.  For the non Ohioans, if that's a word, is a close neighbor to Middletown.  Maybe 15 minutes.  Her Mr Man, as Wanda calls him, Lawrence has a daughter in Carlisle.  That's where Charlotte and the grandkids live.  Now, I have said this before...it is such a small world.  Wanda and L, as he goes by, are really cool folks.  Love being with them.  Wanda is such a giving person and lots of fun.  God was right on the mark, placing us together.  He is so smart, you know.  Let's get back to Wednesday.  I experienced another first.   Love my firsts.   Grilled pizza.  Cooked just on a regular grill.  Sooo yummy!!!  Prepared by Wanda and cooked by L.  We had a wonderful evening with them.    Can't wait to make one myself. 

Jacki and Geoff left Thursday for Key Largo.  They are celebrating their 10th anniversary.  Proud of them.  I am caring for my granddoggies.  I have Angel with us.  The rest stayed home.  I go over 2 times a day, to play, feed, and keep them company.  She has 5 plus one foster, Riley.  He is a cute little I don't really know what.  Maybe a terrier mixed with a scotty.  That is keeping me busy.  They will be back Monday. 

We have had good weather until today...rain, and for the next few days.  Not my favorite thing. 
I'm going to Ohio on Thursday.  Molli is having two baby showers, one Saturday, one Sunday.  I'll be staying till Thursday.  Excited for my visit.

Guess that will catch me up.  Y'all have a great Sunday! 

                                                            Wanda, the pizza maker

                                                                     L, the pizza cook
                                                                   Tim, the pizza eater

                                                       Oops, someone was sampling
                                                                   Soooo scrumptious

Life is good
God is great
Nite all

Tuesday, The Happening

We have been here a little over a month and today, the day I have been waiting for came to be.  The meeting of my dear sweet friends.  We had lunch at Stacey's.  For those non NC readers, Stacey's is a small family owned restaurant across the street from our school, Rock Springs.  On most workdays, 20 + years for me, 30 for many, we always had lunch there.  Now as retirees, still the same, lunch at Stacey's.  There were nine of us, I think.  It was so wonderful catching up on what I've missed the last year and a half.  Sharing my adventures was also great.  We need to do it again.  Much more needs to be shared.  I did miss one special friend, Kathy.  She was having back problems and couldn't make it.  So Kathy, our next get together is all for you.  I sure hope that will be soon.  Praying for your back to make a quick recovery. 

Our day has been an awesome one.  LOTS OF SUN!  And I do love the sun.  I had a piece of bun left over from dinner, so decided to take a trip down to the docks and try to feed some ducks.  That was a bust.  No ducks.  But, sitting on the dock, was so peaceful and just dreamy.  On the way back up to my coach, I spotted a couple spider webs...another love...just to look at.  Also caught a glimpse of recent blooming azaleas.  Amazing, such beauty.   Finally reached home,  it's a straight up high hilly walk.  Found Tim and Cleo reclining in the shade, also enjoying the day.  I closed down this magnificent day popping a few, well maybe more than a few, pictures.  The sky is another one of my loves.  And the action in the sky,so entertaining. 

Now, again, forgot to remove my camera from my purse that I carried to the restaurant for that reason.  So I'm reliving this wonder of a day over and over in this less that perfect memory.  It is one not to forget. 

                                       Here are a few of my favorite pics of the evening

                                                      Tim's favorite weekend breakfast

                                                              Sitting down on the dock

                                                        Beautiful peaceful Lake Norman

                                                     Look carefully for the Spider Web

                                                                            And again
                                                                      Very interesting

                                                                     An azalea beauty

                                                      Oh Timmy boy, can't hide from me

                                                                          From this

                                                                             To this

                                                      All in the same sky, moments apart

                                                                 Sun starting to drop

                                                                       Such a beauty

                                                Walking back in and viewed this wonder

Can you imagine the front of the coach a beautiful moon and  in the back, a gorgeous sun setting

                               THE WONDERS OF GOD


Life is good
God is great
Nite all

Saturday, Another Wonder Day

Hi y'all, what a beautiful day here in sunny NC.  Looking around you see lots of spring green and many flowers and azalea bushes sporting their bright, cheery colors.  When we arrived here about 4 weeks ago, gazing over the lake, the many trees were still barren.  Not any more.  They are now full and bushy and in many shades of green.  Awesome is the best word I can use.

Will have to say the highlight of my day was a visit from Jacki and Geoff.  They came to show us her new car...an ice blue mini cooper.  It is so cute.  Seeing Jacki stand next to it, a perfect match.  Two cutie pies.  The car fits her perfectly.  Jacki's babies outgrew her Miata.  With two bigger dogs, Rocky who is a mix... English bulldog and boxer, and Maggi, a rottweiler, Jacki can lay the back seat down and there is still room for the 3 other little ones. Having your babies happy, make you happy also. 

                                                                      Cute, Cute, Cute
                             It has white leather seats and the dash reminds me of a plane's cockpit


The rest of the day was also a fun day.  Quick trip to Denver Walmart for meds.  Another quicky stop at Food Lion for some burgers and buns.  Ran into Wanda, a Rock Springs cafeteria worker, and it was great chatting with her.  I love being back HOME.  Made plans for Tuesday lunch with other retirees from The Rock.  Can't wait.  Another friend Kathy, sent prom pics of son, Coleman.  How fast they grow up.  He is such a gentleman now.  Worked some in the office here, and drove the golf cart around.  Spent some afternoon time with Wanda, a fellow camper.  And get this, she and her husband, L are from our hometown in Ohio.  It is such a small world.  They are a bit younger than us.  Wanda is a hoot, so much fun to be with.  I will introduce her tomorrow.  I saw a pic somewhere of a piece of cheesecake with caramel and walnut topping placed on a bed of drizzled chocolate.  Beautiful picture, loved it.  So I mimicked it.  Mine turned out  just as awesome.  Beautiful and delish.  So I shared my masterpiece with Wanda and "L".  I felt like a real chef.  Even though it was soooo easy.  Still gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling.  Doesn't take a lot to thrill me.  There was a sentence on one of my morning reads a couple days go...Even the most ordinary days should be treasured like precious jewels.  And I usually can find a treasure on the ordinary days.

Well guys, that's my Saturday.   Hoping your day was a JEWEL!


Life is good
God is great
Nite all

Friday, What a Day!!!

It seems like all my days have some excitement of many sorts.  Here in Sherrills Ford NC today, there was warm weather, around 80 at 3:00.  Now at 7:30, it is a chilly 65, rainy and windy evening.  The lake is very knobby and quickly whizzing along.  Very entertaining!  I have an awesome view out my back window.  A few more moments of the day to share like these...chatted with Sue T., a longtime friend from Rock Springs, at Walmart in Denver.  Loved sharing catch up events of our lives.  Staying calm at the Pharmacy at Walmart when meds were not filled after 3 days.  Even after talking to drs office yesterday confirming they were called in.  Not there yet!!! Called drs office at that time, to only music on the other end. Still calm.  Driving home had a wonderful conversation with another good friend, Lynn B.  First time talking with her since my return.  Can't wait to visit face to face.  During our chat, the heavens opened up and a horrible downpour appeared.  My wipers could not keep up.  The best part of this happening, not including our talk, was the rain only lasted a short while.  Did have to unload groceries in the downpour, without melting.  Surprised me.  hahah.  Dinner was uneventful.  Thankful for it was my gratefulness.  Will say doing dishes did not make me feel warm and fuzzy.  Not my fave thing to do.  Never has been, never will be.  As writing this blog one of the most amazing sunsets filled my entire back window little by little.  So, out the door I zoomed, camera in hand.  Still raining, but what a gorgeous site.  Came in twice, just to go back because the beauty grew and continued to change.  Interestingly, the rain did not hault this majestic image.

For one more bit of excitement, I am in training to work at the rv resort's office.  I am so excited about it.  On my first day, had homework.  As soon as I completed it, returned it to the manager with so much pride.  And how old am I?  Go figure...

Well family and friends, this has been my day...hope yours has been as incredible as mine.


Life is soooo good
God is sooooooo great
Nite all

God Bless Boston

                                                         Tim taking a break from work
                                                              Cleo visiting her daddy

                                                Gregg E, resort manager working with me
                                                    He is so calm, makes it easier for me

                                                        NOW FOR TONIGHTS' SUNSET

                                                                            First shot

                                                                  Using close up setting

                                                                                 Next

                                                                             And again

                                                                          And again

                                                                           Awesome

                                                                          Final image

                                                          And I say again, What a Day...

I am very blessed
Nite again

Sunday, Great Day

Back again, it's Sunday evening, sky is gray, rain coming in late tonight.  Our day has moved pretty smoothly.  Fixed Tim a big breakfast.  During the week he fixes his own breakfast...peanut butter toast and orange juice.  On the weekends he likes bacon and eggs or sausage and eggs.  So he named the weekend breakfast Donna's Big Breakfast.  Lunch was turkey and cheese sandwich on oatmeal bread.  And our dinner, another crock pot meal, pulled pork.  Another first, cooking a pork butt for 15 hours.  Then the yucky part started...shredding it.  Not wanting to leave one ounce of fat on it, I think I shredded it a little to much.  Next time I will leave chunkier.  The piece of pork rendered over 6 quarts of pulled meat.  So I divided it into two meals.  BBQed some and left the rest plain.  Not sure what I'm going to do with it.  Maybe pork and noodles.  I have some broth left to flavor the noodles.  For tonight we had pulled pork bbq sandwich on a wheat bun with slaw and hash brown potatoes.  Turned out ok. 

 Since our last visit, Tim planted white and red petunias in a water can planter.  He used the moss he got from the Georgia park we visited on our way up from Alabama.  The planter is sitting on our picnic table.  A little bit of homeiness.  I decided to decorate my outdoor tree red, white and blue.  Could not find any realistic artificial birds to represent springtime.  So thinking ahead to Memorial Day, Flag Day, and the 4th of July, it was a no brainer.  That did not prove to be as easy as I thought.  But I settled for what I could find.  If I run across other items, can always add to it.  I'm sure in a month more flag items will show up. 

I found a cute wooden table shaped like a fish at Hobby Lobby.  And it is bright orange.  My little patio area is starting to pop. 

Visited Jacki and Geoff this afternoon.  That was a delight.  We interrupted her suntanning, though.   She and Geoff are going to Key Largo at the end of the month to celebrate the 10 anniversary.  That was a quick 10 years.  And Charlotte and Randy celebrated there 30th this weekend by 4 wheeling in West Virginia.  Congrats to you all.  Good accomplishment.  So proud of y'all.

That's about it for tonight.  Our lives are sort of calm right now.  When exciting events happen, be assured I will post them.

                                                                      Tim the gardener

                                                                      Finished project
                                                     A little r and r after that hard work

                                            My crock pot swiss steak with mashed potatoes
                                                                           Yummmmm

                                 Remember the black and white snowy picture our outside tv had
                                                Wala...Tim the tv repair man to the rescue

                                                             A clear sparkly picture now
                                                                          American Idol

                                                                      My outdoor tree
                                                                 Didn't photograph well

                                                                    Fishy table, love it
                                                                              Just fun

                                                         Last nights beginning sunset
                                                               Wrong camera setting

                                                                        To this beauty



Life is good
God is great
Nite all

Thursday, Yesterday's Fun

Hi guys, don't y'all just love having a good time.  Well, yesterday was one of those days.  HAPPINESS was in the air for me.  The day started with normal chores, laundry, cleaning a bit, walking Cleo to the dog park.  I was just feeling warm and fuzzy.  Ran a couple errands and then went looking for purple items for the coach.  If I didn't tell you, purple is my new color for our new home on wheels.  Still going to have a splash of lime green here and there.  Can't give up my lime green.  I went shopping in Mooresville, and man was it crowded.  But you know, when you are retired and patient and not on any time schedule, and wear a big smile, life is awesome.  Went food shopping at Walmart, forgot a few items and did I let it get me down, almost but, NO.  Turned right into Target for the second time, picked up what I needed, then headed home.  Now, if you are thinking when does her fun start, because that was in her title, and so far maybe you don't see any.  But I promise all the above was enjoyable.  Now home, Tim met me at the door and said we are going on a boat ride.  Yahoo, now you can see my real fun.  We were out about two and a half hours.  One of the benefits of working here at Lake Norman RV Resort is they rent pontoons.  So two other workcamping families and the Leichty's had the privilege of cruising Lake Norman.  I won't tell you we were heading to one location to get gas, and finally like I said, two and a half hours later made it back home.  We did though, stop someplace for gas, not sure where and filled up the boat.  Or we may still be paddling back.  I will say to the folks around here, we passed Governor's Island.  When I saw it, I told Tim that looked like Governor's Island to me.  He agreed.  We turned around because, our destination was Midway.  Don't laugh, remember the word, FUN.  That's what life is all about.  That was pretty much my day. Hope y'alls was as wonderful as mine.

Today has started the same.  Tim is off for the next four days.  He says yahoo to that.  It's almost lunchtime and I have most of my chores complete.  I even have swiss steak cooking in the crock pot.

I will return this evening if, fun comes knocking at my door.

  Last night's sunset...simple but amazing

Another bit of yesterday's fun

Watching tv outside

Do I even color if the picture is in black and white and fuzzy

Heck no!

This is on Tim's long list of things to fix

In the next 4 days

 

Life is soooo good

God is soooo great 

Tuesday, Interesting Day

It has been a gorgeous day here in Sherrills Ford, NC.  That's a reminder for those who don't know where we are.  I think the high was 84, sunny with a little breeze. Absolutely awesome. My day consisted of normal chores, quick trip to the grocery and one to Jackis'.  I tried to tell Tim  what I did today and could not recall the morning.  Just pulled it out of that memory of mine.  Took couple walks in nearby neighborhood adjourning Lake Norman.  Beautiful is the best word to describe the area.  The houses, awesome, landscaping superb.  Some spring colors splashed around.  The roads were up and down, tired my legs out. But with music in my ears, forgot the struggle and enjoyed my songs.   It's been since leaving Alabama that I walked much.  Trying hard to get back in shape.

Dinner was prepared yesterday in the crock pot.  It was chicken, carrots, potatoes and onions.  Sooo yummy.  My first time trying the recipe.  Pulled it off the Internet.  Give it 5 out of 5.  Will certainly make it again.  It made 3 meals.  Love that! 

Missed the sunset tonight.  Hopefully will catch it tomorrow night.  Love my sunsets. 

Here are a few pics from today and the last few days...enjoy

                                                             Odyssey and Superdog
                                                                             RIP
                                                   WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU

                                                       An osprey catching breakfast

                                          Those white specks are ospreys hunting for meals

                              Yesterdays sky.  Thought the gray clouds were trouble, but no
                                                    They just floated along.  No raindrops

                                                 A bottle tree I spotted during my walk
                                              Have seen them on Pinterest, but not for real
                                                                        Very interesting

                                             A tiny red brick building in an huge open field

                                The next three images are normal spring time colors here in NC

 

 

                                                              Another unusual find
                                              Looked like rasberry bushes growing in a tub

                                                      A little patch of purple at our park

                                                 Our new site at the same campground
                                   Workcampers park out of the high rent district where we were
                                       Still a good site with awesome view of Lake Norman

                                                         And again, from the otherside

                                                                Boys and their toys
                          Neighbor Gary from northern Ohio has a remote control helicopter
                                                       So Tim had to get out his jeep

                                         Gary finally mastered it.  Soaring high in the sky

                                                     Tim turning his jeep into a hot rod
                                                             Took off the front bumper

                                                          Oh yeah, bad machine now, ha ha
That's it for now...


Life is good
God is great
Nite all