Too Much Fun Too Many Pictures

Having my Tracker has allowed me to double  my fun. Last Saturday, I drove over to Alabama and saw first hand the fire. Some campers had to leave, but they finally got it under control.

There were a lot of people enjoying the beach and perfect weather.

When I came back, I met some people from Virginia Beach, and we ended up taking pictures of the sunset. Here's my shark cloud.

These same people told me about the Sunset Grille just down the road. Karen and I had  lunch there on Tuesday: grouper Reubens. Excellent! There's an island not too far off, and I was able to get a picture of some pelicans. Actually, there were three nests, but not all the birds cooperated.

I can't help taking pictures of flowers, and this hibiscus called to me

While visiting Karen and Mike, Deb and her crew and I ate so much fish. Poor Karen did most of the cooking except when we went to Carrabas and Sam's for Poor Boys. We shared our lunches with Gene. Due to her kidney infection, we weren't able to take her out, but it didn't stop us from having fun. Relaxing on the lanai was great, and one lunch time Mike cooked hamburgs on the grill.

Karen and Mike have two dogs: a terrier and a poodle mix. Buddy, the terrier, reminds me of the Smith's Sadie who passed away this last year. Reese, the chocolate poodle mix, was just a cute fun dog. Jill and I threatened to kidnap him and take him home.

Karen is such a talented artists. I got to view a scrapbook that Autrey made of all the christening gowns that Karen has made for her grandchildren. Aside from designing and doing the interior decorating for her home, she has helped various members of her family. The most recent project was the nursery for Jill and Darren's new daughter Payton. Here she working on some beading.

On Thursday morning I left for Tallahassee. The trip was 200 miles of beautiful scenery, but I had to stop at rest areas twice, because I felt sleepy. Right after I pulled into the campground, a helacious thunderstorm erupted. I pulled into my site, but didn't set up because of the storm. When the rain lessened,  my neighbor came over and told me the Tracker had a flat tire.

The next day, a tire company came out and changed the tire and checked all the other tires. Cause of flat: a nail.

Where I walk the dogs, there are at least ten birdfeeders. The birds that I try to take pictures of are camera shy.

This was a picture that was begging to be taken. I want to  make a scrapbooking page from this picture.

I'll be touring Tallahassee for the next couple of days.

After a week on the road. .

This was our first  night's stop at the Country Club RV & Golf Resort. Perhaps about 20 years ago. The golf course next door is great, but the RV park is mostly permanent residents and had slowly gone to seed. Our second night was Weatherford west of Ft. Worth where we experienced a fierce thunderstorm during the evening which did not make Marshall happy. The next day getting across Ft. Worth/Dallas was relatively easy. The third night we stayed at the Cinamon Creek RV Park in Minden, LA. This was a really pretty park, but there was  no manager on site, so I had to call a number that a very nice camper gave me. Our last night out before getting to Pensacola was at Meridian, MS at a very nice park with very nice personnel. I arrived in Pensacola a little after lunch on Friday. My Garmin died after it got me through Mobile, so I had to get out my Pensacola map and find my way. The rv park is really nice and some of the work campers jump started the Tracker for me, because the battery was dead when we disconnected it from the rv. I think it's that dome light that doesn't always go out that caused it.

These are pictures from the rv park. It is extremely picturesque here, and I have more pictures and commentary to share. Saturday evening we had a really great dinner at Karen and Mike's and the picture below is of Darren and Jill.



Last Weekend

You all know I've got to be worthless if it take me a whole week to post pictures and thoughts from last weekend. After my RVing friends left, Marty and Sue arrived. Poor Marty had to put together the patio set that I bought in ABQ the previous weekend.

Of course this pictue was taken on Sunday morning before the kids returned to ABQ. On Friday we did some more "honey do" chores and Marty checked out the boat. Then we went to the Inn for dinner and carried a lot of food back home for snacks. We were on the water by 8 the next morning. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. The caught fish count was only 5: 4 white bass and a catfish.



We did some more exploring and found Steve Fakus' burger barge.

We were at the south side of Kettletop and I saw this off in a distance and took a picture of I didn't know what at the time, then we rounded the cove and lo and behold.

We also did our favorite thing of what I call "Bird Rock". Some guys were jumping off, but we weren't close enough to get pictures. I did a somewhat inane video; however, I don't have the patience for these things to upload.

It was a perfect day to be on the lake. When we got home, some down-time was in order, but Mom had been marinating teriaki beef chunks all day, and we put together some kabobs with corn on the cob for a great dinner.

After last weekend's fun, I'm now seriously planning my trip East, and plan to leave on Monday the 20th. The hardest part is making lists and making sure I don't forget anything.

Fun Visitors

Last week was busy with my normal puttering; I refuse to call it housecleaning and yardwork. Then on Wednesday afternoon, Judy and Rex arrived at Lakeside RV Park, but only after Judy's GPS failed her and she got stuck over in front of the butte, and damaged her car and camper getting turned around. I feel so bad; I know I should have given her specific directions. We discussed the whole thing over wine, and then went to the Inn for dinner.

On Thursday, I gave them a grand tour of our shrunken lake, and they gave  me a geocaching lesson. I found my first one with Rex and Judy's help. Judy is updating her log on Rex's back.

The two small pictures are from Rex's camera, and I stole them from FB. Judy and I are sitting at the display in front of Geronimo Springs Museum. And the other one is out at the lake.

We went to lunch at the Club; being a veteran golfer, Rex was impressed with the course. Judy and I took Rex back to his unit and Reuger his dog. Judy and I left for Chloride and some "girl time" that Rex insisted that we have. I drove the Tracker to see how it handled on the highway. I wasn't disappointed. Judy enjoyed the museum tour guided by the Edmund's daughter. After happy hour at my place and an intro to the geocaching site, we said our fond farewells until the next time we meet. It was a truly great visit. Oh, and I did order a GPS geocaching unit. I'm due to get it tomorrow. Just one more toy to add to my list.

Memorial Day Weekend

Since everyone was coming to Elephant Butte, I decided to escape to ABQ. Shortly after I arrived, Marty and Sue and I went to O'Neill's for lunch. It's a fun Irish pub with a patio where patrons can even bring their dogs. They even provide water.

I did some shopping and actually found some patio furniture (table, chairs, and umbrella) for a reasonable price. Loading them in my Highlander and tying the table on the roof rack was a challenge, but I made it home OK even in windy conditions.

Saturday, I met Bob and Tammy for breakfast. Bob is leaving for Israel for six weeks. I guess Tammy and Sky are going to have to learn how to cook all over again. I'm sure he'll have some great stories to tell when he gets back.

Sunday was race day. Both the Indy 500 and the Nascar race had exciting finishes. Poor Jr.! Oh well, there's always  next week.

I was relaxing on the hammock in Sue and Marty's backyard, and Tux decided to join me.

On Sunday the grandkids two doors down from Marty and Sue decided to challenge Marty to a water balloon war. I'm not sure who won, but I'm grateful that the neighbor in the middle didn't call the police. Everyone had a lot of fun getting creative: Marty most of all, because he resorted to the hose at one point. Here's a picture of "Water Balloon Man."

The big kid knows how to grill up some great food.

                                          Shrimp and Veggie Kabobs

New Toys

Did I get lucky or what? I found the toad of my dreams parked in front of old Blue Waters a couple Saturdays ago. It’s an ‘04 Chevy Tracker 4 wheel drive. Yesterday Charlie installed the tow package, and I’m good to go RVing in style. I haven’t let the boys in it yet. It just means I’ll have to clean dog fur out of two vehicles.

It looks like Tux’s caught in the middle of a yawn. Reba came over one day last week and we cleaned the screens and windows on the house. Hopefully, on Thursday we’ll do the ones on the RV, and then all I lack is a good wash and wax job. I’ll probably also need three new batteries before I leave. Such is the joys of toys!

In the meantime, I’m working with old photos and digital scrapbooking projects. When I can’t stand that, I actually clean house and water bushes and flowers. Sometime this week, if I hold my mouth just right, Darwin might come over and install my new cooler. Good thing it hasn’t been unbearable. I’d really like him to get it up, so I can park the Tracker in the garage.

Mother’s Day Weekend

 

What a full three days of fun! Marty and Sue arrived before noon and we scoped out the projects that I had lined up. Poor Marty. At least the work keeps him occupied and out of trouble. I agreed to have the oleanders cut down now that they were showing green shoots. He did it with a power trimmer that was noisy and scary. Clean up was labor intensive.

Friday evening we went to the Inn for dinner. Naturally, we ran into Eddie and Mo and the rest of the crew. The food was great and they had a one man band, Derah Vaughn, who played country, contemporary, and Celtic. Too bad Brock wasn’t here.

Saturday morning we went out on the boat and had a grand time fishing. Since I am now old enough, I can fish for free, but didn’t get a chance, because Sue and Marty were catching them left and right literally from each side of the boat. At first Marty was driving and I was taking pictures. Then the fishing got busy, so I had to drive. They ended up getting 17 fish in all: 16 white bass and one walleye. It was a “catch and release” day, but next time, we’re going to save some to eat.

We were exploring to some of our favorite spots to see how they looked since the water is down. I have taken several pictures over the years of this rock. Marty claims he would like to jump off. I maintain that he’ll have to get to the top first. I’ve nicknamed it “Bird Rock” since there’s so much white stuff on one side.

I also have several pictures of this “eye” taken over the years. I’m going to have to put together a collage, because they are taken at different times of day and year.

We traveled around the butte, and on the east side it was very shallow, but we did get to see the goats, first time in a long time. They sure looked well-fed.

I also got a shot of a turtle ( actually three were there) sunning himself.

That evening Sue made cottage cheese salad for dinner with sour dough bread. Deb joined us for dinner and drinks. It was a fun evening.

The next day was Mother’s Day and we continued with more yard work and planting flowers in my pots and containers. My present from Marty and Sue was a set of wine glasses. I wonder why? Tammy and her family sent me a card that had something funny to do with drinking wine. My son Michael in Ohio called, so it was an outstanding time. Thanks guys.