Lunch at Oakwood Smoke House

Tuesday March 30, 2021

This morning after our morning ritual we left around 12:30 to go do some errands and have lunch. We stopped at CVS to get two pills for each of us refilled. We will go back in a couple days to pick him up. We asked about getting the Johnson vaccine. They're not doing them yet using a different one also. I found out from work, until I'm 2 weeks past being fully vaccinated I have to wear the N95 mask at work. I was hoping to find the Johnson & Johnson one shot and done. 

We went to Oakwood Smoke house for lunch arrived after 1.

Brought a lot of leftovers home, we're trying to cut our portions more in half, again. While we waited for our food I called my employer in PA to schedule my vaccine Upon Our return. I hate to spend ( waste) alot of time looking for one here.

On our Drive to the store Jim got a phone call from his mom and Shannon. She was offering to be his mother's caretaker as she was having some issues, and she didn't want her to be alone during the day. Shannon's new job at the daycare near the house, closed for two weeks because of some covid related issue. Before she gave a two week notice they both wanted to make sure it was okay with Jim if she did that. We had a chat and I believe that's what's going to happen. She is doing well now. She also mentioned Thomas came to visit yesterday talked about getting a new job, first we heard about it.

Then we stopped at Save-A-Lot. Found more than I expected in there of things I wanted. Then we went to Publix Jim filled our water jugs while I looked for a few things that I couldn't find at the other store. We drove by Lake Mineola. When we got back to the FW we had a lot of things to put away.

After we  put everything away. Jim grilled more chicken, and zucchini, we eat alot of chicken.

I made us chicken burrito bowls for dinner, they make them at our new favorite Mexican restaurant in Pennsylvania. I made rice in the instant pot, then you top it with cheese any kind of beans you like chicken lettuce tomato avocado and sour cream. I could eat one 4 days consecutive days oh, delish. 

After dinner we took a golf cart ride. As we watched the sky darkened with an approaching storm. We headed back a little early as we saw a few people putting awnings and chairs away. We got a couple drops of rain, a wind gust and  that was about it.

On the other side of the campground pink clouds and blue sky. 

Jim washed the dishes. While he did that I was hanging a piece of dry erase bored inside the medicine cabinet door in Jim's bathroom downstairs.

I want to keep a list there of what's in the outside freezer. I had texted Thomas earlier and mentioned his new job. So he called while we were doing that we had a nice chat. The new job offered him $6 more an hour. His previous employer matched the offer. But he said he took the new position. After our chat we watched a little TV before bed. I finished the project I was working on. Now what to start next. That's always the big decision.

A little Rain, chilling, grilling, pool and a fire

Monday March 29, 2021

Can't believe the month is almost over. 

Jim's turn, he was up first this morning. I got up around 8 a.m. We spent the day not doing much. We had the TV on, had a little bit of rain in the morning. I was crouching alot today.

Jim had rest beef noodle soup, have 2 servings in the freezer. I had the last quesadilla and we shared more carrot cake. Jim went for a golf cart ride. He said he saw the 2 baby redheaded sand crane they were so big. Hope we can find then again.

Today I was able to  watch some of my shows and get them out of my DVR. 

Trying to think of what to make for dinner is worst then just making it.  Thought of ordering pizza.  

I said I was  going to go to the pool. Was nice and warm, relaxing. Then 3 teen boys went in with  one teen  girl. I waited till they got out of the hot tub. Before I got in. Was there almost an hour. I took a quick shower up there. Was alot cooler out today, about 83. 

When I got home Jim was sitting out. Said he almost ordered food to be delivered, would have been expensive I'm glad he didn't. And 45 minute wait. I said we could  WELL he could grill burgers. He grilled some seasoned zucchini planks too. I steamed some broccoli and green beans. Put a piece of butternut squash in the IP. Then I put in pan and sauteed it with butter and cinnamon orange juice and little brown sugar. Just till it starts to caramelize. So good like dessert, but Jim's won't eat it. Ok more for me. Was a great dinner, for a quick last minute dinner. I took more stuff out of the freezer too for tomorrow.

After we ate Jim went out to have a fire, he had prepared it last night but never lit it cause he thought it was to windy last night. But tonight it was not as bad. He was out till after 11:30. I almost always can tell who he is talking to by the way he talks,. Its been 42 years, I know the guy. 

I watched recorded American Idol while crouching.

Jim went to bed first. 

End day with beautiful sunset picture.

Stayed home, HOT, a few things Accomplished

Sunday March 28, 2021

This am I was up first and then I made coffee. 

When Jim  got up I made him bacon and egg sandwiches with the nice little yeast rolls from Cody's, I had one at lunch time. I ate my oatmeal. Watched the news. I started doing the rest of the laundry. I started it last night, and forgot about it. Only did one load put in dryer and went to bed last night Jim likes to hear it running. 

I did a load of  wash cloths, put in the dryer, then towels put outside. Very hot and windy today. I did sheets and put behind the towels on the line.

A few RV'S around us left this am. 

We had lunch at 1. I heated up the last of the bbq pork, he made half radishe sandwich Also small bowl of beef noodle soup I made. He loves it. I Had my egg sandwich and we shared the last of the broccoli salad. We had half cookie each. Then I froze 2 containers of soup, the rye bread and some of the sweets including the carrot cake. Jim was outside for awhile in the afternoon.  He came in for lunch. 

Somewhere in there Jim took a shower and I made the bed  nice clean sheets dried outside, Love that.

I changed the polish on my nails. Then he texted me just after I finished that Barbara and Tony were here on there scooters. 

They went over to the winery next door for there weekend fun, tasting whatever they do over there. 

We chatted outside for quite a while very nice. We all enjoyed the view and watched the golfers. If the MH that was three sites away from us  wouldn't have left today he would have gotten hit by one guy. 

When they left was around 5 we had dinner. I made Jim a quesadillas  with onions peppers and fresh corn and black beans. I had my half burger and we shared the fries. 

Then we went for our nightly golf cart ride. When we got back, another RV backed in a few sites down. We put the orange fabric on the seat of the golf cart,  looks nice hope it stays on. 

I vacuumed and mopped the bathroom floor,  put rest of the laundry away, then took shower. Did blog watched some TV I had recorded. Was almost 10 pm by then.

I love talking to Strangers

I love talking with Strangers 

Saturday March 27, 2021

I wanted to get up early and leave by 9 or 9:30, to go to The Village's Farmers market, in Brownwood. Jim was already up for awhile, he says didn't want to wake me, BUT we both love our am quite time, whoever's up first. I got up at 8:45 and started getting ready like if I had to leave for work. I came downstairs and made him breakfast, and had my oatmeal, packed alot of cold water with 2 diet Pepsi, and off we went in less then an hour after I got up.

We are about half an hour away from the square in the Village's we wanted. Brownwood.

The Farmers market was a buzz of activity. Today was going to be way over 90 degrees. Trying to remember what I really wanted here. First thing I saw was the plant guy. Last time he had an edible pot of greens, that is want I wanted. This guy is fantastic, I love to listen to him answer people's questions. He is so knowledgeable, he calls all the plants her. 

We walked around together for a bit. Then Jim sat in the shade under roof they have where they have live music every night and dance. He nursed his one margarita while I walked around, trying to stay in shade as much as possible.  I did take a bath in sun screen before we left. Here are Some pictures of the fun. 

This is view from under roof where Jim was sitting. 

Picture of what I bought today. Beet chips for my MIL,  she loves beets, dried tomatoes, like pizza without a crust. The rye bread and sweets from French bakery that always have long lines. Talked with 2 ladies in line for bread. They helped me decide what to get.

I took it back Jim. Walked around some more, was so hot. 

I was in the shade listening to the plant guy, he stood next to me, saying it was great place to stand. We chatted for a minute. He did tell me that basically the growing season was over for greens I wanted. I told him how much I enjoyed listening to him. He said he wants people to be successful because they are taking his babies home. He is so busy always talking with someone, he works alone. I listened for awhile longer, was going to walk around the circle again, to hot, so I went back with Jim sat for awhile. We were soon ready for lunch.

A lady by herself sat down across from where we were. I started talking to her, she was from Indiana. Lived in The Villages 3 years now. We had so much in common, she used to be an RV they had a Class C. And we found out that we know some of the same people, she knows Linda and Howard. We chatted for over an hour, Jim even joined in a little. We both exchange cards. It was one of the highlights of my day it was so enjoyable chatting. So now it was way past lunch time, and we went to Cody's.

First we share a huge salad they bring. I started talking with 2 diffent couples next to us. One lived here. He was from New York his wife, NJ. Later I talked with another, they were brother and sister, she was visiting him from NY, there was a competition between both of his sisters to top the fun they have when they each take turns visiting him. We both thought each other looked familiar.  

Then we

each had a burger, mine was an impossible one. We each had fries but I wanted sweet potato ones and they brought us both sweet potato fries, so they brought Jim some regular ones we took a whole bunch along.

Ended up taking three containers one with french fries one with three buns and half of my burger. And one with dessert we shared a carrot cake. This is The Leftovers we came home with.

And check out these cakes. Mile High.

We had the restaurant manager stop at our table a few times. Our server was only working here a few days. He even tried to put the hockey game on for Jim, but they didn't get that channel either. 

We left probably after 3. Jim went to put stuff in the truck. I waited in the shade, This couple walked by, I said Hi we started to chat, they flew in and  were here for the weekend, but coming back for 10 days soon. They were from Vermont. Nice chat we had. 

Made a few more stops before heading out.

We stopped at Publix for beer.

Put all this food away and Jim didn't eat rest of the night. We took a little golf cart ride, so another beautiful sunset. Later I made half a quesadilla .

We watched TV, Jim went to bed first. What a fantastic day.

Another Hot Day

Another Hot Day, Jim loves it.

I woke up early today, but Jim got up first. We made the coffee together and enjoyed it as I watch the news, he looks at his phone. 

Later I made him breakfast of cream cheese and blueberry stuffed French toast and two eggs. I made a batch of oatmeal.

 It was really foggy first thing this morning and totally dark out when we got up. 

Later Jim heard lawn mowers off in the distance. Seems like they cut the golf course every day. But later they were coming over here, so he was outside for a while moving our stuff in as our grass really need to be  cut. He even moved the truck  to make it easier for them to do a nicer job. He stayed outside for a while, and he loves it in the heat.

I took off the grease as it was now cold from the pot roast last night, I'm going to make soup for him with most of it, I don't eat beef, also I cut up a pineapple. Jim got all the trash together since we had a nice bagful and he took it up to the dumpster in the golf cart as I was doing my blogging.

He started to prep the kitchen sink to re-caulk it. I got really to go up to line dance from 12 to 2. Jim said he could wait till 2 to eat lunch. I told him what we were having, the grilled boneless pork ribs and the salads I made yesterday. Told him if he can't wait eat the salad first. 

I left in plenty of time as not to be late, as Jim was still working on the sink. When I arrived at the Hearth a sign on the door said LD Canceled for today, hope to see you the last one on Wednesday. How sad, plus only one dance left. So I took a drive the long way home. Stopped my Barbara and Tony, the scooters were not there. So kept going said hi to the 2 sisters that have the beautiful orange tree here like mine, but huge and planted outside. Saw it 2 weeks ago in full bloom. 

Pictures from a ride around 

Till I arrived back to the RV. Jim still working on the sink, he does such a good job. It just gets messy and some language glad his Mom didn't have to hear.

So I had to wait to get lunch out, was all ready just heated up pork. I prepared a card to send his Mom that Deb made in Piece River. It was SO good. Had a cookies for dessert.

Then we went for golf cart ride, stopped at the Pro shop got Travis a golfing shirt.

We had dinner I made Jim beef noodle soup. 

We went into pool. The took a sunset golf cart ride.

Fridge, Pool, and HOT HOT, HOT

Jim was up first this morning. I was up soon after. We sat with our coffee for awhile. Jim had a bowl of cereal with berries as we chatted about what we wanted to do today. 

I spent alot of time going through a stack of little note papers that I write info on. Some I still needed, most of them I did not. Have to try to keep them all in ONE note pad. 

 I called Home Depot to see if the paint we ordered was in. The lady I spoke with 2 weeks ago, was on vacation now, and lost my number, great. So I was trying to tell the new lady that answered the phone what I wanted. Then I couldn't find the part # that Rust-Oleum gave me. We looked everywhere, was it one of the little pieces of paper I threw away,  NO, we called each other back and forth. I finally found the number. Gave it to her when she called me back, she had called Rust-Oleum too, and luckily we both  had the same number. Hopefully it gets ordered soon but we found out only comes in 2 two gallons sets now. 

I made two reservations with CG's for our trip back to Pa. 

Then I suggested I call a refrigerator repair guy here for our Samsung that has been dripping water from the defrost cycle into the drawers since we left PA. No one there would work on one. I talked to a guy he said he could get someone here around noon. That never happened but he called me back a few times so we kind of waited for a while.

We took a golf cart ride before it got to hot, I put sun screen on, but still felt like I was cooking in the sun.

As soon as we left saw a couple from Pa we know, we chatted for a bit. We stopped by the pool here in Crossroads to see how warm it was.

Jim was happy with it, he said I would get in this pool. Hot tub really nice too. I have to go in later though to much SUN for me NOW.  Darn I realized that I rinsed the sun screen off my feet. My feet have tan lines from my sandals.  We finished our ride early as the sun was strong. Some pictures of our ride.

Someone else planted a pineapple.

Food truck here, Exit 90 Ate, cute name, taco stuff.

Cute park model for sale here.

l underlined our FW,  took from out by the road on our ride, we have a great view in the back. 

I made 4 salads for lunch, almost always make 2 for tomorrow, just as easy to make 4.

Jim also fixed my grape clock that sits above his chair. It fell multiple times in travel, and he has repeatedly fixed it. It totally stopped working once, and he replaced all the clock guts as I call it.  It was fine till we got here, and the hands were all bent. He took it all apart, got it working again. But there's just not enough room in the back of it for the command strips to secure it to the wall when we move the RV. So he put a screw in the wall, first time we've ever did that. And I added it to my travel list to take the clock down and put it on the bed when we move. Hope that's a permanent fix.

Jim sat outside as I busied myself inside. A  huge MH backed in with one empty site between us and I never seen it. 

Around 3 p.m. I looked out and Jim was talking to Barb and her husband, they drove over on their scooters. They were chatting for a while but I had just put the pot roast on the stove to Brown before I put it in the instant pot. So I couldn't walk away from it, so till  I got it in the pot they had left. 

Today I want to go in the pool sometime. It felt so good earlier.

We both sat outside a bit, was to hot for me to stay long, even though we have a nice shade tree and always a breeze here. This is the best site we ever had here. Jim and I were watching the golfers, hope there good. RV's have gotten hit before, but we are at a good angle. 

For dinner I served Jim pot roast with leftover potatoes from last night and corn off the cob. I made a huge pile chicken, onions and peppers, black beans and the rest of the Corn for quesadillas later. I had a half of one for dinner, a little bit of the potatoes. Jim just loves that pot roast. We are just taking our last two bites, the kitchen was a mess with all that cooking. And Jim looked out the window and the refrigerator guy was here. Jim was just about to wash the dishes. So this never happened before.

 Two guys at the same time working in my kitchen.

What a mess we had. I was so worried they'd have to pull the fridge out. The guy said we do it all the time. I was trying to make him  understand how it sits up on a platform and it would have to drop down once it was out. Never even thought about till the guy came that the island probably would make it really hard to get it all the way out. It turned out the defrost was constantly running and the water had a slow drain It just had nowhere else to go. We had to empty the fridge it was hard to get all the shelves out but the guy made it work, took the panel off the back to replace a part. It's awesome that he had it with him. He did a great job. I talked about how I was going to wash everything and how I would do the big shelves Jim suggested I take them in the shower. That works great I kept myself busy as it stresses me out everything all pulled apart. The total bill was 350 he said he can only take cash. I'm glad we still had a stash of that much. It was worth it to me to get it done. He wanted to snake the drain for the defrost but he would have had to pull the fridge out. We decided to not do it. He felt that this would take care of the problem if it only went into defrost when it needed to not constantly that the drain could keep up.

YEA that makes me so HAPPY that is done. Together we finished wiping it out and putting everything back in, and watching the temperature go back down. Just after we finished Dale and Mary Lou Price stopped By to  say hi, we chatted for a bit outside. Met one of the other neighbors.

 Then we went inside Jim watched hockey while I jumped in the golf cart and went up to the pool. By this time it was just after 8. As soon as I got in this guy started talking to me, Butch. Hardly anybody was there. He was quite chatty the Price's  said the pool is open till 10. But he said it closed around 8 or 8:30 so around that time a lady showed up to lock the gate. He said let's tell her we're on our honeymoon and see if we can stay 15 minutes longer. Okay whatever dude. She said it was okay I went in the bathroom and changed. Glad he was gone when I came out. Nice enough guy  but  kind of a weird thing to say after only a 10-minute chat. I think he was sad I got back so early. But the mosquitoes attack you as soon as you stop the golf cart. He went to plugged it in.

 Later we finished watching Superstore the last show of the series, when I got back in hockey was over. I took this picture right before I headed to the pool.

Moving to Clerbrook

Today Jim was up first he only had to hit the button as I had the coffee ready to start.

We had leftover blueberry French toast I made in the IP for breakfast. He went outside around 9 to start getting ready to move. I did my thing inside. We left at 10:30 for our last 2 week campground stay.  The whole trip went great it took just over 2 hours. 

It is nice to know what site we are to be in. When we pulled in Dale and Marylou Price came out to say Hi. Dale saw ants on our site, and went to get stuff to put on them. He helped us back in, we look forward to spending more time with them while we are here.

Jim did a beautiful job setting up as usual. He makes it so nice outside. We have a great view of the golf course. In no time at all he had the satelite dish and the golf cart put together. 

Our view out the back window.

I got lunch ready for us, soup and I heated up some chicken and pie I had gotten out of the freezer.

We sat outside for awhile. Steve called and we talked with him a bit. 

Later Jim put some boneless pork ribs on the grill. I made broccoli salad to go with dinner and my potatoes in the Instant pot, I cooked bacon and onions with wilted spinach and cheese and my homemade applesauce.

Dessert was glazed Strawberries with topping. 

We ate outside on the picnic table, that I helped Jim move and later my wrists are killing me.

Later we took a golf cart ride and saw Barbara and her hubby we pulled in and chatted a bit.

We headed home, was dark by then. Jim took a shower I did blog we watched a little TV.

Packing UP, Jungle Walk, Pool/ Hot Tub

I was up first this morning made coffee. When Jim got up I made Instant Pot Blueberry French toast for a late breakfast. 

I used my new air fryer lid to brown the top, and made a blueberry sauce to top it with.

Jim spent alot of time putting stuff away outside for our moving day tomorrow. 

We had leftover soup I just made and the taco salad for lunch. 

We sat outside some, watched the neighbors behind us had a new awning installed today. We chatted with them for awhile right before I was surprized by Jim when he went on the walk through the jungle with me, sweet he didn't want me to go by myself. 

 Peace River

     Beautiful path, we used to love to horseback ride on.

It is hard to see, but you could see how the pigs rooted all around in there. 

It was called orange trail, alot of wild oranges in there. 

Jim was able to reach 2 to pick. He peeled one and it was so juicy and smelled great, but so sour I almost though he was going to choke to death. So we left the others in the tropical jungle. Here he left on the sign.

We got home had dinner. The leftover chicken Jim grilled with corn of the cob. With the last of the yellow rice. 

Then he suprises me again and said he would go to the pool with me. It was a little cold I guess since we had 3 consecutive nights that were cold. But the hot tub felt GREAT. 

When we got home to the FW Jim took the golf cart apart. I took a shower and tried to put some stuff away too. 

Jim had a fire and watched hockey outside, to bad they lost. I was inside doing my thing, IT REALLY went fast. 

He went to bed first I watched more Naked and Afraid before bed.

Crafting, Meat and more Meat

Monday March 22, 2021

                             I will get to this.

                     I guess THIS IS US now

This morning I got a late start getting up. Till I ate breakfast and got ready it was close to 10 am. I wanted to get to the crafting with the ladies at 9:30, NO I did not  make it. But it was alot of Fun, some came in after me too.  Nan saw my bags again said she wanted one, she asked if she could buy the one I had put my yarn in to come to  craft in. I told her it was the first one I ever made and I really didn't want to sell that one. But  I had plenty more and would 

 get one to her before we left.

 A few of us are leaving soon, so there was alot of goodbye till next year.

I came back in the golf cart around noon. Jim said it wasn't very nice out so we should go do our running around today instead of tomorrow. I said it's Florida it'll be nice in a few minutes. AND it was. told him Nan was coming at 2 for a bag. We decided to go to K & J produce and run to Walmart. I put a bag on my steps and a note for Nan. We had a quick bite to eat I made some eggs Jim's first meal of the day. Too much food yesterday.

First we went to Walmart and we're looking for a few specific things. Wanted to get rechargeable batteries for the push button lock on the RV door. I found some decorations for my Jean purses I'm making. Found different orange fabric  to make a cover for golf cart seat, that will be alot of work, trial and error. 

While I was looking an older man in a scooter asked me which of the artificial flowers behind me looked like a magnolia. He said he wanted to play a trick on his neighbor, he told him his magnolia tree would eventually bloom, it still hasn't,  and he wanted to stick a fake flower in it and surprise him. I told him how funny that was and I asked my phone what one looked like. He had picked one out and was surprised on how close of a match he got. What is sweet guy, we chatted for a minute, I said I wish I could know how the story ends. I'm sure if their friends he will think it's funny too.

Then we went to K&J produce here's a picture of all the meat we bought. I made 8 hamburger patties, a pack of ham hocks for ham and bean soup 3 pot roast, 6 T-bone steaks, big pack boneless ribs, three packs of boneless skinless chicken thighs.

Here's a picture of all the produce all those strawberries $7 two big onions, a mini butternut and spaghetti squash, for zucchini, few bananas, 2 bags salad greens, a huge Pineapple, 4 ears sweet corn.

The phone rang right when we were checking out the meat. I thought it was Nan but when we got in the truck I called her back. With her lovely southern accent she said I stole something from your house.

Believe it or not we stopped at Winn-Dixie next, I ran in for a few things I couldn't find at the other store. Like Diet Pepsi been looking for steel cut oatmeal, hard-to-find here. Finally found a Quaker brand. While I started the shopping,  Jim filled our jugs with spring water. 

Then we went back to the RV and all my work began. So I re-packaged all the meat got it outside in the front freezer. Made some soup with some chicken sausage I had taken out. Jim grilled a pack of the chicken we just bought half with chicken seasoning and half with barbecue sauce. While he was doing that Eddie stopped by Nan's husband and brought me the money for the bags she picked up on the step while we were away. I made a few taco's for us and a taco salad for dinner and 2 for tomorrow too. The fridge is SO full. I worked from 5 till after 8 still not finished with everything. Was alot of work. All that Produce and Meat at K and J, was GUESS  just guess,.....

It was $135.00  WE thought that was really good.

              ALSO while at Walmart saw this. 

Really has it come to this, matching masks and shirts. I saw people match them already, but just the fact they are selling them like this. 

We took a quick ride to Take the trash out after all that work. I finally stopped working after 8,  we watched The Voice, went to bed together, I got up, couldn't sleep, went back to try again at 1 am.