Rain, Mud, Cold, PA

Last Happy Monday April 12, 2021

Today woke up a little cold out. Should have put the heat  pump on. It poured rain last night.  I was up first had alot to do today. 

I made breakfast washed my hair and got ready to get some stuff done. Called whole bunch places to find someone to fix our Samsung Fridge. Jim would find a # I would call, probably called at least 5. Then something he looked at,  Home Adviser called US. We set appointment with them, for Thursday, see what happens.

Before we left my boss wanted me to work tomorrow a day early. All day like noon till 8. Sure why NOT.

Went and got my car and flower pots, at Jim's friend's house also where we have access to firewood. Came back to FW to drop the  truck off. Was hard to get in here at noon people checking in. Trying to  keep people from coming in before noon, trying to be like TTO.

Then we got his stuff for his Mom. First we went to Hoss's for lunch. They have a good salad bar. I had sweet chili shrimp and FF and Jim had fried fish and FF soup, always get the salad and dessert bar, plus they have diet Pepsi. They had SO yummy on a loop on TV in there, was cool, waitress said to look it up. Alot of cool ways for food presentation.

Then we went to his Mom for a visit. Took all the stuff we brought home for her. Jim stayed with her while I went to Fredericksburg to get my nails done. Felt so good to have them done RIGHT.

While I was there my boss texted again said could I work 6 am to 2 instead, someone else would rather to the late shift FINE with ME.

Then went to get a few groceries at Redner's. Didn't get much especially for fridge. 

I stopped at our old house to see our neighbor. Mary was best neighbor ever. I Had a card for her. She was out in drive way talking with former coworker, he knew me. Was small town. The people in our house just had another baby since they moved in. Two boys in the house AGAIN, cool. Here's a picture of house now. 

Our horse barn in the background.

I picked up Jim at his Mom's,  quick visit we left to stop pick up our tax papers. We went by earlier wasn't ready. 

Then we went to the store I call the beer mall. Guess what they sell.

Then we went and got Chinese took it back to RV. I kept half of mine for tomorrow. For work lunch. We got home alot to put away get ready for a big day tomorrow. 

Then we will have time to go to camping world, didn't have time today. We need a new potty, pendant light, plastic piece for screen door, clip for my broken drawer, and foot ottoman.

Since back to work and real life, will be going back to weekly or monthly In review now. I need blog break. 

Arrived in Pennsylvania Hershey TT

Sunday April 11, 2021

Be ARE Back.

We were up today and ready to leave Lee Hi Travel Plaza at 8:30 a.m.

Jim ate cereal I took mine along and ate in truck at 10:30. we drove for half an hour and we were into our first 15 minutes traffic delay because of an accident. Which we never did see. 

Traffic picked up and we Drove for a good two hours. Before our first stop for potty at a rest area.  Then we continued on. Till we arrived at a Love's at Exit 10 for Diesel, in Maryland. We did something we didn't do for awhile. I went in started the fuel and went to a Wendy's for a quick lunch. We only sat 5 minutes and ate then pulled out and back on the road again. We just wanted to get there.

The weather turned out pretty good, we had only a little mist a few times when we were really close. But we drove on really wet roads that we had just missed alot of rain. 

We arrived at Hershey TT right before 2. Was really wet here. We found a great site, but a lot of mud. Which we did not see forever. It rained a little when Jim was trying to set up. No more paying for electric when Not in H loop, yes.

We did our respective jobs, and I walked up to give them site # we picked out.

Talked with Nancy on the walk back.

We put a few things in the outside beer fridge, inside one just not cold enough. I heated up the leftover chicken parm spaghetti from last night. Took showers, watched TV had recorded. Went to bed early. 

We have a lot to do tomorrow.

Travel Day to VA

Saturday April 10, 2021

Weather partly sunny, 73. Only a couple drops of rain.

So I went to bed early and slept very well till between 2 and 3 a.m.. woke up and worried about the fridge. I was up first, finished the blog until Jim got up. Then I started getting ready,  packed a lunch for the day. Put things away. 

We pulled out of the Dumpling RV Park 

left around 10 a.m.  view out back of the site

we drove over 2 hours wanted to make a One-Stop shop is lunch/potty break, and diesel. We saw a sign for a TA and thought it was exit 40 and it ended up being Exit 42, and we had to make quite a long route to turn around and get back on 81 in Virginia. 

So we kept going until we found a Flying J, Jim went in paid and filled up with fuel, while I went in and grabbed our lunch, checked everything out. The fridge is still running a little higher than I want it to. 

Trees in bloom 

Then we pulled in next to a truck, took 5 minutes and ate our lunch. And then kept on going that way we didn't have to put the steps in and take the steps out and put the steps in. Trying to make up our time a little. By then it was 130, we filled up with fuel when we arrived at Lee Hi Travel Plaza. I went in to pay for our site we had reservations for. Number 43, a Pull  through site. Jim did not unhook, put full hookups out, and only the two back slides. 

View out behind the RV.

He watched the last 5 minutes of hockey. I did our minimal travel day setup went outside and actually called and talked to my brother Drew. Then I made chicken parmesan in the instant pot for dinner had the applesauce as a side dish.

Then we watched Manafest on Hulu. We are going to cancel DirecTV ASAP. To much money So many other ways to watch TV now.

Today was a WAY better travel day than yesterday, thank goodness.

Longest Travel day ever

Friday April 9, 2021

The weather was cool last night we put heat pump on in the morning. Today's high is 83.

The day we leave is always so sad. Jim wanted to leave 9am our time. I was up first at 6 am, there time.

I finished the blog before Jim got up. He had the last of the deviled eggs, sausage and the biscuit, leftover from Jim and Nick's yesterday, for breakfast. We finished packing up. The truck was still running. We walked up to the house to say Goodbye. 

This new spot in TN wanted this at the end mixed them up.

First Biscuit met us in the driveway, just petting him got me started. Len gives the best hugs,  I love  them So much. We had a huge hug together. We both were in tears, we said LOVE you. Phyllis said we should have a picture of us hugging. I thought she was going to take one, we hugged again but I don't think she took one. Oh well I got another hug. Once the tears start, I can't stop. Of course they start again now as I type this. We will see them in a few months when they come to Pa to see here daughter. 

We left about 9:30 our time.

What a DAY.

We passed SO many accidents the worst, on the other side of the road, a helicopter was on the road, alot of cop cars and fire trucks. The traffic was backed up probably at least 10 miles. Then cars were going through the grass medium strip, and  pulled out right in front of us instead of staying in the left lane. I didn't feel right taking a picture.

But later  fire trucks along road again on our side, was a fire in the woods along the road.

Our GPS kept saying Slow down ahead, Traffic Accidents ahead. You can take blaa blaa but you are still on the fastest route. AND going over the bridges are so ruff. Bounce all over. One really bad bump the truck said trailer is disconnected. This was our first stop, he found a place to pull over, and we went potty quick.

Today the pollen is SO bad. Was bothering both of us.

We couldn't get off exit we wanted to fuel up, had to find another, and we had lunch there. Then the fridge does not seam to be staying cold now. Jim hit some buttons on it. 

We left more of the same above. The day was supposed to be 5 hours of driving total and turned out to be almost 8. One stop found this, broken pendant light. Was broke at base, he temporarily fixed it, but all the bumps guess it couldn't take. Can't find broken pieces hope not under slide. I swept the glass I thought still cut my foot on a piece. Have to keep slippers on. 

Next time looking at fridge said 34 when we got here. Should have left it go, he hit more buttons and now says 50. But it was running it had the battery power down to 45%. 

When we finally arrived here at Dumpling Farm RV park. We are at Kodak TN.

We got parked hookups and he unhooked and went for Diesel. 

I heated up leftovers from last night. We sat outside he called his Mom. 

We watched a little TV couldn't get much. We took showers I went to bed first at 10 pm was so tired. It was a long and Stressful day, and worried about the fridge. 

Fun Day in the East Estates

Thursday April 8, 2021

Cullman Alabama 

Needed a little bit of heat this am, High today 83

This morning I was up at 6:00 our time. I worked on the blog from yesterday. Then I made a pot of steel cut oatmeal and put the other pot on to start some yogurt. When Jim got up I made him breakfast and he took a shower and went up to start helping Len with his projects. Len can't raise his arms very high

anymore.

First they changed light bulbs out.  While they did that I took a shower and got ready went up to the house. We all went into Len's truck, went to Lowe's to get them 15 bags brown mulch. My boss was texting me more details about me starting work again. I'm so excited about being fulltime again.

We took the long way home, they showed us this big field where there is a huge music festival in August, very big name singers come to.

When we got back to the house Jim put the bags of mulch around where Phyllis wanted it in the flower beds around the house. The pollen is high again here.

Then they put new trim around front door, and around new microwave.

It was after 2 our time so we were all getting pretty hungry by now. We all got in the car and we went to Jim and Nick's a GREAT BBQ place they have here. We really like it. 

Len and Phyllis did same as us, we shared huge amount of ribs and catfish with 2 sides each. Jim and I brought home more food then we ate there I think. We will really enjoy it then we get to our new spot Friday night. 

Was wonderful, we got back to the house Jim and Len did a few more things in the basement. We talked with Phyllis's daughter Terri for a while. She lives in Pa. Phyllis and I went to feed the ducks and fish. I love to watch the fish. 

Jim was also going to wash Len's truck too. She wouldn't let us. She just wanted us to just visit, she said Jim did enough work. 

Later she served us apple dumplings with ice cream I had more cheesecake from last night. We talked till about 8 or so. 

Walked home, watched a little TV before bed.

We REALLY hate to leave tomorrow, so sad leaving.

Travel day to Cullman Alabama

Wednesday April 7, 2021

Today started out cool but going to be in the 80's later.

We got up this morning around 7, I was up first. Made chicken wraps for lunch later, made coffee and started to put stuff away.  He got up and As Jim tries to hurry me  along. I saw the one neighbor behind us left about 1/2 hour earlier than us.

Was a really nice place only 24. A night, With  our Passport American, the spot just was not level. Our neighbors said there's was, good thing there leveling Jack's didn't work.

So we pulled out about 8:38, our time I think. The time changed and it always messed us up.

Probably about an hour into our drive our one neighbor passed us. So funny. Later the other one passed us. They drove faster than we do. 

We drove over 2 hours before our first potty break. 

Just pulled into a fuel station along road, not ideal place but it worked.

Then we went into rest area almost 2 hours later for lunch break. There they were again,  we waved as we pulled out. Wish I would have had time to say HI.

Today was a little longer drive than I would like, but couldn't WAIT to see Len and Phyllis. 

Probably about 10 minutes before we got here, I received a text from work wanted to know if I would do FULL TIME an unexpected opening just became available. I  said YES. SOooo great I will have my own kitchen again. Will  make leaving at the end of the year so much harder. So excited for that, I love cooking for these people.

So we arrived Jim pulls in across the road. And I had the BEST 2 hugs in A long time. I DO so love these wonderful people.

We chatted a bit, they mentioned a few things that they wanted Jim to do for them. Of course he would.  First it is a little tricky backing in like a big backwards C. HE did Great. They went back on the front porch to sit while we set up. They invited us to dinner at the house. 

We set up, have full hookups here. Was warm inside but just propped open the door. We sat on the porch talking and catching up with them. They are on Boondockers WELCOME now, so have 2 RV'S here alot, passing through. We went and fed the fish. Loved seeing there beloved Beagle dog Biscuit. 

Len started the grill at 6 or 7 somewhere. I took up some deviled eggs and chicken and yellow rice with mixed vegetables. She had the whole spread. Burgers and brats,  lettuce and tomatoes, macaroni and cheese salsa and queso, Veggie tray. Two kinds of chips. We had a wonderful meal together in their dining room.

Later she served a delicious cheesecake. Then Jim took a chair out of the bedroom and put it into the basement. Then we sat in the living room and chatted until almost 9. Made plans for fun tomorrow.

We walked back to FW was so tired. Watched a little TV before shower and went to bed early what ever time it was. 

Travel day

Tuesday April 6. 2021

Hidden Hollow RV Park, Cottonwood, Alabama 

Drove 325 miles

On our first travel day I was up first, Jim was awake and was up shortly after. We started to pack up wanted to leave around 8:30 a.m. we actually left at 9. We made one potty stop,  then a rest area we ate lunch I made, then one more stop for fuel. We passed a place that had a smoker going that smelled fantastic. 

We arrived at the CG, never here before. People with a FW were waiting on the porch, the lady stepped out for a bit. We took a walk around, they have hotel rooms in This beautiful building. They have these cute little rental houses. 

Beautiful inside.

Four, looks like building more. SO cute, looked in windows only have a kitchenette.

When she returned after the first couple went. Then us, parked in our spot.

That is the huge building behind us that has hotel rooms.

Was so unlevel we had to unhook. And we decided to go fill up with fuel again, and get BBQ. So going back into Florida for it. I even called the # they had posted, he said I just closed. Open tomorrow at 7 am, Jim doesn't want to try again.

Well SO sadly BBQ was closed, we got fuel, went back to RV. I had pierogies and sausage we love,  so dinner was great. There is a time change here in Alabama so don't know what time it is. We are staying on our time.

I went for a little walk, and talked to our neighbors.

Jim played with the TV, took showers and relaxing the rest of the evening.

Happy Easter

Sunday April 4, 2021

It doesn't feel like Easter. No holidays do after your kids are adults.

I was up first this morning, only had to turn the coffee on, Jim premade it last night, not sure why he just did.

We watched the morning News, after 9 I made Jim breakfast of a mini zucchini pie, two eggs and the last of the lemon poppy seed muffins. 

I was working on more water bottle holders. Later went outside it was so beautiful out, Jim joined me and we sat outside for a long time pondering retirement when and how that would look. He took the rest of the bags out of the truck, to store them back in the trunk, but before he did I counted them to see what I had left. Found the paper that I started out with 62. Now I have eight large, 10 medium and 4 small, and four water bottle holders. I guess I did sell a lot. 

 I made us some leftovers for lunch soup zucchini pie some chicken, my leftover burger and french fries we shared from TooJay's yesterday.

Can't believe less then 2 days before we start to head back toward Pa. Have to think about what travel food have to prep yet.

We took a golf cart ride, I was driving and I drove over to the yellow house, right across from us, we had looked at last year. The lady was out and just got back from walking her boxer dog. We said Hi and chatted for a bit, told her we really liked her house and had looked at it last year. Her name is Julie, she's been living in it for 6 months, year round, just had a breakup, she said it wasn't quite ready yet but to stop back next year and say hi and she would show it to us. How nice.

 Then we continued on our ride saw Barb and Tony on their scooters got to say hi,  probably won't see them till next year. Although he did say they might come to Hershey, because their daughter wants to. We finished our ride what a beautiful evening. 

Went back to the camper I made Jim his pierogies and sausage for our Easter dinner,

very good, but it doesn't feel like Easter.  I went up to the pool had to wait for some people  with little kids to get out of the hot tub. Beautiful sunset, Jim took a few pictures as he started a fire and was out till 11 p.m. listening to music.

Craft and Art Show at Brownwood, The Village's

Saturday April 3, 2021

Today I was up first at about 8 am. Wanted to get an early start to get to the The Village's to be able to get a place to easily park the truck. I had also called the lady I met last Saturday that said she wanted my two largest bags I make. She called me back yesterday and we planned to meet up this morning. 

When we arrived, it  was almost 10 am, it definitely was getting full. I called her to tell her we were here and she drove around to our location. She loved my bags, and ran into TOOJAY'S to show her hostess friend, Shelly.  She took the first one and Joyce got 4 more. Total $75.00. YEA I did sell more this trip then ever before, alot to go. 

So I said a big thank you and we said goodbye. 

Then we all started to walk around the show.It started out cool.

Was not long till Jim changed into his shorts. It was huge. Alot of the same people that sold at the show we went to last year with Jim's boss and his wife. Lance and Crystal, and they just arrived today and want to buy a house in  The Village's. Funny thing they didn't even know about this place till Jim told them about it, now they love it too.

We walked around a little together and Jim sat under the roof, and today they were playing live music a mix of songs. 

Here are some pictures of the day. Alot of cool things for sale.

Huge artwork not RV size

These were like Christmas trees with shells on them.

Why am I seeing words are blue, this blog drives me NUTS, I have two pictures the same, can't remove it.

These are charcuterie boards made of wine barrels,  these are three put together.

Repeat 

Alot of beautiful things, most of which do not work for RV living. I did get 2 pair earrings, always room for them. I found cute hair ties for my girls. And Jim found the birds we got last year too. We had 2 for 20. Last year one for Crystal and we kept it till we got back to Pa. Jim has wanted a second one again. The guy couldn't get them out fast enough. They sold like crazy, I still think Jim should make and sell them.

They are made with sheets of PVC. He doesn't want to. We had the orange one, now a white one. He had all different colors.

I also got a pin to attach to a shirt, etc to keep it  closed. 

Then we went to TOOJAY'S for lunch it was packed. 

But I did get to say thank you to the hostess Shelly for buying one of my bags. She said how did you know. I said I made it. She showed it to me, she had under her podium station. Funny thing was when my MIL was here, we ate here with her, and and had a big conversation with her about cake. She wears a button on her uniform that says Ask Me About Cake, there bakery is Fabulous. I remembered that her least favorite was Chocolate and banana together. 

After lunch we walked around a little more. Goodbye Brownwood we will MISS you.

Then we headed back to our RV home. 

Was so nice out, I sat out a bit, I was texting with Christine she is back from California. Jim had a stiff neck, and he had the heating pad on it. He fell asleep, never wake a sleeping Jim. 

When we woke we had a small dinner of a few leftovers. Another amazing sunset over the golf course.