Jim and Darlene On the Road Again: December 2021

I officially went full-time again at work April 25th. Back to weekly covid testing one sometimes twice a week.

I gave away seven baby blankets that I made over the winter to people at work.

Almost every weekend Jim would take his Mom out to lunch when I was at work. On my weekends off I would go too. Then they would go for a long drive, usually at least 2 hours.

This was at my FIL grave site in the Gap, they do Wreaths Across American, each grave has one..

One weekend we went to Sweet Arrow Lake.

She turned in her car and least another new one.

It was wonderful staying out with Steve and Katrina on their property for two months. My drive to work was 15 miles one way. Instead of 3 to 8 miles. Jim was always there ready to help Steve when he needed something moved. Can't believe how quickly they got rid of everything. Glad we didn't have to do it that fast. Can't wait to see them in Florida.

I was able to use her kitchen a few times, made us all dinner and used it for a few other things. That was really fun.

I will really miss the wood burning stove. Was great to use at a moment's notice to smoke something.

Pork on left a chicken on the right.

The other thing we got to do there, was paint the trim edge on the roof. It was great not having to try and get it done in a CG. With people watching and giving there well meaning advice.

It is 4 inch curved rubber that was matching the full body paint on rig. It was peeling and looked like bird poop it spots. It took forever to find the right paint we were recommend to use for the job. But we got it DONE. I was even on the scaffolding trying to help.

But Jim said I just slowed him down.

My portable flower bed. We had a few good fires too.

Forgot to mention we had 2 parties on the 4th of July.

First we went to Thomas's then we stopped to see Terri and Steve, Phyllis's daughter and Len were in town, they are from Alabama, WE had to go see them. We just love them like family. I made a pasta salad and dessert for each party.

August Jim's mom went into the hospital. She was supposed to have some test done. They admitted her, well they wanted to. She didn't want to stay overnight. He was with her almost all day, I waited out in the car for hours and hours. Only one person could go in. Later I went back to the RV. Then went to pick Jim up and took her back to her house. Till we got back to 5th wheel it was close to 1 a.m. she was not taking her medicine properly and was filling up with fluids.

We did have alot of fun with the golf cart at the campgrounds.

Friday September 17, I got shots in both of my hands. Because of the work I do was causing such pain in both of my hands.. Did it early in the morning and then we left to go to the Hershey RV show for the day. There we got to meet Jim and Kellie RV YouTubers from Suite Travels.com

They were staying in Hershey Thousand Trails. We were moving there on Sunday the last day of the RV show. We got to see them again and park right behind their rig. They have an HDT a DRV FW smart car. And they haul a Can-Am in the toy hauler.

Halloween at Pa Dutch

They had Halloween party there live music from Steve's band A different Steve, band Famous Rumers.

Contest Kid's in there Halloween costumes. SO cute.

Travis called while we were in there. He sent me a text of a shopping cart with the huge instant pot in it. So I ended up calling him and talking him through how to make spaghetti in it. Asked him how it was, he said it was the best and easiest spaghetti he ever made. And hopefully I taught him how to make a few more things in it. He wants to eat better and make it easier with less dishes.

Jim put in 2 sliding drawers in the kitchen. Took some doing to refit the same items back in. Hope they don't move when we travel. They are soft close, SO nice. Love them.

Can't believe it's time to move back to Sycamore Hill for last 2 months before we leave for Florida. Only 30 amp but cheep and close to my work.

My work was going to mandate that we had to get the vaccine to continue to work there. So through much conversation with Jim and a lot of thought process went into it but I decided to retire early and put in my two week notice on November 15th was my last day working at Cornwall Manor November 29th. Every day they told me it wasn't too late to change my mind, tried to talk me into getting the vaccine. I just don't feel it's right for me to do at this time.

And then it was Thanksgiving So now I have all the time I need to get ready plan see people and get things done before we go. WRONG

More on that idea later.

Thanksgiving at Thomas's house. It is so Wonderful for us all to be able to go there.

The girls at the bar Sarah 14 and Amelia aka Mia 9

I made mashed potatoes in my Instant pot. When meal was over I made homemade pot pie noodles and used the turkey bones made pot pie we all had leftover for later, to take home.

Cooking with my girls

Jim's work did again this year 12 Day's Bowman Christmas they have one gift to open up for 12 days.

We planned a trip with Thomas's for the Yuengling beer tour in Pottsville. Travis couldn't go at the last minutes. We had a great day together.

Had to make a beer tree.

Then we went to Damon's for dinner together.

THEN

Jim was coughing and he went to work Monday they said he should get tested, then he came home. On December 7, on his birthday he received the results, POSITIVE for Covid. GREAT

THEN a few days later I started feeling bad. I got so tired, such fatigue I lost my sence of taste and smell. I never got officially tested, but what else could it be.. Over 2 weeks later still don't feel right. So I didn't get alot done lately. And all my big plans went out the window.

Doesn't feel like Christmas unless I make cookies.

Then we put our tree up.

Had great Christmas with the kids.

I gave Thomas's and Kerri an Instant pot.

Hope they love it as much as I do.

We are starting to make our winter travel plans. We are going to Florida, but near the end of our trip we are heading to Texas for a Huddle with RV YouTubers Todd and Shelia from Switch It Up. Check them out, very good and entertaining, he is a very good story tell. I just fell in love with them. Really check them out, SO good.

Saw this on Facebook, someone traveling who loves IP as much as I do, said this looks like a big one going down the road.

One day watched them take this tree down, made me really nervous, they did it quick.

Then today it snowed on it alittle. Hope that's all we get.

Florida Here We Come, 6 more DAY'S

As we prepare to leave for our winter trip to Florida, thought this would be a good time to do some catching up.

Jim received his first haircut since we've been back in April.

Have to find someone to work on the fridge again still not working properly oh, but the freezer is fine. Called Home Advisor. Had an appointment with them before I was going to work. Asked how punctual they are, after 15 minutes past our appointment time I called them. She said oh he's not coming he had an emergency. So now what, back on the hunt to find someone who will work on a Samsung refrigerator. Ended up calling Mr. Appliance. He came out assess the situation, I think he was more amazed by looking around at the camper. Ordered the parts came back a week later. It's worked perfect ever since. Highly recommend them. Was all frozen on the inside.

We had a family dinner with everyone at Esther's Restaurant in Fredericksburg, we all were able to be together for a lovely meal.

The people who bought Brigittes house got married. We had to move RV and get her to the wedding by 2.

I decided I wanted to remove our shower doors. So sick of cleaning the track always look dirty. I was so curious what they weighed. I made Jim get on the scale with them 75 lb gone. I love the after picture.

We got rid of our storage shed finally. $130 a month.

Talked my brother into taking the drums finally, thank you Drew, we made a trip upstate with them and some other junk I couldn't part with yet.

Love picture of this church.

On the way back stopped with our oldest and dearest friends Pam and John.

We had a hard time making reservations at our two Thousand Trails we bounce back and forth in over the summer. We ended up staying two months with Steve and Katrina they're beautiful property they were also getting ready to sell and go full time. This is a picture of our site there, they had a full hookup in-law site they had, and the use of the storage shed, we used while we got rid of our climate controlled storage shed.