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.

A Day Cooking, Door open, Windy but Sunny

Friday April 2, 2021

Today Jim was up so I got to enjoy his coffee again when I got up. I had alot of cooking and baking I wanted to do,  and use the convection oven for 4 different things, it was not going to be very hot 68, but very sunny. Perfect. First I had a lemon poppy seed muffin mix I wanted to make first as part of Jim's breakfast for later.

But first I wanted to work on my business cards. I have this little blue one was full. I wanted to separate them into RV business we use and Pa RV friends and Rally people we know, etc. I worked a long time on it. 

Jim was going to eat cereal, because it was almost 10 am. I said I had something for him. I made 2 dippy eggs with one sausage he grilled last night, that I put the rest in the soup. And one poppy seed muffin. Then I ate my oatmeal thing. Then I stood at the kitchen island to finish my business card project. 

Just a quick plug for the green Holy Moly these are the best cleaning clothes I ever had. Only make wet and they do windows mirrors. Fantastic, I got these last year when I shopped with Terri Hein from Vegas. We shared a pack. I cut one in half, we each had one and half. I use half inside cleaning and the whole large one outside on the car, windows and RV. The  Best thing ever, glad I got them. Because a cleaning thing wasn't my first choice of what I wanted to buy at an outdoor flea market.

Then I started cooking. I made ham and bean soup in my IP. Then Chocolate chip cookies with almond flour and mini zucchini pie. 

               Zucchini pies on left before baking. 

                     This is after baking them.

Then I took a shower after all that.

Then around 1:30 I got lunch ready. We had rest smoked pork, veggie chicken sausage soup from last night. Zucchini pie and a cookie I just made. 

SO after lunch this was the aftermath of all that cooking and baking. 

NOW Jim's turn. My wonderful hubby washed all these dishes. Then he took a shower. 

We put 2 bowls of each soup I made in the freezer out front.

Then we took a short ride in the golf cart to take the trash out.  It was cool out in the golf cart was a little bit windy especially when it whipped inside. When we got back to the RV, Jim plugged the cart in and we walked back to our water view to check it out. There was no golfers out now. But Our neighbor saw a 7 foot gate walk out of this pond.

I had washed one load of wash and hung outside. Was perfect drying conditions. Then I went in to get dinner ready was just after 5:30 when I started. I put a frozen pizza in the oven. I told Jim we had a six course dinner tonight, all small portions. First heated the leftover French fries in the air fryer, from yesterday's dinner out, just had a few.  Then small serving of broccoli salad,  Jim had bowl of ham and bean soup I made earlier. Then we shared half pizza save rest for tomorrow night. Had burrito bowls, a small piece of pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing a scoop of frozen yogurt. I washed up the dishes, went out and brought the laundry in off the clothesline.

Watched the sunset from my chair, very busy day for me. Watched a little TV before bed.

Visiting Hawthorne, Pills, Diet Pepsi, New Restaurant

Thursday April 1,  2021

Today was my Mother's birthday.

Today I was up first Jim's coffee was better when he was up first and made it. 

I tried to make a list of things I wanted and things I wanted to get accomplished. Today was going to be about 20 degrees cooler then it has been. We both put on long pants today. Oh well, winter day in Florida, OH Jim reminded me, it is Spring now.  I made Jim an omelet.

 We had some smoked pork I had some veggies too, a quick lunch before we left.  We got really for our appointment to tour Hawthorne an active 55 plus community today at 1 pm.

We arrived and met our tour guide Dave, he has lived here with his wife 6 years. I was expecting the guide to be a woman, not sure why. He was funny and did very well. We went into a van and he drove us all around.

 The property is gated and 24 hour security and medical care on site. 

Each home has 2 call buttons. They have alot of volunteers that help each other. Over 200 clubs, access to many connected lakes, can go all the way to Jacksonville. They have their own marina, and boat slips. They have a long waiting list to get one. They have free RV storage too.

 It is very close to The Village's. They take you shopping and other outings. They have a garden where you can have your own plot. Speaking of plots,  believe it or not you can be buried in  their Cemetery for free you pay for cremation.  Also library, workout room, craft, stain glass etc.

This was an ice cream social going on. Most states have a club too.

Funny thing today was Pennsylvania club meeting, we were not invited. 

Here are some pictures of our tour. 

          They have over 1100 homes, just one road.

Huge pool and party area. He said he never saw it empty before. Pool is 83 degrees year round. 

When we left we went to CVS to pick up our pills. We had 2 for each of us. We just got a Good RX card and showed it to  the pharmacy guy. He said you can look up each pill and find discounts for them. We looked up 2 of ours and saved us over 100 dollars. We were glad they had Diet Pepsi on sale 4, 2 liter bottles for $5. We got 8 bottles. The last 8 they had.

We found another dry erase sheet, the last on they had. Want it for the main bathroom upstairs. 

Then we tried a new restaurant we never went to before. We just wanted a quick lite early dinner. Was almost 4:30. We went to Culver's.

Jim had a grilled Reuben I had a fish sandwich we were thrilled they had Diet Pepsi. It was pretty good we took some FF home.

After that we went to Walmart found a few of the 

things we were looking for. Found some plastic business card holders. Did some food shopping too. 

Of course Jim got more beer. Getting it at Walmart never gets old for him.

We returned to our home, by now it was 6:45. Jim brought everything in. It was alot cooler out, but nice. Watched the sunset, had the door propped open. Jim grilled chicken and chicken sausage I made a vegetable and rice soup with it my IP. 

We watched a little TV before bed.

Line dancing, Happy hour, pool

Wednesday March 31, 2021

Jim was up first this morning. I made a few phone calls, still trying to get the right paint ordered. Called TTO to get our 500.00 security deposit back. I left that place SO clean. Called Hawthorne an active 55 plus community, made an appointment for 1 pm on Thursday to get a tour. 

Jim was working on our motion light, it keeps falling off. And my other light, he said that was not fixable.

I made him breakfast. Dippy eggs, the man loves his eggs.

 I got really to go up to the last line dance of the season, from noon till 2, The new teacher Carolyn was there also Lee and Linda we're back. They've been gone for a year, he had some health issues, and covid-19, waiting to get their vaccines. He wasn't teaching, but it seems like it was killing him not to. He has been the teacher there since we've been coming to Clerbrook. It was a lot of fun I was able to dance every dance. They both do a great job teaching.

     Linda and Lee are the 2 in dark clothes in middle 

It was really hot when I came out from dancing, very humid went back to the FW. I got lunch ready for Jim and I, we have the leftovers from Oakwood. 

Before we knew it it was after 3. He was watching some dumb movie, we got ready around 3:30 to go to happy hour at the Veranda.

Barbara and Tony said they would be there too, we arrived fashionably late. I was afraid it would be super hot but there was just enough shade against the building where they were sitting. We had a really long visit. Didn't get any more pictures but it was packed when we were there. And all the tables were empty when we left, we closed her down. They were serving food, but we have plenty at the RV. Only hot dogs, burgers and fries. We talked to our old neighbors when we got flooded out, they where they're also. Then we took the long way home with a little golf cart ride. By then it was after 6 and I made pasta outside in my IP, to keep all steam out, made it with the homemade alfredo cheese sauce, added my grilled zucchini, and added the shrimp that were defrosted by now. It was very good, if I must say so myself. 

Jim washed hockey. After I washed up the dishes I got ready and went up to the pool. 

It was almost too warm. I didn't even go in the hot tub this time. There was only one family up there at the time that were very well behaved. But still haven't found anyone really to talk to up there as of yet. When I returned I took a shower and washed  my hair. After hockey was over, with a sad loss again. We watched Naked and Afraid,  Jim went to bed first, but still kind of late. What a fun, full day we had together.