Almost Christmas, Longtime since last post!

Well it has been a very long time since the last post. The job that we were so excited about did not work out for us after about six weeks, so we had to move on and found another job a few hundred miles away, but still in the Yellowstone area. We moved from Cody area through Yellowstone and then south to Ashton Idaho. We worked at Aspen Acres Golf and RV Resort. This turned out to be a nice change of pace. Our co-workers treated us awsome, and very welcoming. We had a wonderful campsite overlooking the golf course, and Big Daddy got to play all the golf he wanted to FREE! We had a busy summer, Roy worked out on the course and around the park, and I did the cleaning, weeding, and worked in the office with reservations.

We completed this job on Labor Day and then headed south and east towards our next job down in Coffeyville Kansas again for Amazon's Holiday Season. We had a wonderful trip, except for the wind. The wind made for some rough driving and did sometimes push us across the center line. We spent our first night down in Wy. at the famous Wally World RV free campsites. Next day we got up after of course doing some shopping to pay for our site, and headed down towards Denver. Again the wind was now hitting us on the side again, so it was tight grip on the steering wheel to him the house on the road. We made it to Denver and met up with my dear friends oldest son for lunch. We had a very nice visit and then back on the road and headed east towards Kansas.

We had hoped that the wind would quit at some point but that just was not in the cards for us. We did see the forest fire outside of Denver while we were there, and it had just started and due to the high winds was growing stronger by the minute. Later we are still watching it for days and days, that was so sad. We again traveled across Kansas till after dark and spent the night again at the Wally World RV parking lot. It had been another long day and we were both tired and ready for a good nights sleep.

We awoke to a pleasant day, and headed south. Once again the winds started before noon, we were so hoping that we would not have to fight it again, but that was just not going to happen. Finally after a day of driving we arrive at our final stop, Coffeyville. We drive to where we normally set up our home base, and low and behold our campsite was empty, and thanks to our friend Randy, who parked his car there just in case someone wanted it within the last minutes of our arrival. So for three years in a row we got our site, and it just feels like home sweet home once again.

We started our training process on Sept 12, 2010 for our jobs at Amazon. We were sent to the shipping department. We both were not very happy about this, but we were going to make the best of it. After a few weeks, Roy was hating the Dock which is were he was placed, and I was working the singles line on the VDF line. At first it was killing my back, but then I found out that if I piled the fold up boxes on my table and raised my working space my back no longer hurt due to not bending over to package up the products. I was now in good shape, but Roy was just hating the dock more and more. We were able to go to inbound and do some overtime a few times and that only made both of us know that we wanted to be doing what we love to do, Consolidate. Then out of the blue we get a phone call one day and our Transfer had gone through and we were no longer in shipping but in inbound. We were both happy Workampers.

So here it is now almost all over, making plans for when the next week and a half are over, and looking forward to going south to warmer temps and meeting up with our friends who are now already down in Texas, Bob and Vickie Moore and Nelda and Jim Pogue. Hard to believe that the time is about to end. But it is on to new adventures, new travels, looking forward to seeing and traveling the southwest. Hope to get as far as Slab City, this is on my Bucket List. Some may ask why, but we all have our things I guess. So hopefully now that I have this back up and running again, and should have time, if I have the connection, should be able to keep the blog up to date.

Motorhome Westward Ho!

We left Florida, Nature Coast Landings on April 12 at 9am. We had spent four wonderful days with the girls and the grandchildren over on the East Coast of Florida, even got to see a Shuttle launch pre-dawn, it was beautiful. Hard to say good-bye to the family, but hopefully will see them out west at some point for a vacation with us.
We are heading up to hubby's Uncle Frank's house for a visit. They have a beautiful place in the country of Alabama sitting up on a hill and looking down over the rolling country. We love staying there so quiet and peaceful.
We arrive at Frank's the early evening of the 12th, to find out we are going shopping to go out on his boat tomorrow. Yeepee,,,,I am going to get me a Tan yet. After getting the drinks, sandwich makings, snacks, ice and anything else we can think of we are now ready to head out in the am.
We have a wonderful and beautiful day out on the huge lake not far from Frank's house. The men are fishing and I am getting a tan, nice and warm sunny day. We stayed out on the lake till 5pm. Yep I got me a tan!
Boy we were all exhausted when we got home and unpacked the boat, but a great time had by all. The men are going out again tomorrow, but the women have decided we will just go do some shopping.
After two wonderful days with Frank and Colleen we leave and head towards the north, we are making our way to Missouri, but we have no idea as to how long it will take us to get there, we are just going to take our time and enjoy the trip. Well after driving, stopping and fueling both the rig and our bellies, we are making really good time, taking some differant roads than we have taken before and some we have drove but we like. We arrive at Sikeston Missouri, home of "Lambert's" which is home to the "Thrown Rolls". We have stopped for two days to visit with our friends Jim and Nelda here at the park where they are working for the next six months. We had such a good visit, and we never went to Lambert's this trip through Sikeston. Just too many other things to do this time around.
On Sat April 17 we say good-bye to to Jim and Nelda and start heading west towards Springfield Missouri. We hated to say goodbye to our friends but hope to see them again soon than not. We make very good time once again traveling, it is Saturday so no need to worry about rush hour traffic around the bigger cities. We drive and drive stopping to get a bite to eat, and fuel up, get out and walk around some and get back on the road. By the time night was upon us we have made it to Council Bluffs Iowa. Spending the night at a casino parking lot and never went inside the casino, just made some dinner, showered and hit the sack.
It is now Sunday am April 18 and we are on the road bright and early heading to the north. After awhile we decide to get off the beaten path and take a secondary road to see the country side. We have made such good time we have the time to allow us to now just take our time. Nice rolling hills, alot of cattle country, small towns, we are driving up and across Nebraska. Finally after a few hours we both decide that ok, this is enough and change our plans again, and head north on what we find out is a road that runs from up in Canada to Mexico City. Did not know that there was such a road. We stop at a rest area that is just south of Yankton S.D. but we have not crossed over the river and we are still in Neb. Looking out across a large flat farming area for miles and miles.
Well we are on a roll again, and continue driving, we head up to interstate #90 and start heading west. We drive and drive and stop at the town the has the "Corn Palace" well us being us, we looked at each other, drive by take a few snaps of pictures and keep on rolling. Back out to the highway, and westward rolling we go. We finally after another long day of driving arrive at the Badlands National Park. I have said for awhile that I so wanted to spend the night in the Badlands and now we are here and going to do it. We drive into the campground and we have almost got the entire campground to ourselves. There are no hookups but we can run the generator at certain hours. Wow this is so beautiful, I am on cloud nine right now.
We awake up in the am to the birds singing so loudly, what a nice alarm clock. We get up and head out to see the sights and take some pictures and maybe get some hiking in as well.
We get back in the evening and make us a bite to eat and then decide to head out again, there is a storm coming but we do not think it is going to get us, wrong,,,,after getting out to go hike, it starts raining. We got back in the truck, and that quick it stopped and so we just went to another spot and finally did get in one last hike before having to depart in the am.
We hate to say good-bye to the Badlands but it is time to move on, we have lots to do in Rapid City. We make it to Rapid in an hour, and head to our campsite, but first we have to go and get the truck and motorhome washed. We came across some major road construction that, well lets just say, we were really dirty.
I start making some phone calls to our friends in Rapid City, to start getting our visits with everyone lined up. Looks like we will be having a busy week, and will be eating out alot. After getting the rig unhooked and set up, we take off like two little kids to Deadwoon one of our favorite playgrounds. We have a good time, won some lost some. Had a good dinner, and a long day so time to call it a day finally and get a good nights sleep.
We have lunch dates, breakfasts dates, dinner dates for the next four days. We take time to go visit our old job site, Bear Country USA. Got to see the new little baby Bears. Oh they are so cute, forget how small and how big they can be. But they are so cute, gotta love them. We had such a wonderful time working there, and made so many friends, and have so many good memories.
We have had a busy week, and it is sad but time has come to say good-bye and move on. It is so sad, and we hate to say good bye to all of our family and friends across, it seems the US at this point. But we have to now think about the new job, and we need to head in that direction now. The fun, and vacation is over for awhile.
We arrive at our new home base. A small campground and rv park, GreenCreek Inn and Rv Park. We will be located 20miles west of Cody Wy and 28 miles east of the east gate of Yellowstone National Park. The park sits in a valley with mountains on both sides, we are in the high desert. We can see snow up on the mountains, we have the Buffalo Bill dam and lake ten miles east of us, on the way to Cody. We are in the area called Wapiti, Indian name for Elk. There are a number of them down here in the valley grazing now, along with many many mule deer. We will now be here at our new home for the next few months. We are hoping to have a wonderful summer here and visiting as much as we can possibly see. Think the truck is going to have a lot of miles on it by the time we leave here.

The Weather The Weather, Oh Is Us!

The weather here at Nature Coast Landings has been colder than we have ever had down here in Florida. This is suppose to be Spring, don't know where it is or when it will come back. It has been rain, clouds, windy, and still needing heat at night.


I had to go to Maryland to see my long lost brother, who I found out was dying with cancer, I had not seen him nor had heard from him or his whereabouts for over 12 years. My sister and I drove up last Thursday arriving on Friday March 12th. We went to Camp Creek West Virginia first to pick up a cousin, who wanted to see our brother, so away we went. We then went across from Beckley W.Va. to route 64 and over to route 81 and headed north, all in the same trip without sleep. We arrived having not had any sleep for over 24 hours, and continued to visit with my ex-husband in Harpers Ferry West Va. By 11pm Friday night Donna and I were finally in bed, with alarm set to get up at 6am to prepare to go see our brother.

Saturday we awoke feeling, well sort of refreshed, dressed and on the road by 9am arriving in Hagerstown Md for our visit. We all had such a good visit, stayed for over 3 hours, he at least did know us, and we were able to talk some, he was sedated due to the pain, but he did at least know that we were there and that we loved him. When we left we went down to Frederick, again in the rain, and ate at my favorite restaurant Barbara Fritchie. They have got to have the very best cocoanut cream pie in this world, had a slice of that along with a Maryland crab cake sandwich. MMMMMM good. My sister had lemon meringue pie, but then decided that she should have gotten the same kind that I got, she of course wanted me to give her a taste, but oh no, my pie is my pie. "Sorry you should have made a better choice", I told her. We were also to meet a dear friend of mine there, but we waited and waited and she never showed up, so we went ahead and ordered, and then ate, and ate. Just as I was ready to call her to find out where she was, my phone rang, and she was like "where are you", I told her we were at Barbara Fritchie, I was like "where are you" she said, "I am here, where are you", I said "I am eating", my cousin then said there she is and as I turn around, I see her sitting at booth from us with her back to us, I said "Duddey turn around," and we just started laughing so hard causing disruption in the restaurant. Some things just never change.

We started out calling our trip, sis and I, "Thelma and Louise", we went over a bridge and I said to her, "we just jumped the canyon", we laughed but as the trip continued we changed it to "The Geriatric trip", with Donna and myself, then our cousin Roy, then my ex-Gary, good friend Duddey, my best friend from High School, Harriette, all we talked about was our meds, high sugar, high cholesterol, grey hair, our constipation, forgetfulness, eye glasses, not being able to sleep, hold our urine, OH My! Yes we could have used a Fairy Godmother.

We had so many emotions, Highs and some very low lows. We ran the roads, seeing as many people as we could see, yet getting to see our brother, our friend, our cousin, leaving him very peaceful on Sunday afternoon after another very good visit, in fact much better than the day before. He was awake when we came in and stayed awake alot that day, we talked and laughed, well as much as he could. He really enjoyed hearing the guys talking, Roy and Gary, I told Donna that we were the women, he could not be bother with our conversations, but he clung to every word the guys said. Again we left after a 3 hour visit, very peaceful, and knowing that we were saying goodbye forever, that was so hard.

Well come Monday March 15 we had to pack it up, finish the last few things that we wanted to do, and start heading south. First in the am Donna called a local funeral home to make arrangements for him when the time comes. That was hard but it had to be done, and we wanted to leave knowing that it was all done. We went and picked up our cousin down in Frederick, then went to WalMart so I could get some flowers to put on graves of our family. Ronnie's social worker called and said he was not good, and they did not think he would make it through the day. I was at peace with it, and in fact was happy but sad, to leave and him to lay there was not what we wanted. Well the phone rings again as I am walking out of the store and yes she called to say he had passed, all I could say was "Good", he was now at peace and with our mom and dad.

We had completed our mission, we saw, we grieved, we laughed, we cried, all was now complete and time to go home. My friend Duddey gave me some CD's she had made for me, and on the way home they sure did come in handy. We played them, oldes but goodies, name that tune, name that group, name that singer, we sang and sang and the rain came down, but we were having so much fun, who cared. We were so thankful for all that had come down and the way everything had worked out, we all three felt like we had just experienced a miracle. Well I have had on Facebook, to love all you can, tell those you love that you do love them, see all of the people that you can, to stay in touch with those you are close to, and do not take a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a month, a year for granted, do not put off getting in touch with those that have been on your mind, there might be a reason why they are on your mind. Don't take life for granted, we never know when it will be our last day, or our loved ones last day.

Now for Spring to come and to stay, and all will be good and right in my world. I have always said that Spring is my favorite season of the year, everything is fresh, and new, a new begining. Yes and that is what this past few days has been a closing, and a new begining. I am ready to take each day, enjoy it, make the most of it, tell my husband how much I love him, to laugh, see and do all that I can in this life and world of mine. Stay in touch with all of my dear friends, all of our family members, and oh yes my girls, and the sweetest grandchildern a person could ever ask for. Yes life is too short, and we must make the most of what we have left.

So Good to Be Granny and Pappy for a change.

We picked up our two grandsons on Friday Feb. 12 to spend the long holiday weekend with us over at the lot. We met my daughter Christi and boys along the Florida Turnpike outside of Orlando at one of the rest areas. The boys as well as their dog "Buddy" were so happy to see my and Pappy, as we were with them. After a few min. talking packing up, using the restroom, quick kisses to Christi them boys were ready to hit the road. We had good conversation on the trip back home, and once we arrived home we were all so excited. On the way home we stopped to eat, and stopped at WalMart to get Brent a new bike as he has finally out grown his Spider Man bike. After much debating as to which bike would be the best, he and we finally decided on a nice red and black 20in. one. After arriving home, un-packing, talking, it was time for bed.
Saturday we awake, take Buddy for a walk, then I make a big breakfast for all, eggs pancakes and bacon. Then it was clean up the kitchen, laundry, and put away the beds. They could not wait to go biking, but weather was not real good today, very chilly, cloudy, damp just nasty. We still had a good day took a short ride, just so chilly. We all made pita bread pizzas for dinner tonight, each had their own likes and dislikes. Watched some TV, then off to bed.
Sunday we awake and the sun is shinning beautifully, so cereal it is today, get dressed, dishes done, beds put away, and a few chores done, like laundry. Then off we go for a bike ride, what a good time we had. Found some nice trails, that took us up high so we could over look the power plant, as well as the park, and lots of lakes out there. We did not see much wild life, but what a good exercise workout it was, down hill and up hill, and in Florida. We wanted to go to the gulf still, but the winds were just to much, so we will wait and try to do that tomorrow before the boys have to head back towards home. We are having grilled hamburgers tonight, so we need to get back and run to the store.

Old Man Winter is still here.

Yes it is still chilly down here in the great state of Florida. We are all getting a little sick of it, yet I should not say anything after talking to so many friends and family from our Old Home State Maryland, My Maryland. They have over 2 feet of snow, some still unable to leave their homes, to go to work, the store, but luckily everyone I spoke to had not lost power, which all things to consider was a wonderful thing. I had to laugh, due to the fact any other weekend they are all hard to catch when I call up there, but this weekend my phone was the one ringing, they were having severe cabin fever. Yes it is going to be and already has been a long winter. So what do I really have to complain about, so sorry I said anything, we will be thankful for what we have down here, it will get hot soon enough.

We have been not doing a whole lot, hubby has been sprucing up the lot still, adding some lights on our trees to light them up at night, mulching, and golfing. I on the other hand have been staying inside too much in fact, but did venture out one day to take a bike ride, only to find that the trail I wanted to take to the gulf, well due to bridge construction, I could not figure out where the path was. So much for that, so I rode in the park. This week my goal is to get out and walk as well as ride the bike. We had lunch with our friends Linda's last week, and they took a really good picture of us outside of the restaurant, but I did see that I need to stop stuffing the face and go get me some fresh air, and movement of the body, sitting around too much is not good for the derriere. What is the saying "today is the first day of the rest of your life". Now all I have to do is get to work.

We were to have met up with the Linda's again tomorrow but they and us have fridges full of fresh veggies, so there is no need in going to the outside market over by them and stock up. We will get with them again soon, as they want me to help them out with learning how to use their convection oven/microwave. I told them that if I lost my instruction booklet I too would still be lost. I have to refer to it constantly. Did bake some good banana muffins this weekend, and tried some oatmeal cookies too, then I wonder why the derriere is growning. We have made some plans to go out to eat with one of our friends here in the park for this Wed for an early dinner, over to Dan's Clam Stand. They have great New England style seafood, and their clams are "to die for".

Well need to end this up, got to get going in the am if I am planning on doing all of this outside biking and walking. I have got to get some laundry done, and I still have two more cabinets to get cleaned out and they will all be done. Till the next time, take care, and make today your start of the rest of your life.

Days go rolling by

So hard to believe that we have now been away from Coffeyville/Amazon, for a month and 1 week. Where has all of the time gone. We had a really good time moving slowly south, weather was somewhat cool, and yes cold, but then it took the really cold, bitter cold, to drive us to Florida in a day. We had spent 3 days over in the Foley and Fairhope Alabama area, really a nice area, but due to the weather coming we had to finish up what we needed to get done here, and head to Florida in a hurry.

Arrived in Florida on Jan 6th, and on the 7th I was tearing the closet in the bedroom apart and getting it cleaned up and stuff gotten rid of. Since then I have made my way around the bedroom cleaning out all of the drawers, cabinets, washed the walls and cabinets down, and gotten rid of. Have almost everything done except the washing down of the walls and cabinets in the front. Will get to that hear real soon along with the fridge. The man of the house has gotten the basement cleaned out, planted some new shrubs in the yard, mulched, cleaned out the shed, washed and waxed the motor home. He too has been busy, and has even gotten in a few games of golf.

We did stop cleaning long enough to go and visit the kids and grandkids in Brevard. Had a great weekend, went to the movies to see Avatar, Roy had not been since "Good morning Vietnam", many years ago. He loved it and especially loved the new modern seating at the movies, is even now willing to go again. Our grandchildren are growning up so much, oldest grandson is almost as tall as me, and the oldest granddaughter is now taking dual enrollment and will be graduating in May from High School. So hard to believe they have gotten so big, and mature. Oh yes and my girls, well us girls had lunch together, and no one else but us. Great time, lots of laughs, and catching up on everything. Yes it was a really good weekend. Cannot wait until we go again, soon.

Vacation At Last

Well have not done anything here for some time, wonder why, sleep deprived, just maybe. But it is all behind us, and money in our pockets, or at least there was still some there. We have been doing the Casino and Restaurant tour of the South. But we have relaxed, ate, laughed, gambled, won, lost, visited with dear friends, and traveled with others. It has been a good trip. Have a few stops still to make before moving on to Florida. Looking forward to warm weather, my best friends my daughters, and of course my biggest joy in life, those grandchildren. I am getting more and more excited to see them with each passing day. The "old Man" is also enjoying himself, and when not driving he is relaxing big time.
It was sad to leave Coffeyville and all of our friends, money wise it was a very good year for Amazon as well as us, but all good things have to come to an end. But we will be back, oh yea, next year!
We are looking forward to Spring and our new job in Cody Wy, well outside of on the way to Yellowstone Green Creek Inn. Small campground and motel, we will be working with the owners and some foreign summer workers. The owners are orginally from Maryland also, then moved to Florida and her first name is Carolyn. We are very excited and soooo looking forward to it. It should be a great time.
To any and all of you who read my thoughts, thank you. Hopefully I will have lots to write about this spring and summer, as well as this winter. I am hoping to start downloading some pics to help make it a little more intresting. Before I do forget, Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and we the Trout's wish each of you the very best New Year ever. Happy 2010.....