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.....

Coffeyville Kansas/Amazon

Well here we are back at Amazon, and the nice little town of Coffeyville. Same stores to shop in, same restaurants to eat at, and we get to see all of our friends that we left here in Kansas, as well as our fellow returning Workampers. Things this year seem to be much more pleasant, even though my feet still hurt and I am not picking this year, but walking is walking, and on cement it is hard on the feet. Amazon is very busy this year, much differant from last year, they were working OT when we got here, and we have been working OT since almost the second week, thats good no complaints, we are here to make money.
Have done some visiting of local attractions, took a trip over the old Route 66 here in Kansas, and over to Missouri, down into Oklahoma. Stopped down in Miami, Ok. at the casino, or one of them, we had a good time, maybe because we both won some money, and we both kept winning, then we figured we better leave while we had money ahead in our pockets. Next trip a few weeks later was over to the town of Bartlesville Ok., stopped by first at the town of Dewey and visited the old hotel there in town and listened to the history of the hotel and took the tour as well. Sort of neat to go to these places and think, if these walls could talk! Then it was on to Bartlesville, but due to the fact we got a late start, stopped off at the Goodwill store and dropped off, and then did some shopping we did not get much site seeing done, will have to go back another time.
Our friends from South Carolina Tammy and Randy Worley came out here to Coffeyville to work as well, and it has been fun having them here, especially due to the fact they are new at this fulltime thing, and this is the furtherest they have traveled. So when we go riding the countryside we are doing it with them, and due to the fact they are from North Carolina, things, foods, etc. are very differant from what they are use to and we do get a kick out of their expressions some times. One night after work we all went to McDonald's, Tammy ordered a ham biscuit, well when she took a bite and found out it was not her "country ham", she was like "this aint no country ham biscuit", we were like you are in Kansas not North Carolina, and she was like "who ever heard of not having country ham", we have not yet let her live that one down. That is the fun of traveling, but sometimes it is also the drawbacks, more than once I have wished I could get what I can get here or there, but they don't have it here, so I will have to wait till I get back there, or stock up till I get back there again.
The sun is shinning today which is something we do not see much of these days. One of the things that I have a problem with, I do love my sunshine, does not have to be warm, but I do need to see the sunshine, or my mood is very much affected. We have dinner plans for tonight with some friends, need to get a nap before then. I am going to finally today let this blog go public, why else am I doing this, so for anyone who may read it, I am sorry just a little bit scared of letting myself out there I guess. I also know I am not a good writer, it is just not my thing. I tend to ramble on as I do when I talk as well, so please do excuse me, I am trying, till next time.