Appraising Shenanigans

The long awaited appraisal happened yesterday. Did I want an appraisal? Not really. On the other hand, I don't want to start this process all over again, as we are 6 months into this.

We had an appraisal on our new home at the suggestion of our real estate agent. It was not cheap, we paid for it. The report form the appraisor was very professional and pointed out some issues about the shared well that we had not considered. Other than that, he checked the roof, the exterior of the home, as well as the interior. He inspected all the utility entries and the grounds. No surprises, and there should be no surprises in the future.

Unsure what the appraisal of a business would entail, we just went with the flow. I am still coughing and my voice is raspy and I still feel pretty crappy. Best to leave me alone. I did not think the living quarters would be under scrutiny. I was wrong. There are boxes everywhere, empty and packed. We are merely waiting to go. The jovial man and his younger helper carrying a hose reel tape measure just came on in. 

I grabbed up my biter, Cujo and held him during the entire invasion. Prone to chat, the appraiser seemed more interested in my dog breeds than anything else. He took pictures of all the rooms at a leisurely pace and sauntered through chatting about this and that having nothing to do with an appraisal.

In hind sight, maybe I should have left Cujo to do his favorite job and maybe he would have left faster. Despite the missing front teeth (they don't know this), Cujo can present quite viciously and if he senses that his master (me) might enjoy a good show, he will attack. If he were to attack, his siblings would most like follow the leader and do likewise.

But I digress in my imagination. All the financials are in the possession of the would be buyers and the bank. I was surprised when he said he wanted to go over my books, knowing that all that information was in their possession. Was this a lie detector test for me? He had my brochure clenched in his grasp and began with his questions. I rasped out the answers and then when he started asking redundant questions, I pointed to his hand and told him to refer to the brochure. Then he wanted my personal email and my cell number. I said, "For what reason, you have the campground number and email and if you were to call me on my personal line or email me, I would not be pleased, and I would make sure you knew it!"

Then he went outside to plunder through the park. I don't know that any measurements were taken by what I was told was an expert at appraising. No one climbed on the roof, or checked out the well or the holding tanks. We were told he would have the appraisal done in two days time and would call with any questions. He did not offer any credentials and I wonder if he was real!!

We certainly did not pay for this appraisal, we refuse to pay any costs related to the sale of the park, since they reduced their offer. Is this a ploy to try to reduce the asking price again? It won't work, as much as I do not want to be here, I will refuse to sign such a document. My signature has to be there or the sale will not go through. I may not want to start over again, but I seriously doubt it will take another 6 months.

My patience for shenanigans is at an all time low. 

 

Dinner Is Served

 You might recall me poking fun at my husband's description of cooking yesterday. I seem to have been paid back for my superior attitude.

I took a little rest, then started cooking the evening meal as I usually do. In times past I have definitely had some issues with burning food, two of those times resulting in flames. This was because my attention had been interrupted by customers. I am usually careful to either turn the stove/oven down or off before I take off to answer the summons to the office. The two fires having made me more cautious.

I was splitting my attention between the stove and the news when the hateful bell rang. HeWho was snuggled in his comfy chair and we had a moment's staredown to see which one of us would respond. Feeling generous, I took it and checked a camper in.

When this happens, I admit that I fully expect his help with the stove in my absence. If you smell something burning, you should either turn it off, put out the flames, or stir the contents and lower the temp. He didn't notice anything amiss until after I was finished and he had ambled out to have some lazy chit chat with the customer, as another approached needing an LP bottle filled.

The chicken was ..... um, blackened. I added some liquid and finished the vegetables, only to find that the liquid cooked out again and further "blackened" the meat. We ate it anyway. It was only burnt on one side, after all and with a bucket of BBQ sauce you could hardly tell!!

The appraiser should be here today. I plan to use my current ailment to lay low. I will volunteer to keep the canine contingent occupied while they are in the building. The outside area is up to HeWho agreed to the terms of this situation. It is raining and nasty out there, so I wouldn't go out there in any case.

I have aquired more boxes and will spend the afternoon filling them up. We should have a good idea of the size moving truck required by the end of the week. Worst case scenario is to rent another U-Haul and tow it with the over flow and I will just drive my car. I sincerely hope not, as I like to ride more than I like to drive. The movers will be better at space usage that HeWho (ANYBODY would be better at that!), so hopefully he will over-estimate the needs and I can ride with the car in tow.

Only other pressing matter is the North Carolina tags we need for the RV. They will only mail them to our new address. Why? That is the way they choose to do it. We need them very soon, as the dealer tag will soon expire. What are the chances we would be stopped? I don't want to find out.

Should I attemp another meal today? Will I get a nap? Will I ever find out why I am sweating excessively? Stay tuned!

Cooking and Naps

I packed all morning and now have a sizable stack(s) of boxes to show for my efforts. I was feeling quite accomplished until I looked around at the remaining stuff scattered around. A little overwhelmed is how I now feel.

HeWho helped with some of his stash of unnecessary items. I made many trips to the dumpster and scored two good sized cardboard boxes filled with what had to be the packaging for a little girl's dream Christmas. HeWho was on a step ladder digging to the outer reaches of a storage cupboard muttering that "we can't keep all this crap" as if he just realized this. Did I not just load my car twice with fabric and donate it at the church? What did he think I was up to?

Resting now and listening to him command Siri to give him the office hours of the tax office. He has reverted to his old southern drawl and she kept giving him  information he didn't want. I couldn't help laughing as he was shown an aerial map of the county, then the city. He was asking for "Montgomery County tax office hours", then the city. I told him to speed it up and I would have phrased it differently, like "Tax office hours, Montgomery County". He sure does entertain me!

Still so much to do and me without energy. I inquired about what might be to his liking for dinner. He wants BBQ chicken and said he could "fix it". Since he likes to slather his food with BBQ sauce anyway, does it really matter how I cook the chicken? Curious, I asked how he would be "fixing" this feast of chicken.

"You put the chicken in a pot and pour BBQ sauce on it and cook it!" he exclaimed like a proud kindergartner describing this mystery called cooking. I am tempted to let him give a go, but knowing I would be the clean-up team of one, I changed my mind. In my mind's eye I see a cook pot with dried out crisp and gooey chicken stuck to the bottom. The pot may, or may not be salvagable, depending on the amount of effort I would be willing to put into the clean up. I would rather just cook myself.

As for the sauces he is prone to use, I have finally convinced him to read the label about the sodium content. He will proudly proclaim the sodium content as he generously douses his food. My next challenge is making him use the recommended serving amount. This is usually a tablespoon, not half a cup!

In other news, my clinic just called with the results of my blood tests. Everything is fine. My cholesterol is borderline and maybe I should watch my carbs .... The thyroid testing shows no reason for my excessive perspiration, even when I am cold. I feel like somebody has been screwing around with my thermostat, but it was apparently not my thyroid. I apologize to my gland for suspecting it. As for watching my carbs, I replied "whatever" to the nurse. She laughed, knowing better than to argue with me.

I need a little nap now.

 

I Am A Food Critic

So yesterday I told you about my Christmas dinner fail. Not the only substandard meal of late ... read on.

The last night of our stay in our new home before heading back to our current lives happened to be our wedding anniversary. Forty-eight years of wedded bliss. Well, it has not been boring at any rate and I wouldn't have it any other way.

HeWho loves me wanted to take me out to dinner. You know, in a restaurant without tiny dogs begging to taste my food. He consulted his current girfriend, Siri, for suggestions and we settled on Daniel's Steakhouse in Hiawassee, Ga. Not too far away.

I had read reviews for local eateries on line while exploring my new surroundings long distance via the internet and it sounded like a decent choice. The prices were reasonable and they had fish, as well. I love fish, so off we went leaving Eddie in charge. It was, after all, his turn.

Still finding our way around, we depend on Siri's superior navigating skills. As we approached the establishment, I noted the full parking lot. This is usually a good sign that the food is good ... or plentiful.

Upon entry I noticed the portraits of Rhett and Scarlett and the period furnishings. Lots of gray haired patrons scurried to and fro with plates of food, clogging the entryway with those having completed their meals and looking to pay. Two easles displayed white boards with the day's special and the contents of the buffet. Hard to read with all the traffic. No hostess, but no sign telling you to seat yourself either. Two cashiers were dealing with those paying for meals, but even when they completed that task they ignored us and talked amoung themselves. Southern hospitality? Not really.

HeWho was intent on food spied an empty booth in the dining room to our left and we planted ourselves in it. A waitress appeared, asked about our beverage choices and then shooed us to the buffet. No offer of a menu.

The buffet had the obligatory iceburg lettuce salad and toppings. Why do they have sliced canned peaches? I have always wondered that. Do people actually douse their salad with peaches? Then the vegetables which were being replenished, straight for the industrial sized cans. Yum! They had baked fish, fried fish, fried shrimp and fried chicken. I think it just might be against the law in the south to exclude fried chicken from a buffet line.

As the progress of the line continued, we were faced with a table holding four big boxes of plastic gloves with instructions to use them while serving yourself. The giant ones that are supposed to be one size fits all. All the oldsters in line were stuffing their hands obediently into the gloves. No masks in sight, but gloves were being put on without any objections. We complied, of course, we are not rebels with a cause. I noted a sign that absolved the establishment of any liability should you contract the corona virus here. Made me think of the signs around my pool advising you to swim at your own risk. Just a deterent to those looking to make a buck in a lawsuit that would blame you for their own stupidity. Won't stop them if they are determined to sue, though. The great American tradition of suing one another.

Everytime we eat "out" I worry about the sodium content of the food. Southern food is known for "seasoning". Salt makes everything taste better and the "less is more" concept is not a southern one.

I needn't have worried. Bland food ruled the day here. Even the fried chicken had no salt! Macaroni and cheese was tasteless. How do you manage to make that without the taste of cheese! The tastiest thing on the buffet was the iceburg lettuce! The yeast rolls must have been languishing on the buffet line for a very long time. They were hard and also tasteless. I ate my salad and my fish doctored with salt and pepper, then sat sipping my tea as I indulged in people watching.

Our booth was in the path of the buffet goers coming and leaving with plates piled high with food. The fake ferns were furry with dust and my sight line was perfect for watching the cashier in a tight t-shirt and bell bottomed khaki's with cargo pockets straining at the seams. She wasn't obese by any means, just looked like she might have been shopping in her teen daughter's closet in an effort to look younger. The bottom of her scalp, below her ears was buzzed close and the remaining hair was pulled into a high ponytail and flipped under to create a wobbly bun atop her head and adorned with a neon pink skunk stripe. Wonder what Rhett and Scarlet thought about her do?

The older men were all pot bellied, mostly in polo shirts. The younger men were either very thin or morbidly obese and displaying butt crack. The women were either overly made-up with big hair or no make-up and unwashed lank hair. Either dressed for a gala or a blizzard. It was quite interesting and bizarre at the same time.

I had seen the desserts in the line and knew right away I wold not want any dessert. HeWho is a lover of chocolate came back to our table with a tiny square of chocolate iced chocolate cake with a tiny dollup of whipped cream. He didn't finish it. He told me it was "dead".

Will we go back? Certainly not for the buffet! HeWho wants to try the menu. Why? No idea. I would only accompany him under duress!!

 

No Gifts Means No Gifts!

 Day eight of whatever bug has invaded my body. I do feel a lot better, but still not good. Still coughing, but not as much, still dizzy, but not as often. The headache lingers on, as well as the overwhelming fatigue.

I cooked the absolute worst Christmas dinner of my life yesterday. Nothing went as it should have and I honestly don't know why. The sweet potatoes were not as done as they should have been, the frozen creamed corn was awful, tasting like feed corn for cattle. The roast was okay, tender and tasty (after I salted it), the cresent rolls were okay. Other than burning them, there is not much to do to ruin them. HeWho had requested a pecan pie. 

I made it just as I always have, double checking to make sure I got every ingredient in. I used a frozen crust and, let's face it, it is one of the easiest pies to make. No mixer, just stir it all together and dump it in the crust. Should have been done in 60 minutes or less. When I checked it by gently shaking the pan it was still too liquid in the middle. Another 30 minutes and I pulled it out anyway, as the crust and top were too brown. I hoped it would set up while sitting. It didn't. It tasted good, a big hit with HeWho loves pie, as he ate 1/4 of it and got seconds. It was too rich for me and I felt a little gaggy and decided to set it aside.

This should mean that next year's meal will be spectacular, right? My oven is cantankerous, so it should come as no surprise that the meal was in jeopardy. Next year will not have the cook paired with an inferior oven.

I packed 4 boxes yesterday. Only two today. I like my boxes to be full to capacity and packed tight. No breakage if you do it right and today's boxes required searching for items to fit just right. I had planned to get so much more accomplished, but I am so tired.

We had decided no gifts this year, since we just bought a new home and a new RV. But, my reason is much more practical. If we get each other gifts, they will have to be packed for the move, thus creating more work for me.

HeWho is not known for playing fair, so when he asked me to go outside to see something, I knew he had bought something for me. You all remember my newest pet, Adorable Dora, the Explorer? The tiny red bellied slider that was found barely alive in the end of the year pool muck that was originally named Theodore until further investigation took place. You might recall that she was about the size of a quarter and took up residence in a terrarium that was one of the arrangements from my Dad's funeral.

Her habitat is roomy for a creature as small as she still is. She has a pool, rocks to sun on and provide her with "steps" out of her pool. She appears to be quite content with her current lodgings. When I say her name she stretches her neck out and up to see me. I swear to you that she looks me right in the eye. I just purchased a new bulb to keep her warm and healthy.

So, I ask myself, why did HeWho decide to buy a huge new habitat for her? It took up the entire back seat of my car! She is the size of a half dollar! Her current digs are like an entire country to her. Not only that, I wondered WHERE this would go in our new digs. There is no wall space to speak of. Windows everywhere and this thing is way out of proportion to our little house. Her house would be bigger that any of the dog beds!!

I get it, he wanted to buy something for me and he wanted it to be impressive. I am not easy to impress with stuff. I do not like cut flowers, so a big gesture of two dozen roses just makes me wonder how many rose bushes could have been bought to be enjoyed year after year. While I appreciate the sentiment involved with a gift for a pet I love, I convinced him to take it back and I will let him purchase a far more practical one AFTER we move.

My plan was to get him a fishing reel, a really nice one, for Christmas. He is not known for taking good care of his toys. I bought him one when we had the cabin on the lake, but he has no idea where it is now. No need to have to move it, right?

Merry Christmas!

I fully expected to wake up yesterday completely normal, no cough, no weakness, no itchy ears. You know, because I made an appointment to go to the clinic. Isn't that what always happens? You make the appointment and like magic, all your symptoms disappear.

Didn't happen. I woke with a wonky head and was dizzy when I stood up. Made the coffee, drank the coffee, still waiting for a miracle. Nowadays a trip to the clinic involves a call upon arrival to let them know you have arrived. They call you back and question you about the purpose of the visit to determine whether they will let you enter the facility. The nurse came out to my car armed with a thermometer, oxygen level devise and the dreaded long cotton swabs. No fever, enough O2 to sustain life and then the two swabs to the nose. Not as bad as the first Covid test when I was certain they had extracted brain matter.

Then you sit in your car and wait for 15 minutes for the test results. Negative for both Covid and the Flu strain currently in vogue. I was invited to enter the building. With a mask in place. I wobbled in on my weak legs and was made to submit to the scales. I was hoping I had dropped a few pounds. I haven't gained any, so I will take that as a win.

My nurse practitioner arrived to say that she had been told that I looked and sounded awful. She was worried about pneumonia, but the lungs are clear, although the cough is traveling down. I sound like a chain smoker when I talk (bark). My throat still hurts, too. We discussed steroids. I know how fast I would start to feel better with a round of steroids, but they make me want to crawl out of my skin. Added to the current stress of moving, we decided against that course of action. I already have Zyrtec, Flonase and Mucinex on hand. She wrote an antibiotic out to be on hand at the pharmacy if I should determine no changes. 

I am all set for Christmas. Just the two of us and whatever I can wrestle up for a festive dinner. Today is Christmas Eve and I am feeling more energetic. I have started the laundry and am thinking of tackling the emptied boxes that returned with me. I am still coughing, but not as much. I managed to clean the kitchen ysterday. HeWho has been doing dishes, so it wasn't too bad. More like putting the clean dishes away and then hitting all the spots he missed in his efforts. No complaints, I was grateful for all the help.

HeWho tries, will never pass as a good nurse maid. He was quite attentive, bringing me gingerale and orange juice with just the right amount of ice cubes (he was paying attention!!). He was more than happy to hop in the car and go to the far reaches of the earth to bring me whatever I desired. I have never been high maintenance, though. I am well stocked with gingerale and orange juice. A blanket and my dogs, a cup of hot tea with honey and my world is good.

Wishing all my family and friends a wonderful, healthy Christmas Day.

The Flu?

 I started feeling not so good on Saturday. In a rush to get the house closed up and pack all the dirty laundry and empty boxes into the RV, I simply ignored it. I don't have time to be sick, but if I am going to have an off day, it might as well be while we are on the road.

I felt worse as the day wore on. I took the dogs out at our first gas stop, but after that I was only able to get them leashed up and hand them off to HeWho drives. Cujo and Eddie were not thrilled with this idea, preferring to have me walk them. HeWho's idea of dog walking is that they should immediately take care of business and then go right back to the RV. No leisurely sniffing, walking and perhaps barking at other dogs. 

I hurt all over, but especially my ears and head. I started coughing and could not seem to stop. My head was all wonky and HeWho procurred some Tylenol for me. I dozed on and off throughout the day and was still feeling pretty awful when we stopped for the evening in Paducah. I helped with doggie walks and then went to bed. It was only 4:00. 

I woke coughing on and off all night and was happy that we weren't that far from home. We got home at 1:30 and I went straight into the building, not wanting to make contact with anyone else. HeWho pronounced me to be sick with "the flu". I think it could be the common cold. 

I will find out tomorrow. Today is Wednesday and I am no better. The cough is deeper and I am wheezing a bit. My ears still hurt and they itch! I dream about taking a baby bottle brush and shoving it in my ears to relieve the itch. I won't, of course. My aches are still with me. I can still taste and smell, but nothing really appeals to me to eat.

Orange juice and gingerale are the beverages I am consuming. Wonder where I picked this bug up? I still wear a mask when I am ou and about, unlike HeWho. I am always picking at him about forgetting to mask up. Can't be too careful, so why am I sick? HeWho is careless, has tried to be sick, but he is hale and hearty.

I have no energy. I have been sleepng and napping a lot. I need to be packing. Since I have an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow, I should be all better by the time I get there! I have high hopes.

Raking and Burning

 After unloading the trailer and placing the boxes in their designated places, we returned the U-Haul and then made a stop for groceries and such. Ate up the entire day.

The third day I woke, made my coffee and waited impatiently for the sun to warm the outdoors. I was itching to go outside and play in my new playground! I unpacked a few boxes and put the contents away while waiting for the day to warm.

HeWho went out to begin siding the building. Did I think he could do this without making a trip somewhere for some forgotten tool or material? No, I did not. I had told him to gather all the necessities BEFORE we loaded the trailer to make sure everything needed was on board. It was like spitting in the wind .....

"I wish we had put a ladder in the trailer," says the man who needs a ladder. Since there was plenty of room left in the trailer, I wish he had done so, as well. Off he went to Home Depot, 27 miles away to procure a ladder. I didn't even blink an eye, as I was intent on my own plans and I had a step ladder on board for my own needs.

I had watered my plants, actually soaked them on the porch and they were ready to go inside to their new home for the winter. My new home has no wall space to speak of. It is all windows with a high ceiling. Above the windows in the living area and the bedroom are shelves. It is like the builder knew me! The vaulted ceiling at the end of the house has windows up high as well as beneath the shelf. That a perfect place for plants!

My step ladder was used well for that project. I rearranged the existing furniture and got all but a few ferns settled inside. Then I decided to investigate the tiny shed situation. Despite being told that this shed would hold "NO MORE", I wanted to see for myself. Did I mention that this man I married has no idea of space? I don't mean outer space. 

I got to work and restacked all the bins and boxes and moved all the items tossed onto the floor to hooks and screws already in the walls. The building is approximately 1/3 full. He had used all the floor space, had stacked large boxes precariously onto smaller boxes and shut the door. To him it was as full as he could get it. Do you suppose he knew I would fix it? I think he did!

I spent the afternoon raking leaves and burning them. Then I went along the driveway clipping limbs that were in the path of the driveway. I had the dog fences all spread out and sort of standing on their own. I gathered all the shepherd hooks and anything that cold serve to secure the fencing and got to work on that.

The dogs loved it. I raked their area and got their yard to it's maximum while HeWho had returned with his ladder put the siding on the building. Only thing left to do in the dog yard is to put some sort of motion light out. It is really dark on that end of the house. It is also near the embankment and the woods. I pictured bears and mountain lions grabbing my babies up! Next trip will include installing lights in the dog yard.

The sun goes down early on eastern standard time, making the days short. Three sides of the new shed was done before we ate dinner. Still haven't turned the water on to the house, so I washed dishes in the RV and played solitaire on my phone until bedtime.

U-Haul?

 Cujo here. When last we spoke I was telling you about the day one of our escape to our new home. Day two was the designated day to return the trailer.

Mom was annoyed with HeWho is our Dad. He was the one to procure the U-Haul. She asked where the return would be and he said he couldn't remember and would have to look at the contract. The contract said Mountain City, GA. Mom asked him why this was the chosen return place, since we had seen more than a dozen U-Haul facilities close by. Dad did not know.

Dad spoke with someone called Siri and she told him it was 57 minutes away. Mom said that was just great. But she said it like she meant it was not just great. Dad said we should all go. Mom said she could be unpacking boxes. Us dogs were not that keen on another trip, but we stood patiently while they put our leashes on. 

Mom always rides in the back with us dogs. It is easier that way. If she sits up in the front, we all fight over her lap. Toni Louise and I are the oldest and should have prority over the other two, but it doesn't always work out. I should be the one in Mom's lap! I am her favorite (don't tell the others). 

But, Toni will wind her way under Dad's legs and Mom says we will have a wreck and all die. This does not seem to concern Toni, as she will try to get in Dad's lap. Toni will not just sit quietly. She likes to stand up and get right in Dad's face. I have seen Bo sneak up to Dad and he will sit on his lap very quietly for long bits of time. Toni needs medication! I think there is something seriously wrong with her!

Eddie and I are content as long as we are touching Mom. It is all Toni's fault that Mom has to ride in the back! 

After we took the trailer back, Siri told Dad there was a Walmart close by and us dogs needed more water and Mom said we needed some food for the week. Not for us dogs, but people food. So, we headed off to the Walmart. Dad was happy to stay with us dogs while Mom shopped. We had all the comforts of home, even a TV!!

Mom was in that Walmart for a very long time! I wondered what she could be doing. She had a long list of stuff to get, but she was gone for almost two hours before we saw her coming out with a cart piled high with stuff! We finally got back home as the sun was going away. Us dogs ate and went out for a short visit to our yard. Mom helped unload all that stuff, then she cooked. All the while she mumbled about wasting an entire day to take the trailer back.

The third day was so much better! That was the day Mom spent outside raking our new yard and making it even better. Us dogs like to be outside with Mom. Bo had a new toy to play with and the rest of us dogs napped in the sun.

Moving Boxes

 The weather was wonderful all week in our new home. Chilly at night and warm during the middle of the day. I was feeling a lot better after my being down with the booster. 

The day before we left was hectic, as the trailer was being loaded. It was windy and in the 30's, so it was not loaded as well as it could have been. It was unloaded in moderate temperatures. The boxes seem to get heavier as we got closer to the back of the trailer. I was my usual bossy self and we did it my way! The right way. HeWho has zero organizational skills would have put everything on the porch, knowing I would deal with all of it. 

This is why we label boxes, so that they can be moved to the correct place! There is a nice little shed already in place wih a door that locks. Maybe 5' X 8', already wired for electric and it even has a window. I was pulling my sewing stuff and craft boxes out to go to that shed, knowing that I probably won't be unpacking them until Spring.

I stacked them up and dispatched HeWho has a hand truck handy to this shed. The rest of the boxes and garden items were stacked to go to the porch or just outside. We were nearing the end when he proclaimed the shed to be full. He said nothing else would fit.

This was a not a big concern since the other existing structure, a screened in building with a roof and a floor is bigger and we were here to enclose it in order to use it for the big move.

We were actually here to get the new RV tags and register it in the state of North Carolina. Since this was a necessary trip, we decided (I decided) we should pull a U-Haul instead of my car. Any amount of boxes we move will be less weight for the moving truck, right? The RV is small enough to drive anywhere we might need to go.

The bed above the cab was a perfect place for all my house plants. I covered the mattress with plastic to protect it and loaded most of my plants up the night before we left. HeWho helped with this. I brought them out and he was able to reach the back with a stepladder. He proclaimed this area full and put my big aparagus fern in the shower. I waited until he was otherwise occupied and put 5 more plants above the cab and another asparagus fern in the shower. I loaded every nook and cranny with stuff. 

If we moved his way we would be making many more trips!

In answer to all the questions posed in comments .... No, the sale of the park has not gone through. We are in a holding pattern laced with a lot of misinformation. There is supposed to be an appraiser coming on the 28th. Then we should be closing mid January. This is the latest and always subject to change. I have taken a back seat to the proceedings since HeWho called me unreasonable. Time will tell if I am being that unreasonable.

We Are Back

 Cujo here. We have returned and I don't like it! We had a wonderful time at our new house. The sun came out every day and warmed things up. 

Mom made our yard way bigger and we had so much fun sniffing and marking our new territory. I don't remember if I told you how small our yard was before. It was barely big enough for us dogs to walk around in. It was right next to the steps from our porch and the sun never reached it. There are bushes blocking the sun and it was always dark and depressing. We did our business and went back onto the porch. Us dogs likes to lay on the grass in the sun, you know.

Mom told Dad to bring all the portable fencing he could find and she put all the fences together. Bo was so happy. He stayed outside everyday until the sun went down. Mom asked him what he was doing and he said he was just thinking how great it will be when we move for good.

I stayed close to Mom. It is my job to protect her. Eddie is a trainee for this role when I am no longer able to do it. I am trying to teach him not to be so nice to other people. I am failing miserably on that point!

HeWho is our Dad was quite busy. The first day was spent unloading a trailer with boxes and Mom's plants. Then Dad left with the trailer to get something he called siding. Mom played with her plants and gave them what she called a big drink of water. She talks to these plants while she picks dead leaves and trims them up. They never talk back, though. Since Dad was not there she sang with Bo and all of us other dogs joined in. She told us to listen to the echo when we stopped. I heard it, so I howled a bit to hear it again. I was quite pleased with the results.

We don't sing when Dad is around. He squints his eyes up and tells us to knock it off. His hearing aides make a high pitched noise when we sing. He says it hurts his ears. Maybe he should turn them off and sing with us!

Dad didn't come back until dark and we all ate dinner and sat around. There is no TV yet. No internet either. Nothing to do but talk and play ball with Bo. It was warm in our new house. Mom said it was well insulated, whatever that means. This house we are in is never warm and cozy. Mom says it is drafty. Even with a fire in the wood stove, it is never just right. It is too hot in the living room and cold in the bedroom.

Mom and Dad played something called "cards". Then we all went to bed. Tomorrow I will tell you about our big adventure taking the trailer called a "U-haul" to another place to give it back.

Maiden Voyage

 Here we are at the end of a very long day on the road. Both of us crabby and ill-tempered, the dogs happy to be still after rolling all day.

We loaded the U-haul yesterday in weather not conducive to be outside in. It was cold and the wind blew incessantly. I loaded my houseplants onto the bed above the cab. Of course I covered it with plastic first. This is nt my first rodeo!!

After we packed boxes  and a few pieces of furniture, my big planters went in the trailer. Two Sycamore trees and several maple trees are on board. I was unhappy to note that we could have crammed more stuff in the U-haul, but the icy wind made me accept what was on board.

When we left this morning it was only 30 degrees. I dressed accordingly in a medium weight long sleeve t-shirt and medim weight leggings, knowing it would be warm on the drive. Warm would be an understatement. Just the heater in the cab was on, since I turned the heater off as soon as I got in the back and felt like I was suffocating.

The new RV doesn't have a couch. Just a booth and table that lowers to made a very short bed. I set it up as a bed and had plenty of pillows and blankets for me and my canines to make a nest. I cannot ride up front. All four dogs want to be in my lap. I don't mind one dog, but four is not comfortable. HeWho drives gets crabby when they wind around his legs and I get terrified.

We left an our earlier than we normally do and thought we might get a little further. That hope was dashed in Kentucky. The tornado that devastated the state did not forget the interstate! I was napping when we came to a stop. At first I thought we had stopped for a bathroom break or gas, but I looked out the window and saw all manner of debris along the side in the ditches. Huge road signs were in pieces and trees were down. There was a crew picking up the metaland stacking the big branches and pieces of trees. We crawled along and merged into one lane. We ate up that extra hour there.

We are in the campground with the magnificent speed bump! We will see what tomorrow brings when we leave. No shower tonight as I have two giant asparagus ferns riding in the shower. Might as well shower tomorrow after we unload the U-haul!

Hoping tomorrow brings calm winds and moderate temperatures. Just ate some JIM 'N NICK'S bar-b-que and now I am ready to check out the bed. I will be with no internet for the week. We will be coming back to the park on Sunday and meeting with the broker on Monday. 

Telling Tales

 Cujo here. I am so happy I have honed my eavesdropping skills over the years. I just heard the best news! We are about to go on another road trip!

Mom is calling it the maiden voyage because it will be the first trip in the new camper. I don't understand that phrase, but she has been busy loading it with all manner of stuff. She took a bunch of dishes and pots and pans out there, then she started loading food. She even loaded a big bag of our food. I wonder where this trip will take us. I will need to pay close attention when the humans try to talk to each other.

HeWho is our Dad and the driver of the RV says "huh" a lot and then Mom will raise her voice and repeat herself and then he will tell her she doesn't have to yell and then she will say, "Apparently, I do!" After that she will make him look at her when she is speaking. She told him he should develope lip reading skills or invest in a better hearing aid. I hear everything she says just fine and she says that Dad and I are age equivalent. 

I must confess that I am having trouble with my vision lately. Mom says I have cataracts on my eyes. I wish she would take them off! Some days I see better than others and I hope we move into the new house soon so that I can memorize where all the furniture is.

I heard Dad tell Mom that the broker will meet with us when we return from the trip. What is a broker? Well, whatever it is, it made Mom very happy. She was sick all week long. While it is usually great when she needs to stay in bed or sit with us on the sofa, this time wasn't much fun.

Everytime one of us dogs touched her she asked us to stop because it hurt. I do not like it when Mom is hurting. Neither does Eddie. Eddie and I were very careful and tried not to even put our heads in her lap. She said it must have been the shot! 

Toni's ears perked up and she yelled, "Someone shot our Mom!!" Then she raced around the room and into Dad's lap. She got right into his face and told him Mom had been shot. Dad does not speak dog and I can only guess that she thought he would hear her if she made him look at her like Mom did when she was talking to him. It didn't work. He got annoyed with Toni and hurt her feelings wen he pushed her off his lap. 

She tried to get in Mom's lap after that and Mom begged her not to get on her. She told Toni that her long skinny legs felt like they were digging a hole into her body. She gently moved Toni to the ottoman her feet were resting on and told her she could lay next to her legs. That seemed to work.

Mr. BoJangles was another story. Mom calls him the canine athlete. He does love to run and chase us. He can run really fast, even faster that Toni Louise with her long, skinny legs. When Mom calls us in he runs like the wind and when he reaches the back stoop, he goes airborne and flies over the stoop and threshold and lands on the floor beyond the door. His landings are magnificent, well that is what I heard Mom call them. She also said he would simply fly away if he had wings.

While this talent of his is fun to watch, it is not fun when he decides to jump from the arm of the sofa and into Mom's lap. She makes a big "ooof" sound when he does this. He did it while she was feeling so bad and she cried! If that wasn't enough, he decided to jump down and used his back legs to push off from Mom's shoulder. Mom was leaning back with her eyes closed when this happened and she screamed when he hit her arm on the spot that was shot! This did not bother Bo at all. I think he might have thought she was cheering for him and he took a bow!

All of us dogs tried to tell him that Mom did not feel good and to leave her alone. He said the she felt good to him. He might be a good athlete, but he is pretty dumb. Mom laughed when I said this and told me that is a stereo-type for all athletes. Now I just need to find out what the new word means.

I am signing out now, but I will be back soon to tell tales of the trip to come!

Plans Change

 I smugly bragged that the vaccine was a breeze. The only thing that bothered me at all was the sore arm and the fatigue. So, I nonchalantly yanked up my sleeve and took the half dose booster.

Half dose. I was confident I would not suffer anything other than a sore arm at the injection site. Here is the thing, I don't know if the change in weather or the booster caused me to feel so horrible. Maybe I was already due for a good dose of coughing and joint pain, joined by general malaise and a headache. Who knows?

This is day four and I feel almost human again. It was the first day that was the absolute worst. Got the shot in the morning and by 2 in the afternoon, all my energy was gone. Just poof, gone. I succumbed to the fatigue and sat down, intending a rest that may or may not include dozing off.

Still having an interest in my surroundings I tuned in to the TV and settled in. Me settling in always includes drowsy dachshunds sunggled close. Toni Louise even lent her body heat to my stone cold toes. It seemed like such a good idea to just sit there. Until ....

Mr. BoJangles decided to join his siblings and vie for my attention. He scampered up to the back of the sofa to sniff my hair, then my ears and even gave the left ear a little lick. I decided to just ignore him in hopes that he would nap with the rest of us. Good plan? Not so much, as he decided to dismount the back of the sofa, using my arm and injection site to catapult him to the floor.

Caught totally off-guard, I screamed. It hurt so bad! I was not guarding my boo-boo. It had not bothered me so much until the back paws of Bo hit that spot. I cried, as I pushed the little guy away. A wave of nausea came over me and then I had a coughing fit, that resulted in a dizzy rush to the bathroom.

Toni and Bo were hot on my heels. Eddie did sit up to acknowledge my distress. Cujo raised the lid of one eye as I exited the sofa. Naps here are serious!

The night is always the worst! I couldn't sleep. I took Tylenol a mere two hours after the previous dose. Every joint in my body ached and Bo seemed oblivious to my yelps of pain as he climbed over my body in an attemt to find just the right spot. I guess it was about 4 am when I suddenly felt like I might survive. I must have had a slight fever that broke with all the Tylenol and Ibuprofen I had ingested. My injection site was swollen and hot to the touch, but my fingers were frozen, so I just used them in lieu of ice.

Despite feeling like I might make it, the second day was just as tiring as the first. Yesterday I actually cooked a meal and today the only thing bothering me is tenderness at the injection site. I might even bake a cake!

Since I didn't get a whole lot of packing done this week, I am hoping to clear at least one room. We are going to pull a trailer full of boxes and my houseplants to North Carolina next week. That is what we had planned for this week. Plans change.

Questions

 Many questions seem to have come to light as I am preparing to move. My writing and reading time has been restricted to my morning coffee time as I am packing or taking care of the day to day business of living.

One question posed in a comment awhile back has been lurking in the back of my mind. It was asking what I might name my blog as I will no longer have tales of kamping to relay. With that in mind I can't seem to come up with a clever new theme. I am sure it will become apparent soon. I will most likely start a new blog and link it to this one, such as I did when Wall-E was writing letters to his boy.

Some people have two ongoing blogs!! It is not like I will not have plenty of time on my hands, until Spring, that is. My mind is whirling with all my plans for my vegetable greenhouse and my flower gardens to be. The embankment that is taller than I am has me thinking about root cellars and hidey holes for storms. There is plenty of landscaping to keep me busy for years! Gardens evolve, you know and are never the same year after year. I look forward to a good challenge. 

I could always use a garden name, but we plan to do some traveling for fun and not necessity. Perhaps I could maintain two blogs. Cujo says he is up for hosting a traveling blog. The world is always more curious when seen through his eyes.

In answer to other recent questions. The cabinet above my head that delivered the notebook karate chop to my neck was locked in place and the glass carafe on the counter has always withstood the motion of traveling, as it was secure on a rubber mat. It was the angle the wheels hit that speed bump that caused it to fly across the bus and shatter, this also must have loosened the cabinet and then the next set of wheels over the speed bump did the rest. The speed bump was audacious!! This campground was serious about not speeding and I have longed for just such a speed bump for some time. Oh, we have speedbumps and I take great pleasure in watching speeding drivers hit there heads on the ceiling of their rigs when they hit some of them. They are wearing down with time and will be the problem of the next owner to deal with. 

I still have no date to move. My world is sill hanging in limbo and I can either accept it and take advantage of the time left to continue sorting and packing, or I can whine about it. While I do have explosions of angst from time to time, it changes nothing. The banking community seems to be scrutinizing everything to an nth of a degree. Nothing I can do about that, as the buyers are in a holding pattern, as well.

As much as I long to be gone from here, I will just have to wait. I think maybe the hardest part for me is having no creative outlet to lose myself in. Everything is packed up, some of it already gone to the new house. Perhaps my higher power is trying to teach me something. Patience? Humility? I am sure that God will reveal the lesson in His own time.

Doggy Door .... Not For Me

 Cujo here. I am an old dog, set in my ways and not so happy with all the turmoil happening around me. It messes with my schedule of naps. Here lately, I am forced to look around when my eyes open to see where I might be. 

I don't mind riding in the RV and even staying for a few days, but the last trip we took was so confusing! We got to the place that Mom says will be our new home and all of us dogs got out to sniff. I remembered this place! I sniffed a big rock that I had previously marked with my scent. Doesn't matter that Eddie marked on top of my mark and then Toni Louise gave it a try with her leg in the air. Does she not know she is a girl? Bo marked it as well, but I could still identify my mark.

Mom put us on the porch and then got busy unloading stuff. A lot of stuff. Boxes and more boxes came onto the porch. HeWho is our Dad tried putting the boxes on the floor, but Mom reminded him that I was right there and would most likely want to mark the boxes as belonging to us. It is, after all, my job. I remember trying to mark Mom once when I first came to live with her. She was not pleased that I wanted to mark her ankle and washed it off and then asked me if I wanted her to mark me. Actually it sounded like a good idea to me. I want everybody to know that I belong to Mom.

Mom put a fence up for us dogs, she called it a temporary fence. Then she showed us the door on the porch that led to our new yard. It is very tiny, this new yard, I suppose that is what temporary means .... tiny. Why didn't she just say that? Then, when us dogs wanted to come in she had closed this door and said she wanted to show us something special. Special usually means treats and I am always up for new treats. Instead of a yummy treat she showed us something she called a doggy door.

This doggy door was no treat. It was a door in the bottom of the door. It has a flap sort of thing and she told us dogs to push it with our heads and come in. She pulled the flap up and Toni Louise pranced through the opening. Bo was right behind her. She looked at Eddie and then at me and encouraged us to give it a try. We both declined, maintaining our dignity! We looked at each other and agreed that a plastic flap is no way for pedigreed dogs, such as ourselves to be entering our new home. 

Sometimes we make Mom come into the yard and pick us up and carry us in. It is a game we play with her to see how many times we can bark to come in and then stand there looking at her through the open door. Mostly she will just stare back at us and close the door in our faces. Weather conditions can dictate how long this game lasts or how busy Mom is. It is great fun, though.

But, another concern here. If this is our new house, where is our cat? Where is that silly turtle Mom seems to love? Where are our things? I was so confused. Instead of staying inside the RV to sleep at night, we stayed in this new house. It already had a bed and a chair and a couch. Mom put sheets on this small bed and we all got in. HeWho is our Dad was cold in the RV. He said something about the heater not working and Mom said that the need for our leashes was gone with the fence and the doggy door and that even if we didn't have water, at least we were warm.

I ventured out to see that our dog bowl did have water and we had dog food, so what was she worried about? That first night, Mom complained that she didn't sleep well, the bed was too crowded. Crowded is just the way us dogs like it! We didn't have a problem at all. I was in my usual spot, right under Mom's armpit, Toni Louise was on part of Mom's pillow and Eddie and Bo were on her legs. I don't see what the problem was!

The very next day, she discovered that the little couch had a bed hiding inside it! She put sheets on this bed, too. Mom likes sheets, she will say the bed is not dressed unless it has sheets. Really all you need is covers, right? That night Mom got in the crowded bed with all of us dogs and HeWho is our Dad. She waited until Dad and BO were asleep, then she carefully lifted me, then Eddie out of the crowded bed and took us to the tiny bed with her. She called it a twin size bed. I thought twin meant two, so I wondered where the other bed might be hiding.

We got nice and cozy in our twin bed and all of a sudden we felt Bo jump onto our bed! Mom told him to get still and we went to sleep. This didn't last long before Toni jumped onto the twin bed. Now this was a really crowded bed! Dad had the entire queen bed to himself!

Mom told him she didn't mind that Eddie and I were in the bed with her, as she knew that I would not stay in bed with him and that Eddie would bark if I jumped down to join Mom. She said she was okay with Bo, as he is small and curls up next to Eddie. But, then she told him she did not expect Toni Louise to invade the tiny bed, that she was sure she would want to stay with her master. Toni Louise does not respect boundaries and she sprawls. She dreams and moves all night long, some times shoving a foot into Mom's face. Toni and Dad make a good pair!

Back to our old home now and everything is chaos with boxes and stuff being packed. Any minute now I expect to have the sofa I lounge on to be ripped out from under me! The RV has been replaced with a tinier version and HeWho is our Dad is all a tither about hooking up the two TV's inside it. Don't know why they need two, it is not like they can't hear the TV from every corner. Oh, Mom says you can't SEE it from every corner.

I hear them planning another trip to the new house. Something about registering the new RV and taking a load of stuff on the way. I will report the next adventure upon my return. Until then, this is Cujo, signing out.

Out With The Old

 You will recall that our big 40' RV met the mountain and the mountain won. Mostly body damage easily fixed. Still, I announced my intention to NEVER ride in it again when I returned home. Apparently HeWho drives big rigs took my proclamation to heart.

Our new rig is only 25' long. Plus 2". I will happily take the driver's seat in this one. Since we are not anticipating living in it, it has everything we need for a trip. No carpet making me happy with my fourleggers. We will be making a trip back to North Carolina soon to register the vehicles and change the car tags, as well. Vehicle insurance is so much cheaper there. Since we will be making the trip, we plan to pull a trailer full of all the outdoor stuff and my plants to their new home. I am researching watering methods for my plants. They don't need as much water in the winter, but I am still concerned.

I have the temporary fence in place for the dogs, and we will be enclosing a 10 X 10 shed to secure all the outdoor things we manage to haul.

You might have guessed that the appraiser did not show. I put on a show about my feelings on that subject. This has lingered on far too long. The initial proposal was for the new owner to take possession in October. It is December an I have no closing date, no earnest money and I am not happy. Just learn from my mistakes, this is why you have a realtor involved. Something that was supposed to be so simple is now occupying my thoughts every minute of every day. And not in a good way.

I can feel my blood pressure rising, so I will think other thoughts as I am packig necessities on board my new RV. I am happy knowing that the garage we researched on the last trip will be much less expensive, since we were looking at accomodating 31' of RV. 40' is just too long to maneuver in our driveway.

Today is a dreary day to be spent watching a movie and cuddling dogs. 

Waiting

 I have been writing posts two days ahead, causing me to have to go back and read the post to make comments make sense. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I have more time to indulge myself in the Land of Blog.

Like anyone who finds joy in writing, I get into a slump from time to time and the words just won't spill out, making it a chore to do. Lately, the words want to come out faster than I can get them down. Thank goodness for keyboards! My hands cramp if I try to put pencil to paper.

I stand mid-room and turn slowly in a circle, baffled that there is still so much to pack. Can't leave the park this week as I wait for the appraiser due "sometime this week". I am annoyed that they couldn't narrow that down. I am due for my booster and want to get it done. We are down to sharing one vehicle and it will take only minutes to run to the pharmacy and back, but I KNOW the appraiser would arrive then. This is all the bank providing the loan needs to proceed and I don't want to do anything that will result in a delay.

Since the weather is more like Spring than Winter today, I ventured out to start collecting all of the garden tools that will be going with us. I found some treasures as I gathered everything and rolled all of my soaker hoses and placed them in my wagon. Like a stair stringer that was on some playground equipment. HeWho was baffled as to my interest in this. It is treated wood and the some of the deck boards are missing, but it will be great start when I get ready to make a stairway to the trout stream. The man lacks vision. The difference between my junk collection and his is that I always have a project in mind for all of my stuff. He just collects it and never uses it, as he has no ideas to implement his junk.

I came in for a break and was once again reminded that I have yet to find a taker for all this fabric. I confess that I shopped through it again and filled two plastic bins. Not to worry, the other four plastic bins are already in North Carolina and I know he won't remember them when the movers are loading us up. I am counting on it.

I was going to call the Senior Center in town to see if they have any sewers. I could not find a number, so I decided to start calling churches. The very first call was to the Methodist church and they have a sewing club that meets weekly to sew clothes for the needy. They are excited to recieve my cast offs. I am so happy to know that the fabric will not be lingering in a dumpster, tossed by someone ignorant of it's value. I am more that happy to take this to them Monday and then go on to get my booster.

No appraiser here yet and the afternoon is dwindling away. Gee, I hope he comes tomorrow and I don't have to go through another week of waiting. I want this to be done and over. I want to move!

WHY??

 The trip is over and now all the daily activities begin again. Cooking, washing dishes and the one chore I dislike most .... ordering refills from the pharmacy.

Humana mail order pharmacy. While it is a fact that you can download the app on your phone or even do it on-line, I have found that it is easiest to just bite the bullet and call. The web site is not as easy as they would want you to believe to navigate and for whatever reason, it will require a phone call any way.

We both need refills. I treated myself to a second cup of coffee as I readied myself for the ordeal I was about to go through. This was going to be a two-call event. I have tried to accomplish both our refills with one call and that ended up making me want to cry. First call was for HeWho's card was not in my possession. If I am lucky, I will not have to recite his member numbers. 

Member seems like an odd thing to call us. It makes me feel like we should have a say in how the business runs. We don't, despite all the brief questionnaires we are encouraged to answer everytime we call. The calls are recorded for quality purposes. Should they listen to mine, they would have no problem pin-pointing deficientcies in their operations.

The long annoying prompts cannot be skipped over. From experience, I can tell you that should you try, it will start at the beginning again. I don't care what day of the week or time of the year it is, the prompt always begins with a long diatribe explaining that the call volume is higher than usual. Alternative suggestions are given on how to order your refills. Then you are asked to stay on the line if you insist on making your requests for refills. The next prompt announces that you have reached Humana Pharmacy. Do not make any comments here, you know, like "gee, I hope so". This will send you back to the beginning. You must wait until you are told to state your reason for the call, after the example, "Like, I would like to refill my blood pressure medication", then you may speak. This is where I yell "REFILL" from the kitchen sink where I am washing dishes. The automated voice then says, "Okay. Please verify your date of birth." ( I am not verifying, they are!). I toss out the birthdate of HeWho, as it is his refills I am ordering. They repeat it back, and this is when I verify that it is correct. The voice then tells me that from the information I have provided the computer indicates that there are 8 prescription that qualify for refill and asks if I would like to review them, or would I like to simply order all of them. Of course I want to review them, he only needs one of them refilled. He has discontinued taking four of the eight and once a prescription leaves the facility, it cannot be returned.

I continue washing dishes and saying, yes and no to the voice. Then it repeats my order and then asks if I would like to hear it again. I agree that it is what I want and that no, I don't want to hear it again. After that the voice tells me the co-pay and asks if they should use the card number ending in 40**. I agree they should. The voice makes me verify my address and then asks me if I need a minute to find something to write down the confirmation number. I don't, as I have no intention of recording that number, having once used it to reference a pending order that had not arrived and it seemed to cause all manner of chaos with the live person I got on the line. Before the phone call ends, they ask if I might be willing to answer a few questions before I hang up. NO, no questions. I know from experience that they want me to rate service on a sliding scale with 5 meaning "most likely" and 1 meaning "most unlikely".

By now the dishes are done and my kitchen is sparkling. I dial the number again for my prescriptions. I load the washing machine and unload the dryer as I wait for the prompts to end so that I can give them my birthdate. Experience has taught me not to venture too far from the cabinet that holds my pills and my insurance card. After my birthdate I am asked for my zipcode, then my member number. This annoys me and I eat some Tums. I am going through the same agonizingly slow process again and when asked if I want my list of prescriptions repeated I lose all self control and yell at the phone, "For the love of all that is Holy, will you please just send me my pills and stop tormenting me!" "Would you please repeat that?" "NO".

I hope they listen to this. I understand that we are old and that they have most of the Medicare accounts, but why take a simple refill request and make it an event that no one ever looks forward to? If thay have the prescription number, it will tell them who you are. It shouldn't be associated with anyone else and they can them verify you are who you are with your birthdate or address. Why do they have to make it such a headache. I sent them an e-mail saying all of this after receiveing an e-mail from them telling me my prescription was not due for a refill until the next week. The automated voice on their end had suggested I add it and said that it would automatically be refilled six days later. Why did they then send out an email with an accusing tone that suggested I did not know how to order refills? Why?

Sharing

 With still more packing awaiting me, I carefully unpacked the boxes we took and saved the packing materials. I reloading them in the basement of the RV. Two doors of the basement were a bit beaten and the living room slide-out no longer functioned, but it still drives and it got us home.

Something was leaking water on the way home and my best laid plans were delayed. Not to be overcome, I placed all the wet bottomed boxes in the sun, then retaped them after they dried. Fortunately it was a calm day with very little wind about. I unloaded the RV by myself as HeWho was occupied showing the park and all of the systems.

To be honest I did not want or need his help. I have a system. I worked from the back to the front and then unloaded everything. He would have grabbed this and that and announced completion before every nook and cranny was investigated. He loads the same way. I crawled in the basement and reloaded all the necessary items that stay on board before the trip. I created a lot more space and found lots of things that belonged in the dumpster, such as a mildewed bed cover that matched the interior of the RV. I answered in the negative when he asked if I was going to wash it and bring it back to life. It was pretty bad.

 I was still doing laundry yesterday when I got the call about selling the truck. I think I was on load 13. HeWho was reclined and about to doze off when I told him a test drive would be happening that evening. Just so you know, I would have told him that even if it didn't happen until this weekend. He is the Master of Procrastination.

I am sure I might have mentioned before that HeWho is sorely lacking in organizational skills of any kind. His vehicles are always a mess. Only the driver's seat is accessible. The passenger seat and floorboard are level with "stuff" he swears he needs. Only when Kevin was alive was the passenger side of his truck able to hold another person. I think that Kevin may have had more to do with that than just his occupying the seat. He probably cleaned it out himself. Since our dear friend has gone to heaven, HeWho has reverted back to his old ways.

He heaved up out of his seat, hardly waiting for the automatic lift to catch up with him. "Where ya goin?" said his wife. "I have to empty my truck!" says HeWho procrastinates.  The man is hard to shame, as everyone he knows jokes about his truck interior. There was an occasion when he was gone south for an operation his mom had and left the truck behind. It was a different truck, it was bigger. I gathered some plastic containers and cleaned it out. Top to bottom, yes I did! Keeping in mind that he is often called to repair water and electric issues and sewer back ups, I labeled my containers thusly and sorted tools and spare parts for each system, placing them adjacent each other in the back seat of the truck.

I don't know what I was thinking! His normal mode of operating is to dig around in various piles of stuff before declaring his need to go pick up more parts. I am familiar enough with the parts to put them in the right container and I found an abundance of parts that he couldn't "find". Not to mention that these common parts are sorted and at the ready in my laundry room and in his barn all helter skelter. But, I digress. He is not going to develope better habits at this age.

He headed outside and grabbed a trashcan on his way. I supplied him with boxes and suggestions that fell on deaf ears. I suggested he pack items as he went. That didn't happen. I ventured out after hanging laundry on the line. The dryer wasn't keeping up with my washer and we all know I like solar energy anyway. I looked out the window and saw that he had pulled his truck adjacent the RV. This caused my heart to flutter, as I knew it would be just like him to transfer all the crap in his truck to the basement of the RV that is also being sold. I had just cleaned out eveything the day before!

I approached the event going on in the driveway, relieved to see that he wasn't putting anything in the RV. He was putting things, no, he was dropping things in a box. Sorting out only the trash. No carefully packing so that things fit snug and neatly. He was through (well, almost) with the passenger seat and then he opened the back door ....

Crank up the washer again, because another two loads of clothes were unveiled! Three fleece lined flannels, a fleece lined hoodie, a couple of flannel shirts, some safety yellow shirts with "Bud's Towing" emblazened on them , as well as the safety yellow rain slicker with glow in the dark stripes. I loaded my arms with most of them and then went back for the rest. That is when I saw a pair of jeans, brand new, the label still on them!

I left the scene of the crime after that and Craig helped him. Personally I think he should have had to complete the task on his own.  But it was just as well, since I wanted to sell the truck. Thanks to Craig and his patience, the truck is no longer ours. My car is, though. Scary, right? We will be sharing one vehicle.

The Feast

 My brother-in-law, Ronald, is the master of breakfast. With him breakfast is not a quick eat and run meal, but one to be lingered over after you eat with coffee to sip and watch others enjoy the fruits of his labor. While I am not a breakfast person, he is quite entertaining as he prepares your eggs to your liking. 

I was waiting for the feast to come. My neice, Tara was hosting the dinner at her house, only eight houses down. Some of the dishes were cooked at her mom's house and transported down to hers. Two turkeys were being fried and one was roasted. Ham was also on the menu. A table full of pies and whipped cream awaited those who left room for desert.

It is always the side dishes that steal the show for me and there was no lack of choices at this meal. My only contribution (besides my appetite) was stirring the gravy as it thickened. We all stood and sat in a sort of circle while 4 year old Hollis sang a prayer. After a few false starts having nothing to do with shyness on his part, his mom forced him to get the job done by beginning her own prayer. This boy knows how to build suspence and cater to a crowd. I hope he channels this into an interesting career one day. 

The line began in the kitchen and ended at the tables by the pool. Yes, we ate poolside and the weather was perfect. I was so proud of my baby girl, Adrienne, for not insisting the meal was not complete without her beloved mashed potatoes! I made them every Thangsgiving at her insistance. I always argued there were not necessary because we had dressing. She is probably the only person in the world who can out-argue me and get the last word. I wonder where she got that attitude from? She does not look at all like me, in fact she looks just like her Aunt Pam. I gave birth to my sister-in-law's look alike!

We had so many side dishes and I took a small serving of as many would fit on my plate. My favorite was the collard greens, not to be outdone by the cauliflower casserole. There was sweet potato casserole, dressing, gravy, black-eyed peas, rice, and some dishes I had no room for on my plate. My joy was watching my grandson eat southern traditional foods for the first time and go back for more. My memory fails me as to the other dishes right now.

Must be getting old. I wonder why we say that. No one is getting younger! It was a wonderful, relaxing day with family. Remember the pool? As we were all finishing our meals and moving around and chatting with one another, Adrienne and I were sitting at a little table on the other side of the pool, when Hollis appeared in his swimming attire. No, the pool is not heated.

He was arguing with his mom about going for a swim. She told him the water was too cold. He insisted that he could still go in, he had a snorkel and everything. Tara suggested he stick his feet in and see how cold the water was. He did that and asked for some socks. She tried to explain that socks would not help when they got wet. Adrienne and I turned back to our conversation and suddenly he jumped in!

His little face was priceless!  As Tara stripped off hs wet clothes and wrapped him in a towel he, he said "I shouldn't a did that!". 

As the temperature began to drop and people began to disappear, we all made our way back down the street to the house where the day started. HeWho and I were ready to say our final goodbyes as we planned to head north the next morning. His sister had other plans. She wanted a family picture the next day. I left her to convince my husband to delay our trip back, all the while knowing I could easily have Gavin ask him and he would do it.

Much discussion ensued about the time of day this photo shoot would happen. Talk of the location of the sun and then about others schedules and we landed on 9:30 am. We arrived back in plenty of time. Breakfast was happening in fits and starts as everyone was encouraged to hurry.  Gavin and his cousin borrowed shirts and suddenly everyone was loaded into many vehicles and we all met at the prescribed location where an old truck was parked fully decorated for Christmas. Many shots of squinting eyes in the sun, then lots of hugs goodbye and we were back in our car and back to the the RV park to finish loading up.

The trip home was uneventful. We stopped at a campground in Clarksville, TN we had stayed at before. Unable to open the slide in the living room after the collision with mountain that refused to move and no TV reception, we went to bed, got up the next day and we home early afternoon.

We are back to the same old, same old. Packing and wondering how all this stuff will fit in our new life. After two days of non-stop laundry you would think I was all caught up. Yesterday we sold HeWho's truck. This required the emptying of the truck and I will entertain you tomorrow with tales of that.

Where Was I?

 Where did we leave off when last we "spoke"? In spite of all the drama, we found our new abode to be tranquil and relaxing. We bounced ideas around about the placement of furniture and the plans for the great outdoors. It was relaxing.

On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, we reloaded the fridge in the RV and got everything in the house locked up until our final return to start our new adventure. We headed south to Perry, GA to spend Thanksgiving with family for the first time in many years. 

Being tied to the park, as we were (note that I used past tense) meant we usually hosted that day for all the campers with no destination for the day. I love to cook and see others enjoy the fruits of my labor, so it was still a day I looked forward to. This Thanksgiving I was simply a guest! It was strange not to awake early to get everything going, but I had the best time. We saw family we had not seen in years and met new members of the family. Our nephew, Davis and his new wife, Emily, were in attendance and she was a delight. Of course, the four year old son of our niece, Tara, Hollis stole everyone's heart.

It was supposed to be a 4 hour drive. Besides the fact that it was the day before Thanksgiving, it was quite a challenge. The drive would have been lovely .... in a car, but it was downhill and steep with lots of switchbacks. I could smell the brakes! We drove through Helen, the streets were full of people strolling along. Christmas lights were everywhere. This was only about 50 miles from our new home and will definetly be revisited. I want to see it at night.

As we approached Atlanta, the traffic increased dramatically. First we slowed, then finally came to a stop. It was stop and go after that. We traveled at a snail's pace until we got on interstate 75. The trip was 6 hours and we were exhausted upon arrival. My sister-in-law had soup ready for all the travelers trickling in. The big surprise waiting for us was our daughter, Adrienne and her son, Gavin! Last time we were able to see our grandson was in the hospital room when his Papa had a heart attack. Two years ago. His hug was worth all the aggravation of the entire trip!

Okay, back to more calamities. When we arrived at our new home and removed the car from the dolly, it sort of rolled into a tree/bush that stopped it from traveling down a slope to another road below us. It stayed there until we were ready to hook it up again. Usually it is simply pulled by HeWho to line up with the hitch on the coach, but it was stuck. Thanks be to the woman who packs limb loppers, a shovel and a rake! We cut the limbs down low and hooked it to a towing strap to pull it out and on a path to the RV.

Still hooked to the strap, the two of us pulled it up almost to the hitch before losing it to roll back downhill again. It was jerked to a stop. I grabbed some rocks to put behind the wheels and we pulled it up in increments. About four feet away, HeWho decided to back up the RV. I admit that this was a scary proposition to me. I was afraid he would not be able to stop with any precision and back over the dolly. I would do my best to make that NOT happen, but experience has taught me that my voice would appear to be a tone he does not hear.

His first attempt was almost perfectly lined up and would have been an easy hook-up had he stopped when I told him to. Thank goodness the back wheels of the RV are so far up! He finally listened to me when I screamed STOP and managed to get it hooked up. He even listened when I suggested he drive down the hill to little gas station that provided me with coffee so we could put the car on the dolly on level ground.

You need to know that HeWho is not a planner. That morning I had said we need to leave no later that 1pm to get there before dark. I ran around taking care of necessary preparations. I got everything on-board, but planned to take some other things on-board into the house to leave there. I wasn't ready to go at 11:30 when we attached the dolly. Another 15 minutes was all I needed, but he drove away! I collected the dogs and leashed them, saw his phone and his stainless steel mug sitting there and a few things I had not yet loaded. I crammed everything I could in my purse and slung it on my shoulder and grabbed the leashes. Eddie got caught behind the door and as I tried to let go of his leash I lost Bo's leash, as well. He was happy to wander around unencumbered by my hold and I crammed the two remaining dogs into my car and gave chase to the little stinker. I was able to stomp down on his leash and scoop him up. All the while Eddie is crying pitifully in the background, afraid he was being left behind.

I thought HeWho was already at the bottom of the hill waiting for me and the car and gave out a little shriek when I turned and he was suddenly there! He had stopped at the top of our driveway and walked back to help me! Chivalry? Maybe, but I think he knew he had forgotten his mug of flavored water. He helped me get all the dogs in the car and drove us to the RV (you didn't think he would walk back up that hill, did you?) He headed to the RV and I quickly stopped him to hand him his phone. I was getting into the car when he suddenly turned back and with a look of sheer panic asked if I had picked up his gum! Having given up cigarettes, he is now addicted to sugar free juicy fruit. I buy it in the refill bag of 120 pieces and I get 3 bags at a time so we have gum at the ready ALWAYS.

We met at the gas station and the car went on the dolly with great precision. We are getting good at this. Lest you think it went smoothly at this point, let me remind you that we would appear to be a comedy act of calamities. After the car is on, the front wheels need to be strapped down. He went to back floor board of the car and found only one strap. There are two wheels. Suddenly I remembered picking up the other strap with a bunch of fence posts and shepherd's hooks and not putting it back! It was MY fault. He was greatly annoyed and I toyed with thoughts of letting him think he misplaced the other strap. 

I couldn't do it and I fessed up. He was ready to go back to the house and get it. He asked me where I put it. I am usually good at retracing my steps in my mind and visualizing a location, but I was totally blank. Fortunately he remembered the tow strap as I was about to go in that gas station and ask if they sold them or anything that might work. He cut a piece and we set off to burn our brakes down the mountain.

Come back tomorrow and I will enchant you with the menu of a true southern Thanksgiving. Spoiler alert ... THREE turkeys.

The Journey Continues

 I need to grocery shop, but I don't want to. Bring more things here to pack up. I know we will eat most of it, but I just am not in the right frame of mind. Out of milk, I made french toast with an egg and water. It wasn't so bad and think of the calories saved.

The unloading of the coach continues. Everything must be unloaded before it goes in for body work. A little teaser there for you. And when I say everything, I mean everything, as I never plan to be a passenger in this RV again.

You may recall me telling you how very steep that driveway is. Doesn't seem bad in the car, but way up high in my seat in the RV, it was just shy of terrifying. Part of that due to the close proximity HeWho came to the edge of the ravine. He does things like that, just to scare me. After the night in the cold RV, I gathered up some sheets and blankets and made the queen bed in the house and we slept in there where it was warm.

Although it made the morning ritual for the dogs super easy with no leashes involved, the humans had to go out into the chilly RV to take care of business. I have to confess here that I might have squatted in the dog yard, much to the consternation of my four legged babies. HeWho is equipped for such adventures, but for me it was hard to say which place was colder, the RV or the dog yard.

We finished pulling all the boxes from the basement and my car was empty. We simply sat for awhile in the warmth of our new home. I ventured out with the sun high in the sky and raked leaves. No internet to entertain us, no TV reception either. HeWho managed a nap in the recliner while I played outdoors. I gathered supper makings and cooked on my new stove. The RV had a lone skillet on board and some metal storage bowls. I used one to make rice and didn't burn the bottom like I thought I might. It was the only thing I could find that would hold a cup of rice and water. The following night I made spagetti. I could have used that skillet to make everything, but I had to do the dishes in the RV. We had to shower in the RV. It was a chilling experience despite the hot water, but we made it work. We ventured out to explore our new area almost everyday after the big unload. On day four we made our way to a Dollar Tree and bought a deck of cards. 

We picked out a garage for the new RV that we have yet to purchase and my car and went on a she shed expedition. The sky high price of building materials had my mind in over-drive. It will most likely be an on-site build, due to accessibilty being somewhat limited for big trucks. I was itching for internet capability to access Craigslist or Marketplace. No such luck, but we were told by someone in our new "neighborhood" that when we did get it hooked up, it will be lightning fast and that we will be able to use it to stream TV. Good to know.

On day three, I sat in my solitude waiting for the man of the house to awaken and drive to the little convenience store down the road for my coffee. I thought I knew how we would be able to turn the coach around and be able to drive out instead of backing out. It would require some maneuvering on the part of the driver. This would require patience on the part of the driver, as well.

I slowly explained my plan to the driver. I went over it several times, even knowing he was tuning me out to think of his own way. Think of a school bus making a three point back-up turn ..... only this would be much tighter and require more like a 12 point back up turn. I walked off the space and I knew it would work, as I am quite good at approximating measurments. I had no plans to drive the behemoth myself. Hind sight being 20/20, I almost wished I had driven it myself.

HeWho mounted the drivers seat and I positioned myself to be visible in his mirrors. Keeping in mind their is a camera that shows you your rear as well, I was still worried that he would not obey my directions. I have experience with this man not listening when I speak. I don't know what possessed me to think this day would be different. I am an optimist, you know.

We moved my car way up the drive and began. I yelled "GO SLOW" a lot. There were things I did not want him to hit. Like the new house, the LP tank, either of the existing sheds, and ... ME! Keep in mind that the clearing our house sits on is not that big, the embankment that is part of our property is quite tall, taller than me and is part of the mountain, with big granite boulders in it. I did not want him to hit the mountain either.

He quickly became impatient and would not listen to me tell him which way to turn and when to stop. No big surprise there. Hit hit the mountain (embankement), cursing, then pulling forward, ripping the entire back fender piece on the drivers side out, but not off. He got out to take a look and without a word, got back in and pretty much did it again, not stopping until he scraped the entire side halfway to the front.

He said he couldn't see or hear me. I was yelling at the top of my volume. My volume is considerable, as I have been told I don't need a microphone. I was in the line of the mirror and waving frantically while I yelled. Even if he didn't hear or see me, you would think the initial impact would have gotten his attention.

He did get it turned around. It sat at the ready for our departure and we went inside to gather our senses again. The day before we bought groceries and they were in the fridge and freezer. A lot in the freezer. Things we like and can't buy here were there, like the frozen creamed corn. I bought a cool dozen to tide us over until we move. Low in sodium and tastes so much better that the canned. Anyhoo, on one of his many trips to the RV he disovered the fridge was not working because it was so unlevel.

The way it sat going up hill we could never have slept in it, as all our blood would be rushing to our heads. So we plugged in the fridge in the house and transferred everything to the new location. Without anything to distract us, it was good to have an activity!!

Stay tuned for more! Don't forget to find the humor in all of it, as we did.

Traveling Down The Road

 I am back here in the park after my break with having internet access! We left the park after loading the basement of the motorhome and my car with all the boxes we could cram on board and headed to our new home. Just a visit to whet our appetite for the next chapter of our lives.

I would like to say that the trip was uneventful .... but that's not how we roll. With very sore muscles I climbed aboard, musing that even with all the boxes we loaded, there was still so much left to move. I was looking forward to dozing on the couch with my canines keeping me warm, and that is exactly what I did on day one. The weather was pleasant, no rain and we made good time to the first stop, just south of Nashville, TN. Did you know there is a Nashville, IL.? Now you do.

The dogs got right back into the routine of leashes for potty breaks. Now, if I can train Toni Louise not to tangle her leash with every other leash, then wrap it all around my legs! We made the stop in Murphy, NC to get our keys and were soon parked in front of our new home. The dogs seemed to remember they had been there before and raced the length of the porch (that would be 28', just so you know). I put up the temporary fence and introduced them to the doggie door. Toni Louise and Mr. BoJangles were intrigued and came through the opening while I help the flap up. The doxie duo came through the door opening and looked at me disdainfully. I don't think the doggie door will be of much use. I ended up just leaving the door open for them to go to the yard as needed.

But, I am getting ahead of myself. The very first thing Toni Louise did was trip me coming down the steps and then escaping my grasp as I tried to keep from falling. I fell anyway on my rather ample derriere and she ran like the wind up the driveway while I yelled for her to stop. That driveway did not seem so steep when we first looked at the property! I yelled for HeWho rarely listens to me and got no response so I tried running up the driveway. There are several things wrong with this scenario. First, I don't run. It is more like a fast walk. Second, that driveway seemed to be going straight up at a 90 degree angle. I was winded and still trying to encourage Toni to come back, when HeWho is my hero sauntered up and asked what I was doing. I could only point to the dog as I grabbed his arm to catch my breath. He called her and she came bounding down the drive to her master. I wanted to kill her! Keep in mind that she is my escape artist and has already suffered a dislocated hip from a jaunt down the road that ended with her being hit by a truck. My mind had raced ahead to scooping her off the road and then trying to locate the closest vet.

I am far too old for so much excitement in one day. I secured the dogs and decided to unload the car while HeWho piddled around with the RV. The first night of the trip we discoved the heater was not working. We had a small electric one that did little more than keeping the pipes from freezing. The dogs were a huge comfort in bed! Bo tunnelled under the covers to my feet and Cujo and Bo were along my right side. They refuse to even entertain thoughts of sleeping near the edge of the bed, so to warm my left side I had to turn over. HeWho had his electric throw and the only thing cold on him was his head, it being outside the covers.

Despite having made previous arrangements with the the company providing electricity to the house to simply read the meter, then transfer the billing to us, they turned it completely off. There is an emergency propane heater there and I have been told that living in the mountains requires one for when the power goes out. While HeWho charmed the woman on the phone, who asked for him to e-mail a photo ID! No internet and though he did text a picture of his driver's license, I wondered about the practibility of her request. With never having seen this person, what possible use was a photo ID?

Still pondering this, I headed out to my car and opened the back door to retrieve my bucket of peony bush. I grabbed it and stepped in a hidden hole covered by leaves and fell to the ground again. On my right side. I tried to stop my fall with my arthritic hand and failed to do so. Having had the breathe knocked out of me I just stayed there for a minute. HeWho walked up to ask me what I was doing. Yes, he did. I almost told him I was taking a nap. He tried to help me up, but I quickly discovered it would be easier to roll around in the fallen leaves and get myself up.

That day we unloaded boxes and I unpacked them to take them back to reload. Since the house was winterized, we didn't want to turn the water on, only to have to winterize again when we left. We decided to sleep in the RV after the previous owner showed us how to turn the hydrant on and get water to the coach without having to affect the house. This was tricky, since we had to keep our distance from him. Despite have been vaccinated and had the booster, he was recovering from COVID.

Why we opted for sleeping in the RV? The convenience of having water and a working bathroom. I woke first to take care of the dogs and decided to just stay in the house where it was toasty warm. I sat in the rocker recliner holding two dogs and planned my day without benefit of coffee. I stared at the tiny loveseat left by the previous owners and it struck me that it was quite deep. Upon further investigation, I discovered that it was a hide-a-bed for a twin size mattress! The bedroom had a queen mattress and it was warm in there.

I did say that day one was uneventful. Day two started out with a bang! As we were leaving the campground, the audacious speed bump we had gone straight over the night before had to be navigated in order to leave. Let me stress that we were NOT speeding, but we must have been at an unfortunate angle, because when we went over with the first set of tires, things flew off the couter in the kitchen. Things that had set there on every trip and never moved while we were in motion! The glass carafe shattered in the floor and HeWho stopped while I attempted to gather all the shards of glass that might end up in the eight tiny paws onboard. I could not get to the broom and dustpan with the slides in and used paper towels over my hand and a piece of cardboard. Having done my best, I settled back into my assigned seat with dogs and we continued with the second set of wheels over that speed bump. If you have ever seen the inside of any RV, you will note that every square inch of space is dedicated to storage and that cabinet over my head that held a rather hefty notebook with all the info pertaining to the RV flew open and that notebook came down on end and karate chopped my neck before falling onto Bo. 

This is why I did not have coffee and I was already beat up efore we even got to our new home! Also why poor Bo trembled throughout the rest of the ride. Tomorrow I will continue with our adventure and tell you more about our trip and how we were without TV or internet for six days!