Quick trip then home again.

 Cullman, AL

We wanted to spend Christmas with some of those we love.  December 20 we left Alabama and drove a bit over 400 miles to nephew Jason and his Kelly who live close to I-81 near Wytheville, VA.  This is our usual stop over.   We appreciate their hospitality,    

Next stop was in Cumberland County NJ for two nights at a Red Roof Inn.  Biscuit is getting used to motels.  On Sunday morning we surprised our friends at our old church in Upper Deerfield, NJ.  Forgot to take pics except for one of the church.

We met up with my sister Debbie and my nephew Norm and his wife Vandra for lunch.   Again, forgot pics.

That night we had dinner with friends Jim and Janice and Dan and Judy.   And you won't believe this but again forgot pictures.

On Monday, in keeping of always planning ahead, we ordered our headstones.   We do own property in NJ.  Two VERY SMALL plots behind the church where I grew up.  My family all the way back to maternal great grandparents also rest there.     Here it is.   We got a discount as it was already engraved.

We figured it's cheaper to change our names and get the discount.

After that bit of business it was to daughter Amys in Maryland while we stayed until late Christmas morning.   A PICTURE:

Amy, Abby, Charlotte and Scott

Next stop daughter Terris in Pennsylvania.   Her hubby gave her a coat.   She is ready for a cold winter.

Here is that family

Steve, Terri, Karlie, Grandson Jusitn and Leonard.

Karlie, grandsons girlfriend, had been at Myrtle Beach in a Christmas shop.   She saw this ornament.

She bought it before Biscuit was missing.   So she did not plan on giving it to us.  By luckily, we got Biscuit AND the ornament.

The trip home on the 28th meant another overnight in VA.   While there we went to dinner with Jason and Kelly and another nephew Jimmy and wife Wanda with their son Hunter and wife Renee and grandson.   NO PICTURE!!!

We had a quiet new year's eve.  Two RVs were parked here but neither felt like partying.  Neither did we.   They told us they heard gunfire and fireworks at 12.   We were zoned out.

A few days ago we had a major blizzard.    Here is what our yard looked like.  Scary.

Then on Tuesday we had carpets laid in our office and guest room.  Wish I had taken a "before".  Here is the after.

We actually are expecting snow tonight and continuing into early Sunday.  They say 4 to 7 inches.  If everything was shut down on the 6th, imagine what it will be tomorrow.   We have some ice already on the pond.     On our local town Facebook page it shows completely empty shelves where bread would be and empty milk cases.   Typical.   Wondering about the toilet paper situation.

Have a great 2025.  Until next time.

Why don't I lose weight?

 Cullman,  AL

Why don't I lose weight?   I think I know the reason.

November 28   THANKSGIVING equals FOOD

December 9   SWAMP JOHNS.  Fund raiser at Cullman Senior Center.    Shrimp, French Fries, Slaw                     Dessert equals FOOD

December 12    Christmas Party at Cullman Senior Center equals FOOD

December 15      Holiday Celebration at Sharon Grove Methodist Church equals FOOD

Son Lennie and DIL Lois

Paster Paul Campbell

December 16    Party at Donald Green Center equals FOOD

December 18        Party at Wallace Community College for all county Seniors equals FOOD

And FOOD for thought:

Dancing even at age 90+

Not allowing blindness to stop the dance.

Until next time Blessings of the Season

Old friends. Good times.

 Cullman, AL  and Montgomery MO

Whew!   I think I am done with mowing grass, hedge trimming and weed whacking for a while.  It's gotten COLD.   Down to the mid 20s at night.   This is not what I thought living in the South would be.  Hope not to be shoveling.  

In 1980 the company I was working for in NJ opened a facility in Missouri.    I spent the summer (where it was really HOT) out there.   I hired the office and trained the staff.   I was sent back to Missouri several times in the following years.   All these years I have kept in contact with the Office Manager.  When Leonard and I were full time RVing and passing through the area we would stop for a visit.   But that has been years ago.

I had the urge to see Tudie and her hubby John again.   So we took a quick 4 day drive to visit.   A bit over 500 miles each way.  I worked out route where all but about 20 total miles were on 4-lane highways.  Easy peasy.

I thought about a couple that we volunteered with while NOMADS.  I knew they settled in Missouri.  To everyone's delight that were not that far from Montgomery City.   We arranged to meet for dinner.  Both couples suggested the same restaurant about halfway between.  Perfect.   Not so fast.... we got there and it was closed.   But nearby was a Dennys.   We can do that.

That is Tudie and John in the foreground.  Next to Tudie is Marti then me.   Next to John is Leonard then Bill.    We were so glad to meet up with Marti and Bill.  We all have fond memories of our time together.   The two couples had never met.  But in conversation they discovered they knew LOTS of people in common.   Cool!

Biscuit was treated like a King.  Tudie took him for walks.   John fed him.  He made himself comfortable on their sofa and the guest bed.  I was concerned he would want to stay.  

Back in Cullman.   We continue to go to two different senior centers.   In a short while we leave for one that serves lunch then a Jam Session every Monday.

Always fun.

Son Lennie and DIL  Lois treated us to dinner at their house on Thanksgiving.  Of course I didn't take a picture.   But trust me, we were there.  As we were a few weeks before when they hosted their Christman motorcycle club that they founded and oversee its growth.

Cullman always has something going on.   USA Today has named Cullman to 3rd best small town in the country for Cultural events.   Southern Living has named Cullman the 9th best Christmas town.   

At this time it is their Christkindmrkt.    This town was settled by Germans so of course in October they have a huge Ockoberfest.    In the summer they have Third Fridays where streets are closed and various vendors set up.   

This is what it looks like now.   They even have an ice skating rink.

Then of course in the summer is Rock the South, a three-day concert that draws people from all over the world.   Upwards to 50,000 people attend.  2025 will feature Hank Williams Jr, Kid Rock, Nickleback, Clay Walker, Shenandoah, and many others.   If you want elite seating (in the pavilion, special parking, close by the stage, food, drinks, etc) it will only cost you $1,999.99 per person.  What a deal!

Well, time to get ready for todays fun.  I have a dump cake in the over to share.

Until next time.

Moving into Fall

Cullman,  AL

My daughter Terri who lives in Pennsylvania travels to Nashville on business usually twice a year.   When she does, she takes a few extra days to visit us.   Two times while here we had RVers that have become friends also here.     Terri knew she would be here in early October, so friends Karen and Rick arranged that to be their semi-annual visit.  So happy this works for all of us.

For the first time in a few years, we had a garden.  Weeds overtook it quickly.  We did get some tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage and watermelon.   Len got a head start this fall turning it over.  We will try for better next year.  He's never happier than when he is on that tractor.

Biscuit loves when RVers arrive with dogs.   I tell RVers to call me when 3 miles away.  He hears the phone ring, sees me pick up the guest book and beats us to the road.    We recently hosted the cutest Basset.   Biscuit enjoyed his company.   Them getting acquainted.

Aren't you glad when humans meet, they shake hands?

Again, this year I made Leonard go along with me and dress for Halloween at the Senior Center and 55East where we go on Friday nights.

He was Zorro both times.      We are at Senior Center.   I won for best costume   (I have no pride)

And at 55East

We host our 421th and 422nd RV guests today.   But first we will be going to son Lennie and DIL Lois' for their annual Holiday dinner for their Christian Motorcycle group.

Then next week a short trip to Missouri to visit old friends.

Until next time.

Gone and back

 Cullman, AL

On my last blog I talked about the new beagle we adopted.  Gravy.   He is a sweetheart.  Loves to be held.

Biscuit and Gravy got along well.  Too well.   On September 8 they both got on a scent.  We have deer, turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, armadillos of the property.   Hard to say what they had their noses to the ground on.   They both took off for the woods.  Biscuit never did this before.   As they didn't come back and we couldn't find them, I put out a notice on the local Facebook page.

Six the next morning I got a text that a beagle was on the back porch of a house about a mile and a half away.   We immediately drove to the house.  It was Gravy.  The search was on for Biscuit.  So many people were helping.   A gentleman with a drone, FB sites about lost and found dogs, friends who passed the information along.     No siting's.   No Biscuit.   Leonard and I were frantic.

During this time we seldom left the house.   No church, no senior centers, nothing.   We searched and searched.    On September 17 we both resigned to ourselves, he was gone.   

We had some errands to do in town.  While there we stopped at DQ for Blizzards.    I got a text message.   With a picture.    Is this your Biscuit?   YES.   Will he come to me if I call him?   YES.  Will he let me pick him up and take him into our house?   YES.    We are on the way.

When we got there, he came bounding down the steps to Leonard.   We all cried, including the kind young woman that found him.   As it turned out, while in HS she was friends with our granddaughter, and we had met years ago.

He was found one half mile from home.   Walking on our road.  Toward our house.  We were told to hang dirty laundry outside on trees, etc. every morning.  Replacing them the next day.  I did that.  Dogs will pick up our scent.   Is this what was happening?    

He loved being home.  And immediately went to his favorite spot on the porch.

About the clothes hanging on trees.   I am missing one item.   I forgot where I hung them.  Missing is my PJ top.   Maybe this wasn't the best item to hang in a wooded area.

I'll look again after the leaves fall.

Now about Gravy.    We realized he will run off again.  Doing what Beagles do,  And take Biscuit with him.  I tried to find him a home.   Talked (pled with so many. )  No takers.   We had talked to the local shelter.   They would take him but not until the 26th.   So, we continued to try to find him another home.   Our temporary solution was to tether him outside several times a day.   He was always so good while I hooked the leash.  Then when I unhooked it, he would run right to the door to come in.  He continued to follow me everywhere.  He really is a sweet dog.

September 26 came around.   With sadness and a few tears, we took him to the shelter.  I hugged him goodbye.   This was a 9 am .   The next morning at 10 am, a shelter employee called to let me know they were doing paperwork for his adoption!   He was there 25 hours and found a new home!   The next day I saw a picture of Gravy and the young woman that fell in love with him as soon as she saw him. A happy ending for all.

Until next time.

As the summer moves on.....

 Cullman,  AL

On this property there is so much work to be done.    We started with one acre mowing that has grown to over 3.  And weed whacking around the pond, buildings, trees, etc.   One task we kept putting off was trimming the holly hedges around the house.   Len started them a few weeks ago.   WAIT!  Let's make it easier.   Rip the dang things OUT!

And so we did.

We will be planting more perennials in their place.

One morning I looked out back.   Not only a deer family but a turkey family also.

Plenty of room for all.    Frequent visitors now.

I suppose Leonard was happy.   As I noted before, he rebuilt a gooseneck trailer.    JUST IN CASE.  Just in case the tractor had to go to the shop.   Cost to purchase the trailer, install lights, new tires, paint and new decking we have about $2,500 into it.   This saves us the $212 total charge for pick up and return.

Well, the tractor needed to go to the shop.  He loaded it and off we went.  Halfway there on the Interstate one of the tires he purchased had a blowout.   First time on the road.  I told him I would call AAA.   No, he insisted.   He would change it.  He who is on oxygen, has a bad back that they won't operate on due to this health issues.  

We pay for AAA every year.   Have not used it for several years.   But no, he had to do it.  Well, luckily a gentleman pulled up and offered assistance.   Len had the damaged tire off and the replacement ready to put on.  He realized he really did need assistance.   Whew!   Stubborn.  Shop says 5 to 7 weeks.  It's been 3.  Should I be concerned about the trip home?

Now, for the great part.   A woman a few miles away posted on the local FB page that a beagle was hanging around her house.  She was looking for the owner.    I saw a couple of her postings.  I saw the sweet face of this beagle.  I called.  Yup, we now have two beagles.   We went to her house, taking Biscuit with us, to check him out.  We realized we had met the husband.   He was here a few months back with a friend.  We were giving a hot water heater away and he was helping the friend take it out and load it.

I fell in love with this sweet dog.  He follows me EVERYWHERE.   We asked granddaughter Abby, who named Biscuit, what we should call him.   She wanted Cheese.  CHEESE?   No, we named him Gravy.   We took him to the Vet for shots, Etc.   She estimated him to be about 8.   Biscuit was estimated to be 3 when he adopted us, making him 8 now.

They get along well.   

Gravy

Gravy

Biscuit and Gravy doing their favorite things.

Leonard has coffee and a small package of two biscuits and sausage most mornings.   When Biscuit hears the microwave, he comes and sits in front of Lens chair.  Len would share his breakfast with him. Gravy caught on fast.   Len doesn't have much of a breakfast anymore.

Speaking of breakfast.  Wow the cost of eggs are soaring again at the stores.    We have been buying ours from a local farmer.   Two - fifty if you return a carton, otherwise $3.00.    Wondering what kinds of chickens he has!  One is even green. All size, all colors.  I suppose it would save on dying them for Easter. 

Until next time.

Loss of fish, putting Abby to work and surviving hot days.

 Cullman, AL

As I have often written we have a small pond on our property.  In it were catfish, blue gill and bass.   Every night about 5 I go out and toss some fish food into the pond.  If the blue gill were lucky, they got a bit before the cats took over.  A few weeks ago I went to the pond to feed them.   No fish jumped up for the feed.  None.  No blue gill, no bass, no catfish.   I thought that was off.   So I started walking around the pond.   There in shallow water lay dead fish.  Lots of them.  Then I saw some near the surface struggling.  

The day before a hay field across the road was mowed and I had cut grass.   The surface of the pond had what I thought was pollen.   No, it was something called an algae bloom.   Deadly to fish.  We lost them all in a day.   I would guess about 200 fish.

My thought was what about cleaning up the mess.  Should not have worried as the buzzards feasted. I counted more than 40.

When they got done, all I had to do was dispose of the skeletons.   We will not restock until next Spring.   Before stocking we will install in aerator system that will keep the water moving.  This will hopefully prevent another fish kill when the weather again gets this hot and extremely dry.

We have lots of growth around the pond and since the water is low due to this draught, we removed some of the growth.   Abby was a huge help with this project.

We have survived the recent hot, dry days.  But not most of the plants in our garden.  Being gone a great deal of the time, they did not get watered as they should.    We planned on having fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, watermelon and peppers up until the fall.    Not this year.

Abby had a great time while here.  She loves to eat out.

And join us at 55East for our Friday night outings.

Each week 55East has a drawing.   Three tickets are drawn from those who purchased them at $1.00 each for 6 for $5.00.    The first winner gets 1/2 of the funds collected, the next two get a free admission pass.   The first week Abby won $50.00.   When she realized she had the winning ticket she let out a loud WHOOP!   The next week she won a free pass.   I should say, we won because it saved us paying her $10 admission the next week.   The 3rd week, nope.   Luck ran out.

On a back road we often take we saw a newborn calf outside the fencing.   Several other cows were at the fence.   

We went to several nearby houses until we found two young men.  We all knew the calf did not belong in that fence but in the fence across the road.   They got a rope from their truck and tied her up.  They then made phone calls in an attempt to locate the owner of that property.

Len and I have been having difficulty sleeping.   We both tossed and turned all night.  We decided we needed a King size bed.    We shopped in town but didn't find any at the style we wanted nor the cost.

I have bought many items from online store Wayfair.   I found the perfect bed and mattress and at a VERY reasonable cost.   Of course, the bed had to be put together.

For the bed to be properly situated, we needed to move furniture around.  We moved our Queen size bed into the basement.  (Our safe space during tornado warnings).    We had the bed partially assembled when RVers arrived and Len and I went outside to show them where to park, etc.

We came back in to find Abby finished assembling the bed and moved all the furniture we had yet to move.   We are sleeping so much better.   Most nights this is biscuits bed too.

I have been purchasing our eggs from a local farmer.   They come in all sizes.   Small, medium, large. White, tan, brown.  All in the same box.   A recent box had a VERY small egg next to a VERY large egg.     Found the reason for the difference.

Until next time......