A bit of PA/MD/NJ time

Upper Deerfield, NJ

Monday May 15.....We left Alabama headed northeast.  The first night of travel we spent at a rest area in VA.  Seems impossible that at one time we would leave NJ on a Thursday after work, stop at a motel in Cleveland, TN and then drive on to SW Louisiana the next day.  A total of 1 1/2 days on the road (pre-rving).   Now it takes at least 4 days for that trip and two days just from AL to NJ or PA.

Tuesday, May 16. I had made reservations for Hershey TT park near Lebanon, PA starting the 17th.  We had planned on over-nighting on the 16th at Hollywood Casino near Harrisburg, PA and going to the campground the morning of the 17th.  For those not Thousand Trails members........when making reservations at one of their parks, you are guaranteed there will be a site for you......but not a site location.  When you arrive, you drive around to find one.  We find the best times of enter one of their parks is either early on a Sunday or Tuesday or Wednesday.

We got to the casino earlier than expected.  I called the campground and getting no answer, we drove the 14 miles to it and took a chance there would be a site available.  There was....in the location we prefer.

Wednesday, May 17. This park is 7 miles from my daughter Terri so on this day we visited a bit and to check out  their patio area they just completed extending.  Looks good!

Thursday May 18.   My other daughter and family live about 52 miles from the campground.  Amy is an archaeologist and has been on a project that takes her away from early Monday to late Friday each week.   I called her husband, Scott, and asked if we could come for a visit.  He said the girls did not know we were in the area and it would be a surprise.  We got there a little before they got off the school bus.   And what a surprise it was to them.  So excited.  Scott invited us the stay for supper.  A nice visit.  I didn't take any pics but we will have the girls for most of the summer, so expect many!

Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20   Grandson, Justin and his girlfriend Karlie, came to Terri's for the day, night and next day.   This is Justin with Terri and Steve and, of course, Leonard.  Karlie had gone to visit her mother Sunday afternoon.

Tuesday, May 23.   We had planned on leaving the campground on Wednesday the 24th but Scott had an overnight assignment (also an archaeologist) in Richmond, VA.  So on Tuesday we gladly packed up, took the rig to our friends where we Mooch Camp in NJ, and drove back to MD in time to get the girls off the school bus.   We spent a delightful evening with them and saw them off on the bus in the morning then we headed back to NJ.

Since here, it's been lunch with my cousin and brother, doing much needed clothes shopping ( no sales tax on clothes in NJ unlike AL with a 9% tax), a final doctor appointment with our long term doctor here.  We gave her some sincere hugs and got them back.  We have appointments back in Alabama in late July with a new doctor.

Next Wednesday we head to another TT campground near Cape May, NJ for our annual camping alongside my sister for two weeks.

That header picture......... Cane...... our favorite grand dog.

Memorial Day weekend.   Thanks to all who served.

As we get ready to hit the road once more.

Cullman, AL

So much to do when preparing the travel for two months.   Sure are looking forward to seeing northeast family and friends and then traveling with the granddaughters.  But first....

After the month of March trip and finding our shed was broken into, all buildings are now alarmed.  Both shed and garage have horse fencing over the windows.  Plus other security measures are intact.  This is truly a nice neighborhood but no doubt even nice neighborhoods have thieves.

As we were enclosing the shop/garage, a family moved in and then young ones were born.  Finally the young ones where kicked out to find their way into the world.   But for one day they explored the inside of the shop.

Last weekend our granddaughter Lindsey was confirmed into the Catholic Church.  We took a quick 4 day trip.  We left Friday morning and drove the 580 miles to Len's brother in Sulphur, LA were we spent the night.   Then got up Saturday morning for the 160 miles to Pearland, Tx where daughter D'Juana and family live.  Saturday evening we attended a concert of the Pearland HS orchestra at University of Houston conducted by son-in-law Joe.  Lindsey is one of the orchestra members.
Followed by dinner at The Spaghetti Warehouse.

The confirmation was late Sunday afternoon so the party was prior to the ceremony.

Len and grand kids...Lindsey, Alex and Jared

Here are Alex, D'Juana, me, Len, Lindsey, Joe and Jared

I especially like this photo to Len and his daughter, D'Juana

Following the ceremony we drove back to Louisiana for the night and then back home on Monday.

Yesterday Len mowed the yard and did some weed whacking.  This takes a bit of time.  It looks just fine.  However, in the afternoon it rained, during the night it rained, it's drizzling now.  So won't look fine for long.   He showed our Daughter-in-law Lois how to operate the John Deere.  We asked her to mow the front of the property a few times during the two months we are gone.

We told her not to mow the backyard as it is still full of holes, rocks, etc.  You can see we still haven't gotten to the end of the property as it goes back to those taller trees in the background.

We have a peach tree but unfortunately, the peaches are mostly dropping off.  Can someone tell us how to prevent this next year?  This is our fig tree.

Only a few branches have figs.  We hope to get them when we return before the birds.

We volunteered at Hinton Retreat Center in Hayesville, NC with a couple of other NOMADS back in 2010.  I remembered they lived in Alabama.  I checked and they were about 50 miles away.  Yesterday we drove to their house and got re-connected.   Nice visit!  When we return we plan to meet up again.  Meet Sandy and Roger:

The final concern before we leave is Sunday...... the cat that was left here by the previous owner.  I've yet been able to touch him.  But now when I feed him he no longer runs to the side of the house, but stays on the porch about 3 feet from me.

When we were gone in March, our closest neighbor Cindy came every few days and left food for him.  Last week we went to PetSmart and bought a timed feeder.  It is a Lazy Susan type contraption with 5 compartments.  We set it to move every morning at 7 am.  We put it out one night.  The next morning EVERY COMPARTMENT WAS EMPTY.   We know it wasn't Sunday.  He would never eat that much overnight.   Each compartment had about twice the amount he eats at one time.  We suspect raccoons figured how to turn the compartments and had an overnight feast.  So much for that plan.  Cindy has agreed once more to stop every few days and fill Sunday's dish.  In the meantime, he will have to hunt.

RV mostly packed..... we are ready to head out Monday morning!   If you are family or friends in the northeast... might be seeing ya'll.  (Yea, youse guys that's southern talk).