Quiz - Can you name these places?

Upper Deerfield, NJ

Traveling the country we get to see such variety of sites and sights.   How many of these do you recognize?

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How you do?    Oh, don't try to guess where that header picture was taken.   Not in USA, try Scotland.

Answers next blog..

We're still kicking

Upper Deerfield Twp.  NJ

Our time here in NJ is winding down.   Daughter has settlement on new house Nov 14.  Relocation company provides the movers, etc.   Looks like they will be packing up here for two days, then two days to unpack up in PA.

There have been 4 showings of this house.  That's pretty good for being listed just 11 days.  Hoping it sells in a reasonable amount of time.

We continue to stay at the house while Terri and her hubby live in a B&B close to her new job.  They return here Friday nights and back to PA Sunday afternoons.   Lots of sorting and deciding what to keep and what goes.   I have started packing up stuff of ours they have been using but don't want to take with them.    It will go in our utility trailer we will park at the other daughters in MD until such time we go off the road.

On November 15 we take our fifth-wheel up to Lancaster County, Pa until December 1.  It's not easy finding a suitable campground in the northeast during the cold months.   We joined Thousand Trails for a year following the free year we received from the dealer where we bought our 2014 Cedar Creek.   TT was having a special of $289. for the year.   Problem is, most campgrounds near where we want close in Oct.   The one within reasonable distance from Terri will only be open weekends.   Since I choose the Northeast Zone, we will be using it next year both near Terri and down on the Jersey shore.

The campground I found for the 16 days between Nov 15 and Dec 1 is  39 miles from Terri and 60 miles from daughter Amy.   All other campgrounds were either closed, too far away, way too expensive or the water would be shut off.    This will have to do.   www.floryscamping.com

As far as our medical situations.   Len had the staples removed from his back and told to do whatever he wants within reason.   Just needs to listen to his back.  He's been doing a lot of projects around here.  That makes him happy.    I am quite well.  I tire easy some days.   Other than that, life is good.

Leonard and spinal stenosis

Upper Deerfield Twp, NJ

Here we sit.   We are currently "house sitting" for daughter Terri as she started her new job 2 hours away.   What a beautiful house she is buying in PA.  Google:    535 S. Mill Street, Lebanon, PA.  and choose the one with the slide slow (the realtor's name is Molly).  It once was a grist mill.

Her house here in NJ is listed for sale and we will be here until it sells or Dec 1, which ever comes first.   Currently we are care takers for her 3 cats and one dog.    As least until we leave or Terri and her hubby move into their new house.  Our RV is parked at our friends house about a mile away.

When I say SIT -  how true that is.    Leonard had been suffering with a bad back for many years.  He was told 20 years ago to get surgery or he would be in a wheelchair in 5 years.  We got a 2nd opinion.  That 2nd doctor said not yet but Leonard would know when he really needed surgery.   The last few months, Leonard knew.

Pain radiated down his legs.   Was having trouble walking.   Feet had a constant tingling sensation. We met with a surgeon last Tuesday at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.    After reviewing Len's MRI, he told him now is the time.   While we were there, they got a call for a cancellation at the OR for Friday.    Would that be too soon?  Not at all.

So on Friday they performed the surgery to remove bone growth from around the nerves causing pain from the spine.    He was released Sunday.  Since then he has slept the greater part of each day.   But I can see improvement each day also.

Next on the agenda, he needs to get his shoulders examined.   Pain in both making it difficult to get comfortable.    One thing at a time.

As for me after the stroke,  I am more sure on my feet but I tire easily.   I have him to tend to which forces me to be more active.   That is not a bad thing.

Letting go can be hard.....

Upper Deerfield Twp,  NJ

In 1992 Leonard and I bought my idea of a dream house here in Southern New Jersey.

The original part of this old farmhouse was built in 1850.   An addition was added about 15 years prior of our purchase.    My daughter Amy researched the history of the house and we know who owned the property back in 1820, the cost and the parcels of land that were sold off through the years.

A few years after we moved in we had to replace the roof.   The roof was the original cedar shakes arranged on slats and later covered with shingles.   Everything had to be removed and we then covered with plywood and new shingles.

A few years later we covered the original cedar siding with vinyl.  The task of constant painting was getting to us.   We also changed out the old drafty windows with new dual pane ones that tilt in for easy cleaning.

We made other additions and changes over time.    The original house was one story in the area under the large 2nd story window.  When we put on the roof, we added a small den/office area as we only needed to add two walls and flooring.

Our next addition was this 3-season room.

When we bought the house there were ugly metal pillars on the front steps.  We changed them out to something more in keeping with the house.

Then we build this deck.    Note: The single story part of the house is the addition built prior to our purchase.  It is one large great room and a 2nd bathroom.

Len's favorite addition.    His work shop.   

We also put in a fishpond and added a bridge.

This we did not build.   In researching, we discovered these outhouses were prefabricated and installed by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) back in the 1930's.   They would come to the farms with concrete slabs already made, the walls, the seat, and the roof and them assemble it.   On one corner the side was been chewed down in several areas.   Attached is old electrical fence connectors.  Guessing the chewing was done by horses.  Can you see the wavy corners on the right side?   This might be considered the THIRD bathroom?

We built a garden shed and barn with tack room for when we had horses. Garden shed on left, barn and stables in back:

The house is surrounded by a nursery on all four sides.  

When we started fulltiming in 2010, my daughter Terri decided she wanted to buy the house.  This well suited us as it gave us a place to park when we came back to NJ.

Why am I writing this?  Terri has started a new job two hours away in PA.  The opportunity she was presented in this new job is more than she wanted to turn down.  I can't blame her.   So now this house will be sold   The relocation company handles everything on the sale.  Tomorrow they are coming to "stage" the inside and take pictures. (Can't wait to see what they do.  I'll take pictures if I can) Then the sale sign goes up.

We have moved from "Camp Driveway"  but still in the area about 1 mile away parked in the yard of friends who also have a house for sale and have moved on.

Our last pullout and with tears in my eyes, 

 But for all of us, life brings constant changes and new challenges.

We've been robbed!

Driftwood, PA

Well not actually robbed, burglarized.    Not in the RV but the cabin we own in North Central Pennsylvania.

This cabin was bought by my parents in 1967.   It now belongs  to my sister, brother and me.  It sits up on a mountain looking down on the Mix Run River.    If the Mix name sounds familiar it is because of the silent movie star Tom Mix.   He was born 1/4 mile down the dirt road and attended this one-room school house.

A neighbor rides his bike each day in front of our cabin.  He noticed a side window was open and a log set beneath it.  He called the State Police who notified by brother.    On Tuesday my sister, Leonard and I drove the 280 miles each way to check it out.   We got back last night.

Yup. things are missing.   The thieves came in the window over the sink.  The stove was pulled out from the wall.  Appears that one person stood inside and handed their loot out to the other.  The front door was still secure with a padlock

We took an inventory of what is missing.   Probably other things will occur to us when we go to use them in the future.

For now far we have listed:   chain saw, two full 5 gallon gas cans, 2 comforters (they left old scratchy blankets) , 3 Army cots, 4 folding lawn chairs (they left a broken one), wood that was stacked outside and the tarp which covered it, the grate off the fire pit, striker to start the gas stove, 2 cases of water, an ax and a shovel.

There were 6 cases of flavoring for the bottled water, all gone.    But they left a half drunk bottle of water (green colored)  in the bedroom.  There were bagels and hamburgers in the freezer.   They were not only gone but by the dirty spatula they left and the grease of the counter, looks like they cooked them there and took the electric fry pan to boot.   They must not have needed an electric can opener or toaster as they were in same cabinet as fry pan.

Guess they are redoing their kitchen.   Our dish pan and drainer gone!  Along with new dish towel, dish cloth and pot holder still held together with that plastic fastener thing.

We have suspicions of who it was.   Thinking we will keep an eye out to see if we recognize any lawn chairs in front of their camp.

On a better note, today was my last day of rehab.  YIPPEE!

Bill and Loretta

Upper Deerfield Twp, NJ

As most of us agree, one of the pure joys of RVing is meeting folks with the same passion for travel.
So that is just what we did last Friday.

I was fooling around on the RVillage site and queried who might be camped nearby.   I knew Bill Roach and Loretta Perno were somewhere in the area as they used to live in the town where I grew up and I saw their postings on Facebook.

To my pleasant surprise their names came up to being at the closest campground to Upper Deerfield Twp.   A campground where we have camped when we belonged to a Good Sam Chapter.   So I sent Loretta a message via Facebook.

We made arrangements to meet for lunch on Friday

Meet Bill and Loretta:

We found so much to talk about our lunch "hour" almost turned into the dinner hour.

Bill and Loretta, thanks for an enjoyable afternoon.   Hope our paths cross again

Goods days and not so good days

Upper Deerfield Twp, NJ

Today marks one month since my stroke.    I woke this morning with my usual light headedness and some nauseous.    It is taking me longer to type since then it used to - have to keep backspacing and correcting.   Frustrating.

Walking takes my full concentration.  Slow.  I get emotional easily, tears flow.   I've been shopping a few times - hate using a walker but I need it for stability.  Then I can only do it for so long, have to sit down and rest.

On the upside.    Saw my neurologist - said I'll make full recovery.   Had carotid artery ultrasound - no problems as well as no issues with blood work.

I see cardiologist this week.    Continuing rehab.

Still at Camp Driveway as daughters in NJ.   Changes going on here.   She has accepted a new  job and will be relocating to the Harrisburg area of PA.   An opportunity she can't refuse.   So house goes on sale.   This is the house Leonard and I bought in 1992 and she bought in 2010.   Lots of memories here. She starts the new job on the 22nd.  Lots to do to prepare for the sale.  We will remain here for a while until after Thanksgiving or until it sells.  

Visited other daughter and family yesterday in MD.   Love seeing our precious Charlotte and Abby.

Leonard sees a doctor next week about having the blood clot in his leg removed.   Also will see Dr. about back surgery.   Then it will time for me to take care of him!

So,  we trust these health issues will resolve and we can once more hit the road.  In meantime, I will enjoy reading of other folks travels.