A trip to remember

 Cullman,  AL

I know, I know.... it's been a while since I wrote a blog.   Just haven't felt like it.   And we live a boring life so who really wants to read about cold weather, a spoiled dog and an even more spoiled husband.   But here goes anyway.

Recently we took a long-needed trip to Louisiana to visit with family.   Here they are:

Dinner with Grandson Nathaniel

On way to Dinner with Granddaughter Clara and grandsons Logan and Davyn

Biscuit pouting because he couldn't go to dinner

The siblings and spouses went to dinner one night.   Thanks Sissy for putting this together.   

This is Lens sister Laura

Brother Jerry and wife Irene

Brother Myron, Brother In Law David (Sissy' husband)

Brother Bobby and wife Charlotte 

Brother-in-law Fred

Leonard talking to his sister Sissy

This is Sister-in-law Susie and Len's brother Royce, where we stayed while visiting.

Daughter D'Juana who came in from the Dallas area, Lens Godchild Angie and her husband Glen.

  The five of us went to dinner then came back to Susie and Royce's for a great visit together.

Biscuit and new friend Tucker.

Grandson Jeremiah, at his 3rd birthday party.

Daughter Cassie with two of her sons Jeremiah and Logan at the party.

And no trip to Louisiana would be complete without stopping at a Waffle House near Baton Rouge to meet up with our friends Leonard and Judy.    We met Judy at a RV park in Tennessee several years ago and fell in love with her.   Judy, I know you read my blog.    THIS HAS TO STOP.   Every time we meet up, your Leonard picks up the tab.   Next time my Leonard picks up the tab!!!!!   We mean it!

Until next time.

VIsitors, gravestones and jail

Cullman,  AL

Here we are, almost through another month.   We've had warm weather.   We've had torrential rain.  We've had nearby tornadoes.  Just a typical January Alabama.

But most of all we've had lots of visitors.   So far this month we've had eight RVs in our sites.  Some as little as a day, others up to five days and everything in between.

It was our pleasure that two of our visitors were friends from our NOMADS days.  For new readers, NOMADS is a mission of the Methodist Church.   It's old people (I have no clue how Len and I qualified) that travel in RVs and do various projects throughout the country.   Our guests were Jane

whom we worked with several years ago in Mercedes, TX.   What a treat when she stops by.

Then there was Jill

who was on our team during our last project in Vienna, Ga.  

While Jill was here, we decided to look up a gravesite that we heard was in a neighboring town.  

Many remember Pat Buttram as Gene Autry's sidekick.   Or a wee bit more recent as Mr. Haney of Green Acres.

Keeping to that theme, yesterday Len and I went to another nearby town to find this gravesite.   

George Lindsey is mostly remembered as Goober Pyle, the mechanic, on the old Andy Giffith show.

I have a list of other gravesites we will visit as time goes on. 

When out and about with Jill, we stopped at

This is the second oldest Jail still standing in the country.  We had visited this site years before we settled here in Cullman.   Here is the jail:

Quaint isn't it.

Notice the holes in the walls?   I'll let it up to your imagination what the prisoners used them for.

Our sweet boy is on medication to ease any pain he might have with the pulled ligament in his leg.  He is so good.   Each morning Len shakes the pill container.  Biscuit scurries up to him and lifts his head for the pill.   Could not ask for a better dog.

Well, that is our exciting life here.     Looking forward to warmer weather.   Won't be long.  I see our forsythia bush is starting to bloom.  A sure sign of Spring around the corner.

Until next time.

Review of Holidays

 Cullman,  AL

This was a year that we traveled to the northeast to visit family during Christmas week.   But first.

As I've mentioned, the County provides a Christmas luncheon each year for the Seniors.   The is the first time we attended.   It was quite the event.   A few days after the luncheon the Department on Aging (I hate that name) posted photos of the event on their Facebook page.   I was surprised to see this.

I must say, what an attractive couple.

Our trip north, as is most times it meant a stop at nephew and family in VA.  It is halfway to our daughters.  This is Nephew Jason, great-nephew Lance and niece Kelly.   We are waiting for a table at their local Ruby Tuesday.   I LOVE Ruby Tuesday's salad bar.  The local one here in Cullman closed during the pandemic. 

Cold, bitter weather moved into the area the night we stayed in VA.   This is what greeted us in the morning.    

We took it easy and after only about 20 miles all was clear.

Next stop was at daughter Amy's in MD.   On Christmas eve we all took a ride to a nearby Christmas display.  The first night there they took us a local restaurant and we all had a fantastic meal.

Christmas morning.  Amy opening the "fruit salad" we gave her and hubby Scott.  Wines:  Blueberry, Blackberry and Peach.

For many years Amy has been a Dr Who fan.   We even managed to meet the favorite Dr Who (Tom Baker) in Philadelphia way back when.   Our granddaughter Charlotte is now a fan.   She was thrilled to get a Dr Who. dress

Granddaughter Abby had a Saturday morning job helping at a local antique shop.   It was run by an elderly couple who she became very close to.    Since working there, she has admired a 50s era prom gown that hung on a mannequin.   

A couple of months ago the wife died suddenly.   Of course Abby was very distraught.   Imagine her tears when she opened the gown as a gift from the gentleman.

After breakfast on Christmas morning, we moved on to PA to the other daughter's house.   

At Terri and Steves house we were greeted by not only them, but grandson Justin and girlfriend Karlie who flew up from Florida.

It was a relaxing few days.    We never much ventured outside for the next two days except to let Biscuit and their pup Cane out to do what they needed to do outside.  They never stayed out long.

As usual Terri did some fine cooking.

Our trip back home included another night at Kelly and Jasons.   We arrived back home to better weather than was here while we were gone.

New Years Day meant the usual southern meal.   Cabbage, black eye peas, rice, cornbread.   All prepared by son Lennie and DIL Lois.

So, another Holiday season is on the books.

Happy New Year to each of you.

One more thing.  I started writing a blog before we started full time RVing.  It was about our transition from a sticks and bricks to life on the road.    Back then we actually "did things".   I've continued to blog but less frequently.   Is really anyone interested in our simple life?   Is it time to shut down this blog?

Pre Christmas things and we have an ornery dog

 Cullman, AL

In my previous blog I wrote about the sick deer that was laying in our side yard.    Len had asked if the meat would be okay to eat.   We both enjoy venison.   The Warden said probably but would prefer not to take a chance on it.    He told Leonard he would get us some venison.

Last week the Game Warden called.   Two poachers were arrested, fined and their kill confiscated.  He asked if we wanted it.   Certainly.  A few minutes later another warden showed up with the deer.  Len called our neighbor Gary who is always such a big help to us.   The two of them skinned and cut up the deer.   Gary tossed a leg to Biscuit who just sniffed it and walked away.   A bit later we saw him come back for the leg and walk off.

We took the meat to a local processor and picked it up yesterday wrapped, labeled and frozen.   Six roasts, 4 tenderloins and 10 packages of sausage.   We are having one tenderloin today.

Two days after we got the deer, I noticed there were pine needles and mud on the carpet on the enclosed porch that has a doggie door for Biscuit.    He spends a great deal of time laying on the sofa out there.  I keep a blanket on the sofa to prevent most of his constantly shedding hair off of it.   I decided to let the mud dry and vacuum it up in the morning.   

When I went to vacuum, I saw the blanket also had mud and pine needles.   Most unusual.  I shook the blanket out.  Then I noticed the throw pillows had been moved from their usual spot.  Intending to put them back I picked them up and found this!

Needless to say, we disposed of Biscuits stash.   A bit later in the day we saw this in our backyard.

Biscuit must have been thinking......yum, 16 deer legs.

Ever since Biscuit decided he was living with us, there have been times when he runs he holds his right hind leg up.    The last two months it has been more pronounced.    We took him to the vet last month and he was given a series of anti-inflammatory meds.   It seemed to have worked.  But two weeks ago he started really favoring that leg and holds it up the majority of the time and runs on three legs.  Back to the Vet.

He is again on Meds plus gets two shots a week for 4 weeks.   We see no improvement.  So, after the holidays there will probably be X-rays to determine the next step.   The Vets suspect a torn ligament.

As I have noted in the past, we are members of the Cullman Senior Center.   We usually go just on Thursday as they have live music that day.   Cullman has a display of lights around a local lake.  One night it was free for seniors.   So we took the ride around.    Not the best pictures:

Yesterday was a luncheon of all county senior center participants.  There are several centers in the county.   They say over 1,000 were in attendance.   I am thinking we went to the wrong luncheon.  It was full of old people.

Lots of door prizes were given out, including two $250. checks and the grand prize of $500.  No, we didn't win anything.    This county does so much for the seniors.   This is a picture of the county officials.   Each got a round of applause.   Our sheriff Matt Gentry got a BIG round.  I have never heard a negative comment about this man.  They say he will be sheriff as long as he wants it.  At last months election no one ran against him.

 He is in the center in the Jeans and Vest.   A really nice and competent man.

The meal was turkey, ham, mashed sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, cornbread dressing, a roll and a selection of pies.  This is my partially eaten plate.

Not long after, the plate was empty.

Next week we travel to MD and PA to spend some time with daughters Amy and Terri, their spouses and kids.   It is predicted to be down to 11 at night next week here in Alabama.    I am afraid to think of the temps up there.

Until next time, have a very Merry Christmas.

Sunset, visit from Friends and an ending we did not want

 Cullman, AL

A few weeks ago we had a too-short visit from our friends Darlene and Jim.    As always, we go to Jim n Nicks where the guys order the 2-pound rib meals and the gals order the fried catfish.    Each couple share their meal with the other and still there is enough to take home for another meal.

A few days later we took them with us to the Senior center for karaoke and dancing.

Darlene loves our Biscuit.  And he loves the brushing and loving she gives to him.

At the center, this nice gentleman found a dancing partner that never gives him any sass.

A few weeks ago was that "Special Moon" that I forget what it was called.

And then a few nights later this lovely sunset

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Lennie and Lois.   Lois sent me a nice picture of all of us but it's on my phone and I have no clue how to get it on the computer where I do this blog.   Somebody teach me please!

We are currently having a two-week span of no RVers after being fully booked October and November.     They have been telling me they see armadillos out there at night.   I had been thinking it was crows digging up our yard,    Now I am sure it's those armadillos.   Last night we pulled into the yard after dark and saw one.

Also in our yard has been frequent deer.

Yesterday when we came home from church Len noticed this girl lying about 50 feet from the house in the wooded area.

We could walk up to her (about 10 feet away) and she never moved.   We were concerned.  We contacted the local game warden and told him she had been laying there about two hours.   Biscuit would get close and still she did not move.

About an hour later the Game Warden arrived.

He looked at her through his binoculars.   Both her eyes were glazed over.  She appeared to be quite old.    We watched her for some time.   Then Biscuit walked up to her.  She jumped up and ran with him following behind.  We called him back.  She continued to run in circles and bumping into trees and bushes.    It was evident she was blind and frail.    Sadly, the warden had no choice.

We don't know if she had been hit by a car or injured in another manner to have done head damage causing the blindness.  We hate to see animals suffering.   But it's still upsetting.

On a happier note, the weather has been fine, we are looking forward to visiting family in the northeast over Christmas and we are both as healthy as can be expected.

Until next time.