The girls are here!

 Cullman, AL

Yes the girls are here!  The girls being our granddaughters.   Since they are now 14 and 17, their Mom and Dad, Scott and Amy had them come down via train.    They were due to arrive a little after 1 but as usual AmTrak runs late.  They got in close to 6:30.     Twenty Six hours on the train.   Amy was so nervous and could hardly wait until she knew they arrived safely.   

So first I took a picture of the train arriving.

And then one to prove they were here.

There was always certain places they really like to go.  Cooks Nature Museum up in Decatur (check, we went there),  Rattlesnake Saloon  (here they are on the ride down the steep hill in the back of the pickup they provide a ride down)

Jim N Nicks BarBQ  (they were disappointed as the menu had changed, won't be a usual request), Dairy Queen for Blizzards (did it),   Golden Corral ( did it today)  and McWane science Center down in Birmingham  (tomorrow).   Oops, also Sonic (probably tomorrow after McWane.

We took them to 55East one night where we go to dance.   They were less than thrilled.

As you can see by the faces they made.

Our friends Joanne and Dennis have a lovely pool.   We have been there twice with the girls.  Charlotte even got to drive their 4-Wheeler.    And all lived to talk about it.

They have helped around the yard.  Not as much as we would have liked as the weather has been terribly hot or it is raining.

And one night Biscuit slipped in bed with Abby.

They are fascinated by some of the small critters that make their home close to the house.

Summer is winding down.   They leave on Friday.   Hopefully the train runs on schedule.  Na, that ain't ever gonna happen.

Until next time.....

Four long rides, before and after

 Cullman, AL     

The last few weeks have been exhausting.   Daughter Cassie, who lives in SW Louisiana wanted to come for a visit.   Ok with us.   I tried to get her train tickets.  She and her 3 year old would have to get a train in Lake Charles that took them to New Orleans.   Then wait 12 hours for a train to Birmingham.  Altogether the trip would take at least 23 hours.   She was only coming here for 4 days.  So, not feasible.   

I tried to rent her a car so she could drive up. Not possible as she needed a credit card, etc.  They would not accept mine.  It had to be in the name of the person leasing the car.    The cost of airfare would be expensive and knowing grandson Jeremiah a plane ride might be a problem.   So what was left.  We drive down to get her.

Before leaving here we wanted the car looking spiffy.

Carwash it was.  The car looked great.    I should have taken a picture of it.   The beauty didn't last long.

Usually when we go to Louisiana it takes us two days.   We stop halfway, usually in Laurel, MS.  This time we drove straight through.    Almost 600 miles.    On June 13, off we go.   We spent the night at Lens brother and our sister-in-laws Royce and Susie.   We left Biscuit at our vets that kennels dogs.  We both hated doing that.

In the morning we picked up Cassie and Jeremiah who live about an hour from Royce and Susie and headed back to Alabama, stopping to view the sights in Vicksburg, MS.

The next day we went to the local attraction here in Cullman, Sportsmen Lake Park.  Jeremiah had a terrific time at the playground.   Almost wore Cassie out.

Len and I found a bench in the shade and mostly parked ourselves there.

Here are Cassie and Jeremiah.

And grandpop and grandson.

Visit was over on June 19.  Another long drive day.  This time we did stay over an extra day.  Dang it, we went to dinner with two on Len's cousins  (Joe and David) and their wives.  Forgot to take a picture.

Four 600 mile drives in 8 days.   But we took Biscuit with us when taking Cassie and Jeremiah home.  He is so good.  Did not mind riding in the back of the SUV.  As long as we take his bed, he is good.  We are amazed at how he remembers Royce and Susie's house.  Knows how to get out back.  When tired knows where his bed would be.

Once back to Alabama we picked up our usual routine.  On Thursday morning it's the Senior Center and Friday night at 55 East. Meeting up with friends.

On the 25th six friends came here for dinner.  Marion and Glen, Joanne and Dennis and Virginia and Russ.    Len grilled chicken and burgers.   I set out Queso, nachos and salsa and made baked mac and cheese.  Marion brought baked beans, Joanne brought deviled eggs and Virginia a delicious fruit pizza dessert.   We love these couples.    They are both Senior Center and 55 East attendees.

A few weeks back I saw a friend was selling a gooseneck trailer.   I made the mistake of telling Leonard.  He's been wanting one for the longest time.  It needs a lot of work.  New lights, painting, new deck, new tires etc.  Well, it's here.   He spends a few hours each day working on it.  I'm ok with it.  Makes him happy and gets him out of this recliner.

Yesterday a neighbor saw him working on it.   He stopped and asked to buy it.  You know what the answer was.

We dearly love our church.   But it was built long before people with disabilities were considered.  They had added a cement ramp that is completely out of spec.   The restrooms are in the basement.   

Construction of our new building is progressing.   First there was removal of many trees and clearing to be done.   Last Wednesday when we went to Bible study, we found this.

Sunday it looked like this.

Wonder what it will look like tomorrow when we head over that way.

Next week we look forward to our annual visit from Granddaughters Charlotte and Abby who are taking the train down from Baltimore to Birmingham.  Charlotte called me last night.  She now has her drivers permit.   Oh my.

I wish everyone a happy 4th of July.    We need to remember how very fortunate we are.   We won the birth lottery to be born or now live in this country.

Until next time.

Nothing to write home about.

 Cullman,  AL

Not much going on here.   Same old,  Same old.   Mow grass today, mow more tomorrow.  Wait two days, start over again.       Senior Center on Thursdays, dancing with friends on Friday nights.  Church and doctor appointments.     This is our life.

We desperately need rain here.  Pond is down about two feet.  Makes it easier for Biscuit to chase frogs.

Len pushed over three dead trees.   We cut up most of the wood.   I posted on the Local Marketplace Free wood, come pick it up.   A really nice young couple took up the offer.   I've had several replies since.  You snooze, you lose.     But this still leaves LOTS of small branches to clean up.  We've done a lot but lots more to pick up.  Our old backs can only do so much bending over a day, you know.

Len met with a back surgeon last week.  He will be having surgery on his back again.  It has to be coordinated with the high risk OR and his cardiologist.  Waiting to hear back.  

We are continuing with Boondockers Welcome.   But a lot less guests now.  April we were booked every day but two and often both sites were used.   We only had a few in May.  Our fifth June guest arrives today and another tomorrow.   Then our calendar is clear until July 4th.   

Once a host reaches 200 guests they are considered Hall of Fame Hosts and receive a sign.  We've hosted 248.   Our sign finally arrived last month.

We have two other signs on our property.   This one was stolen the day after we installed it.  They took and sign and post.   We replaced it on a fence post that is connected to a whole line of fence posts on the neighbors property.

We have another sign to hang.   It will be further up our driveway.   It is a Beagle Crossing sign and given to us by our friends Darlene and Jim.    It will be in place within a few days.

That's about it for now.   On Tuesday we take a quick trip to Louisiana and back the next day.  Will be bringing daughter Cassie back for a visit.   Along with her boyfriend and three-year-old son.  Then the next week we do the same trip in reverse, taking them home.   So four 600-mile rides in 9 days.  Oh my.

Until next time.

Luau and Zipping

Cullman, AL

I strongly believe that older folks live longer and happier when they make connections with their community.     About two years ago we started attending once a week at the local Senior Center.  We have made dear friends and always have something to look forward to.   

Last month local senior centers were invited to attend at LUAU at a venue in Decatur. AL.   We are told that approximately 600 people were in attendance.     Here is Len with some of our friends from the center.  

There were door prizes, various games, bingo, displays, etc.   A lunch was served.  Len especially enjoyed the blueberry water ice.

Disgusting!

Two weeks ago daughter Terri had a semi-annual meeting up in Nashville.   As she always does, she takes a couple of days, rents a car and drives on down here.   I look forward to those days.

While here she did her first zip line.   Our friends Terri and Brian opened Adventures at Smith Lake last year.    There are three lines, the longer one is the longest in Alabama.

My Terri getting geared up.

Getting ready to take off.

There she goes.....

This is a view from Terri and Brians house overlooking Smith Lake

Here are the two Terri's

Time passed too quickly and Terri had to leave.   Looking forward to her next trip to Nashville.

Until next time 

Ah......Beautiful weather. At last.

Cullman,  AL

It's time to turn on the A/C.   Almost.   I have the fresh air coming into the house.   It's a bit warm in here but holding off the A/C as long as possible.

Not much to write about at this time.   Same old, same old.   

I did forget in the last post the talk about Great Grandson Jordans birthday.   This year it was celebrated at a local Mexican Restaurant.   All was good.

We are still hosting,     237 arrives today.    236 just left.   We have received a sign from Boondockers Welcome to hang at the sites.   We are considered Hall of Fame hosts.   Len is working on a post on which to hang it.  Pictures at a later time.

We are still going to the Senior Center in town.  Usually once a week.   Tomorrow is their Luau which is in Decatur, a neighboring town.   

Two weeks ago they had Dress Crazy day.  So we did.   We were surprised when we got there that we were only 2 out of 5 that Dressed Crazy.  

Yes,  I wore one of Lens shirts backwards.

Lens shirt was made for him several years ago for his birthday by granddaughters Abby and Charlotte.  

We still go to a neighboring town on Friday night for potluck and dancing.   What fun we have there.

This week we are looking forward to daughter Terri visiting.   She has business in Nashville so will drive on down here for a few days.

In the meantime, Happy Mothers Day and 

Until next time.

Down with trees and on to the Spring

 Cullman,   AL

It's been a lazy few weeks.   Not a lot going on except for RV guests at our Boondockers Welcome sites.   April was really busy.   May and June have few reservations on the books.

We are still going to Senior Center on Thursdays.   Tomorrow is Crazy Dress Day.  Look on my next blog for pics.    And we continue to meet up with friends on Friday nights at a dance hall for pot luck dinner and dancing.

Biscuit is up to his old tricks.    We gave him the ham bone left over from Easter.   He thought his sofa on the porch would be a good place to store it.  Wrong.

I threw it outside.  The next day it was back put covered in mud.    Trash can was its new home.

We had a sweet family here a couple of weeks ago.   It was the second time we hosted three rigs at the same time.   They did not need power as their motorhome was equipped with solar panels.   This was a Trailways bus.  The couple took two years to convert it to their home.   How sweet is that!

The couple that left yesterday have a delightful pit/lab mix.

Try as she might, Abby could not fit through Biscuits door.

We had three trees in the side yard that gave up their life over the winter.  Len has knocked all three down using his tractor.

Our RV guest asked if he could help.   He is using Lens chain saw to saw into logs.   Len is resting here but succeeded it splitting a lot of the logs.    A lot more to do and then the clean up.

Leonard has been complaining about legs hurting.   They suspected issues with arteries.   Had tests done, not the problem.   On Monday we went to UAB where he had MRI of back and Ultrasound of legs.   A few years ago he had surgery on his spinal canal.   The problem is now in another location.   Looks like back surgery in the future.     As far as his legs, the vascular doctor called today and an appointment is made for May 16.   He was told there is a major problem with the veins in his legs.  Len says he is concerned but not worried.   I'm worried.

Until next time.

Continuing with visitors both new and old

 Cullman,  AL

We have now hosted in excess of 225 Boondockers Welcome members.  We have 19 currently on the schedule for future stays.

A few weeks ago we hosted a couple with a young daughter.  They asked if she could try to catch and release a few fish.   Certainly.   Within 20 to 30 minutes, she reeled in two catfish, a bluegill and a largemouth bass.    We had stocked catfish and bluegill last April after our total loss of fish the fall before due to an algae problem.

We've never stocked bass.   But our neighbor has.  His pond empties into a small creek that runs into our pond which empties into that creek and runs on down the line.   He had mentioned that he didn't know if he still had any bass in his pond.    I'm thinking I know where some might be.   

We have his fish?  But he has our duck.  When we were away a few weeks ago, he walked over every day and fed our ducks.    Our two Pekin ducks followed him home.   Unlike our other ducks, Pekins can not fly.   He walked back and one of them followed him back.   The other is still there. 

 I 've gone to his house with feed.   The duck, named Baby Duck, came for the feed.  But would not follow me.   Another of our ducks has also decided to stay over there most of the time.  We see Cookie here only on occasion.    We will have to take a fish net or something to throw over Baby Duck to get him home.   But unless the Bass can swim upstream, it looks like they are here for a while.

Last Thursday our friends Jim and Darlene arrived for a few days visit on their way back to Pa from FL.   We took them to 55 East where we have been going to dance on Friday nights.   Darlene loves to dance and joined in many of the line dances.  

From left to right.  Leonard, our friends from the Cullman Senior Center Dennis and Joanne and then Jim and Darlene.

The four of us

It rained all day Friday and Saturday.   But come Easter morning, the sun came out.  The four of us attended Sunrise Service which started at 6 AM.     The song leaders:

Pastor Paul Campbell giving the message.   Notice the sun has risen.

After service it was breakfast back at the church.

Easter luncheon at home.   Darlene made this fabulous cake/bread type dessert

Lunch is served.:

Our guests for lunch.   Jim and Darlene, son Lennie, Daughter in law, Lois, Granddaughter Maddie and Great Grandson Jordan.    Not a good picture.   Too dark.

Shortly after lunch Jim and Darlene pulled out headed to their next stop.

Now we have two whole days before our next guests arrive.   We actually have three Motorhomes pulling in on Wednesday.   We only have water, electric, sewer for two.  One of the motorhomes does not want to be connected to anything as they run off solar panels.   We will find a spot for them too.

And after days of rain and now sunshine you can guess what I will be doing.  I just mowed late last week.   Never ending.

Until next time.