It’s Jim’s Turn

Linda has been hinting that I should do a blog entry every now and then, just to give her a break. Of course, anyone who knows me also knows that I don’t take hints very well, so it’s only been about a year since she first suggested it!

As Linda mentioned in her blog yesterday we went to Progresso to see the dentist. The main reason for the visit was to have my lower denture repaired (I broke a tooth out of it). Being the forgetful type I left the broken denture on our dining room table so we’ll be going back this Friday. Getting old is so much fun—especially developing a terminal case of CRS (can’t remember &%$#).

My honey was up early today and woke me promptly at 0800 as I always request. I promptly got up at 0900 as usual. Why I ask her to wake me at 0800 is anybody’s guess; maybe one day I’ll actually get up then.

I had a nice breakfast of oatmeal with toasted walnuts with my coffee while perusing my e-mail and all the blogs I like to keep up with.

It’s truly amazing how easy it is to keep up with old friends, new friends, cyber friends, and friends to be through blogging. It’s kind of funny in a way: we spent 2 months this summer in Colorado with Ed and Marilyn. We were parked right next to each other and spent most of our days together, yet we each continued to read each other’s blogs. It was kind of like déjà vu—all over again. They’d talk about us and we’d talk about them. Maybe we just like seeing our names in print! We have met and come to love so many fellow rv’ers that it just boggles the mind.

Linda has gone up to our little garden plot to get her tomato plants and some seeds in the ground. She’s back already, that certainly didn’t take long. She stopped at Amy and Dan’s rig on the way back and got to see Amy’s new Catrike Pocket cover—a grill cover from Lowe’s. Linda tried it on her trike and it fit perfectly. I think they’re less than $17.00 apiece which is a whole lot less than the $40.00 for a trike cover from a manufacturer. Can’t help it if I’m cheap! As Linda says: Cheap is good.

Looks like Linda and Anne are making a Wally World run (Linda hates Wal-Mart) and stopping by Lowe’s (are women even allowed in Lowe’s?) to pick up the covers for our trikes.

Hot dang! Vern just stopped by on his way to the dumpster to see if I wanted any of the throw rugs he was getting rid of. Two were pretty torn up so I passed on them, but the other two are in great shape so I latched on to them to use outside. Cheap is good—free is better!

Later: The ladies are back with their purchases. The grill covers are excellent. Very heavy duty and water resistant. Looks like they also brought home more groceries.

DSC_0001 src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lgkETTvWtm8/SvIlUSuT17I/AAAAAAAAB5A/vtIPfAz3Qwk/DSC_0001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width=244 border=0> New trike covers.

Scotty and I are going to fire up our Cobb grills and cook up some portobello mushrooms. Looks like Linda is preparing a salad to go with them.

While I’m thinking of it I thought I’d mention that I’m writing this blog using Microsoft Live Writer. Very simple interface and usability, and it works with just about every blog writing web site out there. I especially like that I can do everything off-line and post whenever I have an internet connection. If you’re thinking of starting a blog or even writing one now, check it out. Okay, that’s enough free advertising for Microsoft.

Later still: We finished up supper and I must admit it was very good. Who would have thought that replacing beef with portobello mushrooms would make a really tasty hamburger! The coals were still hot after dinner so Linda mixed up some butter, sugar, cinnamon, and other spices; melted it all, then cooked apple slices in it. Mighty, mighty fine dessert I must say. We hung around on the patio until a little after dark when the mosquitoes finally chased us inside. There just isn’t anything much better than a good meal and good conversation with with good friends. Man, what a great life we live.

Time for a shower, a little TV and computering, and another day in the life of a fulltime rv’er draws to a close. And we get to do it again tomorrow!!

Linda here, just wanted to add that today was gorgeous! Blue skies plenty of sunshine and mid-80's for the high. While I was off shopping Jim did the dishes! and he also did them again this afternoon. Now it's my turn to do the dinner dishes....Hope your day was as good as ours!

New Wal*Mart

Not much going on around here. Same old stuff. Yesterday Jim and I went into Penitas to the new Wal*Mart to pick up a few things and buy a newspaper. I need my coupons!!! This particular store has been in the making for a few years. The building was there, had a sign, then they took the sign down and it sat empty. That's the way it was when we left the valley last spring.

Have you noticed the changes Wal*Mart is making in their stores? A great improvement if you ask me.

Jim put the kayak together yesterday afternoon. I stayed inside and read my book. I'm still reading An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon.

Three couples cooked out last night and we had dinner at Anne and Scotty's. Jim and I had Italian sausage sandwiches with sauteed onions, green peppers and a wee bit of garlic. Anne grilled pork chops on her Cobb Grill and served us a pasta salad with black olives and pepperoni. Pat and Vern brought chicken to grill and most of us enjoyed a cold beer with this meal. We served up some mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. It was a nice get together!

When I got up this morning it was damp outside with dew. A few of the windows were wet with dew and it was cloudy. We did have sun for a bit but the clouds have all bunched together and scattered thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon. Humidity was in the 80's so I'm keeping the house closed up.

Jim has gone to the Ford place to get the oil changed and the leak checked.

See? Not very exciting....

Busy Day!

Yesterday Jim and I stayed busy all day and slept very well last night!

After breakfast for me, Jim skipped it again, I got busy with indoor chores. I threw some clothes in the washer, got dressed and stripped the bed. Sheet day! then I washed the breakfast dishes while Jim went outdoors to do his outdoor chores. One was working on our trikes.

Once the kitchen was cleaned up I got it dirty again! I had a roasted chicken that needed de-boning and I used the carcass to make some chicken stock for soup. Once I had that going I did dishes again, these RV kitchens get cluttered fast. Meanwhile I'm still dong laundry. Jim did some minor fixes on the trikes but determined that they needed a bike doctor.

Anne and I had made plans to go grocery shopping, we each needed a couple things. She came over just as I was straining my chicken stock. OK! change clothes and 15 minutes later we're on our way.

We went to Target and Petco, then we stopped in Chili's for some soup and salad for lunch. I had the black bean soup, which is tasty with the sour cream/cilantro swirl, and a Cesar salad. They brought out chips and salsa and we had more than enough to eat. We brought home half of my soup and the chips and salsa we didn't eat. Then we popped into HEB for the groceries we needed.

Once home I put away my veggies and continued doing laundry. I was able to watch a couple of my soaps, gotta keep up with the stories! I made a pot of chicken soup for our dinner. After working most of the day on the trikes Jim came in and showered and put on his jammies and asked 'what's for dinner'? About this time I get a text from Anne, 'It's Happy Hour'! So Jim changed and we headed next door. I took my tea and the other three had beer. Scotty bought a Cobb Grill and he had it fired up to cook brats. We were invited but I declined, Jim accepted! He never turns down a brat. I brought over some potato salad and everyone had dinner except me, I wasn't all that hungry. Anne brought out the fixins for the brats and the leftover chips and salsa.

While we were outside, Anne got a call from Pat telling us about a flyover of hawks, so we all head out from under cover to look. Turns out it was buzzards but watching them fly over so low is exciting when they number in the hundreds or so. The weather was wonderful for sitting out, we heard taps from the RGV Veterans Cemetery but no coyotes.

I was keeping an eye on the clock so I could watch Dancing with the Stars and just as I was going to go home Don and Jeni (Managers making nightly round) stopped by and then the swallows started flying over! Thousands of them and they kept coming and coming and coming! While all of were watching this fabulous show Pat and Vern walked by with their dogs so we all stood around chatting. Jim had gone home and turned on our outside TV (it's connected to the cable) and I was glancing at Dancing with the Stars. Not sure how long this lasted but it was fun talking with everyone.

Jim and Scotty sat outside watching TV for a bit, I went inside because I could watch TV and continue with my chores. The bed was only partially made and I was hungry by now and had some soup and a biscuit. I watched the rest of the dancing then showered and made the bed.

When I sat back down to finish watching Castle it was half over and I was bushed, that's why I didn't do the blog....

Thus ends another busy day in the valley!