The Truck part 3

Thursday was a busy day driving around in our new ride.  I had a VA appointment for a BP recheck.  Apparently I'm good to go because no one called!  At my age the guideline is 140/70 and I'm hovering around those numbers.  I expect now it's a wait and see.  I have a wellness check in March.

Our skies were overcast and it had been sprinkling so the car wasn't as clean as when we picked it up.  We both agree that it needs to be taller!  We don't like sitting that low to the ground.  It's difficult to get out of too.  The bolstered seats are like climbing out of a bucket.  Perhaps we're not as sporty as two old people can be.

It does have some features that a cool.  Like the backup camera, pulling into a space easily, it has push button start.  When you turn off the engine the dash display tells you to check the back seat.  Blind spot indicators in the side mirrors is right handy.  In case you're wondering our Ford truck is old, a 2000 model and does not have all the computer features as a newer model.  So this car is like getting a new Mac.  You have to learn a whole new operating system.

It was to early to go for lunch so we headed home.  It was cold outside so we stopped at Sam's Club to walk around and get some steps.  Managed to get out of there spending less than twenty bucks.  That rarely happens.  

Once home we unloaded our purchases and had pizza for lunch.  That should help with my blood pressure!  

The stress from the past couple days must have gotten to us because we both took a nap that lasted almost two hours.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing in our chairs.  TV viewing included Father Brown and Dr Blake on PBS.

Our new fangled digital thermostat isn't working.  Blank face and I guess that means no power is going to it.  Jim checked our power sources, nothing.  Checked online to reset it and it has to have power to do that.  So we've called the guy who installed it.  It will be Tuesday before we fit in his schedule.  Sooner if he gets a cancellation.  Meanwhile we can't use the furnace or AC.  Luckily the weather is cooperating with higher temperatures.  

All is right in our world

Mid September Update

Sunday

Hello there! I guess I better let y’all know that we’re still here.  Haven’t done any exploring because it’s been really hot.  But, our temperatures are dropping.  It’s been around ten degrees cooler during the day.  Of course that’s still in the mid to upper 90’s.  Each day the ac runs less and doesn’t start til later in the morning.  Shorter days help with that too.   When I got up this morning it was 67 degrees.  Not quite fall but  more like a comfortable summer.

Jim washed the truck yesterday. It’s good to see him busy.  I continue with my daily chores and crafting. Our only outings involve grocery shopping combined with eating out and going to the library.

Still watching Foyles War and Murdoch Mysteries from the library.  We’re both looking forward to NCIS this year.  I wonder how long the series will air.

Handmade cards because:

No one displays an email on the mantle

or shows off a tweet on the fridge

or saves a Facebook post in a box of treasures

For the year of 2019 I've challenged myself to 500 cards think I can do it?

16 September 2019 208 cards

The cards below are from the July Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' Up!  

We basically sat most of Sunday.  Football!  Jim read quite a bit and napped while I was glued to the tv.  Unfortunately the Saints lost and Drew Brees was injured bad enough to require surgery and 6 weeks on the bench.  I don't think he's ever been sidelined that long.

Are you watching the PBS series Country Music show?  It started Sunday night and it airs several nights this week.  We're recording it so we can watch later.  It's very interesting so far.

I'm back to dermatology this week to have some spots looked at.  Also have lab work and then next week a visit with my doctor.  Quarterly check up!

all is right in our world

What is your viewing pleasure?

Do you watch TV?  What shows appeal to you?  For the most part Jim and I like the same kind of shows.  Dramas, action adventures etc.  Of course we have our differences too, as in cooking shows and car shows. We both like HGTV and DIY shows.

Recently we've found we don't watch a lot of television.  For that reason we're dropping Direct TV and the extensive programming we have.  Switching to Dish and the basic package they offer.  Just seems better for us and we'll see how it works!

We have been getting DVD's from the library and we're having fun with series of shows, starting at the beginning and enjoying what we may have missed the first time around.  Sometimes when the shows aired you can miss an episode.


Jim and I both like Sherlock Holmes.  I thought Basil Rathbone was the best Sherlock.  All the episodes in black and white..Then there’s Jeremy Brett who was Sherlock in the 80’s. We'll have to see if it's available on DVD. Have you seen Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch?  We picked up season one at the library. What fun!  Not sure if we’ve seen all of them.  But we’re going to now.

We just finished watching the last season of Endeavour because a new season starts on PBS soon.  Endeavour is the precursor to Inspector Morse staring John Thaw.  This series is excellent!  Wouldn't mind seeing them again.  Did  I ever mention that we love British dramas and mysteries? The writing is better, filming is intriguing with angles and light.  Probably why American shows don’t appeal to us. The Brits just do it better!

Critters...we have them, from this itty bitty preying mantis on my plumeria

to this ten inch snake that was resting under the patio mat.  Wonder if he'll be there next time I pull the mat back?

Katydids!  Just a couple hang around the rig...but they have serenaded us for weeks now

Handmade cards because:

No one displays an email on the mantle

or shows off a tweet on the fridge

or saves a Facebook post in a box of treasures

For the year of 2019 I've challenged myself to 500 cards think I can do it?

12 June 2019 144 cards

This first card is from the June Paper Pumpkin from Stampin' Up!  Note card size and they having matching envelopes

One Sheet Wonder cards are fun to make.  You cut up 12 x 12 patterned paper and make many cards depending on how the paper is cut.  This is only three of them and I'm adding sentiments to all of them. The two on the left will be thank you cards, the one on the right will be used for the cards I mail out.  Perhaps to you!

Thank you for visiting!

All is right in our world

Stunning Sunrise

Our weekend was quiet...of course every day is pretty much quiet!  Not many folks are staying here.  A couple of rigs and I think two casitas.  Don and Jeni are the perfect hosts!  They don't bother us and we don't bother them.  You know, we older couples like our spouses and have gotten used to our routines.

Saturday and Sunday we had gorgeous sunrises.  There was a weather system that gave us clouds but very little rain.

This picture was taken Sunday morning and I couldn't believe how nice it was outside.  Around 0730 I went for a walk and the temperature was only 71.  By the time I'd walked a mile and returned home it was 76..and it continued to rise.  We're getting into the upper 90's most days.

Have you ever been plagued by ants?  We can't seem to get rid of them and I'm pretty sure we've had them off and on for a couple years.  I've found them in the wash machine, shower, our bed but mostly in our kitchen.

We ended yesterday by watching PBS and eating popcorn.  Today was laundry day for me.  I stripped the bed and dusted the bedroom.

All is right in our world

Where were you a year ago?

We were in Welaka Florida enjoying the mild temperatures.  I was also getting my eyes fixed!  I had some blurriness (clouds or big floaters) that was zapped and viola!  clear vision.  Anyway you can read about it here.  I can't be positive, but I think this was the last time we rode our trikes...

Jim is in hospital, been there about 24 hours and he won't get to come home until tomorrow.  The area where they harvested the veins for his bypass is still an open wound and the internist thought it should be seen by a surgeon.  Couldn't get into his office for 2-3 weeks so the internist admitted him so he could be seen by the surgeon on hospital rounds!

Anyhoo, there was an infection and he was given a broad spectrum antibiotic yesterday.  Found out this afternoon that the antibiotic will be given today and again tomorrow, at which time he'll be released.

Mostly Jim is just laying around wanting to come home.  Can't say I blame him.  He has his phone, iPad and a book.  But the inactivity is probably driving him crazy.

While some of the country is enduring snow and cold temperatures we've been having wonderful mid seventy days and at night somewhere in the 50's.  My kind of winter!  The forecast says we're getting a couple degrees cooler the next few days

With Jim not here I have control of the remote and what to watch on TV!  Tonight I'm watching PBS, Leave it to Beavers.  It's a rerun but it's fascinating!  Hunted to near extinction they're making a comeback and we're learning how necessary they are to the overall scheme of things.

The Weekend

We're settling and sort of getting into our routines.  We had plans to go out Saturday for a round of shopping the farmers market, lunch out, grocery store etc.  But Jim has been dealing with an infection in his gums and Saturday was a day at home for him.  He spent most of it in bed just dealing with the pain.  Anne and I did go to Rutland for shopping, stopping in Michaels and the grocery store.  I'm pleased to say that a lot of the foods I prefer to consume can be bought at Hannafords

The weather has been wonderful!  I think we had the AC on the first night here but haven't used it since then.  It's cool enough at night to run an exhaust fan with a window open.  I've even been hanging laundry outside!

Our guys enjoying some down time

Sunday Jim was much improved and ready to do something....anything!  The guys were busy with a project that took most of the day, again spoiling plans to head to a farmers market!  No matter, once they were done they enjoyed a cold beer while Anne and I had coffee, then we all piled into the car and headed out to dinner at the Wheel Inn in Bensen.  I know I ate to much but it was very tasty!  The guys pretty much cleaned up their plates while Anne brought home most of hers

After dinner we went for a drive while our beautiful tour guide pointed out places of interest.  Then one more stop for some ice cream (not me!)

We were back home in time for us to shower and watch Endeavour on PBS

Grocery Run and a Pleasant Surprise

Saturday 21 June.... we drove over to Lexington because Jim needed some beer!  He looked on line and knew it was sold at Kroger's in Lexington.  It's just a short drive on the interstate.  Most of the time we don't like traveling on interstates but all that we've been on through these various southern mountain states have been really pretty.  Not straight like I-10 in Texas and across the southern United States.  These wind their way up and down and curve through the valleys.  Around every bend in the road you see vistas, clouds and forests.

We did not check on the city before arriving and we were pleasantly surprised to drive right by VMI  and soon we saw signs for Historic Downtown.  We decided to stop and check it out. 

Beautiful!  We walked up and down the main drag and took in a couple of the side streets.  This little city is full of shops and restaurants and colleges.  Washington and Lee University was down a side street and the buildings and grounds are stunning.  Fraternity and Sorority house here and there.  The architecture is wonderful!

All this walking worked up an appetite so we chose Nikos Grille, a Greek restaurant.  Jim had breakfast (served all day), an omelet with spinach and feta cheese.  I had a Greek Salad.  We shared a pie slice of baklava for dessert.  We both had Mythos a Greek beer.

These two  church steeples caught my eye

R.E. Lee Memorial Church

After lunch we headed to Kroger's and picked up some groceries and the beer.  Once that chore was done we headed home.  We may have to come back to Lexington and explore a wee bit more.

I think we had BLT's for dinner.

Sunday 22 June.... was a stay at home day preparing for our travel day on Monday.  I got caught up on laundry because our next stop won't have a sewer hookup.  And we movied ourselves to death!  Free HBO weekend and we took advantage of it.  

For dinner I made a chickpea salad with tomatoes, kalamata olives, cucumber and onion.  Of course Sunday night we enjoy PBS, first watching a show about what's under the city of London and then the second part of The Escape Artist.

Monday 23 June....because our drive was less than 100 miles there wasn't any hurry to leave Clifton Forge. I made some biscuits for our breakfast and after we both had enough of the Internet we shut er down and started packing up.  We left at 1045 under cloudy skies and enjoyed another scenic drive through the mountains on interstate most of the way.  Then it really got pretty!  Farmland and pastures as we drove through a valley on narrow roads, some without shoulders.

We arrived at Natural Chimneys Campground in Mt Solon, Virginia around 1215 and had a fun time setting up.  Couldn't back into the site because the bike rack was getting ready to dig a trench.  So Jim drove around and came into the site by driving through the site behind us. Well He still dug a trench with the hitch but no damage.  The ground is soggy from recent rains and we had to raise the backside to make it level.  But we're all set up for two weeks with 50 amps, water and TV.  No sewer and no wifi so I may not be around much.  Our signal is low and who knows how long we'll be able to stay online.  Still overcast but the breeze was lovely.  

We sat out with a beer and you could hear the hum of the honey bee's.  There's a lot of clover here and the bees were drinking their fill of nectar.  There are also more flies than we've seen in a long time!  We then went for a walk and found a snake on the trail.  If I can figure out how to share the picture with you, I will.  It's on my phone.  Jim and Boo walked right by it!  We also found the Joust Track and the Chimneys

Settled in for the evening and haven't a clue what I'll have for dinner.  Jim said he'll eat pizza...

Happy Father's Day!

To all the dads out there, I hope your day was special.

We took a drive this afternoon and ended up in North Carolina!  It was a beautiful drive up the mountain on highway 58, known as the Jeb Stuart Hwy and we stopped in Bear Tree Recreation Area.  There are two camping areas and one of the camp hosts had a Mobile Suite so I'm sure we could fit.  But it is just the basics unless you're the host.  And no cell service or satellite TV...just camping!

We continued driving upward and like I said, we ended up in North Carolina.  When the sign said end of paved road we turned around and retraced our drive.

This odd couple hangs around on Laurel Creek behind our rig...not sure what their relationship is but they like each others company

Once we got back into Damascus we headed to the grocery so I could pick up a tasty treat for Jim.  I know he's not my father, but he is a good dad to Sonsearae, so I treated him to a peanut butter cake.  Of course I ate some too!  Talk a about sweet.....It gave me a sugar high and a headache...

Jim dropped me off then went and fueled up the truck $3.89 for diesel.  Not bad for this small town of 600 (or so we've been told).

This beauty dropped in yesterday while we sat out but didn't stay long...a smaller bird chased it off.

This little family entertained us for awhile.  Of course Jim was feeding them and it was fun watching them drifting along in the current.  The little ones even did some diving tricks for us

Since we've already had dessert, it's time for dinner.  I made some Cajun red beans with rice and along with some garlic bread we should be full in no time.

Tonight it will be PBS viewing for us!  

Lovely Weather Day

Sunday was a beautiful day.  No rain, temperature was just about perfect

On my walk I found some trimmings left by the side of the road and brought home some purple berries



As you can see they look nice placed with the cypress needle fronds (leaves?).  The M's are breaking out in blooms

Jim worked and I spent the day mostly on the computer.  I'm trying to update my blog.  How do you like what I've done so far?  Yay or Nay?   Also did some laundry, it's one of those never ending chores.  I watched Eli and the Giants lose badly.  And when Jim came home we watched his bother Peyton (Broncos) set another record of 4 touchdowns (16 for the season) in the game they won

We had our leftovers from Saturday for dinner and they were just as good reheated.  It was a PBS night on TV, we watched Last Tango in Halifax with Sir Derek Jacobi and the last episode of Foyle's War.

Neither one of us slept well last night so Monday is going to be a long day!  And tonight we will watch the Saints and Dolphins face off on Monday night football.  Both teams are 4-0 so it should be a good game, which the Saints will win...WOO DAT!

For those readers who don't know, we lived in New Orleans when the Saints were the Aint's!

Sunday at Home

Not a very exciting day but we did manage to get some chores done.  I did laundry most of the day.  I like having my own washer and dryer, it means I don't have to schlep to the laundromat.  Stripped the bed and we had clean sheets to sleep on...Ahhhh

Jim dismantled the ceiling fan and took the blades outside to clean.  We use the fan a lot and it can get a wee bit dirty.  He also put up the hooks for my new measuring cups.

see the Flur de Lis?

we've put them to the left of the oven using clear hooks.  I'll have to take them down when we travel but they sure are pretty and shiny

We had spaghetti for dinner with a salad and afterwards Jim did the dishes. We watched TV and ended the day with a PBS showing of Inspector Lewis

Just enjoying life

Yesterday was gorgeous weather wise. Not sure what the high was and we did run the AC but it was a pretty day.

We joined Diana and John for lunch at the casino. Senior prices and everyone was there! I think they bussed them in from Texas....John treated us with his winnings, said he might as well give it back by buying us lunch than gambling it away. Thank you John!

I thought I'd take advantage of the weight room and weigh myself, but they didn't have a scale....just machines to work out on in a space smaller than our home. I'm guessing the fitness center doesn't get much use. :)

Since we had such a good lunch I didn't fix dinner. We watched some TV and stayed busy on our computers.

Today was pretty much like yesterday. I did some laundry, Jim took a nap. We fiddled on the computers and watched TV. Tonight it looks like a PBS night.

The Spring Carnival is here through the weekend. So far the noise hasn't been a problem. We leave Friday so I'm not worried about it.