A Good Start

Well, the first leg of our journey has been completed.  It went off without a hitch; uh, that’s not entirely true – we did have to “hitch up” before we headed out.  But it was an uneventful travel day none the less.  However, it was a long day.  We prefer the 4-2-2 rule; drive no more than four hours, be off the road by two, and stay two nights, but we always make the trip from Rainbow Plantation to Cedars of Lebanon State Park in one eight and half hour drive.  Just gotta get those hugs from the grand munchkins.

We arrived at C of L at 3:45, set up camp, rustled up some grub, and then headed over to see the grandkids.  There will be more pictures of the little rascals later, but here’s a couple of pictures showing us tucked snuggly into our site.  Can you see why it’s named Cedars of Lebanon State Park?  We are “camping” in amongst the cedar trees here in Lebanon, Tennessee.  It’s hard to see the site through the trees!!!

 

We came home early and sat outside enjoying the cooler temperatures (78* – sure beats the mid nineties) with a nice cup of freshly squeezed coffee.  I know I’ve told you this before, but here it is again; I enjoy being next to my wife sitting next to me.  Isn’t that something?  After 40 years (the last seven of which we have lived in an 8 by 38 foot tube) and we still like being together.  We’re still sharing our “puppy love”.

Tomorrow will be a fun outing with our grand daughters.  We’re taking them shopping (Catia asks if can we go shopping for shoes?  Is that a typical eight year old girl, or what?) and then out to lunch.  Grandpa knows where there is a Chucky Cheese (he calls it Yucky Cheese).  That ought to keep the two of them settled down for five or ten minutes.  (Shopping for shoes!!!!  How ridiculous!!!) 

Actually we’re shopping for Grandson Rocco’s Christmas gift, some katt supplies, and some slacks for Grandma.  I suppose we’ll let Catia look at ONE (notice the emphasis on one) pair of shoes.  Yeah, right – I don’t think Grandpa, with three girl humaniods, stands a chance.  Do you?

Tune in next time to see how Dear Ol’ Grandpa fairs.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (I Thessalonians 5:28)

Random Thoughts On A Rainy Day

Today we got an unexpected reprieve from doing chores.  It is pouring down rain outside.  So, being that we had to play inside, we just sat back in our recliners sipping tea and coffee and reading in our Nooks. 

A while back we had purchased the e-reader edition of the Chronological New Living Translation Bible.  It’ not necessarily the best translation for studying, however, it is very “readable” and reads more like a story than some other translations plus it puts events in a chronological order.  For example, while reading through the book of Acts it brings other books into the historical timeline so that by the time you get to the end of the book of Acts, you’ve read most of the rest of the New Testament right up to Revelation.  For studying, both Judy and I prefer the New American Standard Bible.

Anywhoo, we can download books from our Public Library onto our Nooks as well.  I enjoy John Grisham novels, but we’ve discovered a Christian author, Robert Whitlow, who also writes legal novels.  We both like books that stay away from profanity, explicit sex scenes, and blood and guts.  Judy likes Debbie Macomber books and even I read through the Cedar Cove series.  Another good author is Jan Karon with the Mitford series.  Also, a fun series is the “Cat Who” books by Lilian Jackson Braun.  Even as we travel, we enjoy taking time to read; especially if we can find a nice quiet beach somewhere to plant our lawn chairs (Belfast City Park, here we come) and sit a spell.

The next three days will be a hustle-bustle of activity around the Patterson household.  Things need to be put into “travel mode”.  Other than an oil change, most of the “stuff” on the “Ol’ Ta Do List” has been crossed off.  The wax on / wax off is just about finished; just the top half of the front cap needs to be done.  In order to do that, I have to put the step ladder in the bed of the truck and back up to the rig.  It will be about an hour’s worth of work and then we can cross that off the list as well.

We can’t wait to see the munchkins once again – It’s all about grandkids, ya know.  Family is our main reason for traveling this summer.  We’ll do a little sight seeing along the way, but this year it’s going to be mainly visiting.  We plan to be back to the Plantation by the end of August or the first of September, but who knows.  We’ve been known to change our plans on a whim and do something entirely different.  All our plans are carved in Jell-O.

One of the main reasons for being back at Rainbow Plantation is to get Judy’s shed converted over to a quilting studio.  Also, I want to enclose the “lean to” making it into a sunroom so I can leave my painting “stuff” set up.  Plus, it will be a nice place to spend time with the Lord in the early morning.  We’ve ordered a couple of bathtubs for the backyard so we can sit in them and watch the sunset (we’ll only spend about three hours, or so, in them because I don’t want to seek immediate medical attention for anything lasting more than four hours).

I guess the main purpose of this entry is to get back into the habit of posting blog entries.  We used to post something everyday, then it was a couple times a week, then once or twice a month, and then nothing.  So, anyway, we are about to embark on a summer trip so watch for us as we are Wandering America.  We’re coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (I Thessalonians 5:28)

Wow, It’s Been A Long, Long Time Coming

Gee, have I ever gotten lazy – in posting a blog entry that is.  We have been hunkering down at Rainbow Plantation doing the things that homeowners normally do (even though our home still has wheels).  Slowly, slowly we’ve been striking items off the “Ol Ta Do List” in count down to our departure day.  In a little over a week we’ll be “hauling anchor” and heading out for a summer full of travel and visits. 

Our first stop, as always, will be in Tennessee to have a grandchild fix.  It’s way over due, we haven’t seen those little imps since Christmas.  After a short stay in the Murfreesboro area, we’ll head east for a short travel day to Raccoon Valley (Escapee Park) to meet up with RVing buddies Gene and Judi Curp. 

There’s slightly over a million of us crazy people out here who live and travel fulltime in our RVs.  Judy and I have made lots and lots of friends along the way and it’s always nice to meet up with each other here and there as we are traveling.  Gene and Judi are now “off the road” (that means they have moved back into sticks and bricks), but they still have their RV and will travel from time to time.  I guess you could say that we are “off the road” as well since we now own our lot here at Rainbow Plantation and spend more time here than on the road.

Alexandria, Virginia is the home of our youngest grandson and his parents.  We’ll, of course, be making a stop by there for another grandchild fix.  It’s been way, way, way too long since we last saw him on his birthday in September.  He’s now eight months old and on the verge of taking off on his hind legs.  Wow, time does fly by.

Next we’ll spend a little time hanging out in Pennsylvania to spend a day, or so, with Randy and Terry (more of our RVing family).  Randy and Terry were doing a workamping stint in Bonifay, Florida this winter so we were able to get together with them several times over the past few months.

We’ll continue making our way northeast and eventually end up in Belfast, Maine where Matt, Jackie, and kids (from TN); Mary, Joel, and Josiah (from VA); and Marc, Amie, and kids (from NH) will show up for a family reunion on the 5th of July.  My brother’s kids and grandkids will be joining us as well as other relatives who live in the area.  It will be the first time in several dawg years that the Pattersons have all been together at one time.

While in Belfast, we’ll be sure to look up Gary and Millie, who are the campground managers here at Rainbow Plantation each November through May.  They are originally from Rockland and will be spending time with Gary’s sister in Belfast this summer.  I’m sure that Mike and Peggy will show up from Topsham for a day trip sometime while we’re in Belfast, but we’ll be spending a week in their neck of the woods later in July.

Okay, here’s where things get a little murky.  Somewhere in the plans is a stop by in Litchfield, Connecticut to visit with my aunt Marge and cousins on our way to Michigan.  We’ll be visiting our son as well as Judy’s sister and brother in Michigan toward the end of the summer.  Of course, there are more RVing friends, Ray and Pat in Mecosta, Michigan, where we’ll stay for about week or so.  

There is talk of a trip to Ashville, NC,  Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA on our way home with a stop over in western Georgia to visit with Mike and Gerri (more RVing friends who are now also “off the road”).  Or, there’s also a pie in the sky plan to travel west from Michigan with Mike and Peggy.  That would take us through South Dakota (Mount Rushmore), to Yellowstone National Park, then turn south to Zion National Park in Utah, and then onto the Grand Canyon before heading home.  Anyone have a quarter to flip?  In any event, come September (or October), you’ll find us back at Rainbow Plantation sitting on our front porch in our rockers – the “Old Folks At Home”.

Well, there you have it for now.  Maybe I can get on schedule and do more timely updates as we are traveling this summer.  You’ll probably have to indulge a Grandpa spinning a few yarns about the grandkids, but we’ll be sure to post some pictures of the scenery along the way as well.  So, hang in there, we’re about to “head ‘em up and roll ‘em out”.  In the meantime, it’s “wax on, wax off” as we continue to ready the coach for travel.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (I Thessalonians 5:28)

“It’s About Time”, Update!!!

Wow, time just goes flying by.  We’ve kept ourselves busy with lots of busy work, but not a whole lot newsworthy.  As you know, we moved onto our lot on the 1st and on the 2nd I trimmed all the trees along the driveway side in preparation for arrival of our company. 

Mike and Peggy arrived on the 3rd of the month so the first item of business was to upgrade the hookups here at the Patterson Lower Alabama Rainbow Plantation RV Annex Resort.  With a couple of trips to Home Depot and some “Emmanuel” labor we had the 50 amp power upgrades and the satellite sewer dump installed.  Then we focused on leveling the shed and installing the hurricane anchors.  The big upgrade is to remodel Judy’s Studio, however, our budget is groaning so we’ll have to hold off on that for awhile .

Here’s a photo of our rigs parked at the Patterson Lower Alabama Rainbow Plantation RV Annex Resort located just around the corner from Norm and Linda Payne’s Lower Alabama Rainbow Plantation RV Annex Resort. 

Not everyone has been busy with the upgrades; someone has to supervise and make sure that the katt nap schedule is strictly adhered to.

Mardi Gras came early this year leading to merriment, mayhem, and misbehavior.  Each year a King and Queen are chosen to oversee all of the festivities.  On Friday, the 8th, we have a kickoff dinner at the Rainbow Plantation Clubhouse.  Dessert is the King Cake, in our case cupcakes, and whoever finds the baby in their cupcake becomes the King and Queen.  Well, guess what I found in my cupcake?  You guessed it, yours truly became King and Linda Payne became Queen.  Here are a couple of pictures of the royalty along with their Pages.  This year’s theme was the Roaring 20’s so our Pages did well to play the part.

 

The King and Queen were chauffeured around in nice chariots – the King had a Mustang convertible while the Queen had to suffer in a Thunderbird convertible.  We would arrive in our chariots for each day’s event/s and make our entrance with much revelry, rambunctiousness, and bead throwing.

 

There were plenty of skits presented for the pleasure of the King and Queen, not to mention that the King and Queen performed plenty of antics themselves.  Here the Royal Teddy Bears were paraded onto the stage.  These Teddy Bears were born right on the premises of the the Plantation.  One of the ladies has a “Teddy Bear” class where both men and women make their very own bear.  Note Judy and Bear all decked out for Mardi Gras in the second picture.

 

Here’s a couple more pictures of the fun and costuming.  Who says we “Keenagers” don’t know how to have fun!!  It was five days frolicking, fun, and fanaticism.  Finally the King and Queen are dethroned and next year’s theme is announced; Flower Power – remember the late sixties and early seventies?  It ought to be a lot of fun.  Can anyone say “Tie Dye?”

 

Many moons ago I promised to show some of Judy’s crafts (once Christmas was over).  Well, Christmas is long gone and I’ve still not done what I said I would, so here are some samples of her crafts.  You saw the Teddy Bear above, but her major “craft” is quilting.  Here are some of her past and present quilts.  The first two are grandchildren quilts.

 

The number quilt was for baby Josiah’s birth and the second is a decorative table mat.  There’s lots and lots of different types of quilting that can be done for decorating around the house.

 

Then, of course, there’s the quilts for us.  Here I am, with thumb in mouth, napping with my “man quilt” and Judy with her “scrappy quilt of many colors”.  The top of her quilt has been finished, it just needs the batting and backing applied and the quilting completed.

Other craft projects include crocheting (here is a blanket for Rocco with Alex inspecting the quality) and knitting (a ruffle scraf),

 

some pillow cases for the grandkids,

 

and beaded jewelry of different types and styles.

  

Then there are other sewing projects such as various types of tote bags, purses, baby mats, etc..  As you can see, Judy can stay quite busy with her crafts; it keeps her “off the streets and out of trouble”.

  

We have been enjoying Mike and Peggy’s company.  My brother, Mike, and his wife, Shauna, will be stopping by for a visit next week.  Then Randy and Terry will be heading our way for a short visit in early March.  We love visitors.

One last thing, I had to do It.  I had to breakdown and buy a lawn mower.  Yep, being a land owner does have some draw backs, however, I really don’t mind a little yard work here and there (put an emphasis on the word little).  It will give me something to do which will keep me “off the streets and out of trouble”.

Well, thar ya have it, as you can see, we are still well and alive in Lower Alabama.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (I Thessalonians 5:28)

A Tour Of Our Home Sweet Home

Today is the day that we finally took possession of our “new to us” lot in Rainbow Plantation.  Judy and I rode our bikes over first to look everything over before we brought the RV over.  When we arrived at our site, this is what we found. 

We are now living just around the corner from Norm and Linda Payne.  Don and Gloria Martin (Norm’s sister) are parked on their lot so the pranksters were busy awaiting our arrival.

This is what our lot looks like with no one parked on it.  As you can see, there is plenty of room for us to build a nice little cottage style home in the future (probably sooner rather than later).  It’s a half acre lot.

Here we are, all set up and starting our daily living routine.

And here are some photos taken from the patio around the neighborhood; looking to the left, looking oblique left, looking straight ahead, and looking oblique right.

   

And now for a few shots of the backyard taken from our dining room window.  The shed with the extended roof will become Judy’s craft room.  We’ll have another patio off that shed where our barbeque grill will set (just as soon as we buy one).  The little shed will be for yard equipment.

 

Dick and Pat stopped by delivering some balloons to celebrate the occasion – thanks guys.  Here’s a shot of our patio with the balloons flying high.

As you can see, we’ll be right nice and comfy in our new site “down home”.  So, if you ever get down by the bay, drop in!!!  In the meantime, we’ll try to be a little more faithful in updating our blog, but don’t hold your breath waiting for the next blog entry!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (I Thessalonians 5:28)