Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Picking Up The Pace...

It has been busy since I last posted. On Friday, we tried to catch our breath after the closing on the house, but that didn't last long as Karen and Kenneth were all excited and ready to get started on their new house. So, let's go! Paint samples are first on the list.

Well, as you can see that is easier said than done. One is too pink, one is too grey, one is too yellow, and oh, this one might be just right, but, in the mean time, we have almost repainted the wall with samples. LOL

So, okay, so much for the hallway....

let's see what it looks like on the den wall. I will be glad when they get the panelling off, so we can be sure about our choice. Now, that the paint samples are done...

let's get this place cleaned out...The entry is ready and

the den is down to these 3 pieces of furniture. I guess we should wait to move those so

Andrew can help get that heavy stuff moved!

So, while the guys are moving the last of the big stuff

Kourtney helped me clean the floor in the motor home. What a big helper she is!
Now, is it time for that deep breath...not yet...
With everything now ready for the contractors to come, you would think things might slow down. No, not here...so on Saturday we went to

where we had a special celebration....

for our oldest son, who turns

this coming Friday. Happy Birthday, Scott...man I think I am getting old!

Happy Birthday, Dad. Is it time to cut the cake, cause I can't wait much longer?

Now, with the birthday celebration behind us...but no deep breath yet, it was time to take in a baseball game. So last night we headed to Arlington to watch


Zachary cover 3rd base and then

get an awesome hit. Great game, Zach, see you next week!

Well, all of these activities have brought us to today and I am still looking for that deep breath, however, I have to get back to my task of cleaning out my craft room. I am sorting

for a possible garage sale

and wondering...how does one collect so much stuff?
Well, while we all sort, move, and get ready for the contractors to arrive tomorrow...

Kourtney chooses to chill in the recliner with her bedtime snack and her books and we are all still looking for that deep breath.
See you tomorrow with more progress.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

The New Owners

Today, Kenneth, Karen, and Kourtney became the proud new owners of a house...ours. They are very excited to be first time home owners and we are excited that our home of 35 years, and of course the one Karen grew up in, is staying in the family.
They have been renting the house for the last few years and decided that if we were ready to sell, they were ready to buy. In, fact, they were so ready, that they have the re-modelers coming on Monday to tear the place apart and update what we haven't! Now, with that thought in mind, Mark has acquired his first "workkamper" position. We will still have our RV site out back for when we are in the area, so to earn his keep over the next few weeks, he has been hired as the supervisor of the remodeling.

Mark and I remodeled the kitchen and dining room a couple of years ago, so one of the bigger jobs has already been done. Therefore, they are going to start with the den, which is the only living area and one of the next biggest jobs. We have been busy helping to pick out new carpet and furniture, deciding on paint color and the new trim. They will also be taking up the old tile in the entry and hallway replacing it with a wood floor as well as taking down that 1970's panelling. You go girl, something I could never accomplish.

We will be packing and sorting stuff from the den over the next few days in order to be ready for Monday morning. I am glad I have a motor home to retreat too when the dust starts flying.

I will be sharing pictures of the process and progress over the next couple of weeks.

We wish Karen, Kenneth, and Koutney as much happiness in this house as we have had over the past 35 years. Memories have been made from the planning and building of our first home and raising our family, and grandchildren running through, and the back door swinging day and night. Now, it is thier turn.
And while we have become house less, thank goodness we are not homeless. But, my 40' is alot easier to clean. LOL. And, of course, we will look forward to all the times we will make it back here after traveling to all the places we have yet to see.
Just be sure and keep the barn/RV site open for reservations and keep those checks going to the bank for diesel!

Thanks for an easy sale...no for sale sign, no realtor, no commissions, just a few papers to sign. We love you...enjoy your new home!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Tuesday Treasures

We woke to a cloudy day, but at least it wasn't raining. So, after coffee and a bite of breakfast, Mark and I headed out for our morning walk. We changed up the route and got in 3.25 miles today. We just made it home when it started to rain, but it didn't last long enough to know it had even rained. We just sort of wasted away the the rest of the morning and the early afternoon. Before I knew it, it was time to pick up Andrew and Lauren from school.
I had been telling them about the new game, "geocaching". So today, Lauren wanted to give it a try. We downloaded three caches to the new Garmin, Oregon 200 and off we went.
This was our first stop and an easy find. Great job guys! We signed the log and then it was on to find #2

We found it was just down the road. If you look closely, you can see it too! In fact, Lauren saw it before we got out of the car. This one was a little more exciting as it was a box with trinkets.
Oh, my, what do I take, and what do I leave?
Okay, time for one more today
and it took us to this field behind the grocery store

and it took us a little longer to locate it, but what a find! It was a large ammo box filled with trinkets. Andrew laughed at the chair, while


Lauren chose a troll with pink hair.
Great job kids on your first day of geocaching.

Monday, March 23, 2009

A Busy Monday

Wow, I thought today was going to be back to normal since spring break was officially over and everyone was back to school and work. However, today was busier than ever. We got an early start heading out to take our morning walk. When we are here in Fort Worth, we have to go somewhere else to do our walking as we live off of a very busy farm road that is not safe to walk on. So, we went to our son's house about 2 miles up the road and walked in his neighborhood. We got in almost 3 miles and then headed back to the house to tackle the rest of the day.
I cooked most of the day. I put a pork tenderloin in the crockpot and then made a pineapple angel food cake. Then I made a batch of cottage cheese fluff. With that behind me, I headed out to the paint room to start on a book order I received while we were in Rockport. I got most of that done before it was time to pick up grandchildren from school.
Mark's main objective was to get a flat tire fixed on the Kubota before Andrew arrived this afternoon after school. It has been a week since he has been here and the Kubota will be the first thing he will head for. You know most kids have bicycles, our grandson however would rather have his Kubota. LOL And, this afternoon, he and Poppa had a plan to put the Kubota to good use.

Andrew and Poppa working on getting this stump removed

Guess that does it!


Lauren and Poppa catching up on all the news...you know he hasn't had any hugs from this girl since January and then

I couldn't believe how much Andrew has grown since I last saw him. He thinks it is really funny that at 11 years old he is this much taller than I am! I don't know what we will do with him when he grows up!
Lauren busy with her homework
and I am off to finish dinner as the rest of the gang will be here shortly.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Just Hanging Out

We have spent the last couple of days just hanging out. Yesterday, both Mark and I had doctor appointments. All was good, Mark got new prescriptions and got the okay to put his regular physical off until November instead of this summer. Dr. Cole was pleased with his weight loss and told him to keep up the good work. I am always glad to get those routine appointments out of the way. The afternoon was beautiful so Mark got his walk in behind the lawn mower. He reported that he walked 1.7 miles just around our yard.

As most of you know, we are in the process of finalizing the sale of our house...the new buyers, our daughter and son-in-law. We are suppose to hear from the title company next week. Yesterday, Karen and I went to Home Depot to get paint samples and look for wood flooring. Today we picked up carpet samples. They have made arrangements for the remodelers to start work in the next couple of weeks. She wants her dad to supervise this work before we decide to take off again. We also have been trying to get the utility bills switched over to her name while she is out of school this week. So far everything seems to be falling into place. Tomorrow, we might go out looking for new furniture for the den.

Mark has also been on the lookout for some new lawn chairs. We are wanting the LaFluma lounge chairs. We were hoping we could find a dealer in this area to see the fabric choices, but no such luck. We can order what we want, which is the best deal as there is no tax and no shipping. We just wanted to see them in person to make sure that is what we want before we place the order, but it looking like we are going to just have to take the leap and order.

I guess that catches us up for the last few days, so for now as my friend Joe would say, see you somewhere in time!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Nothing Special

Today has been pretty laid back, nothing special to report. We were a little slow getting up and about. After morning coffee, Mark got himself pulled together, showered, dressed, and headed out for our appointment with the tax accountant. One more year of income taxes behind us. The good news is that we are getting a small refund from Uncle Sam. I hope he has the money to send me when the paperwork gets there.

By the time he returned, Caden and Kourtney were going strong. And, Karen and I had a plan to make a trip to Costco's that included a lunch stop at Chick Fil A. By the time we had made those stops, it was time to head back home to put the two little ones down for their naps. Mark made a run to Walmart for a few items he was wanting. Then he spent the rest of the afternoon working on the jeep. We had a tail light that didn't work when plugged into the motor home. It took him most of the afternoon and until almost dark to find it, repair it, and get it all put back together.

After our dinner of grilled shrimp, rice, and salad, Karen and I took the babies, put them in the wagon and walked for about 1 1/2 miles. Then it was time for the babies to get baths and snacks. Jennifer and Scott had a dinner to go to tonight, so Caden was with us until after bath time. All is quite around here now and we have settled in from a nothing special day.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Fun At The Park

Today was Caden and Kourtney's day. After breakfast, Karen and I loaded up and headed for the park...

First we stopped to feed the ducks

No reason to give the ducks all the bread!

Fun on the slide

Hey, Moppa, you can't see me
Wow, what a fun day we had.
Thanks Caden and Kourtney for sharing your day with me.
Love, Moppa

Monday, March 16, 2009

Home and Hugs

After leaving Kerrville yesterday, we had a pretty uneventful trip to Fort Worth. We took 190 across and picked up I-35 at Belton. We had rain for most of the way, but nothing too heavy. We stopped at the outlet mall in Hillsboro, but I didn't find anything I couldn't live without. It was a nice little break anyway. Then it was on into Fort Worth. We stopped just south of town and filled up with fuel and at $1.89/gallon. We haven't seen that in a long while.

I was disappointed to leave Kerrville and all our friends, but that last mile or two home was too long when I remembered what was awaiting me at home. Karen had called and said all the kids and grand kids were coming for dinner, as she reminded me that we had been gone again for almost 3 months. I have to admit that I always enjoy myself while we are out on the road, but I always cherish the moments we spend at home with family.

Parked in our barn in Fort Worth


This is spring break week in Fort Worth so Karen is off work. So she and Kourtney will be here all week. Zachary may come for a day this week and our Mr. Brooks is staying with us all this week. Andrew and Lauren are with their other grandparents for the week. I will be anxious to see them when they return.


Mark did a little motor home and car cleaning today while I did laundry and played with babies. It is now almost dinner time so I will see you all tomorrow. I hope you all had a piece of the beautiful sunshine that made this a great day.

Enjoying the sunshine with Karen, Koutney, and Caden

Sunday, March 15, 2009

See You Later

In the life of an RVer there is never a good-bye, just always, see you later. Over the last few days we have had to say see you later many times.

This morning was no different as we gathered for our morning hugs and departures.

And before we knew it John and coach had stopped to pick up Brenda. It was great getting to meet you guys. Have a safe journey and enjoy Rockport.


Check Spelling
Rollie and Gina were next to pull out. Be safe you guys and we will see you soon.
Karen stopped by to tell us they would be leaving a little later and Kevin and Arlene will be heading back to Houston today. Well, we were all just standing around talking and waving and planning for another time when all of a sudden...

I found that we too were leaving!
See you all somewhere down the road. And until then may God bless you and keep you until we meet again!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Winding Down


Yesterday was another cold and rainy day. Several of the girls headed in to a shopping area just west of San Antonio. From what I saw when they returned, it was a good thing they had Joe's big truck, because the packages had to be unloaded before they could get out. LOL


Others went out for drives around the area and still others shopped locally in Kerrville. Mark and I stayed in for a real do nothing sort of day. I got in some computer time and a short afternoon nap.


Before I knew it, it was time to get things started for our last official eating frenzy! The menu was Breakfast for Supper...



Bob wasn't here to be our cook this time, but he said be sure to get the water boiling ahead of time. Mark and I gathered all the big pots we could find and follow as instructed? How is this Bob?


With the water heating, the others started gathering bringing with them all the ingredients needed for making eggs in a bag...


Who, would have guessed that Brenda would bring the Canadian Bacon! And she says they don't even have Canadian Bacon in Canada?




Deb and Brenda getting the things organized...


Don and Cheryl getting started with their eggs

Joe wants to know if there is a limit to how much can go in one's bag?



Into the boiling water....I hope everyone remembered to write their name on the bag.


Mark oversees the cooking



Gina's contribution to dinner was homemade pecan waffles...


and wow, look at the choice of toppings!



You better hurry if you want one of Lynnette's homemade biscuits.


Now if you have been keeping up with this adventure, you know that we have to end every meal with dessert.

So Brenda made this wonderful frozen peanut butter pie...no wait,



She brought three pies!

Donnie, Karen, Donna, and Nolan, oh my, is that Mark in the kitchen doing the dishes?

Rod, Don, Cheryl, Kevin, Arlene, Lynnette, and Mac

Deb, Rod, Becky, Rodney, Jesse, and Ginger


Rollie, Gina, Brenda, John, Joe, and Sherri

Again, what a great evening with great friends...however, as this party ended several of us picked up and took the party to John and Brenda's motor home. We visited, talked, and laughed until way after quite time! Then we all said our good nights and headed to our own homes.

This morning when we woke, it was time to say our good-byes and see you laters to Rodney and Becky, Don and Cheryl, Mac and Nette, and Joe and Sherri.


What a great two weeks this has been. I am sorry it has been so cold and rainy these last several days, but today, as Mark and I made one last trip into Fredericksburg, I was encouraged as I saw

the first signs of a Texas spring!