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Getting there

Well the day is getting closer and we leave for Tennessee. I will be blogging and taking photos I am sure. The kids are excited. Our trip may be delayed a couple days as a gentleman called tonight to look at my truck I have for sale and it will be Friday before that can happen.

I got new tires on my dually today and it feels great....only I got it home to realize Mud and Snows were put on...not highway as was ordered:0/ So back to the shop tomorrow to see what's up. Hoping they put the wrong ones on by accident and the ones we ordered are still sitting at the shop. I never expect to see this truck in the back country...ever! That is why we got Carl his play truck it is 4wd and I don't care what happens to it....it is just that...play time it can go get dirty, have fun whatever...MY truck is for hauling the 5vr and highway, site seeing, fun stuff.

So not much lately really to update. I turned 34 a couple days ago and Kelda made me an awesome devils food cake topped with strawberries and in between the two layers she put vanilla pudding...it was delish. Inger made me a necklace...her newest hobby in her line of arts is making jewelry...beaded and otherwise. She has 3 more in the works right now, Benjamin gave me a pinky ring and Carl is doing what he can to make this necessity trip to TN happen.


We were enjoying gorgeous weather...80's then suddenly dropped into the 30/40's and snowed ON MY BIRTHDAY...you know I have a June bday for a reason...I like warm weather! It was crazy but didn't stick around except in the high country.

Lets see what else can I update...OH Benjamin's puppy was born that he has been working so hard towards. Most likely he is taking the front black female. The white collared one I think the owners will end up keeping (it was his first pick) and have already named her Jewel because on her belly she has a perfect white diamond shape. Benjamin has already named his girl Chip and has John Deere leash and collar set picked out now to find a matching halter for walking. She is what is called a Pomchi...Pomeranian Chichuaua. They are mostly Poms though. I still can't believe Carl said yes he could have one...and look she is already a poser...must be meant to be in our home:))



Ok well I suppose that is it for now...I will begin updating as we start hitting the road. Happy Trails

15 years

click on photo to see larger

Well Carl was working on our anniversary. So yesterday after he finally got off his shift we went to Wheat Montana for biscuits and gravy breakfast. Went did laundry while we had no kids. Came home put it all away take kids and dog out for a 1 1/2 mile hike. Came home take a 30 min nap not realizing how late it was. Get up I shower and dress for dinner and he and I went to Applebees for dinner. Don't get too excited...service sucked the waiter stopped 3 times that is it and wasn't busy, he didn't offer us more drink until he was offering us our ticket!! Food wasn't bad, but not hot like you would expect. Tip? YEAH DIDN'T HAPPEN! And sine when do waiters/waitress' get to wear shorts?? Anyhow went and got ice cream to take home and have desert with the kids, popped in a movie in which I of course fell asleep on. So we must be getting old that was as good as it got...lol. Had togetherness time and that was good since we don't get alot of that with how much he works.

Morning Walks

Since the weather has gotten nicer I have taken over Paige's morning walks. Normally every morning we see ducks swimming or even flying over head. This morning we heard them but they weren't swimming...it rained all night and it is still a bit chilly this morning.

Where we are staying is 40 acres of heaven. Total wooded acreage with many differing location paths in which to walk on, go sit by the river you name it. It isn't but a 1/4 mile walk to get to this area. Once in there Paige can just run to her hearts content or I have to call her back due to ducks which seem to appeal to her!! I normally forget my cellphone but this morning remembered it:0) So I got a couple shots with the phones camera not the best but gives the idea.

Anyhow just thought I would share my morning peace. I am off to have more coffee and get my day going. Have an awesome week!!

Blogging updates

Well as I have stated many times I hate political talk on MY blog so started another blog just for Political issues. I will be deleting all from this blog concerning politics. If you would like to continue following feel free to go to MY Political Views & Thoughts Blog .

Just Busy

We have just been busy and I haven't really been updating my blog. I have new photos to post from Easter Sunday, Benjamin's birthday and the like and I will probably collage them soon.

I have a dear friend that has been thru well not sure where what really but anything she could do wrong has gone wrong! I have been trying to help her where I could, got moved to Bozeman, hikes with the kids and dog, typical errands stuff of life, Shelter this week, meeting new people, homeschoolers, working on planning our next trip to hmmm I don't know...probably Idaho, then Wyoming and by June Tennessee maybe or this trip may well wait until fall shall see, I know early July Wyoming as my brother is getting married. I have tons of political news to report, but really maybe I should start a whole new blog on politics as I hate when my personal family blog gets bogged down with political mess, but sometimes I just feel the need to let it all out in how I feel, or to report things I feel is necessary to be heard. Something to ponder I guess for another day.

Yesterday made jelly...ever used juice to make jelly? VERY simple!! Today made muffins from scratch for breakfast and made yummy butter. Dinners menu is baked tacos:0) But for now I think a nap is in order as the phone was ringing nonstop all night as apparently people had many car issues last night:0/ Some days I can't wait until Carl leaves this job overall not bad employers but I know he isn't happy and will only be when he returns to working with horses. I am being patient as I know first things first securing our finances a bit before leaving a secure job.

Steel Magnolias

Have you ever had a movie impact you so deeply and not really understand or know why? This happened to me years ago after my mom, a couple friends and I went to see the movie Steel Magnolias in the theaters. I never understood really what it was about the movie that made such an impact or why I HAD to watch this movie from time to time.

I would say the past month I have watched this movie...long movie 4 times and haven't fallen asleep like there is a message I need to be getting from the movie. Sometimes when I look at a photo of loved ones esp those passed on they seem distant even in the photo. What is scaring me is in our 4 generation photo from when I was 17 in our pjs my mama to me is feeling distant in this photo. She feels kinda in the background like my grandmother ...her mother...that has passed on. This scares me since we aren't speaking at this time and I am really battling with what to do. I LOVE my mama but I don't want her to think I am sorry for speaking my mind, because I am not, what I am sorry for is it has led us to not speak really for the past year. This is hurting me deep down. When she had her car accident a couple years ago I KNEW 2 hrs before I got the phone call....I didn't really know it wasn't confirmed and no one answered when I tried to call. The kids and I were enjoying a day by the pool and suddenly out of the blue before I knew what was being said I blurted out my mama's in the hospital. I strongly believe in ESP and I KNOW my mama and I have this strong connection. 2 hrs later I got a call from my brother telling me our mom was in a bad car accident and in the hospital. So when I had that esp moment was about the timing of her accident.

We are both so bull headed neither is budging on our little falling out on our difference of opinion. Given history I know I will be the one to cave! I will NOT apologize however, only make sure she KNOWS I love her. Heck I hope maybe secretly she reads my blog not and then and even if she leaves an anonymous vague msg I will feel better. I know she still loves me but we are both just so darned pig headed...but it is how we roll and get thru life. Guess maybe true to our southern roots....we are both strong women and she raised me that way so I come by it honestly ya know.

anyhow I don't know the connection...yet with Steel Magnolias and my deep desire that I must watch it lately, but I am sure in time I will know and understand and will be back to blog about it. Maybe it is connected to my mama in some way after how I see her in this photo. I hope it isn't what I fear and only that we have drifted apart and need to come back together...that I what I pray it means. But I fear there is deeper meaning behind it all and need to just quit being a stubborn southern raised girl and just take that first step...maybe I dont' know give me a little time and we shall see what life throws our way.

We will see each other in July when my brother gets married so you just never know what lifes funny little things will come into play. But mama if you read this...I LOVE YOU that never stopped, but I also am not going to apologize for how I feel or what I said as I am sure it is the same on your end...to each their own and lets just get over this and move on. One thing I learned from daddy''s passing away is life is too short you don't know what tomorrow shall bring. Every death in the family we have endured the past 13 yrs in this family has been one step closer to making me who I am now. You raised me with good values and some of daddys last conversations with me really impacted me after he passed away. It took time for me to soak it all in and be the person I am now, even if you don't think that is right, but they are with my roots in tact and raise my kids as such.

We are polite, that famous Southern hospitality is no myth, and we are friendly to a fault, but don't cross us, for under that magnolia-scented Southern exterior is a steel hard, rust proof center that it's best to avoid running into. I am also a HUGE fan of Scarlett O'Hara might have advocated tomorrow, "for tomorrow is another day" but let me tell you, that was not about procrastination or weakness, that was about hope and strength and rebuilding from rubble and tenacity. . . .its a clean slate! That is a part of and the heart of the South that I believe is under appreciated but also what brings on how stubborn we both are.

April Showers in Montana

the steps into the rv

trees out my door

our picnic table

THIS IS WHAT WE WOKE TO TODAY on this April 15th big tax day!!!!
Started ever so slightly yesterday enough to keep me home and cancel a photoshoot. Today if I didn't get the 4wd I wouldn't be attending the Tea Party rally in Bozeman. But I did just get the truck so the kids and I are prepping to be on our way:)

Park Day

Ok enough traveling back and forth to Bzmn! Sun is out again so off we went with this last minute bright idea of a picnic at the park:0) I think the photos will speak for themselves;0) We had a blast and they ran off some energy! Paige was a pita I need to get her out more as all she does is bark at people. She has always done this though even when she was being very socialized and really the main reason I quit taking her near people as the one thing I can't stand is a barky dog! Bark when there is a reason otherwise I don't want to know you have a voice....lol. anyhow we had fun now working on what to do with our last full day in Helena beside finish packing up dishes and such so they don't get broke in the move.










Look at what fun this park was!! Just so much to soak in. DEFINITELY one of the better parks I have seen in a long time. Helena really put time into this one is all I got to say and really wanted some place for all to enjoy and better yet right next to the town swimming pool...of which they are doing construction and working on the slides right now.

Such Love

You know as a mom you always wonder...Am I doing my job? Especially when kids are being rude and obnoxious and against everything you KNOW you taught them. Well yesterday was one of those days that made me feel good. It was a loooong day. We piled in the truck headed to Bzmn. Searched for new lace up boots for Benjamin as pullons are no good for him he walks on the back counters of them. He goes thru an avg of 4 pairs a year and not always due to growing out of them, but until late this past year he wasn't coordinated enough and couldn't tie so to give him the independence feeling we continued to shuck out the bucks for pull on boots. Picked up Carls laundry and got that weekly chore done, found boots, dropped girls off at the mall, grabbed Carl lunch as he was training a new guy and didn't have time to stop, picked up donation items from Montana Mamas nonprofit headquarters to drop off for a family that lost everything Saturday night in a house fire...mom is 7 1/2 months pregnant took the to their destination, went back fold laundry, drop off Carls laundry to him, head back to Helena. When you are driving 1 1/2 hrs one way doing that list and getting home it is exhausting.

Well we got home dropped off Kelda so she could start dinner, grabbed the dog take her for a run and a little more energy out of the kids while I am at it see a gorgeous sunset in my sideview mirror oh better grab a shot of that....shoot no camera oh wait my cellphone will do. All this we get back home eat dinner, I chat with someone for a few, check my emails and realizing I have a monster of a headache coming on.

My wonderful son says mom its been a long day do you want to lay down and I can do a back massage like dad does when he is home;0) Knowing a good thing when I hear it...I said I think I will take you up on that. Well I lay down and he starts his version of a massage which was working and even popped a couple of spots back in place. Then he said mom you always say it feels good to have your head massaged when you have a headache starting do you want me to brush your hair. Ok sure, but let me get any tangles out first. Well apparently this was just the thing because I fell asleep while he was brushing my hair. Well he took the time and care to cover me up with a blanket and tucked himself into bed next to me where he was going to sleep last night anyhow. I was rather refreshed this morning when I woke up at 5AM! Not once stirring all night. Guess I needed a little mommy pampering just never guessed it would have come from my son:0)

So in light of this I guess I can relax and know I must be doing something right;0)!!

Entering Womanhood

So the conversation goes something like this:

Mom: knock on bathroom door noticing a child has been in there for a good long time and wanted to be sure all was well.

Child: opens door, eyes watery and red as child is crying.

Mom: are you ok? whats wrong?

Child: I'm bleeding

Mom: you mean you cut yourself right (knowing full well not the issue)

Phone rings...are you serious what timing. Hold that thought sweetie I have to take this business call- have been trying all afternoon to get a hold of this person.

Conversation ends....turn back to child whom is deep in thought but realizes I am off the phone.

Child: no you remember those conversations I never wanted to be a part of and insisted I was never going to grow up and become a woman so there was no need for talks.

Mom: ahh yes I know that conversation remember well you saying just give me a book I don't want to talk. I will ask questions as I have them, but I talked anyhow plus gave you a book in the event you truly blocked my voice out and it sounded something like that of the charlie brown teacher.

Child: well this is an evil evil April Fools joke getting in its dibs a day early and I am not finding it very funny.

Mom: no longer able to control the laughter over how her daughter would handle this time of her life or hold back the tears had to laugh and hug her -and then proceeded to tell her she reminded me of when Paige the dog got her first heat hid in her crate all day long. It is nothing to be ashamed of sadly all women go thru it. She later before bed started to come out of her funk a bit though still not happy with the situation and told the dog what a wimp she was.

That's right my baby girl has entered womanhood and not happy about it and this is very much close to the dialogue of how things went. Think of the movie My Girl and Veda you will very much get the picture of my child.

As a mom I cry out of happiness and sadness. No longer really a child, but not really an adult yet...this should be wrong in timing seriously shouldn't she be older? I mean HELLO here THIS IS WRONG 2 major milestones with in a 24 hr period is hell on a mom. Yesterday my baby girl enters womanhood and today my baby baby turns 9! Two different children, two major milestones in life. Just wrong I tell ya ...it isn't easy...parenthood is so not for wimps so I best just get over it!

I want to take her out to chinese and celebrate and she says she doesn't see any celebration in something she finds embarrassing and the item used is discomfortable and is hoping one does get use to them -worried she won't be able to sleep. So many things going thru her head and with her wittiness I am sure this ride will be like no other. In the end she says she will not celebrate but will accept Chinese food:0)

Prep Work

Well it has literally taken all winter, but we downsized our life from a 4br house in CO to the back of our old pickup truck and our 5vr.  The old truck I think we are going to turn into a trailer and part out the rest...shall see.

I think I have my car sold this week.  2 potentials, 1 is waiting for approval for a loan.  WOOHOO my right hand has been itching something awful this weekend and w/o it being paycheck time I am thinking it is going to sell, then I can go finish paying the Ford dealer for my dually crew truck.  With less than 2 weeks before we are to move the rig closer to hubbys work so he can be home more I feel like so much yet to do.  In hindsight the downsizing was nothing.  

Yes there is prep work to do before you move your rig esp since we have been stationary here since Sept~first and foremost can't move the rv until we get the truck paid off and the hitch in the bed of the truck!  To do that I must sell the very nice topper that is coming with it, because it is kinda hard to put a 5th wheel on a truck that has a cap.  Sucks because it is a nice one and even matches the inside of the cab!  All said and done where I have enjoyed the managers here and a couple of the residents a few we cared to talk to in this park have moved on and there is one other couple here that we are friendly with.... I cannot wait to leave this RV park.  Sadly it is what we could find for the winter stay and for what it was worth it worked.  We have things missing and I KNOW w/o a doubt in my mind it is a guy in a camper a couple rvs down, but w/o proof can't do much about it.  I have a police record on him when I caught him looking thru the windows of my truck.  He gives me the creeps and for this reason alone I don't care how much the next park costs as long as it is a nice one!  there is 2 in which we will split our time from the looks like right now both decent ones, friendly staff we know for sure at the one, very helpful and lots of advice the other one has more for the kids to do, but is $300/mo more.  I don't want to go to this one until June to make use of the swimming then I can justify the increased costs a little more easily.  

So we have downsized, removed skirting yesterday, working on reorganizing the basement of the RV to be more efficient.  Today shall see how much if anything gets done...we have some HUGE snowflakes falling out there.  Of course right because I removed the skirting...lol.  But cats had made themselves at home and was doing their business under there...how gross is that?  We knew we were smelling something inside, but yet it wasn't really in here and upon moving the skirting we discovered where the smell was coming from only 10times worse so now things can air out and the snow is actually a good thing to help water down that stinch.  

ok then well I have been up today since 3:30 a.m. so I am considering laying down for a few before the kids awaken for the day.  

BANK ACCOUNT!!!

Quiet the message that I had to post this. Not really humor but the kids and I laughed at the very last statement because it is one of those forward chain things, but the message it sends is worthwhile.


A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.

Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.

Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.

I am still depositing.

'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

Pass this message to 7 people except me. You will receive a miracle tomorrow


Now, STOP! Did you hear what I just said. You WILL receive a miracle

Tomorrow. So send it right now!

Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans:0)

Unclean kitchen update

Well K and I have made up. She still had to reorganize all cabinets and put things back where they belong. Turns out I didn't turn the hotwater heater back on after I was done with the microwave. See in our RV they are on the same switch and only one used at a time. Well instead of saying mom the hotwater heater got turned off and I forgot to go back when the water was heated she rolled her eyes and shrugged it off. THIS is what ticked me off above all else she knows better. It is yes/no - ma'am/sir in this house. One of the big things I am always complimented on is how polite and respectful my kids are so when she goes and does something like this it doesn't set well with me.

We took the 1 1/2 hr drive to see their dad last night for dinner then came home in time to beat the bulk of a snowstorm settling in. Was well worth the drive time the kids are a little more at ease they had a dad fix. We will see him again tomorrow or Weds and then we will see when next. No this isn't easy on any of us him being so far away working, but is necessary to meet our goals. We are 2 weeks away now from relocation day so not much longer then he will be home a little more but still working 6 and 7 days a week.

So all is well again here:0)

Amazing Numbers

I found this facinating but then I usually do when it comes to numbers:

This is AMAZING


At five minutes and six seconds after
4 AM on the 8 th of July this year,
the time and date will be


04:05:06 07/08/09

3 weeks!

WOOHOO!!! 3 more weeks until we move to our next destination:0) Of course after we set up the rig closer to Carl's work the kids and I leave and head to Tennessee for a couple of weeks:0) I soooo can't wait. Lots of places, friends and family to see not to mention some of it will be new territory for the kids. This trip is due to my grandmother not doing so well.

This is a woman I try and talk to weekly and use to do so well, but in the past year my own life gets crazy and I don't do so well. I feel awful for this. I have never met her and didn't know of her exsistance until 8 yrs ago. I lost my grandfather with the only relationship of phone conversations and love for PBR. In our last conversation he said for me to not to stop my son if he wants to bullride let him it is in his blood and the harder I fight him or try and stop him, the harder he will fight back. All I have to do rather than say no is put him on either he will say nope I don't want to or it will deepen his love and desire. At which point I need to be a loving mother that stands by her son and love him. I LOVE the sport, but never thought I would have a son with the desire.

Anyhow it was a glorious 60 degree day today. I am so proud of myself. I finally got the storage all cleared out and narrowed down to the I won't get rid ofs that now fit in the back of the pickup bed that is about to be made into a trailer. AND believe it or not with a bit of room to spare. We have a spring blizzard coming our way this weekend they say so I felt it was today or possible never happening. I have tried all winter and where I narrowed down a bit, I just couldn't bring myself to really clear out the clutter of that last amount.

Now tomorrows goal is to go thru things that have accumulated inside the RV over the course of the winter somehow! Rearrange things and prep to get the carpet ripped out, new flooring laid and bunkbeds built in. Considering taking out the sofa and putting in 2 recliners...shall see.

Kids did awesome in helping that we actually accomplished a lot today. Kelda is counting down the hours for Twilight. I have had mixed emotions about the series, but w/o having read it I feel like I KNOW the series because she has told me so much about it. She has read the entire series at least 5 times over. This week however I got her to put it aside and read Tom Sawyer. I am grateful that the auther of Twilight was able to raise such appreciation and interest in my daughter to read I am feeling it is time to move on...but how do you get them to do that when the much anticipated release is happening. Inger is being her quick witty self, learning to do beaded jewelry and really enjoying it. She is gearing up to start doing sets and selling them possibly even at the farmers market this year. Benjamin was excited to find his much loved racecars (NASCAR season), and bulls that have been hiding in their rubbermaid all winter. Kinda like Yule all over again for him. He was easy to please much of the evening. We made a little money by turning in some of our books to the Hastings buy back program so we treated ourselves to Tillamook's Rocky Road ice cream.

Back in Idaho

Well yes I was just here last week, but I left snow boots and ironically it started snowing again.  Hmmm Imagine that!  Also left the dog food.  Soooo spend $30 for another small bag of dog food or spend $25 to come back and get it...yeah I will take the 2nd at least I get to see my nephew again and wow I think he slept this time as I awoke at 6:30 and don't hear a sound:0)  Hope this doesn't mean I slept thru it this time.  What an awful sister I would be to not take night shift...lol.

I am heading over to Jackson WY here in a bit today.  As much as I complained about this area the 10 years we lived here before I really do miss it.  It is nice to visit but can't honestly say I want to live here again.  Maybe this next summer??  I mean hello I have a new nephew to spoil and play with right?!  And if Carl is going to return to outfitting I can't think of anyone else to get back in the saddle with than the awesome guy the kids call grandpa Ward.  Sadly he has had a rough year and worry he may not be around much longer.  sleigh season is fastly coming to an end so it will be break/vacation time for the workers until May.  You see now that we RV and it is nearly paid for we can afford for Carl to return to this lifestyle he so loves and misses.  We won't be hampered by the downtimes and in fact will get to take advantages this time around of those downtimes.  His current goal is to get the RV paid off it has been number 1 priority since September.  He has worked soooo incredibly hard this winter and yesterday it just felt like his world was crumbling I haven't seen him so angry in about 10 yrs.  It was seriously a series of events right after another.  Retrograde???  I am thinking so.  But by last night when we spoke he seemed better and more level headed it took a tow to Billings to think things thru and come back to reality that everything does happen for a reason.  Of course seeing they were getting a Cabellas cheered him right up!  Until he called back a bit later and said they aren't open yet the sign just says soon!  PHEW saved a little longer lol! After the RV is paid for he can relax (I hope, though I don't think it is in his nature) and when he feels it is time to move on we can.  

Another trip at this time that is planned is TN next month.  This will be just the kids and I most likely.  But my grandmother whom I have never met and never knew of her existence until 8 years ago hasn't been doing well.  I want to meet her and want her to meet her great grandkids.  So for this purpose I hope the Neon doesn't sell, but yet I need it to sell so I can finish paying off my truck.  I have been selling everything I can think of to pay off the truck I finally found that felt "right".  It is a dually crewcab and even overall matches the RV.  Can't wait to see it all together.  But the crew would be much roomier but not as fuel effecient as the neon.  So kinda sixes really I suppose.  But honestly if the Neon would sell I would feel a little more breathing room in the bill dept and the much needed trip to TN I wouldn't feel like it was money that could be used elsewhere when a woman I talk with weekly could pass away and me never meeting her.  I just have to keep repeating to myself we are almost there!  I KNOW when the RV is paid off I will feel a HUGE relief as will Carl.  Right now it is a huge chunk of our finances every month, but we want it paid and when we decide to get this fulltime on the road we can do so w/o that bill hanging over head.

the kids are enjoying the trips out of the RV right now to come visit my sister or just the day drive like to Darby MT as a family and officially cannot wait til we get more fulltime.  I feel like we still have so much to do, but in the end I know it will all come together.  The cat is upset by the time we return after 3 days and the kids make me enter first as he will maul the first entry;0)  We have learned Salem is a stress eater.  Normally a full bowl of food takes him about a week to finish, well by the time we return from a 3 day stint the bowl is nearly empty.  he likes his humans around and he travels well, but I don't see bringing him on short trips esp where the dog is easier to bring than a cat.  He is more like a dog than a cat it is almost humorous.  He plays fetch and if you tell Paige to load up he has jumped in the car himself a few times.  Straight out of the steps of the RV into the car.  he has no desire really to be outdoors which is good that he is content inside.  I don't like outdoor cats mainly I think because of Carls allergies so when I find one he can live with I don't want to chance something happening and we lose that one special kitty that can live with us.  Not to mention with Ingers environmental allergies who knows what outdoors he would drag back!  So my cats when we find one that can live with us and really Freya bless her heart I miss her and thank her for helping tame Carls serious allergy to cats.  He still can't do a ton of cats at once nor can he do certain breeds such as the siamese, but she helped him a lot.

Ok well it is getting daylight so I will turn off the ramblings in my head as I proofread I see one thing has led to something totally different.  The brain of a Gemini I suppose.  Have a blessed day.

New Truck

We FINALLY found a truck to haul the RV that meets most of our desires, wants and needs:0)

We will go pick it up next week sometime.  It is a 1986 Ford 3/4 Ton truck with one ton axles 6.9L Diesel.  We are very pleased and can't wait to go get it.  Gotta wait for Carls day off.  We would have preferred a 7.3L dually and crew but this comes very close to what we wanted.  will post better photos than cellphone photo later when we polish her all up.  

BTW my husband is putting that this is his truck...haha we shall see;0)  I have my plates trimmer that says silly cowboy trucks are for cowgirls that is waiting to go onto the truck...lol. We are still looking for another truck and selling our 2001 Neon,  34mpg, engine is a newer engine approx. 20,000 miles on it for $3500 or will trade if you have a Ford in the lines we are looking for.

I do have a 1983 Ford f250 302 engine, in running condition that needs some tune up work, has new front breaks, pads and rotors, built in radar detector, cb with dual antennas, trailer break, good cd stereo with mp3 capable, full bed with cap, extended cab,  that we are willing to trade for a working generator with a minimum of 3000 watts.  

I said it before and I will say it again I am willing to barter anytime.  I don't care about the money if you have something I need and I have something you could use lets make a deal:0)  If you need photos done don't be afraid to see if you have something I need and will trade my talents for what ya have to offer;0)

This is Wonderful

This is one of the kindest things you may ever see.  It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful person/soul person working in the dead letter office of the U.S. postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

 

Dear God,

 

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

 

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

 

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

 

Dear Meredith,

 

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

 

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

 

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by..

 

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

 

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

 

By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

 

Love,

God 

Things we have learned so far

This winter that is being our first fulltime RV adventure in the North.....

1. No matter how good your insulation is, slides are basically big square holes in your walls and cold air will inevitably rush in around the edges you almost need to blanket them off just to warm up the rest of the rv.

2. Double pane windows were for what? When you are minus 55 degrees out they were a wasted upgrade.

3. Since that is a wasted upgrade, shrink wrapping your windows for better insulation however do this while still warm in the fall or the tape will never hold to the metal once cole OR what we did was get some of that silver foiled bubble insulation from Lowes and cut to fit.

4. Buy electric heaters to help out your poor furnace. but don't use the heater in conjunction with the coffee maker or you will have to flip the breaker back on. Same goes for vacuum and hairdryer or any other combo. The kids relate this to Green Acres Effect...lol.

5. heavy duty plastic does awesome as skirting as long as there is no wind and lots of snow.

6. IF the water at your campsite gets turned off your water hose will freeze!  Just head to Lowes for a new garden hose for now you aren't thawing the old one out til June.  

7. If available choose to use the showerhouse rather than your own water tank for showers.One there isn't much space in those stalls and 2 save propane you need it for your heat. Remember that wet hair can freeze in the 30 second walk back to your RV so since the kids might...yeah right...be vacumming upon your return take your blow dryer with you.

8. the kids don't care how cold it is outside they will kill each other if they spend one more day locked in a confined place with their siblings at least going out they can take their aggressions out and throw snowballs or in our current case mudballs at each other.  sure they will be back in 5 but hopefully in a better mood;0)

9. your RV fridge ain't your stick built fridge...cover up the outside vent when you know temps below zero are coming or the fridge quits working...now if you haven't defrosted that week maybe this is a good thing and do nothing til morning.

10. Don't try to dump the blackwater when you are below freezing...shit ain't coming out as the valve is froze shut so if it is going to get too cold and you are 3/4 just dump or take that 30 second hike up to the showerhouse.

11. Threaten the kids with no breakfast should the water get shut off...there will be no water to do dishes with.  The boy will make it his nightly mission that the water is on before he goes to bed.

12. Get a dehumidifier or you will think your home is caving in as it is leaking and freezing down the sides of the walls, in the closets and at all skylights.  Imagine finding your clothes frozen to the sidewalls of the closet it isn't pretty!

13. those beautiful and trimmed windows/valance are nothing more than a cat treehouse so they can get to the top of the cabinets in order to see the whole picture of the daily goings on.  Plan to recover or replace all together after the winter.

14. NEXT year as you head north of I-75 and you see alot of RVs headed south. We advise you to get off at the next exit and follow them.