Merry Christmas from Naples Florida





sunset Christmas Eve in Naples



front entrance







we live in Wiggins Bay Villas



the entrance to our villas




Frosty even comes to Florida

Merry Christmas 2012.  May the birth of our Lord Jesus change your life, give you new hope and fill your home with the peace that only Jesus can bring.
We spent a quiet time at home Christmas Eve.  No little ones, which we missed, but it was our first Christmas alone and very peaceful and fun.  We opened a few presents, one from Aaron which is a sign for our camper.  It is very very beautiful.
We will have a special meal today and again enjoy the peace and quiet here in Naples.  Terry has usually spent Christmas with family and I have always done that so this is a change of pace.  Perhaps not for every year but for now it was right and we are content to just be!!  I can hardly wait for the smell of a delicious standing rib roast this afternoon.
I hope that the rest of this year will be peaceful and the coming year turns out to be a blessing in all things that you do.
Aside from Christmas we are busy trying to tie up loose ends on several things before the new year.  Also I continue to play some tennis and am so enjoying it.  Yesterday morning I played singles against Tim, a guy who is 55 and a better player than me.  It was a fun fun tiime but I came home beat!  I think 10 years mades a difference.  We plan to play again Saturday. 
FP coffee is gone.



Happy Birthday Ben

A year ago today Ben came into the world.  Happy Birthday Ben!  This picture was taken several months ago so he is much older looking now.  He is a handsome boy.  I think he will go far with those big blue eyes.

As cute as any!!



Faustina




Audrey




Ruby

 Some time ago I posted two pictures of this cute little girl on the beach.  Then I got to thinking, I have three little girls in my life that are just as cute, in fact they can "out cute" any girls!!!!
Kind of a normal week in the lives of Terry and Carmen.  As we all know the retired life is difficult as you never get a day off,   We did get off all of our packages that we needed to mail.  That was nice to finish as the gifts had been here for some time and we were just waiting for one that had been back ordered.  Some business things that had been hanging over our heads for some time seem to be near an end so that will be good.  Terry and I got in a little tennis as we will play in a social double mixed things this morning.  It will be Terry's first time playing this fall in a match.  I played three times this week, including a lesson.  I actually think I am getting a bit better.  It is fun to get out and run a bit and compete some.
We wanted to do something special on 12/12/12 so we went to Miller's Ale House where they have this lobster special each Wednesday.  We enjoyed a whole lobster, baked potato with a happy hour wine special all for $12.95.  We also picked up a refill on a prescription with 12/12/12 on it.  There is so much excitment in growing old!!
It is hard to believe that in seventeen days we will be into 2013.  It seems like a short time ago when everyone was concerned about the calendar turning to 2000. 
French Press is almost gone.

Beach Time



sunset on the gulf beach




little girls can't be beat




how is that for charming!!

 We went to the beach for the sunset Friday evening.  That is the first sunset we have taken in this fall.  What happened was there was this young family with these three little girls, maybe 4, 5 and 6 years old.  They were so darn cute it was hard to watch the sunset.  Made me more lonesome for Faustina, Audrey and Ruby.  Also made me think we need another little girl from Cynthia and Mike in 2013!!
We had another really nice rain yesterday.  I put a rain coat on and pretended I was 10 years old again.  I swept the driveway free of leaves so that the water would wash them down the street.  It was fun!! 
We went to downtown Naples to the Farmers Market yesterday morning.  It is kind of a small but really fun market.  Downtown Naples is a place we do not get to often as it is a high end place to put it mildly.  Sitting along the street near where we parked was a Rolls Royce convertible!!  I think that would make the Bentley's around here look a bit cheap!
On the way home we stopped at the Verizon store and took care of some business.  Terry finally got a smart phone.  Not sure why as she is so darn smart so this may make it impossible for me to get the upper hand in anything we do now :)
No the FP is finished and Terry had breakfast ready!

Happy 43th Birthday John

Forty-three years ago we received our wish, a red headed baby boy.  Through the last many years he has brought much happiness, some challenges and provided many memories.  Happy Birthday John, you are a credit to family, to friends and to God's desire for all to follow him in all we do.  I love you.

December???

Oh my it is now almost a week into December.  We do not have a lot of news from Naples but in the last few days we have:

• enjoyed rain today for the first time in about three weeks
• enjoyed some tennis as we prepare for a fun social mixed doubles time Saturday, December 15
• mailed our 68 Christmas cards out and are finished with them.
• put our Christmas scene up in a place we can see it almost all the time.  It is a good reminder of what Christmas is all about.
• finished our shopping and are ready to mail packages to grand kids.
• pretty much walked everyday which is a small amount of exercise but is fine for now.
• seen me continue to write each day and mail one of the writings to my siblings each morning.  For the last 36 days it has been a great time.
• continue to battle a strange battle with a rash that does not want to go away easily.
• made some decisions on what we would like to do in 2013.  We are hopeful that things will work out the way they look now.
• started to look at the first three months of 2012 to see if we have any commitments from friends and family coming to visit us.  So far nothing is concrete so our calendar is OPEN.

Like I say, not much new but sometimes in life that is a good thing.

A landmark

Today is the last day of November 2012.  In late October Terry encouraged me to write each day in November and I DID!!!!  I finished writing #30 this morning.  It has felt good to decide to do something and follow through with it.  I do enjoy writing and have found it not only fun to write but to share that with siblings and get their feed back.  I have written about my childhood up to about the age of 14 or so.  One has to be careful with those memories as it would be easy to get into "what if" or "I wish" or "maybe I should have done that" but overall it was a great exercise.  I hope to compile the writings into one place after I have gone through each one and revised---much needs to be done with them for sure.
Another great day here in Naples.  As I walked out to get the paper the sun was up and the temp was 66.  I will hit the tennis courts at 10:30 for a round robin which is a group of old men playing each other, I guess I should be honest as it is just a bunch of "wanna bes" who enjoy having tennis fun!  Actually I have an hour tennis lesson scheduled for next Monday as I do want to add some things to my game and eliminate MANY things from my game!!
Terry and I continue to kind of make plans for some travel in 2013.  If things fall into place it will be exciting.  In the next weeks we will have to make some decisions as to what, when and how.  We can't do too many things as that wood shop on Niles Ave needs to create a bit more dust next summer. 
Oh my gosh, no more FP.

Towards December

As I turned the computer on this morning I was reminded that we are now headed towards the last month of the year.  Friday marks the end of November but really I should have known that because in the last weeks you could not go into a Target or Wal-Mart or any large store without hearing Christmas music.  I shut all of that out until after Thanksgiving but it has been there. 
We had a nice Thanksgiving Day.  Terry created a wonderful dinner which we shared with friends.  It has even been almost better the last few days as we feast on turkey sandwiches and the left over side dishes.  Of course on special holidays we think about all the kids and grand kids and wish we were closer.  As we shared our dinner on Thursday we thought about kids in GA, MN, TX, WI and IN.
We will not do a lot of Christmas shopping this year.  We will send presents to the grand kids but those are purchased, wrapped and waiting to be sent. This week we will put up our Nativity Scene and some other decorations to make things look like Jesus' birthday is near.  As for Christmas we are undecided yet.  Last year we spent in St. Paul as we waited for little Ben to be born on Christmas Eve Day.
Actually much bigger than Thanksgiving last week was sister Joan's and Ron's early Christmas present.  Grandson Charlie and his wife Kelly presented them with four new great grand children.  Addison, McKayla, Andrew and Mason are doing fine, great grandma and great grandpa are doing fine too and mom and dad, well I am sure they are thrilled.  Joan and Ron have one other great grand child so this makes five now.  The only negative is Joan is ssllooww on the draw with pictures, none yet.  Her excuse is she does not know how to down load them onto her computer but really I suspect Kelly and Charlie can not get them out of great grandma's arms!!!  We are thrilled for them but really it makes me tired to think of FOUR.
We have been enjoying wonderful weather here.  It was 56 when I walked out to get the paper this morning and by mid afternoon it will be 75.  Maybe a perfect day to take the boat shuttle to the beach and go for a walk.  I have also been able to get some tennis in and my game, at any given time, can look like the good--the bad or the ugly.
One last note.  I have been able to keep up with my writing.  So far in November I have written every day so today will be #25. I have the topics for the rest of the week and then I will decide where to go with it.
I just sipped the last of my FP coffee!

A year later



November of 2011



under water coral




some fish are so pretty

 Last year at this time we were experiencing Cozumel Mexico as Kim and Dave were getting ready to do an Ironman race.  This year we are thawing out the turkey in the fridge so on Thursday we can have several friends over and give thanks for all we have. 
This past week has been filled with activities.  I played tennis a few times and I think my game has started to come around a bit.  Yesterday there was a tournament/social event.   There is this guy, John, who hangs around the courts all the time and he puts this on monthly.  They try to pair up a good player with someone who is less than good :)(:  What ever that means.  Well they missed the boat with me and my partner.  We did have fun but in each of our matches we came in second!  Well when two teams play someone has to win and someone has to come in second.  I then paired up with another guy and we played a third set and we won that one.  I say it was kind of a tournament because in center court they had several bags of chips and several pitchers of beer.  I think the teams that advanced tried to leave the beer to the end but am not sure about that. 
I have read five books since we arrived in Naples.  It is fun to be able to sit back and read what ever when ever.
Actually the most fun I have had is writing this month.  Terry encouraged me to write during the month of November so writing I am.  Each day I have spent between an hour and two hours at the computer writing about growing up in rural ND.  So far I have 17 chapters as I write a chapter a day.  It is a lot of fun but it does tend to send a person back in time and become a bit melancholy which I guess is not bad.  Anyway it is a fun thing to do and I hope to continue doing it for some time.
Terry and I are starting to plan some more travel.  We had dinner last night with some friends who have traveled a lot.  He spent much of his professional career over seas.  We wanted to pick his brain as from time to time deals come up on Groupon and one never knows if they are a good deal or a scam.  Anyway something may come along that looks good so will see what happens.
We are waiting to hear from sister Joan about those 4 new great grand babies that should come along any day now.  How exciting is that but even from far far away I almost get tired when I think of anyone having two girls and two boys all at the same time!!!!
No, my FP is down to the last muddy drop, I have had a piece of toast with Joan's jam and I am ready to write for the day.

Happy Veteran's Dad

Not much news today.  Here are some flowers around the place we live. 
I have been successful in my writing so far in November.  Today is the 12th and I have written twelve stories so far.  I do not go back and edit them much but may do that later.  Today I talked about my stuttering.  When I was in the middle grades I was a severe stutterer.  It was an awful time in my life but in God's ways he delivered me from that for which I am very thankful.
Terry and I spent some time on the tennis court today and then later I played with three other guys.  I actually got very tired which was a bit discouraging but I will get in better tennis shape.
We took care of an insurance problem today.  We had our car insurance taken out in an auto pay as we were on our trip down here and they put it towards our house insurance, figure that one out.  Sometimes one has to question this computer bill pay stuff!

All is well that ends well

I was going through some pictures yesterday and came across this one of Jude that I thought was so cute. 
A scary time yesterday.  Terry and I made a stop at Costco, at Books-a-Million and then window shopped in several stores.  We stopped at the library but the only place we purchased anything was first at Costco and our last purchase was at Books-a-Million to pick up a 2013 engagement calendar for me.  For the last few years I have picked up one sponsored by Kare 11 which has MN weather in it but much to my dismay they are not printing one for 2013.  Anyway as I walked into the house I felt in my pocket and no wallet.  I called Books-a-Million and they said no one had turned in a wallet.  As anyone knows losing a purse or wallet is NOT good.  I have 3 credit cards, driver license well you know what is in a wallet.  We drove back to the shopping center where we were.  We knew we did not have to go to Costco as I had used it after that.  Terry went into the book store and I went into a store we had sat near.  No wallet any place.  We had gone into a cooking store but had not purchased anything but what the heck you may as well try.  Nothing.  Terry then suggested we try one more store we had been in but again had not purchased anything.  Bingo---they had it.  I asked the gal behind the counter if a wallet had been turned in and she not only said yes but took it out of the drawer and handed it to me without asking if it was mine!!!   Nothing had been taken out of it.  I have NO idea how it jumped out of my pocket in the store but for sure all is well that ends well.
I got back on the tennis courts yesterday morning.  There were about 13 guys on 2 courts which is a crowd so it was "sit" sometimes.  I don't like to do that but sometimes I guess it is OK.  I had a conversation with a guy who is about 6' 8" and played HS basketball in Portland ND and then went on to play in the ABA.  He said in his senior year they beat Sargent Central in the regional in Fargo.  I will have to get on the court with him and see if I can get some pay back!!
I started reading a new book Friday.  I am almost half finished but am on page 350.  I am not sure why these people write such long books and I am not sure why I pick them up to read.
FP is down to the last drop.

Just a quickie

I wanted everyone to know what is the best.  Take a good whole wheat slice of bread, put an even coat of chucky peanut butter on it and then cover it with sister Joan's homemade jam.  In itself it is wonderful but pair it with a dark FP cup of coffee and the rest of the day can only be pale compaired to the experience.  The only problem is I wanted two or three or .........  Now I am sure why God created sisters!

The Day After



up close and personal




Terry likes state capitals--New Mexico




Utah state capital




depending on your bent you may feel like this today or like the picture below!!!





a delightful 1965 Airstream




as we left a campsite we spotted a camper much like ours

 After I picked up the paper today and read a few things I needed to get my FP and sit in the patio for a while.  As I opened the doors a cool refreshing breeze swept across my face.  Then I sat down to enjoy the view of the small lake and preserve beyond our pool.  I thought about the election yesterday and how it will effect everyone for years to come.  I thought about growing up and remembered how my dad had brought lunch to me in the field one day in November and he was so excited about someone who had won a senate seat in ND.  That guy went on to serve for about a hundred years or so and during his last term he needed people to travel with him at all times to aid him.  I thought about the amendments that failed or passed and how they might not change my life but for sure they will affect the lives of my children and grand children.  Then my mind wandered to what I have been writing and I said for sure my grand children will not experience what I did growing up but even more than that they will not even be able to imagine my life back then.  Wait a minute, that may even be true in some part for my children.  Are we better off now than in the fifties and sixties?  I will not judge that but I do know each generation tends to think the younger generation is going to hell in a hand basket!  Well of course it has not happened but........
Oh my gosh, I just swirled my coffee cup and realized my FP is almost FM (french mud!).

Happy election 2012

All of us are hoping and looking forward to all of the campaign stuff coming to an end today.  Of course everyone thinks they voted for the best person so we will see who was right as time passes.  Terry and I did early voting more than a week ago.  As we got in the line for early voting we had an hour and a half wait and when we were finished the line was longer.  We will probably sit down in front of the TV sometime after dinner but will not stay glued to the screen as being in eastern time it may be late and it may be days or weeks so I have resolved to not hold my breath.
We had a nice rain today so we hurried and got the car outside then put some soap and water to it and now it looks great again.  It was parked outside at the airport for about 5 days and came back looking like it needed some serious cleaning. 
We walked over to the tennis courts this morning and got a lesson in their new system for reserving a court. In December, January, February and March one needs to be on the ball or play in the afternoon when it is often hot.  This new system is supposed to be more fair, we will see. As of yet we have not taken our rackets out of the bag, in fact I have not put my hand on a racket for almost 8 months.  Perhaps I have forgotten how to play.
We organized a social here where we live and that will take place next Friday.  We printed the fliers and handed them out today.  It always surprised me how much people enjoy those events and how reluctant people are to organize them.  Not much work but fun to have.
I have stuck to my writing for the last 6 days.  We will see if I can do it everyday this month.  I have not gone back to read each of them so if or when I do that I may decide to stop!! I have the one for tomorrow labeled already.  It is called "The Secret Dessert".  I enjoy putting thoughts down on paper but have decided that I need to call them historical fiction or historical half truths or something like that.  In other words they will be based on life experiences but a little added here or some added there makes it more interesting.
No FP at 4:45 PM so I am finished.

A short note

I failed to mention that our neighbor to the east, Mark, died this past Tuesday.  Mark was 79, and had resided in the Veterans home for the last 2 years or so.  His wife, Judy, was so loving and faithful in visiting him daily.  We had the honor of stopping by Judy's this morning and our timing was perfect.  We got to visit Judy, her daughter Margaret, Margaret's husband Mike and also Judy's son Joe who is almost a twin of our son John, red hair and all.  In Mark's professional career he served as a lawyer for the city of Minneapolis. I know that Mark lived a life that his family can be proud of.
This means that in the last 6 weeks neighbors on both sides of 2094 Niles have lost a loved one.  It only reinforces that life is short, it is full of difficulties but in spite of all that happens in life the world does not stop, life does not slow down and once again the only constant is change.

Happy birthday Cynthia

A day late but happy birthday.  We were lucky enough to have dinner with Cynthia and family last night.  It was and of course it always is fun to spend time with family.  Faustina, Jude and Ben are so cute and fun. 
We are spending a few days in St. Paul.  Wanted to come up for some things so we we hopped on a plane last Tuesday, Travis picked us up at the airport and we will be here until noon tomorrow.  This certainly is the jet age.  What does one do for food if you are going to be in town for only a few days and for sure you do not want any leftovers to sit for the next several months?  Well what we did was get out the coupon book and get some Papa Murphy's pizzas!  No fuss, no mess and almost no dishes.  I think we may not have much pizza for a while after we arrive in Naples again.
Terry, the wonderful encourager, read something in the paper about November being writers month.  There is a web site to encourage anyone to write a 50,000 novel in a month!!!  Well I am not going to do that but I am going to try and write a childhood story each day during the month.  So far it is November 2nd and I have written "The Creek" and "The Great Fisherman".  We will see if I can write 30 by the end of the month.  For the first two days I have spent about an hour and a half each day.  Will the thoughts come each day that easy, I do not know but I do know that I enjoy writing.
Can't say anything about FP today as it is past 10:00 AM and the FP is on it's way out so to speak!!!

Some trip pictures



desert flowers can be very pretty--these are the size of a quarter




a great micro-brewery in the middle of the mountains housed in a 100 year old structure




desert flowers/berries




a sheep with big horns but NOT a big horn sheep!!

 Here we are into the last few days of October.  Come Thursday and November is here.  It may be time to rethink all those things I promised to get done in 2012 and see if many or any of them are finished!!
It will be a different kind of week for Terry and I as we will be gone for a few days. 
The temp is a bit cooler this morning than the past week.  As I meandered out to get the Monday paper it was 66 which is below the 70's last week.  I think we may have been experiencing effects of Sandy the last few days as it has been very very windy.  Today not so much. 
I finally got into the pool Friday night.  Did not spend a lot of time there but I enjoy going after dark as one can swim, see the stars outlined by the palm trees around the pool. 
This morning it will be a bike ride to the library to get a couple of books Terry has reserved and maybe one or two more.  I sat down Friday night about 6:00 PM with a book called Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille.  Twenty-four hours later, 516 pages later and of course some sleep I finished it.  Can't remember the last time I was that taken up with a book.  May have been when I was in the 7th grade when we were encouraged to read and report on 25 books and I think I read and reported on 110 or so.  Of course many of them were "Black Stallion" books and maybe I read some twice I do not know.  Anyway Wild Fire caught my attention and it was difficult to put it down.
I have yet to tackle the camper exterior cleaning.  May have to leave that until next week. 
I did get all the receipts taken care of from our camping trip.  I thought we did well as we traveled 6262 (actually 6263 but 6262 looks better)  miles in 29 days and for gifts, gas, food, camping fees and everything spent less than $100 a day.  We now have a rough kind of gauge that tells us on an extended camping trip we can look at around $100 a day and 200 miles.  That is rough of course but it gives one a ball park figure.  The gas was less than I figured but then with family and friends we spent more on eating out so it kind of offset things.
My FP is now down to the bottom of the cup kind of where it gets muddy so will sign off.

The week winds down

No picture today, just words and FP. 
Today marks the fourth day we have been back.  Most but not all is put away.  The camper things added a long list of things to do, things to clean and things to put away.  I have not started cleaning the exterior of it and that will be kind of a big job.  We looked into places to store it for the next few months and we may just keep it in the garage and save the money.  Storage is a big thing around here I guess with snow birds coming and they must have lots to store as the prices are what I would call highway robbery.  Anyway for now it will be in the garage.
It is taking some adjustments to get used to the humidity.  As we traveled in the west there was not one drop of dew in the morning.  Here and as we got into the eastern U.S. the moisture hangs in the air.  We have not been to the beach yet or on the tennis courts but that will happen next week maybe. 
Yesterday I finished a book that I purchased in TX.  It is written about a Texas Ranger.  I had never read about them so it was interesting but not what I had thought it would be.  We may sign up for another book review program.  Last year it was fun to read a book and then hear someone talk about it for 90 minutes.  Often the lady would have points about the book that I never thought about.
No, time to do something with the day.

A trip for the ages!!!!!



Arizona sunset




Utah copper mine-each tier is a road!!




Devils Tower in WY

We arrived home in Naples last night in time to get things out of the camper and car before the third debate started.  Mind I said "get things out of the car" and I did NOT say clean things up or order things in the house.  The camper is in big time need of TLC as is the car.  As for the house we arrived home to a power washed pool deck, an orderly home but as we brought in bags, suitcases, food etc. it came into the "in need of" category too.
Some things about our trip:

• It was very successful and very fun.  We saw Terry's mom, Grandma Saunders, Mark/Mary Saunders,  brother Dave and his wife Marlys, Terry's cousin Lyle and his mother, sister Joan/Ron, high school friend Leanne/Frank, Terry's daughter Kim and her family and lastly Terry's grandson Zach at the University of Georgia. We also met and talked to MANY people who were interested in seeing the camper!
• We were on the road for 29 days and slept in the camper 20 nights.
• We visited 9 National Parks starting with Teddy Roosevelt Park in ND and ending with Big Bend in TX.  Our favorite was Teddy Roosevelt and the most scenic was Zion as we drove through its beautiful red walled canyons with the sun splashing off of the rock.
• We drove through or touched 14 states. 
• Lastly as we drove onto the driveway of 732 Wiggins Bay Dr. the trip meter rolled to 6262 miles!
• We did not do everything we wanted or intended to do but certainly it was a wonderful time and one that will be remembered and talked about for a long long time.  However we are starting to talk about the next couple of trips!!

As we pulled up to the entrance of where we live the guard came out with this firm look on his face and said we could not bring our camper in.  He said he got a tongue lashing for allowing that some time ago.  You mean we can not bring the camper into our own garage????  Well we told him it would go into the garage and being we live here we would do as we needed to do. I guess they had a big thing about a huge motor home last week so he was kind of on edge.  Anyway we drove around the bend, came to 732, unlocked the house and backed the camper into the garage.
We had a great time with grandson Zach Sunday.  I think the last time I had been on a college campus was for Cynthia's graduation. A long time ago, 9 years to be specific.  Well Zach is one of the young people who NEEDED to get away from home into his own environment.  He loves college, he is doing well (he says he spends 8 hours a week on homework and 15 hours a week helping others with theirs), he loves the food and the activities and he has a part time job.  We had lunch with him.  The dining room we ate in is larger than Cynthia had at Gustavus but very similar as there are different stations for many different kinds of food. For a student to eat there they swipe their card, place their hand on a scanner and then they can eat all they want 24/7!  That would not be good for me so I will not enroll in college anytime soon!
My french press will last longer this morning.  I have my thermos coffee maker and the temp in the house is maybe 75, not 50 or lower at a camp site!
Enough, a little fp left so will sit down and read the sports.

back in cool weather

We are near Birmingham AL this morning and it is much cooler than in the TX desert!!  If my sleepy eyes see right this morning it is 49.
We are about 2 1/2 hours from Peach Tree City GA and will arrive there in time for Terry to enjoy her favorite "fish taco" meal at a small cafe named grinds and wine.  Will spend until Sunday there and then off on the road again but this time headed in the direction of Naples.  Today marks the day 26 on our trip and maybe for the first time yesterday, as I sat in the car speeding towards our camp site, I thought maybe it would be good to be home in our own bed and using our own toilet!
For the first time in several nights we had a fire ring at our camp site and it was great fun to have a fire again.  Actually we burned the last of our lumber we brought with us.  Six bags lasted us about 20 nights but when you count the times we had no fire ring, well we probably got 6 or 7 fires out of the wood.  I got the wood by cleaning up my wood shop so it was a double delight, clean shop and nice fires.  Almost sounds like that could be a delicious coffee drink!
The pictures:  The wood stair case was built in the 1700's and  has no nails or screws.  A beautiful piece of woodwork.  The desk and trunk are in Teddy Roosevelt's cabin in Medora ND.  Much of his writing was done at that desk. 
Oh my, the FP warms my insides but I had to take my gloves off to type so my fingers are COLD. My FP is not done but my fiingers are.

the old and the new the past and the now

old old old---Maybe some day the the whole way!!!



old--Sepember 2011




new--October 2012




old--in NM, the oldest house in the US




the old, Grandma Lee's house in Cayuga--almost no more




the new---palace on the prairie soon

 This will be the 23rd day on the road.  We spent the night in Waco TX.  Enjoyed dinner with Terry's son Brian and his friend.  Will  have lunch with him today, dinner with them tonight, will watch the debate and then hit the road tomorrow for GA.  We will take 3 days and arrive there Friday but the days will not be long as it is about 850 miles from here.
We will stay in the same campsite tonight, the first time we have stayed 2 nights in the same site.  When we got in yesterday afternoon the lady who runs it was gone so we just set up.  Will have to see if we can find her today to pay.
We are still carrying an entire box of tomatoes from our garden but they are getting ripe so will have to eat fast or find someone to give them to.  No tomatoes when we arrive in Naples. 
We continue to get such fun comments on the camper.  Comments like "does it pop up?", "no way!" "it's so cute" "that is the neatest camper ever" and maybe the best yesterday when as we put gas in (sorry dad it goes in not ON) a lady was so taken up with it but she said, "we couldn't even get all our kids in it!!"  I did not ask how many kids she had but I saw their boat and our camper would have fit IN their boat.
So we march on towards the east.  Some of the fun things to remember are the 9 states we have seen, the 6 family/friends stops we have enjoyed, the ten National Parks we have visited and the 4500+ miles we have driven.  We could perhaps be content all winter long just sitting for a time each day recalling the trip.  We are finished with NP but will drive through at least 6 more states and of course see more family and friends.
Today in Waco we will take in the "Dr. Pepper" museum, I know everyone has wanted to see that!  We will also take in the Texas Ranger hall of fame which I am looking forward to.  I am reading a very good book about a Texas Ranger and I want to see if he is in it. 
No more FP, no more ideas, more time but for what!!!!

Happy 4th Audrey

Audrey turned 4 on Saturday, the 13th.  We were out of range of any computer Internet so here is a picture and happy birthday 2 days late Audrey.  Grandpa thinks you are so cute and smart.  Even going to school 2 days a week!!!!  Hope you had fun on your birthday.
Here it is Monday and I am sitting at a picnic table tapping away.  We are still at the camp site in San Angelo TX.  When we checked in last night we got a free Sunday paper and this morning there was a paper at the door of our camper, a first for camping I think.  I do not like to stay at KOA campsites as they are usually to expensive but this was $27 which is OK and it was the only one around for us last night.  We may need to drive back a few miles into town to get a couple of things before we head towards Waco today. 
The camper and the car are so so dirty but I guess that is part of the camping package. 
No more thoughts, no more FP so the end.

Many places



count them if you can



the landing of a balloon



BIG camper and little camper!!!!

Those little dotes in the first picture are all hot air balloons.  I thought the contrast in our camper and the BIG one with 9 window shades on the outside was interesting! 
We settled in to a KOA campsite today about 4:00 PM  For almost a week we have had little or no e-mail or cell phone service. We departed Big Bend NP in Texas this morning.  That will be the last NP we visit on this trip.  Counting the NP we have been in: Teddy Roosevelt in ND, Devils Tower in WY (not a NP), Yellowstone in WY, Grand Teton in WY, Bryce in Utah, Zion in Utah, Grand Canyon in AR, Carlsbad Caverns in NM, Guadalupe in TX and last Big Ben in TX.  So far it has been much fun.  Yesterday we went past the 4000 mile mark.  Perhaps one of the many highlights has been the time we spent in Angel Fire NM with a high school friend.  We saw many elk, many huge mule tail deer and other wild life as well.  It is high, over 8000 feet and the elk and deer were all over the landscape.
Tonight we are doing clothes and getting a nice hot shower for the first time in several nights.  We will travel to Waco TX tomorrow and stay there for 2 nights and then on to Peach Tree City GA.  We still have plans to arrive in Naples about the 24th or so.
A sad note.  Our neighbor, RD Brown passed away last week.  I am not sure how old he was but his two children are about 24 and 21.  We did not interact with them as neighbors but regardless to see a family lose someone with children that age is so sad. 
Our weather has been perfect.  As I sit at the camp site now in San Angelo TX it is sunny and about 85 or so.  Last night we camped in the high camp site in Big Bend and this morning it was very windy but warm.  Last night after we made camp we drove to several over looks of the Rio Grande River and looked across towards Mexico. 
Our Tiny Camper is serving us well.  We have things down pat now so can stop and be set up in a short time.  It took a few times to get the putting up of the side tent but now we do it in perhaps 5 min or so.  Have not used our 10 X 10 canopy much as we have not needed it.  Well we pretty much are in a new camp site each day. 
Enough for now.  No FP as it is afternoon!



sister Joan and hubby Ron with us at the copper mine



We are now in Gallup NM.  We stopped at a Red Rock RV park about 5:00 last night.  It was advertised as clean restroom, showers etc.  Before we set up we decided to check the bathrooms.  Both were locked!!  Also, there was nothing but blowing red sand so--we found a Good Sam one 10 miles down the road.  Very nice but of course you guessed it, more money.  We are headed to take in the hot air balloon festival today.  We have no camping reservations so may be sleeping in a rest stop!!
The tire is at the copper mine in Salt Lake City.  It is the largest open pit dig in the world.  The trucks that haul the crushed rock from which they get copper have six of these tires.  Each tire weighs 10,000+ pounds, is 12' 6" high and cost $25,000.  The good thing is the trucks can haul up to 360 ton!!!!  I was thinking Dale B could use a truck like that on the farm.  Also the tires last about a year.
We get so many "lookers" at the camper when ever we stop.  Some people right by us last night told us stories of relatives in the early 50s who had a new car and a tear drop camper.  They painted them the same color and traveled all over the states.  Several have said they wanted to see one for real as they had seen them on the travel channel. 
As I sit here the eastern horizon is becoming yellow, gold, purple and all shades of colors.  Right now there is no wind and I am sure they hope it stays that way for the balloons.
One FP down and now a little work to do.  That's right there is some work to camping.  And of course all retired people would know that retired people have it difficult as there is never a day off.