Bought a place

Well, we did it..........went looking today and found a place down here in Mission. It is not at this park, but we are excited about it. It is a two bedroom (trailer) with front kitchen and a nice deck. The park rent is a little more there, but they have more activities. The couple who where selling are giving up and heading back to Ohio on the 20th so we can have it after that. Everything is included, dishes, furniture, sheets, towels, everything one needs. There is even a computer desk in living room for me. There is also a washer/dryer so no more trips to the laundromat. It is an older trailer, but well worth the price and looking forward to getting settled in at the end of the month. I will be sure to post pictures soon as I take some. The name of the park is Bentsen Grove Resort.

I signed up for Thanksgiving diner here, but Roger said to cancel them and we will sign up for that park, good way to meet our new neighbors. Think we will like it there, but going to miss some of the great people we met here. And the good news is we will have room for company now if anyone should want to come see us.

I will keep you posted...............till then.......................Happy Trails

Made it to the RGV

Well, after 3 days on the road and some cold nights, we made it here and are soaking up the warm days. Left Iowa on Sunday morning and drove to Kansas City and spent the night at a Wal Mart. It was a nice one also, had a parking lot off to the side of the rest of parking and when Roger went in to check, they said that was were the RV's parked. We were only ones there till a small travel trailer pulled in right before bed. Boy was it COLD that next morning. It got down to 31 and we weren't running any heat.

The next day (Monday) we drove from Kansas City to Fort Worth and were going to stay in a campground, but when we got there, it was full. We pushed on down the road thinking we could find another campground, but didn't and ended up staying in back parking lot of a Cracker Barrel. Once again it was cold that night as well. We dove on all the way to Mission on Tuesday and when we got ready to park in our place, the tree needed trimed..........too low, so we stayed in site across from it. This morning we got up and went to office to see if they could trim the tree before we parked and get 50 AMP installed, the tree was a go, but they can't put the 50 AMP in. She gave us some site numbers to check out that had 50 Amp but we decided to go back to same site we had last year. We had picked the other site out as it had more afternoon shade, but I guess you can 't have everything.

Well there is one thing to say about buying an older RV, we are always fixing something. On way down here, found out there was a leak under bathroom sink. Every time we would turn pump on, it would leak. Called a guy to come fix it and right before he got here, the refer started making a clicking sound and the little lights on front were blinking (elec, gas). Had him look at it. He spent alot of time working on it and decided he will have to get a new circuit board, so will be back. Then this afternoon, I sat down at table with lap top, plugged into outlet and lap top kept blinking from battery then elec. I moved to a different outlet and let Roger know, he checked it out and outlet will not reset, so another thing to check out.

I am posting pictures from the Surprise Birthday Party for son Matt. We went to it on Saturday night before we left Iowa. Remember you can just click on photo and it will take you to web site to view all in he album. You can also view all my other albums by going to My Web Albums.

From Matt's Surprize 40th Birthday Party

Till later....................Happy Trails

Update

Hi, just wanted to update on what has been happening. I finally got my new lap top and getting it all set up. Had to install all my programs and had a guy (Mike) transfer info from old lap top to this one. Guess he was able to hook up to hard drive in old one and do a transfer. I want to thank Mike for that. I still haven't figured out how to get some of the files into my programs yet, but I did get my Quickens to work, and that was the most important one. The rest I can play with later. Just hope I can figure them out, as I am going to hate to retype all that information back into My Family Tree and Cook'n programs.

I also have some photos to share with you. I have edited them using my new Picasa program and posted them in "My Web Albums" You can go there if you would like to view all my photos, but for now I will add a few here. You can go to the link at bottom of photo's and it will take you to the rest of the Web Album. Or you can click on photo to take you there.

We went to Emily (granddaughter) band performance on Oct. 4th in Cedar Rapids. She is in color guard. Sure enjoyed watching her, however the benches got hard. These old bodies just to take it like the young ones do. Emily did a great job, we only wish we could see her do her cheer leading. She does basketball and that is during winter when we are gone. Hope mom can send us some photos of that.

From 2008010-October

This next photo is from our day outing to Jenny and Doug's Cabin (daughter). They live in Muscatine and have a cabin on the Mississippi River. Doug loves to fish and they have us down every year for a fish fry. He also does the cooking, and fixes extra all coated and ready for us to freeze and take with us South. We sure are going to enjoy them this winter. It is always good to see the grand kids and enjoyed our time with all of them.

From Stolley Cabin

We are leaving on Sunday morning so are very busy getting everything done. As of this morning, looks like we are pretty well set. I keep list going all the time, one for TO DO'S , TO BUY, and many list for different rooms TO PACK. Roger has the yard all cut, and all the lawn ornament put way, as well as the deck furniture in garage. We have a guy coming to winterize the house (mobile home) on Saturday, so will be staying in RV Saturday night. Most of the things on list are last day things to get done and pack, today is go to Wal Mart day. We are really looking forward to getting to Texas again, it is getting COLD here. Just hope we don't hit any of that white stuff before we get out of here. I checked the weather on Internet yesterday, and it is 83 in Mission. The nights are warmer then our days here........................here we come.

To everyone else out there heading for the highways..............Happy Trails

Counting the days till time to leave.

Hi, yes we are getting ready to leave. I told you in last post that my lap top died, and I still don't have official word on that. Sent it to a guy to get checked out and see if he could retrieve data from my hard drive. I am sure it is the mother board that is the problem. It was really poor timing for me as getting ready to leave and not much time to see about getting it fixed and the warranty was up in September. Oh well, I broke down and ordered a new lap top from Best Buy. They didn't have any in their store that I wanted so did my shopping on line. Really seem to like that better anyway, you can compare prices as well as read reviews on all of them. Just checked on line and UPS site says it will be here today. I can hardly wait to get it. Will have some computer work to do to get it all back and running with my programs and everything.

This past weekend we went to see daughter Jenny and her family at their cabin on the Mississippi River at Muscatine. It was Jenny and Doug's 17th Anniversary so we baked a cake to take and they had a fish fry. Doug does alot of fishing and they sent quite a bit of fish home with us to freeze and take with us. Wish I had a larger freezer in motor home, but we will make room for it. Sure taste good during the winter, better then you can buy in store. Took some pictures, but going to wait to post them till I get them on new lap top. Don't have my photo program on this computer.

Now that the lap top is coming today, I will be able to go to Cedar Rapids with Roger tomorrow. He has an eye appointment and our dog Keota is to see the vet. I want to get a hair cut, see a few friends and do some shopping. Have to time all our trips together, have to keep the fuel cost down. LOL

I will try to get another post done before we leave, if everything goes smooth. Till later....................Happy Trails

Help

Ouch, my lap top died. Not sure what happened, turned it off last night and when I turned it on this morning, nothing but a black screen. I am lost without it. I am using my desk computer, and had to load my Verizon card on it so I could get on Internet. I will be trying to get it fixed before we leave on the 26th for Texas. Calling son-in-law tonight to see if he has any ideas, and if he can fix it. If not, sorry to say, I am have to break down and get a new one. This one was only 13 months old, so a real shame if it can't get fixed. Would hate to think of taking the desk computer with me. I feel like I am using a real old one.

We went to Cedar Rapids last Saturday to watch the granddaughter, Emily do her Color Guard for the Jefferson Band. It was good to be able to watch her. She is also a cheerleader, but never get to see that as she does basketball and that is over winter while we are gone. Went out to eat with them afterwards, then did the Wal-Mart stop before coming home.

There isn't much more happening around here. I have my list going for what to pack and what needs to get done before we go. Most of it is stuff you can't pack till almost time to leave. The list help tho. Wish I had some new photo's for you, but I guess that will just have to wait till next time. Drive safe, don't forget to vote on Nov. 4th and Happy Trails to all.

Catch Up Time

I am not very good at keeping this updated, talked to brother-in-law the other day and he said he checks it once in a while, so guess I better work on writing more here.

We are keeping busy, Roger worked on the siding for some time and has it finished for now. Will have to get more siding next summer to finish the job, but he has back, both ends and 2/3 of the front done. I looks pretty good. We closed off the door to my office that went outside. We didn't have any steps out there and never use it. We also had put in a new back door when we moved in so no use for this one. We are now working on getting the RV ready for our departure next month. Plan on leaving here around the 26th of Oct. Hope the weather holds out till after we leave.


Here is my dog, Keota, looking out the doorway before it was closed off.



We had a visit from my good friends I use to drive bus with, Sandra and her hubby Lloyd come out for a day. Was sure good to have them. We don't get too many visitors all the way out here in Stanwoood. Anyway, we went to Chinese in Tipton then back here and watched some Grand ole opry vidios they brought with them. Sandra and I worked on crocheting. She wanted me to teach her how to Cro-hook. We will be getting back together with them again before we leave.

As you will see buy the photos, we had some visitors in our front yard. First time we have seen them here, but the neighbor lady said they use to come all the time. They flocked to the trees in front yard, on their way South.

We had Direct TV installed in house on 3 TV's and will be taking them all 3 boxes with us. We have 3 TV's in our RV (front room, bedroom and belly) The guy that came to connect them was a real jerk and know it all, couldn't wait to have him leave. He even said he couldn't program the remote to work with our one tv as it was not listed, I checked after he as gone, and it was there so programed it myself. Anyway, it is done and now it is getting everything ready to hook up in RV, I also got some digital boxes to use when we are using attenna only, got them hooked up ok, and working good.

We are somewhat Hawkeye fans, and my daughter and her hubby (Sandra and Brian) are Iowa State (Cyclone) fans. My hubby made a bet with Brian for looser to take the winners out to the Texas Road House for dinner. Guess what, the HAWKEYE's won so we get dinner. Maybe next year Sandra and Brian.

I will try harder to post here more often for any of you that are reading this. Till then, safe travels........and.............Happy Trails.

Not much news to write about as Stanwood, Iowa is not a jumping community. We did go into Lisbon Saturday night and listened to son-in-law sing in the band he is in. He really does a great job and even tho it was not are kind of music, we really enjoyed it. Oh, and it was so nice to be in a smoke free bar. Didn't have that stale smoke smell when you got home and didn't have to breath all that smoke all night.

Roger is finishing up the siding job. He has made it all the way around the mobile home and is front side now. He has enough of his free siding to go to front door. Next summer he will have to order enough to finish from the door to other end, only one window there, so it should go smooth. He took out the outside door that was in my office, we didn't use it and no steps in front of it. Don't worry we had put a door in back side of home when we moved in here, so we are still up to code and have two outside doors.

I am keeping up on all the blogs I read and visiting all the places with the blogs that we don't get to go see. Sure wish it was us out there visiting some of those places. But for now, will have to read about it. The walking is going good, still getting out there every morning and doing about 40 minutes. I am still waiting for the feeling that I am feeling better and I "want " to get out there. Sure hope it comes soon, it is so hard to get up and get ready without talking myself out of it. Now instead of telling myself "I am walking to loose weight" I am saying, "I am walking to keep myself healthy and from getting stiff", hope that helps and the weight thing just doesn't work and I never get there. LOL.

I don't think anyone is reading this blog, so guess it is for my benefit to keep account of what I am doing. I you are reading this..............Happy Trails