Christmas – Round Two

Yesterday we spent most of the day in our old stomping grounds, Columbia, MD. It takes about an hour and a half to get there from Lindsay's, so we were out of the house and in the truck about 8:30am.

First stop – my friend Patty's. Patty is a hair stylist. She has been doing my hair for about 20 years, I'd guess. She's a no frills kinda stylist, which is right up my alley. And boy, did I need a hair cut! Patty had permed my hair back in May and I've only had one trim (in August) since then. I've come a long way from those short hair styles I used to wear!

Patty got to shaping and trimming my hair and then permed it. Randy just LOVES when I get my hair permed – NOT! The smell of the perm just puts him over the edge. But, being the great guy he is, he puts up with me.

Once I was all gorgeous again, we were out the door to get something to eat before we went to our second Christmas. We decided to go to the mall because it would be easiest. We got lucky, it was busy but not as bad as it could have been. After lunch, we walked through the mall as it has been years since we've been there. Lots of new stores and getting crowded. Nope, haven't missed it.

On to the Mackin's. Gosh, it was good to see them. Last time was in August when they came out to the campground for a picnic. The girls have grown so much! Kelly is almost as tall as me!

Kelly watching Kate open one of her presents

Kelly’s turn

 

Mackin Family – Kate, Amita, Kelly & James

We had a great visit, and as usual, it was over far too soon. Amita and I could talk for days and not run out of things to say. Now, that's friendship!

When we came home, there was a package waiting for me from our eldest, Ginny. She had crocheted scarves for Reagan and me and candle doilies for Lindsay. The colors in my scarf are brilliant bold tones – I love it!

Tonight we are staying home, watching Reagan. Jason & Lindsay are going out for the evening with friends. We'll be ringing in the new year as usual – sitting on the couch (or in the bed).

Another good day in the life . . .

First Round

This is the time of year we have our annual/semi-annual doctors' visits. Not quite sure how we ended up scheduling them during the Christmas holidays, but we did, so . . .

Eye doctor appointments were first on the agenda. Both Randy & I have had changes to our vision, so new glasses will be needed. We'll get those when we settle in Alabama. Thankfully, however, our eyes seem to be healthy; I may even be able to stop the glaucoma drops if my pressure remains constant. I have to have a couple of tests when we come back here in the spring before the doctor can make that decision.

In between doctors' visits, we had lunch at Olive Garden with “kids” of some good friends. Courtney is now 23 and her brother, Marty, is 20 and a soldier in the US Army. So, I use the term “kids” as one does when speaking of young people one has known forever. :) Marty's fiancee, Katie, joined us. It was good to catch up with them as we haven't seen Courtney since last summer and Marty since he left for boot camp back in 2008.

Our last appointment for the day was at the dentist. Let me just say, I love our dentist! He is a one-man “show,” and his staff is very personable. Such a change from the dental practice we used in Maryland where you felt like part of an assembly line. Randy & I feel like Dr. Shapiro and his staff really know who we are when we call or walk into the office. Of course being the only full-time RVers they have as clients probably helps!

We've had a quiet evening at home. Jason, Lindsay & Reagan are attending a family function, so we're on our own.

Tomorrow we get to have yet another Christmas get-together when we visit with James, Amita, Kelly & Kate. Really looking forward to seeing them. We haven't seen them since last summer, either. I'm sure the girls have grown so much! Pictures to come!

Until the next time . . .

More Christmas Celebration

After leaving Alek & Lorrie's at 7:45 yesterday morning, we arrived at Jason & Lindsay's about 7:30pm. Yes, it was a long day, but the drive was uneventful and we didn't run into any ugly weather. Thank you, God, for another safe journey.

Of course, the first thing on the agenda, after hugs and squeezes, was opening presents! ;) Reagan was very patient as we unloaded everything from the truck, but once Pop was inside, it was time. So, we got to it! ;)

Once we were done exchanging gifts, there was some snuggling and then it was time to hit the bed. It had been a very long day.

This morning I had every intention of getting up early and going to Curves. Didn't happen. Instead I woke up with a raging headache and I wasn't going much of anywhere. Finally, after lunch, Randy, Lindsay, Reagan & I went out to Target and Kohl's.

This evening, we went to a local park that had a Christmas light display that you walk through. I was definitely up for it 'cause I hadn't gotten my Christmas lights fix yet. There wasn't much to see down in South Carolina and I love driving around looking at the lights. It was a good display and just the right amount of walking. Plus the air was clear and crisp, just like it should be for Christmas lights. :)

It is so good to be here. Only thing missing is Kevin, Chuck & Ginny and Tommy. It would be perfect, then.

Until the next time . . .

Just One More Day

SNOW??? C'mon, we're in South Carolina! We woke up to snow showers this morning, just as had been predicted. Our plan was to leave Alek & Lorrie's this morning and drive to Winterville, NC to visit with Dan & Debbie overnight. Well, those plans were soon discarded. :(

Randy went on snow watch last night, actually. As soon as he saw the forecast, he began checking out what we might be encountering if we headed north – and it didn't look good. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper when he told me he wasn't sure just when we'd get to PA.

It was soon decided we would not travel to Dan & Deb's, but stay with Alek & Lorrie one more night and, weather permitting, just drive straight through to Lindsay's on Monday. Alek & Lorrie have been so gracious and kind, assuring us that our staying one more night was not a problem. Lorrie even said it was a blessing to have us! Didn't I tell you they were gracious? :)

The storm did not amount to much here, but thankfully, it moved further east and is not a problem for us traveling tomorrow! Thank you, God! Looks like we'll just be driving in very cold weather and won't hit any snow. I am so grateful for that.

And I am grateful for good friends who allowed us to share in their Christmas celebration, making us feel very welcome and at home. Alek & Lorrie, you are truly God's servants – loving, kind and generous.

So, tomorrow we'll be up and out the door early, hopefully by 7:30am. We'll see!

Here's the picture Alek took of Randy, Lorrie & I on the beach yesterday. Aren't we cute? :)

Until the next time . . .

Christmas

About 7:45 Friday morning, the truck was packed, Blackie was on board, and we pulled out of the RV park, heading north to Murrells Inlet, SC.

We had an easy drive up US 17, so easy in fact that we arrived at Alek & Lorrie's an HOUR earlier than we had expected and told them we'd get there. How's that for a great start as weekend houseguests!??! I did call ahead to warn them of the good time we'd made and to ask if they needed us to kill some time, but, Alek & Lorrie being the gracious people they are, didn't bat an eye and told us to come on. Then, they welcomed us with open arms.

It was a good afternoon of lunch and conversation. We went to Christmas Eve service at 6pm and came home to a delicious dinner of Boston butt BBQ, cole slaw, baked beans with peaches & whipped cream for dessert. Yummy.

This morning we woke to a quiet, laid-back Christmas morning. Certainly a different change of pace for us. :) But, it was quite enjoyable. Alek made us a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. (I could sure get used to someone cooking for me all the time!)

With breakfast done and the sun shining, Alek & Lorrie suggested a walk along the beach. The temps were climbing toward 50*, so that sounded like a great idea. We went to Huntington Beach State Park. It was lovely!

A little cool out near the water, but so crisp and clean. Lots of other folks had the same idea. :) Alek got a picture of Randy, Lorrie and I, but I don't have it yet. I'll share it once Alek emails it to me.

Back at home, it was time to get dinner on the table. Once again, Alek & Lorrie treated us to a fabulous meal – they better stop this! :) We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, croissants, gravy, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole and, later, red velvet cake for dessert. Oh, my. We all stuffed ourselves and there was still leftovers.

We talked to all the kids and the grandkids; everyone having great Christmas celebrations of their own. It was a little tough not being there with them, but it was good to talk to them.

We finished our evening watching the movie, “The Book of Eli” with Denzel Washington. A very good movie. After more conversation in front the fire, it was finally time to call it a night.

A lovely way to spend Christmas day, with good friends with whom we can celebrate the birth of our Savior. Happy birthday, Jesus!

Getting Ready to Go

Spent today doing prep for traveling tomorrow. Randy took me to Curves this morning and while I exercised, he fueled up the truck and got one of our propane tanks filled.

We stopped at WalMart on the way home and still no medication in stock. What a pain. Good thing it's not something that I can't live without. The frustrating part is that if it had been transferred properly on Monday, we wouldn't be in this situation. Oh, well.

Back at home, Randy continued with outside chores and I did laundry.

Now, we have to pack. I hate packing. When your house moves with you, you get out of the habit of packing. And winter clothes are so bulky, they take up a lot of room in the suitcase! Plus, packing for almost two weeks is tough. But, we'll persevere and get it done. After all, the result of this packing and traveling is seeing the kids! That's worth a bit of nuisance. :)

We plan to get on the road about 8am tomorrow. First stop, Murrells Inlet, SC.

Until the next time . . .

A Little More Frustration

First, I have to shout about the weather! I am writing this at 8pm and we have the windows open! It's 63* outside right now, but it got up to 70*!! Not bad for late December, huh? But, it's not gonna last long – tomorrow's high s only gonna be in the 50s. Oh, well. I sure enjoyed it today. :)

I had a plan today. Yes, I know; some of you are saying to yourselves, so what else is new? :) But, I do try to run errands in a logical manner. So, I needed to pick up those three prescriptions that weren't ready on Monday and then I was going to Curves. So, I figured I just make a big circle, picking up the prescriptions first, go to Curves and then head home.

Well, it didn't go as planned. I got to WalMart – no prescriptions. WHAT!?!? So, one of the pharmacy techs, Brittany, got on the phone. She earned every bit of her pay today. :) She called the WalMart in Kissimmee, FL (yeah, I had it wrong on Monday – it was Kissimmee, not Junction City) to see what the problem was. Half an hour later, she talked to the pharmacist only to find the Kissimmee pharmacist couldn't “see” the prescriptions in the computer. Brittany worked through the problem and found the answers she needed. The prescriptions were transferred and available for the pharmacist to fill. Great! Of course, it would take at least 45 minutes for that to happen. YAY.

I went on to Curves, worked out my frustration and headed back to WalMart to pick up the prescriptions. More good news awaited me. Only two of the prescriptions were filled because they did not have enough medication in stock to fill the third. So, I get to back tomorrow! What a pain.

Ya gotta laugh 'cause what else ya gonna do? At least Brittany was great to work with and did everything she could to remedy the situation. I can't get mad when someone is working so hard on my behalf.

I finally got home and found that Randy had begun his chores to get us out of here on Friday. The outside lights were down and chairs put away. Now that the truck was back, he cleaned it out so our suitcases and presents will fit.

I was lazy this afternoon – again I hear you saying, nothing new there! :) I even napped again. Oh, well. I'm retired. I can do that.

Dinner and TV as usual tonight. Tomorrow will bring more travel prep and, of course, a visit to WalMart!

Until the next time . . .

A Milestone

Twenty-five years ago today Randy and I were married in a perfect ceremony that included the people we loved and who loved us. We promised each other then that while there may be rough patches along the way, it would never be boring. And we've kept that promise!

It was a second marriage for both of us and there should have been nerves, but there weren't. Statistics and odds were against us, but through the grace of God and our desire to follow Him, we have not only persevered, we have thrived. Our relationship and love have grown deeper and more entwined than either of us would have imagined.

It's unbelievable that 25 years have passed since that day. And it has been a heck of a ride!

Our Disney vacation last month was really the big celebration for us, but we did mark the day by going into Savannah for a meal at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room.

It is a staple in the city, not only for tourists, but locals as well. As a matter of fact, the locals we chatted with while waiting in line told us that locals enjoy Mrs. Wilkes' far more than Paula Deen's restaurant. I thought that was interesting.

Mrs. Wilkes' opens at 11am and closes at 2pm. That's it. Monday through Friday only. If you want a seat, you need to get in line about a half hour before opening. We were on line about 10:15 because we found parking much quicker than we expected. But, it didn't take long for folks to line up behind us. And when we left around 11:50am, the line was even longer.

Mrs. Wilkes' is a family style restaurant. So, if you are uncomfortable sharing a table with people you don't know, don't go there. :) But, it's fun to hear other people's stories. We had the privilege of sharing our meal with three local people, one New Englander and three Aussies. The New Englander and one of the Aussies are husband and wife – they met while going to school in Ireland. How's that for a story!

As promised the food was very good and there was quite a variety. I forgot to get a picture of the table once all the food had been served, but here's a picture of the leftovers. Lots of dishes, huh?

Of course, once you've eaten without restraint, you need to walk it off. And there's no place like Savannah to meander. It is a city built around beautiful parks and squares, each with some historical significance. The weather was beautiful for a walk, so that's what we did. We both commented how lovely a city Savannah is.

     

We were given a fabulous day on which to celebrate a fabulous event. Doesn't get much better than to be able to walk through this life with your best friend. We are grateful to have each other and the family and friends who have walked alongside of us through these years.

Here's to 25 more!! :)

Busy Day

Gosh, I ran around more today than in all the time we've been here! I dropped prescriptions off at WalMart for refill; went to Curves; got a mani/pedi (one of the best I've EVER had!); and then went back to WalMart to pick up some of the refills.

Yes, I said some of the refills. It was so annoying. I had seven prescriptions that needed transferring from other WalMart pharmacies. As our RVing friends know, this is normal for those of us on the road. Usually I have no problems. But, every once in a while, there's a glitch. And today, there was a glitch. Seems that the WalMart in Junction City, KS only allowed one of four prescriptions to transfer. How weird is that?? If they were going to deny the transfers, why not all four? So random. Anyway, the problem got straightened out after one of the pharmacy techs called them.

The annoying part is that I have to go back to pick up the remaining three prescriptions. Not a big deal, but an inconvenience. And if that's the biggest inconvenience in my life, I'm a happy girl. :)

While I was running around, Randy was home cleaning. He vacuumed and shook rugs and generally picked up. Such a great guy.

I made one of our favorites for dinner tonight – chicken pesto pasta. Such a yummy dish!

Until the next time . . .

A Lovely Weekend

The rain started Friday night and continued throughout the day yesterday. It was a good day to stay inside and play “indoor games.” :) We computered, read, and watch Christmas movies all day. I even got some cross stitching done. It was very nice.

Today we went to church; the choir performed a cantata. We enjoyed the music and the message. I love Christmas music!

After church, we rode up to Walterboro, about an hour north of us, to meet our friend, Cheri, for lunch. We haven't seen Cheri for several months. We met at Cracker Barrel and enjoyed a good meal (is there any other kind at CB???) and got caught up on each other's lives. It was so good to see her!

And our plans for Christmas have drastically changed! We had planned to stay here until Monday, the 27^th, and then drive to PA to spend a week with the kids. But, yesterday we received a generous offer from Alek & Lorrie, with whom we'd had lunch last Friday, to celebrate Christmas with them! Randy & I were a little overwhelmed by their kindness. We have such wonderful friends!

So, we'll leave Hardeeville Friday morning and arrive at Alek & Lorrie's in Murrells Inlet in the early afternoon. We'll attend Christmas Eve service with them and then enjoy Christmas together on Saturday.

On Sunday, we'll leave Alek & Lorrie's and head to Winterville, NC where we'll visit with Dan & Debbie. Monday morning we'll complete our Christmas journey by arriving at Jason & Lindsay's in the afternoon.

Wow! For two people who'd planned to spend a quiet Christmas together, we sure have a lot to do! But, again, there's nothing like having friends who love you!

To those of our friends/readers/family, who celebrate Christmas, we hope as you go through this week that can be hectic, you remember the REAL reason for your celebration – the birth of Jesus!

Until the next time . . .

Lunch with Long-time Friends

Yesterday was another not-much-to-do day. :) I did get out to Curves, but that was it. We really have gotten good at doing nothing. :)

Today we had fun plans. We were meeting long-time friends, Alek & Lorrie, in Charleston for lunch. We've known Lorrie for 25 years and Alek for about 20 years. The four of us went to church together many years ago and enjoyed a good friendship. Randy & I eventually went to a different church and lost touch with them. A few years ago we reconnected and have kept in touch since.

Alek & Lorrie retired from Maryland to Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. I got in touch with them when I realized we'd be in South Carolina for a while and we scheduled lunch. It was decided to meet in Charleston as that was a good midway point.

We left a few minutes before 9:00 this morning as Charleston is a little less than two and a half hours away. Yes, we drove two and a half hours for a lunch date! And yes, we laughed at ourselves, too. But, hey! We're retired, we can do that. :) The weather cooperated perfectly for the day. Mid 60s and partly sunny.

We had a wonderful time catching up and reminiscing with Alek & Lorrie. It is such a joy to have friends who whom you pick up where you left the last time you were together. And we have that with Alek & Lorrie. Such a gift is that type of friendship.

Too quickly, it time to hug and say good-bye. But, there'll be a next time, I'm sure.

And if you're in Charleston? Check out Jim 'N Nick's BBQ on King Street. Good food!

Until the next time . . .

Venturing Outside

Yes, we did it. We actually left the RV!! Well, I guess I should I finally left the RV. Randy goes outside several times a day to either have a cigarette or walk Blackie. But, we both went out and got in the truck and drove away! :) The weather was sunny and rather chilly, but there was no wind so it was quite refreshing.

While I worked out at Curves, Randy got one of our propane tanks filled and then filled the truck. He timed returning to Curves perfectly as I was just finishing up my workout.

We then treated ourselves to a late breakfast at IHOP before going on to WalMart for a grocery run. We picked up the few items on the list, as well as a few that weren't. :) We were on our way home around noon.

It was great to be out and about. The sun felt good as it came through the windows of the truck, warming us. I felt like it had been so long since we've been warm like that. Very nice.

Once we got home, we unloaded the groceries, put them away and settled in for the afternoon. Randy got a very nice nap. :)

Leftovers for dinner and TV shows for entertainment.

Another day in the life. Until the next time . . .

Same Ol’, Same Ol’ . . .

It's still cold.

We're still hunkering down.

Hopefully, better tomorrow.

:)

Finally Got a Bit Productive

Plans, I love plans. However, they do not always come together. The plan was to got to Curves this morning, but after not getting to sleep until about 5:30 this morning and then only sleeping until 6:45am, I was in no mood to function. Not quite sure why I was unable to sleep last night, but I was wide awake all night. Oh, well. I got to watch some TV shows that Randy doesn't care for without bothering him. ;) Gotta look on the bright side.

Anyway, I just hunkered down in my recliner for the first part of the morning. I even got about an hour or so nap. That brought my sleep to almost three hours! Yippee!

After getting some lunch, I got a wild hair to do something. And the most glaring need were Christmas presents begging to be wrapped. Not my favorite thing at all to do, but it needed doing and I was I a mood to do something productive. Wrapping presents is one of the few times I feel like the RV is too small. Usually, our space is not a problem, I don't feel too enclosed or anything like that. But, with wrapping paper everywhere and presents sitting around, I do feel hemmed in. Plus there's not a lot of flat space on which to wrap presents. But, I persevered.

The upshot? ALL the presents are now wrapped!! WooHOOOO! I don't have to think about that anymore.

We had leftovers for dinner and are now settling in for the evening.

Until the next time . . .

Talk About Low Key!!

Gosh, I thought Thursday was a slow day; we've done nothing but veg all weekend! I haven't posted since Thursday because there's been nothing to share. There still isn't, but I didn't want y'all to think we dropped off the face of the earth. Plus, I know how some of you just sit by your computers waiting anxiously for a word from me! Hahahahaa!

Seriously, we've only left the RV a couple of times since Thursday. Friday morning I went to Curves and this morning we went to church and Walgreen's. That's it. But, I was so glad to get out this morning. After a couple of days in the RV, I get a bit of cabin fever, so I was looking forward to church a little more than usual today. :)

I feel like we are just so slothful. Our days consist of getting up, having coffee and watching the news while we check out the various websites we read each day. Around noon (or earlier for me depending on what time I get up in the morning!) we have lunch. The afternoons are spent watching DVR'd TV programs. I make dinner around 6pm and then we continue watching our favorite TV shows.

Gosh, even writing that made me sluggish!!! Can't you hear JoAnn Pflug screaming “BORINGGGG!” (Please tell me you remember her from Laugh In!!)

But, with the weather being so ugly, there just isn't any oomph to get out and play. And now we're in for a cold front that's gonna give us daytime highs in the 30s with wind chills at night making it feel like the teens. However, I am grateful that I'm not in Kansas anymore (insert Oz joke here). Our son is dealing with daytime highs in the single digits. That is really tough in an RV.

Oh, well. This will pass and soon we'll be on our way home for our family Christmas gathering. Seeing the kids will warm me up for sure!

And after that? “Home” to Summerdale, AL and Rainbow Plantation where all our friends are waiting for us. Even if the weather isn't grand there, we'll be with our buddies and playtime will abound.

So, let us be boring for awhile. It won't last.

A Low Key Day

The plan was for me to go to Curves this morning and then to WalMart to pick up a few things. Didn't turn out quite that way. I woke up feeling a bit lousy so I just couldn't get myself to Curves.

We still needed to go to WalMart, so Randy went with me. We got what we needed and came back home.

The rest of the day I've just lounged in my recliner, reading and computering. Randy did much the same. I also took a three hour nap!! I haven't done that in ages. Guess I needed it. Wonder if I'll sleep tonight?

I did make dinner tonight – chicken, ham & rice casserole.

Now, we're settled in for a night of comedies and CSI. Like I said – a low key day. :)

Until the next time . . .

Lunch with Paula Deen & Her Sons

Well . . . actually, we had lunch at The Lady & Sons restaurant, owned by Paula Deen and her boys. And that's as close as we'll probably ever get!

This is the third time we've been to Savannah and we'd never been to The Lady & Sons. Randy is not one to stand in line for any restaurant (including CB!) The procedure for getting into the restaurant is to line up at the hostess stand and put your name in. The catch, though, is the hostess begins taking names at 9:30 in the morning and the first seating is at 11am! :)

Well, considering the weather and the time of year, we didn't have much of a wait; I was the fourth or fifth in line. I put our name in for the 12noon seating. Now, we had more than two hours to kill before lunch. :)

We had that covered 'cause we'd planned to go to Camping World. Off we went. We had a propane tank to fill and we needed to buy a couple of light bulbs. This errand didn't take nearly the two hours we had before lunch so we went back to find a parking space near the restaurant. (Not an easy task when you're driving a F550!) We got lucky and found a space just across from the restaurant. :)

Since we had some time, we walked around the neighborhood. Savannah is such a great city to walk in. It's built up around a series of squares, each one having some historical significance. We walked over to the City Market area which has several restaurants and boutiques.

Finally, it was time for lunch! The building in which The Lady & Sons operates is three floors tall and there are dining rooms on each floor! We were seated on the third floor. It is decorated with southern charm. You can either order from the menu or opt for the buffet. We opted for the buffet – what a shocker! ;)

As you would expect, the food was very tasty. I don't usually take pictures of food, but figured it's Paula Deen's food! :)

The buffet offers fried and broiled chicken, beef stew, pork chops, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, dirty rice, lima beans, green beans, creamed corn, garden salad and dessert. Very basic southern home cookin'. Needless to say, we ate our fill (and more!) and enjoyed every bite.

Such a fun way to spend our day. We've not done much since we've arrived because of me not feeling well and the cold weather. It felt great to be out of the RV. Yes, it was cold, but not bitter and the sun was shining.

Oh, and here's a picture of our Christmas tree dressed up with the ornaments Reagan sent us. They're hard to see, but Pidge asked for a picture. So, this is for you, Pidge! :)

Until the next time . . .

The Cold Continues

Dag! We're on the South Carolina/Georgia line and it is COLD! I know the cold is everywhere, but I really am tired of it being here. Folks up north will not feel sorry for us at all, I know. :) We woke to 26* this morning and the temps rose to the high 40s. Not what we were expecting for this area at all. Oh, well. There's no snow and it could be colder. So, enough whining.

I did get myself to Curves this morning. That's a plus. I also stopped at the post office to mail a few things. I got lucky there – I thought it would be a zoo so I got there when it opened, or so I thought. I got there about 9am, but they actually opened at 8:30. The clerk told me I missed the long line. :) So, being late worked for me.

After eating some lunch, I made myself do the laundry. I really wanted to just hunker in the RV and stay warm, but we're getting low on underwear! :) So off I went. The laundry facility here at the park isn't five-star, but there are four washers and four dryers so you can get it all done at once. And that's what I did. I was done before 2pm.

Spent the afternoon as usual. Leftovers for dinner. Another exciting day in the life. :)

Tomorrow we hope to lunch with Paula Deen at her restaurant, Lady and Sons. Gotta get there early to our name on the list. I'll let you know how that goes!

Until the next time . . .

New Parts

Although I probably need some, it was the truck that got new parts today. While out driving on Saturday, Randy noticed the battery light came on in the dashboard. Oh, yay. Something else to fix. :) So, first thing this morning, Randy called the local Ford dealer and was able to take the truck in this morning.

Well, the good news is the battery is fine. The bad news is the alternator and serpentine belt needed replacing. But, hey! It's only money, right? And as I told Randy, the truck MUST be safe. So, about $1100 later, Randy came home this afternoon.

Never a dull moment. I'm just grateful we had the money to pay for the repairs. When I realized what needed to be done, I just prayed and told God that He knows our financial situation, so I was trusting Him for the repairs. And He took care of us – as usual. :)

While Randy was sitting in the Ford dealership's shop, I was enjoying the quiet of the RV, watching TV shows that I DVR each Sunday night. These are not shows Randy has any desire to watch, so I was able to watch them without bothering him! :)

We did get a nice surprise today, as well! We got a package in the mail from Jason, Lindsay & Reagan. It was covered with Christmas stickers so I wasn't sure if we were supposed to open it. I texted Lins asking that very question and was rewarded with a phone call from Reagan! :) I love talking to her on the phone. She told me to open it right away!

They sent us ornaments for our Christmas tree!! How nice was that! Now our little tree is suitably dressed for the holiday. Thanks, kiddos!

Until the next time . . .

24? Really???

Yes, twenty-four years ago today, around 5:30pm, our son Kevin was born. Sometimes it's hard to believe that little baby is now a grown man, serving in the US Army. Other times, not so much! :) We have shared ups and downs with Kevin, but our love for him has remained as unconditional as it was when we first saw him.

While this past year and a half has been tough for Kevin; deployed to Iraq for a year and coming home to some personal struggles, he is persevering. We are proud of him and look forward to what his future holds.

Happy birthday, Kevin!!

As for our Sunday, we went to church at Maye River Baptist Church. The members were so very friendly! We had lots of people come over to greet us. We have found this to be very typical of small town churches. We sang some Christmas carols and the pastor brought a message on contentment. Very appropos for this time year, don't you think? :)

The rest of the day was spent as most of our afternoons are – watching TV and napping. :) Our dinner of broccoli & cheese soup was cooking in the crockpot for later.

The soup was good as usual. I am so glad Lindsay found this recipe!! It is very yummy!

Now, we're watching a couple of shows on TLC about the lengths folks go to in decorating their houses for Christmas. Oh, my. It's pretty whacked!

Another weekend done. Until the next time . . .

The Movies

We had nothing planned for today. And for most of it, that's what we did – nothing. :)

I was up early, about 6am, for no particular reason. Randy followed about a half hour later. After he and Blackie went on their morning walk, Randy joined me in watching the morning news and computering. Eventually, I made us breakfast of sausage biscuits.

Randy was definitely more productive than I was; but, who's surprised at that!?!?? He flushed the tanks and put up our outside lighted garland. It looks good, too – the garland not the tanks. :)

We decided to get out of the rig this afternoon and go to the movies. We don't go to many movies at all, but we do like to see the Harry Potter movies in the theater. This one didn't disappoint, either. There were lots of tense moments, and a couple of times I hollered out loud! Looking forward to the last one that comes out next year.

We also want to see the new Narnia movie when it comes out. That's another series we like to see on the big screen.

And that was it for today. We got home from the movie before 7pm. I nuked some leftovers for dinner and here we sit. Watching specials about Christmas lights and celebrity holiday homes. Some folks get just a little too intense in their decorations. But, hey. If that's their thing, go for it.

Hope you're having a good weekend. Until the next time . . .

Wandering Around Town

Never having actually been in the town of Hardeeville, we decided to take a drive today. As in most towns along a major interstate (I-95), there are lots of motels and hotels, and fast food restaurants along US 17 which is the main drag of Hardeeville. We didn't see anything out of the ordinary that made us want to stop. So, we continued on our drive.

We did have a couple of stops we wanted to make while we wandered; the post office and an RV parts shop. Well, our GPS really let us down today. Our first stop was to be the post office. The GPS took us to a closed restaurant with no post office to be found anywhere! We drove around a bit and finally stopped and asked someone where it was – NO WHERE near where the GPS said it was! It actually looked like a new complex, so maybe we need to give the GPS a break.

Next stop – RV parts shop. This time I really can't blame the GPS. It took us to the exact address I plugged in, but it was in a residential neighborhood! I don't know if the guy runs his business out of his home or what, but there was no sign indicating it was an RV parts and accessories shop.

On to the next place I'd found on YP.com. And would you believe it? Again we get led to a neighborhood. This one was a GATED development.

Needless to say, we never found an RV parts shop. We're gonna ask the RV park owner where we can find one. Probably should have done that in the first place. :)

Our last stop of the day was WalMart. Weren't we just here on Wednesday? Yes, we were. But, since then I'd gotten ideas for Christmas presents, so while we were out, it was a good time to take care of that shopping.

We finished our errands and came home. It was past time for lunch and we were hungry. So, we made ourselves sandwiches and watched “Bones” while we ate. After that, it was nap time. :)

This evening we took a walk with Blackie (yes, WE!!) around the park while dinner cooked. We're having sweet & sour chicken with rice and green beans tonight. It smells pretty yummy, too!

Thought I'd share a couple of pictures of our site, our little Christmas tree, and the most beautiful five year old granddaughter in the world. At least, I know I never had a school picture look this good!

Until the next time . . .

An At-home Day

I just can't get up the gumption to do much of anything. And Randy isn't any better, either! ;) We are two slugs.

Randy had kind of an excuse – he was up at 5:00 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep so he got up and came downstairs. That's enough to make you drag the rest of the day.

I have no excuse, other than this cold that's hanging on. I slept until 7:30 this morning! That's late for me. And the thermometer when I got up read 29*!! UGH! So, I decided it was much too cold to get out to Curves right away. I had a cup of coffee and checked out what my Facebook buddies were up to since last night.

About 9:00 it had warmed up enough that I had no more excuse not to go to Curves. So, I got myself out the door. I think I've finally found the best way to get there. The two times I've gone, I've taken different routes. It's about 14 miles away and I think I've found the most direct route. Good for me. :)

Randy continued his laziness while I was out exercising. :) When I got home, I dug out the Christmas presents we've purchased to do an inventory. Then, I updated my list so we know what else we need to buy.

I finished up writing our Christmas cards today as well. The afternoon was spent watching some TV while Randy napped.

Once Randy woke up, I got him to get the Christmas tree out and we put it up. It looks cute sitting on the kitchen table. We hung all four of our ornaments – hahahaha! We need to find some little ornaments for it. I'll take a picture once we do.

Other than that, all I did was make dinner. As I write this, baked ziti is in the oven. This is one of Randy's favorites. Our daughter, Lindsay, makes it and he loves it. It's a good meal for leftovers, too.

That's it from Hardeeville! Until the next time . . .

Trying to Get In The Mood

. . . for the holidays!! :)

I just am not feelin' it this year for some reason. But, we did our part today and bought a tabletop Christmas tree, complete with lights. :) We've never decorated for Christmas since we've been in the RV because we always go home. This year we aren't getting home until two days after Christmas, so I wanted some Christmas cheer here. We already have a lighted garland that we'll entwine with our awning lights, so outside AND inside will be a bit Christmas-y.

I'm hoping we'll get the decorations up tomorrow. Whenever it happens, I'll take pictures and share them with you!

Our other chores for the day were checked off the list as well. But, we did them in a very unusual way.

Randy likes to go to breakfast on the first of the month before we hit the grocery. Of course, being the good, obedient wife that I am, I go along with this. :) Now, we are in an unfamiliar area, so finding a place for breakfast at 10am is not easy. And the RV park owner didn't know of any place we could go. So, we were on a hunt.

Our first stop was the bank – can't go out to eat without money! The bank was located in the WalMart where we'd be doing our grocery shopping after breakfast. I asked the bank teller if she knew of anywhere we could get breakfast. She told us there was an IHOP that was about 15 minutes away. Great!

So, we leave the bank (in the WalMart) and drive 15 minutes away to have breakfast at IHOP. I started laughing as we parked and said to Randy how nice it was to be able to do whatever you want – even go out of your way to have breakfast. Life is good!!

And breakfast was very tasty, by the way. :)

Once our bellies were full, we traveled back to Walmart to do our grocery shopping. We are trying something new this month. We only shopped for two weeks worth of groceries. Well, we did buy enough paper products and such to get us through for awhile, but you can't help that; they're packaged that way. But, food-wise, we only shopped for two weeks. We're going to see how that works, if it saves us any money or costs us more.

Grocery shopping done, we went home. The fun always starts then – unloading and putting the groceries away. I don't like grocery shopping, but I like this part even less. But, Randy and I are a great team and we get the job done quickly.

The day was pretty much done by the time we got everything done. We've enjoyed our recliners since. I did put out our yard banners and we'll finish decorating tomorrow, hopefully.

Until the next time . . .