Slacker

Yep, that's me. A slacker. I didn't go into work until 2pm today. I was scheduled for an all-day shift but yesterday I asked Alicia if I could take the morning off. She was kind enough to allow it. I kinda felt bad about asking 'cause she had been working full tilt all weekend, too. But, like she said, when it's your business, you don't really get to “take off.” I certainly appreciate the flexibility she gives me, though. She doesn't have to!

So, instead of pushing to get to work at 10am (Yeah, I know! Poor me.) I could take my time this morning and also fix Randy and me a nice dinner. I had a good devotional time this morning, worked out for about an hour (4 miles, people!), completed my Bible study for tomorrow and caught up on some of my guilty pleasure DVR'd shows. :)

Randy got home from work about 12:30 and we had dinner at 1:00. I made a crockpot dish called Bacon Ranch Chicken. So easy! Added some egg noodles and green beans and we had a yummy dinner.

In addition to Bible study tomorrow, I'm going to have a mani/pedi. LOVE my monthly indulgence. :)

I don't work again until Thursday. And that's the day we have another club coming in. So, it won't be boring.

That's it for now! Until the next time . . .

Finally, Some Time with Paul & Mary

Paul & Mary arrived Friday afternoon and we have not been able to spend more than a few minutes with them! The park has been so busy (which is a good thing!) and I have worked everyday but Tuesday of this week, so just hasn't happened.

Today I decided enough of that. It was gonna happen today. Well, it had to! They are leaving tomorrow!

This morning after Randy & I got back from church, we caught up with Paul & Mary as they were taking a walk around the park. I suggested we put together a lunch with whatever we had and gather at their site around 1:30. They liked that idea, so we had a plan.

And that's what we did. I had planned to make quesadillas today, so that was a good thing to share with Paul & Mary. Mary made a delicious spinach salad and she had strawberries for dessert. Perfect picnic lunch.

We had a lovely time chatting and getting to know one another. We chatted about those RVing friends we had in common – I bet a bunch of your ears were burning!! :) Talked about our lives prior to full-timing. Gosh, did we have lives before this? And just shared stories.

Of course, we had the obligatory picture-taking:

That’s them!

That’s us!

Unfortunately, I had to be at choir rehearsal at 4:30 and time just flew. Before I knew it, 4:00 had come and I needed to get myself ready to go.

It's always that way – when you're getting along great, time just flies by and when you're not? It sure drags. Well, today, for Randy & me, time flew. We so enjoyed getting to know Paul & Mary a bit. It had been a long time coming as we've traveled close to each other in the past, but just couldn't hook up. We look forward to our paths crossing again somewhere down the road.

And for a completely gratuitous grandbaby brag – here's our precious AubreyLynn, who turned seven months old yesterday!

Until the next time . . .

I’m Tired!!

This has been one busy week. I've worked five out of the last six days! I am ready for some down time. Trouble is, that's not gonna happen right away. :) We've got church tomorrow morning and I've got choir rehearsal tomorrow afternoon. Then, I'm back to work Monday. Tuesday is Bible study. So, Wednesday will be the first day I get to do nothing. Well, actually that's not true 'cause I'll have to do laundry.

Okay, enough! I'm getting even more tired just typing all of that!! So, I'm gonna say good night. Hope you all are having a great weekend.

Until the next time . . .

Welcoming More Friends to the Park

I've told Alicia we're going to start charging her commission for all the business we bring in! :) This afternoon Paul & Mary arrived for a few nights' stay. They are the third couple we know who have come to the park because we are here – how nice is that! And this is the first time Randy & I've had the pleasure of meeting Paul & Mary face to face. We've followed each other's blogs, have many mutual RVing friends, and have traveled in the same areas several times, but this is our first meeting.

And what a great meeting it was! We were watching for Paul & Mary's arrival and when we saw them pull in, we walked down to the office to greet them. Hugs all around, of course, and as it is with RVers, we were old friends right away. We introduced them to Andy & Alicia, escorted them to their site and left them to get set up. I had to get to work and Randy had just gotten off work, so there wouldn't be much socializing today. But, they will be here until Monday, so between their basketball games and our working, we'll get some time, I'm sure.

The club rally seems to be going well. And the park is the fullest (most full?) we've ever seen it. There is a street festival going on in town which includes a car show, so we've gotten some business from that, too. And, of course, we always get folks just off the road. It's definitely a good week for the park.

Randy is looking forward to tomorrow because he doesn't work. I'm on an all-day shift – 10am to 7pm. That's gonna be a long day. But, I'm sure I'll survive. :)

Paul & Mary, we're glad you're here!

Until the next time . . .

Unexpectedly Busy

I was not scheduled to work today, but was going to be available if Alicia needed help with the club that was coming in today. We had 10 rigs due in. Randy was scheduled to work his usual three hours this morning.

Well, things changed. :)

I wandered down to the office a little past 10am to check in with Alicia and to see if she had any questions about some notes I had left her. I left the office about four and a half hours later. :) Rigs started arriving and Alicia was trying to do some last minute things to get the clubhouse ready for the club, so I just told her to go on and do what she needed to do and I'd stay in the office.

It really wasn't a hardship. I enjoy greeting the folks as they arrive and it was helping Alicia. And boy, we were busy! Of course, things always go wrong when it's least convenient. The refrigerator in the clubhouse isn't cooling properly; another camper (not with the club) broke a water line so the water was turned off for a bit; and a cable connection on one of the sites wasn't working. We were all going ten different ways at once.

Things finally slowed down around 2:30 and Alicia sent me home. Randy continued to escort guests to their sites until about 5:00.

After such a busy day, the last thing I wanted to do was go grocery shopping. But, it had to be done and I'm working tomorrow and Saturday, so off we went. We got back home about 7:30, put the groceries away, and finally settled down to eat some dinner about 8:15pm.

The good news is I don't have to go to work until 2pm tomorrow, since I worked today Alicia told me to come in the afternoon. Randy works in the morning, but we'll have dinner together before I go in. So, I get a quiet morning and he'll have a quiet afternoon. Sounds like a winner to me!

Don't know about where you are, but we've been having very warm weather. I think it was in the mid 80s today!! We've been running the A/C the past few days. So weird for March.

That's it for now. Until the next time . . .

Whew!

Have you ever felt like you've been shot of a cannon??!?!!! That's how I've felt all day! From the time I opened the office this morning until I just sat down to write this post, I feel like I've been trying to catch up to myself!

It was a busy day at the office, lots of calls and folks coming in off the road. That's a good thing! We're also hosting an RV club this weekend, beginning tomorrow, so there are lots of last minute details for that as well.

And we had a couple coming in after the office closed. I would be off to choir, so Randy was going to greet them as Andy & Alicia were away. When I got home, I found out the couple didn't stay. Unfortunately, they were unhappy with the site they were given and nothing Randy could do/offer would make them happy. I feel badly that we couldn't accommodate them, but we had no FHU sites left to offer them. They were quite annoyed and left mad. It's upsetting because we know that's going to be someone who will bad mouth the park, but Randy did everything he could to help them, but they wouldn't have it.

Whaddya gonna do. Ya can't win 'em all, I guess. Until the next time . . .

Florida Weather

It's a little weird waking up to such dark mornings! I haven't blogged about changing to daylight saving time 'cause it really doesn't bother me like it seems to bother others. The only time it was a pain was when our kids were young and it messed with their sleep patterns. And I didn't understand that, either. But, twice a year, it took them a good week or more to settle in.

Day two of my new schedule went well. :) Since I had to be out the door about 9:45 for Bible Study, I only walked two miles this morning, but they were a fast two miles – just 22 minutes! I also got my devotional time in. So, I'm happy with how the morning schedule is shaping up.

While I was at Bible study, Randy was working hard around the campground. He's the lone ranger, now. :) Cole leaves tomorrow and Forrest leaves Thursday. He's gonna miss those guys. They've really gotten to be buddies.

After Bible Study, the group went out to lunch at Los Rancheros, the Mexican restaurant Randy & I have gone to a couple of times. It is really good food, for a great price. I had the best taco salad today that I've ever had. Yummy. I'm still not hungry and it's 6:40pm!

Tomorrow is a workday for me; just 10am to 5pm. I'm filling in for Alicia as she has some errands to take care of.

Oh, and the weather title? Well, when I left for Bible study, I needed my jacket. When I came out of the building at 11:20, the sun was blazing and it was HOT! Randy had the A/C on when I got home. :) And then this afternoon, we had a short rain shower. Now, the windows are open and it's cooler outside than inside. Interesting.

Until the next time . . .

Busy Day

Waking up a few minutes before the alarm goes off is such a gift! I don't like having the alarm wake me, but it's a necessary evil. When I have to be somewhere, I like to have a couple of hours in the morning to do my routine – coffee, computer, breakfast, and now, exercise. So, I set an alarm. I also like the structure of getting up at the same time every day.

I know. I'm retired. But, I'm still me. And me likes a routine. (We've discussed this before, people!) :)

And I made good use of my time this morning. First thing, I got my coffee and have my devotional time. I have struggled on and off to find a good time for that. And it always comes back to first thing in the morning. So, I'm not gonna fight it anymore. 'Til the next time. :) About halfway through, Randy was up and moving about. He had to go to work today.

At 7am I started my workout. If you haven't tried Leslie Sansone's walking videos, you really should. It is a great workout. You're probably thinking, “Really? A walking video”? But, I'm telling you, it is a booger of a workout. I am soaking wet by the time I'm done. And I've seen more results in the last couple of months of doing this video than I have in the years I've been going to Curves. And you all know how much I tout Curves. I'm even thinking of giving up my Curves membership – that's how much I think of these videos!

Anyway, I digress. An hour later, I was done working out and Randy came back inside. :) He hung outside while I was exercising. It's got to be funny to see the RV from the outside while I'm exercising. I'm sure it's rockin'. (Insert RV rocking jokes here.)

After the workout, I made breakfast. It tasted so good, even better than usual. Hmmmm . . .

Randy went to work about 9am and carried the very full laundry basket down to the laundry for me. I followed not very long after. Over the next couple of hours, in between switching loads of laundry, I practiced the music for the Easter program and completed my Bible study for tomorrow. By 11:30am, the laundry was done and so was I!! :)

But, I had one more chore to do. The dreaded bathroom cleaning. But, it needed to be done and I was moving, so I figured I'd better do it before I sat down. If that happened, it would never get done! So, I did it.

Now, I could relax. By this time, Randy was home, too. We both hit the recliners and zoned on a little TV. We both ate some lunch, too. Around 4pm, I roused myself to go get a shower. I love a good shower – it makes me feel so good.

There's an RV group coming in later this week, so Richard & Andy have been busy getting the clubhouse ready for their use. That's Andy on the ladder.

This evening we attended a casual dinner Andy & Alicia hosted for Forrest & Gail and Cole. They are leaving later this week, slowly heading north to other adventures.

We have really enjoyed getting to know them and look forward to working with them again next winter.

Until the next time . . .

Another Week Begins

When the alarm went off at 6:30 this morning, it was dark out! That was a little weird. Before long, though, the sun was shining. That was very nice. Especially since we're not going to see much of it over the next few days, I'm sorry to say.

We enjoyed worshiping this morning, as usual. Pastor Shelly is doing a series of messages from the Gospel of Matthew. He is a good preacher, making the truths of God's Word come alive for us. We have become very at-home in this church, which is a great feeling. God has certainly been gracious in providing us with another church home. It will make returning in December so much better.

We had a lazy afternoon. The weather turned from sunny to overcast and chillier. I made chicken pot pie for dinner. We've been trying to eat dinner around 1pm lately. I've found it really helps me with my weight management (or lack thereof!) and my blood sugar. Then, around 7pm we'll have something light – a bowl of cereal, hummus, or for Randy, sandwiches. I really like having our meals this way.

I had to be back at church at 4:30 this afternoon for rehearsal for the Easter program. Randy dropped me off so he could have the truck to come back for evening worship. I enjoy attending evening worship because it's a more laid back service and Pastor Shelly gives a short devotional-type message. And it gives us a chance to get to know folks a bit better.

Now, the weather has changed once more. As I write this post, it's raining. I sure hope it eases off during the morning so I can get the laundry done. I am way past needing to do it! I gotta figure out when I'm going to be doing it now that I've got a new work schedule.

I'm gonna also be exercising in the morning now. The days I work, the hours are 10am to 7pm. I'm sure not gonna exercise after 7pm! Yuck. So, it's back to exercising by myself and in the RV. This will be interesting. The video I exercise to is a little less than an hour when I walk all four miles. So, Randy's gonna have to make himself scarce from 7 to 8am each day. And in 450 sq. ft., that's not easy! :) But, I gotta get that exercise in, no matter how much I'd like not to.

Tomorrow night we'll be attending a going-away dinner that Andy & Alicia are hosting for Forrest & Gail and Cole. It's gonna be quiet around come Thursday!

Until the next time . . .

Oh, Well.

Remember when I just told you I wasn't Gumby and I like structure? Yeah, that was just in my last post. Well, God knows how to tweak me and our big sightseeing plans for Friday went right out the window when the rains came.

We had been watching the forecast all week and knew there was a possibility of rain for Friday, but it was supposed to be a slight chance. Right. The rains came in hard so being the wise folks that we are, we decided a day of sightseeing at the beach would need to be postponed. :)

Friday became a lazy, stay-in-the-recliner-in-your-jammies day. We did rouse ourselves enough to go out to dinner with Andy & Alicia, Forrest & Gail, Cole, and Richard. We went Bailey's, a local restaurant in Chipley, the next town over. Randy & I got grilled shrimp. It was okay; I've had better. And we probably won't go back. But, the company was fabulous! We laughed hard, shared stories, and just enjoyed being together away from the park.

We woke to the sun shining beautifully. Such a great way to start the day. Randy had to work this morning, his last Saturday morning as he begins his Monday through Friday schedule next week.

I attended a Women's Ministry event at church. It was great! The team who organized the event did a fabulous job. We began the morning with a light breakfast of muffins, pastries, fruit, coffee and juice. It was presented in a lovely way with flowers on the tables and bright pastel tablecloths. We participated in large groups and three breakout sessions. The subject was Priscilla Shirer's “Seed” project. The objective was to give us a way to study Scripture so that we didn't need a book or a teacher leading us – we could absorb the truths in God's Word for ourselves. Mrs. Shirer is Tony Evans' daughter and obviously inherited her dad’s gift for sharing God’s Word. She is a very compelling speaker. She and her husband founded Going Beyond ministries. The breakout sessions began with a short video of Mrs. Shirer explaining the purpose of that session. I left with a deeper understanding of how to make God's Word come alive for me as well as getting better acquainted with some of the women in the church.

This afternoon was another lazy time. Just enjoying having the windows wide open and my husband by my side. :)

Tomorrow morning we'll go to church and then in the afternoon I'll go back for choir rehearsal. As I shared in the last post, we are getting serious about the Easter program – gotta get that music memorized!

Hope you all are having a great weekend! Until the next time . . .

Change in Schedule

Haven't I mentioned how much I enjoy routine and structure? Well, it seems that I need to learn to be more flexible – what a concept! Gumby, I am not. But, I am much better than I was twenty years ago. :) So, I'm getting there.

Anyway, what I'm getting to is that today I work a full shift; 9am to 6pm. Last week I worked a full day on Friday and thought that was going to be the new schedule. But, tomorrow Andy & Alicia are taking Forrest & Gail and us to “30A,” their old stomping grounds. Apparently, 30A is a known resort area, filled with lots of things to do. Guess we'll find out!

I think “schedule” is going to be a word that I won't be using much over the next few weeks, anyway. With Forrest, Gail and Cole leaving next week, Randy & I are going to be working more hours/days. I think we'll have something of a routine, but it will also depend on the needs of the park and the owners. And that's okay. We're here to work and the work is easy, so we're not going to complain.

It's also going to get quite busy, for me at least. I am participating in the Easter program at church (in the choir) and rehearsals are heating up. Sunday we begin rehearsing twice a week – Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. And I understand that the closer it gets, the more we rehearse, with the week of the performances bringing rehearsals every day.

So, life will be very interesting from now until April 8, Easter Sunday.

Other than tomorrow's outing, I will be attending a women's event Saturday morning at church while Randy works here at the park. Then, of course, Sunday morning will be worship with choir rehearsal Sunday afternoon.

I will share with you how great this workamping gig has turned out, though. When we got here, it seemed like it was going to be a long four months. I was concerned that we would really be missing our friends and church home back in Alabama and time would drag. And while we do miss “home,” God has provided new friends here at the campground and a wonderful church for us here in Bonifay. I truly enjoy my Bible study group and the folks in choir. We have been so lovingly welcomed that it's hard to believe I was ever concerned.

I am grateful for the life I have been given. And I thank God for it every day.

Until the next time . . .

Sunny? Florida

As I write this post, it has been raining steadily, and at times very hard, since early this morning. There's also been thunder and lightning! I'm really not complaining – how could I when the midwest has experienced such devastating weather the last couple of days! So very sad; I have prayed for all involved.

And we did have a few days of nice weather, sunny and warm. We even ran our air conditioning! Imagine, my northern peeps! A/C in late February, early March. Dang.

We worked Wednesday because we switched from Thursday since that was the first of the month and all of you know by now our first-of-the-month routine. :)

Thursday we did our usual thing – breakfast, bank, and grocery. I also did laundry in the afternoon and Randy was busy escorting folks to their sites.

Friday Randy worked in the morning and I worked all day. Yes, all day – from 9am to 6pm. I wanted to do that so I could have Saturday mornings to myself. Plus it would give Alicia a full day away from the office, which she really needs. And it was too bad. I was the busiest I've ever been, for most of the day. The last couple of hours were slow, but I sat and worked on my cross stitch project. Not a bad deal.

Well, having a few hours to myself this morning went down the drain (pun intended) when the rains came. Randy can't work if it's pouring rain outside. Oh, well. Another time.

This afternoon we had Forrest & Gail and Cole over for dinner; baked ziti and spinach salad.

Gail (Forrest was camera-shy)

Cole

Gail was kind enough to provide a homemade carrot cake that was simply scrumptious. And yep. I had a small piece. It was soooo good. I haven't had dessert in months. It'll be interesting to see what my blood sugar number is in the morning! :)

Now we are just sitting back in our recliners while the rain continues to pour and we watch TV. The warm weather is gone for awhile, I think, as the temps have taken a dive. The heater is back on and we're wearing our sweaters.

Tomorrow is church in the morning and a lunch meeting with Andy and Alicia in the afternoon. Hopefully, the rain will subside. If not, we'll be hunkered down in our little abode, staying warm and dry.

Hard to believe February is over and we're already three days into March! Guess it's a good thing when time speeds by; means we're having fun, huh? Until the next time . . .

What was That???

There was a big yellow orb in the sky today!! I wasn't sure what it was; it looked familiar, but I just wasn't sure. And then, I remembered! It was the sun!!! :) Yes, the sun made an appearance today for a little while. It was so nice to see it. I hope it comes back to visit tomorrow.

And that's the big news here in Bonifay. It has been raining off and on, mostly on for the past three days. Not the kind of weather that motivates one to do much of anything.

Yesterday I did get some paperwork done, including the preliminary work on the taxes. Randy had gone with Forrest to some medical appointments, so I had a few hours to myself. I also did some long overdue filing. And I finished my Bible study lesson for today. It was a very productive morning. The rest of the day was spent in our usual fashion – computers, TV, and relaxing.

Today I went to Bible study in the morning, then out to lunch with some of the women in the study group. That was fun. I ended up working this afternoon because Alicia was sick. Randy was pretty busy working on fixing a slow leak we have in the basement. Of course, it's never easy to work in that area. And he needs another part – figures.

We're working tomorrow because we switched shifts with Thursday so we can do our first-of-the-month errands on Thursday.

That's it. That's all I've got. Until the next time . . .

It’s About Time!

I finally got rid of those three pounds I'd gained during the holidays!! I was getting so dang frustrated – it was only three pounds, dangit! But, I just couldn't shed them for some reason even though I was exercising and watching what I was eating. Hopefully, there'll be some more loss coming. But, if not, my blood sugar is staying within the range the doctor wants and I'm not gaining, so I'll be grateful for the little things.

Otherwise, things are going on as usual. Randy & I worked yesterday and today. I felt kinda bad for Randy – the drastic change in weather didn't make going to work a lot of fun for him. Yesterday morning we left the rig and it was 70 degrees out. By the time Randy got home around noon, it was just 62 degrees. The rains had come in and the temps dropped quickly.

This morning was pretty darn chilly – just 42 degrees when I left for work at 9am!! Big change from yesterday! Oh, well. It's still better than being up north this time of year. :)

Not much else to share. From not-so-sunny Florida, until the next time . . .

This and That

Lame title for the post, I know. ;) But, trying to come up with titles can be tough when the post contains more than one topic. So, there ya go.

As I mentioned in Monday's post, on Tuesday Randy & I joined the choir for dinner in Panama City Beach at Captain Andersen's, a well-known local restaurant.

There were more than 20 of us who rode together on the church bus, with several others meeting us at the restaurant. It was so nice for Randy to just sit back and let someone else do the driving. He was able to look around at the scenery and just relax. And considering the drive was almost an hour and a half, he had plenty of time to relax. :)

We had a lovely evening. Randy was able to meet some of the folks I've gotten to know through choir and the women's Bible studies that I attend. And I was able to get to know them a bit better as well. The meal was very good, too!

Wednesday we decided to take drive to Dothan with Forrest & Gail, who workamp with us. We really enjoy their company. There was no real agenda, other than breakfast. :) Since Forrest was driving, we put him in charge of picking the restaurant – he could choose from Denny's, IHOP, or Cracker Barrel. And CB was the winner! You know we didn't fight that decision. :)

After filling ourselves to the brim, the next stop was the tobacco shop. Gail makes her own cigarettes like Randy does, so they purchased their “supplies” for the next month or so. Yes, I know Randy should quit smoking. But, he has no desire, so I say nothing. Wouldn't help. But, I'm grateful that, with the cost of cigarettes now, he takes the time to make his own which saves of hundreds of dollars per year. Gotta be grateful for that.

Our next stop was Camping World. Have you ever known an RVer to pass by Camping World without stopping? Anyway, Forrest & Gail needed a light bulb. We ended up taking home a new outside mat.

From there, we stopped at WalMart (what's a day out without a stop at WalMart!) so Randy & I could pick up a small humidifier.

Then, we all decided we'd spent enough money, so home we went. It was a nice day out with new friends.

Today was our Monday. Randy started working at 8am, and I followed at 9am. The morning went quickly and all of a sudden it was noon and Randy was off work. He brought me some lunch 'cause I work 'til 1pm and was then going to do laundry. I was finally finished with the laundry about 3:30 and I headed for home.

Oh, I'm getting my exercise in, too. About 4 times a week, I join at least one other woman at the clubhouse for about 45 minutes to an hour of walking exercise. Don't laugh until you've tried it. Check out Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home video series. It's a good workout. But, I'll admit it, I do miss Curves. I'll be happy to get back to that when we get to Pennsylvania. Until then, Leslie is my tormentor, er, friend. :)

That's it for now. Until the next time . . .

A Routine

Yes, it's been a week since my last post. Since we've gotten back from our brief trip to Alabama not much has been going on, just our usual routine. And that just doesn't seem to be exciting enough to write about.

I know many folks write every day – and I did, too. But, as I've said before, if I'm bored writing it, I can't imagine how bored you'd be reading it!! And I really write it for Randy & me, as a journal of these years on the road. Don't get me wrong, I love, love that you read our blog!! But, even if you didn't, I would still write it. Thus, my philosophy of writing what interests me. :)

Okay, back to this last week. We have fallen into a routine. Sundays, of course, is about church and worship. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are our days off and we just do whatever comes to mind, or nothing, if that works. Tuesday mornings, though, do find me back at church for a women's Bible study; and then Wednesday evenings I'm back there again for choir. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are work days. Well, work half-days since Randy & I only work to noon and 1pm respectively.

When we first got to the park in January, our days seemed to crawl by. We were a little concerned because we were going to be here for four months and if that was the way time was going to go, it was going to be a looonnggg four months. However, that has changed as we've gotten into a routine. The days slip by and we are enjoying them.

As a matter of fact, we like being here so much, that we've agreed to do it again next winter! You heard it here first, folks. After some discussion between ourselves and then with Andy & Alicia, the owners of the park, we will workamp here at Florida Springs RV again, starting December 1 and continue through April 30. Working one more winter will really help the savings account stay healthy. :) It's no longer starving now, but really wants to be fat!

Andy & Alicia will graciously allow us to have some time at Christmas to go home for the holidays. That was the only sticking point for us. After not going home this past Christmas (the only time that has happened in the more than seven years as full-timers!), I declared that would not happen again. I know. Many of you do not go “home” for Christmas, but for me that was a real sacrifice. So, thankfully, we won't have to do that again this year.

This coming week shapes up to be about the same as usual. Tomorrow night we are going out to dinner with the choir to celebrate the music pastor's birthday. We're taking a bus trip to Panama City, about an hour or so south of here. Captain Anderson's is a well-known restaurant in this area, so we're looking forward to the meal and the company.

So, that's how we're spending our days. It's a good life. I'm grateful for each day.

Until the next time . . .

A Couple of Days Away

About 2:30 Saturday afternoon, we got in the truck and headed west to LA (Lower Alabama, that is). We were going to spend a few days back “home” visiting friends. And, boy, was I looking forward to it.

After two and a half hours on the road, we pulled into Darrell & Judy's site at the Plantation. Mike & Peggy were there,too. We had a nice little reunion, with hugs all around. Judy had fixed her world famous lasagna, garlic bread, and Peggy made a delicious spinach salad. We ate good, laughed, chatted and just thoroughly enjoyed being together. Judy also made a scrumptious raspberry crumb cake for dessert. That topped off the evening just right. :)

We finally said our good nights around 9:30 after having made plans for lunch together on Monday. Randy & I drove to Robbin's house where we'd be staying overnight Saturday and Sunday. Robbin was gracious enough to open her home to us; telling us to come and go as we pleased. Robbin and I first met three years ago when I joined the women's Bible study at Silverhill Covenant Church. Our friendship has grown over the years and she is very dear to me.

Sunday morning the three of us, Robbin, Randy & me, went to church. Oh, it was wonderful to be back in our home church! We were hugged on and welcomed back just as we always are. How could you not love being there when everyone is so glad to see you! :) Pastor Jesse preached a great message, the music was good, and we were happy to be there.

After church, Robbin, Randy & I met Jim & Susan for lunch at Mama Lu's, a local buffet restaurant. This buffet is a good one, with lots of home cookin'. We enjoyed the meal and the friends. It was good to catch up with what Jim & Susan had been doing.

The rest of Sunday was spent being lazy at Robbin's. We just relaxed and chatted and watched TV. Robbin made a crawfish corn chowder for dinner that was just delicious. Finally about 11pm, we called it a night. Gosh, it had been a great day.

Monday morning Robbin had to go to work, so we said our good-byes and thanked her profusely for her hospitality and generosity in opening her home to us. We took our time getting ourselves out the door. We left about 10ish and headed back to Darrell & Judy's for our lunch date.

We visited with Darrell & Judy for a couple of hours (we never seem to run out of conversation!) and about 12:30 Mike & Peggy came over. It was time for lunch! We were going to Panini Pete's in the French Quarter section of Fairhope.

Panini Pete's has been featured on the TV show, Diners, Drive-in and Dives. Randy & I had been there once before and really enjoyed the muffaletta sandwiches, so we were happy to be going back. None of the rest of the group had ever been there.

Needless to say we all enjoyed our lunch! While Mike got their special of the day, a roast beef sandwich with lots of goodies, the rest of us went for the muffalettas.

And they were just as good as the first time we'd had them. So very yummy.

After lunch we walked around the block, enjoying the sunshine and the beauty that is Fairhope.

Back at Darrell & Judy's we said our good-byes, hugged each other's necks, and Randy & I headed east, back to Bonifay and home. Such a lovely couple of days with good friends. Life doesn't get much better.

Until the next time . . .

Pictures – For the Fun of It

Haven’t posted many pictures lately, so here you go.

Just to prove we really are working . . .

This one is our version of the “Green Acres” stance! :) Happy workampers are we!

Thanks to Mike & Peggy for the pictures!

AubreyLynn is

practicing her wrestling moves (no puppy was harmed in this endeavor)

chillin’ in her stroller

Reagan is

showing her fabulousity

hosting her very own tea party

And an older picture of Tommy. Unfortunately, no recent pics of him ‘cause you know almost-13-year-old boys don’t stand still long enough to get their pictures taken!

I love our grandkids!! So very grateful to have the privilege of being their Nana.

Have a great weekend!

Just Havin’ Fun

Yes, two posts already this week and it's only Wednesday! But, don't get used to it, folks; we just had a bit more excitement than usual these past couple of days. :)

Last night we went out to dinner with Jim & Linda to a little restaurant in town. Everyone enjoyed their meals but me. Unfortunately, I ordered popcorn shrimp and it just wasn't good. But, the salad and mashed potatoes were yummy! And the company was fun, too, so I'm not complaining. I just wish I had sent the shrimp back 'cause they need to know. Oh, well. Next time I'll know what not to order. :)

Jim & Linda left today, heading west to our home – the Plantation in Summerdale, AL.

We stopped by this morning to say our “see ya down the roads.”

Then, we took a drive north – to Dothan, AL. Yep, we crossed state lines! Actually, Dothan is the closest “big” city to us. And it definitely has everything we could ask for. Including . . . wait for it . . . drum roll, please . . .

a CRACKER BARREL!!!

We have not been to a CB since sometime in November. I know, I know! I can hardly believe it, either. So, Randy was able to get his CB fix today.

It was really a productive day, too. We found a tobacco shop where Randy could purchase his tobacco and tubes. There was a Ford dealership where we stopped to pick up some fuel additive Randy likes to use. We walked through the mall and bought a couple of pans to replace our old ones. And then, we stopped at Camping World and kicked some tires (as Darrell would say). See, I told you – Dothan has pretty much anything you could ask for!

By then, it was a little past 1:00pm and it was time to head home. We'd had a really nice day. Tomorrow is our Monday and it's back to work for both of us.

Until the next time . . .

This Week’s Off to a Good Start

As usual, we started our week off with church yesterday. And then, like most of the country, we watched the Super Bowl. I was kind of surprised Randy watched it with me because he really doesn't care. It was a great game, and although we really didn't have a favorite team in it, we were glad to see the Giants win.

Today we had nothing much planned except for a trip to GoodWill and WalMart. So, this morning I went for a mani/pedi. I was overdue – hadn't had one since Christmas! It felt so good. When I got back, we ran our errands.

About 1pm, I glanced out the window and there was Jim & Linda, pulling into the campground. They are going to spend a couple of nights here. We'd only met them once a few years ago at the Plantation, so we were looking forward to actually being able sit down and enjoy each other's company. We've read each other's blogs for years, so we already feel like old friends. Jim writes his blog from the perspective of their motorhome, Emrys. It's a great take on writing an RVing blog. Check it out!

After we greeted them and they were registered, Randy escorted them to their site and helped them get settled a bit. Then we left them to finish setting up, with a plan to get together a bit later.

About 3pm, Randy and I walked over to Jim & Linda's site. We got the tour of Emrys,which is a good-looking motorhome. The weather was so nice, we sat outside and chatted – for two hours! The time went by so quickly. That's the way it is with us RVers. :) Before we left, we made plans to go out to dinner together tomorrow night.

Yep, this week is definitely off to a better start than last week ended. :) And we're grateful for that.

Until the next time . . .

A Sad Good-bye

Unexpectedly, today we said good-bye to Blackie, our sweet 16.5 year old pup. He'd been with us for all of his life – since we brought him home as a tiny black puppy. He was Kevin's ninth birthday present. And when you give a nine year old boy a black dog, what does he name him? Blackie, of course!

Last night, during the last walk for the day, Randy said that Blackie collapsed twice. Randy had to carry him back to the rig, he was unable to walk. Randy took him up to the bedroom and placed him on his bed and made him comfortable. Blackie seemed to recognize us, but was even more quiet than usual. Randy felt Blackie'd had a stroke.

Neither Randy nor I slept well last night. We kept waking up and checking on Blackie. He seemed to be resting comfortably. Randy finally just got up around 3am 'cause he just couldn't sleep. I followed about two hours later when I heard Blackie's nails clicking on the bathroom tile floor. He was up!

While that seemed to be good news, it was soon evident to us that something wasn't right at all. Randy had to carry him down to the living room. Blackie slowly wandered around, not seeming to know where he was or what he usually did once he was there and walking was a problem. His back legs didn't seem to work right. Randy took him outside to go to the bathroom, but there was no walking involved. Blackie was able to stand, but very wobbly.

We both had to work today and were okay with doing so because by the time we left Blackie had settled down and was sleeping. That was very normal. :) But, we knew he needed to be seen by a vet.

I called the vet recommended to us by Alicia and he was able to see us at 11am. Again, it was obvious that Blackie was not himself. The staff was so very kind and accommodating. Dr. Johnson examined Blackie and agreed that he did seem to have had a stroke which had compromised his health. Dr. Johnson said he could give him steroids which could strengthen him and give him a few weeks or we could put him to sleep. The consensus was putting Blackie to sleep was the most kind thing to do. Even if the steroids gave him some time, who knew what he might go through during that time.

So, around 11:30, while we held him, Blackie passed away quietly. Yes, it was hard. And we will definitely miss him. But, Randy and I feel we did the best thing for Blackie, He'd had a wonderful life; he had been dearly loved; and we didn't want him to suffer any more.

Good-bye, Blackie. You were a great pup.

Maineiacs are on the Loose!

A little before 2pm yesterday the phone rang. It was Peggy calling to say she and Mike were here!! I looked out the window and, sure enough! There they were, walking into the office to register. Randy and I quickly headed down to meet them and get our hugs. We hadn't seen them since last July and it was so good to be together again.

We showed them to their site and let them set up. The weather was so nice, we set chairs up outside and got caught up with what's been going on in each other's lives. It was easy to do 'cause we read each other's blogs, so we really were pretty much up-to-date already!

After a couple of hours, Randy & I came home to finish getting dinner ready. We had invited Mike & Peggy for a travel day dinner at our house. About 5:30, the four of us gathered in our home for a dinner of crockpot ravioli, salad and garlic toast. The food and the friends were a great combination. :)

This morning Randy & I were out early, headed to DeFuniak Springs for our first-of-the-month errands. We had a great, inexpensive breakfast at a little diner, went to the bank and then to WalMart. We got back home about noon.

Grocery shopping just beats me to death. I am whipped by the time we get home – every time. Not really sure why, but that's the way it goes. So, after we got all the groceries put away and the meat and chicken separated, I plopped in my recliner and vegged. I even got a short nap, which helped a bit.

This evening we went to dinner with Mike & Peggy at the local Mexican restaurant. Again, the food was very good and plentiful. Everyone was pleased with their meals. Afterward, I dropped Randy, Mike & Peggy off at home and I went to choir.

Mike & Peggy are leaving tomorrow, continuing their journey westward. Next stop is the Plantation in Summerdale, AL. Yes, they are going to our home! We're so glad we got to spend some time with them. And we'll see them again soon, as we're planning a short trip home in a couple of weeks. Can't wait for that!

So, watch out Alabama – the Maineiacs are on their way!

Well, I Spoke Too Soon

Looks like our schedules will be changing a bit. Seems as though Kim (the wife of that workamping couple I wrote about earlier this week) wants to lessen the hours she's working due to family obligations. So, I said I was willing to add two hours to my schedule, which will bring me up to twelve hours per week. I was okay with that because that's what I thought I was going to do when we contracted to work here. I will be working three four-hour days instead of two five-hour days now. It still isn't a bad schedule at all. And Alicia is giving me lots of computer work to do, that is my responsibility, so that's nice. I like having my own tasks to do.

Since Randy also works twelve hours, we have changed his schedule to match mine so we'll be working the same days – Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Yeah, I'm losing my “alone time” on Thursdays, but I'd rather that happen than us working two schedules which cuts down on the amount of days we have off together. This way we'll have four days in a row off. Maybe we'll end up actually doing something!

I'd like to take a couple of days and go back to Alabama to see our friends. I'm thinking we may plan such a trip in early February. We could leave after work on a Saturday and come back on a Wednesday. That would give us plenty of time to visit with folks – and we'd get to go to our church! Yes, I think I like that idea!

The only other news is that Mike & Peggy will be coming through here on their way to the Plantation. YAY! They'll be here Tuesday and stay for a couple of nights. It will be so good to see them. Last time we were together was last July in Maine.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Until the next time. . .

We Came to the End of the Road . . .

. . . and it was in Panama City Beach. :)

Randy & I decided to get out of the RV and actually do something today! When we got in the truck this morning, the trip odometer showed about 180 miles. That is unheard of for us this late in the month! :) We usually put about 600 or more miles on the truck in a month, depending on what we do. This just shows you how we've been sticking close to home these days. And we decided to do something about that today.

Of course, the first thing we did was go to breakfast. :) There aren't many restaurants in this area to get breakfast, and if you've been reading our blog for awhile, you know that's the meal we really enjoy going out for. Of course, we usually don't turn down other meals, either! :) Anyway, we went to a little restaurant in town and it was pretty good. I think we'd go back. When we can eat for less than $15, including tip, the meal would have to be pretty bad for us not to return!

After breakfast, we headed south. Panama City Beach is about 45 miles south of us so we figured that's where we'd go. And the weather was just perfect for the beach. When we got there, the sun had come out and the skies were a beautiful blue.

There was a breeze, too. I was sorry I hadn't brought a chair so I could settle on the beach, watch the waves, and enjoy the day. Maybe next time.

Randy and I walked along the beach a bit and enjoyed being out and about.

Then, we walked through the shopping area, Pier Park. Lots of restaurants, boutique-type shops, the typical beach shops, and some big department stores as well.

One restaurant/bar I was very surprised to see was Tootsie's. Yes, the very same one that's in Nashville. Didn't expect to see that!

By the time we got home, the trip odometer was at 240 miles! The truck was probably wondering what happened!

It was really nice to get out and see a bit of the area. Randy's declared that Wednesdays are going to be our “day out.” :) But, not next week – that's the first of the month and you all know what we'll be doing.

Oh, and our schedules are staying the same. The couple we thought may be leaving has decided to stay. So, that's good for us 'cause we kinda like our hours.

Not much else is going on. That's the reason I've not been posting very much. It's just not fun to read about the mundane, routine things of life. But, rest assured, when something out of the ordinary happens, you'll be the first to know!

Until the next time . . .

We Say Monday, You Say Thursday

Thursday is the new Monday – at least for us. :) After having Tuesdays and Wednesdays off, Randy goes back to work on Thursdays; therefore, Thursday is Monday in our house. Confused, yet??? :)

It was a beautiful, sunny day today, best we've had in a few days. Sadly, there's rain in the forecast for the next several days, though. Whether it actually rains or not is anyone's guess. I'm just glad that so far it hasn't rained on the days Randy works. Since he works outside, that wouldn't be fun.

Last night at choir I found out that we have to memorize our music for the Easter program! Dang, I haven't memorized that much music in forever!! Should be interesting. :)

While Randy was working, I was playing. :) I cross stitched, played my dulcimer, worked on my Bible study and watched American Idol.

Randy & I both work tomorrow. Our schedules could be changing a bit as one of the workamper couples may be leaving the park. We're not sure what is going to happen just yet. But, we're open to anything. Andy & Alicia are easy to work for and the work is not difficult at all. So we'll see . . .

Well, that's about it for us. We really don't have much to share with y'all as our days are not very exciting. :) But, I'll post once in awhile just to let you know we're still alive and kicking!

Until the next time . . .

Getting Involved

Kinda getting more into our routine here. Friday was a work day for Randy and me. Nothing too exciting there. Saturday I worked while Randy got his “me time” day. :) And boy, did he ever get a day to himself! I ended up working an eight hour day. I know!! That was like a real job! ;)

Actually, I had a great day. Alicia has tasked me with entering the daily reports into Excel. I am really excited about that. Yeah, I know that sounds weird to be excited about data entry and such, but it's something that's right up my alley. I love anything administrative-ish so this is fun for me. Also, since my work hours are on the quiet shift, it gives me something to do. I didn't intend to work eight hours on Saturday, but Alicia had to away from the office and I told her I'd hang out at the office until she returned. I was kinda tired when I got home. :)

But, I rallied enough to go out to dinner with Forrest & Gail, one of the other workamper couples here. There's a Mexican restaurant just up the road from the park and it's supposed to be really good. So, I asked Forrest & Gail if they'd join us for dinner there. They agreed, so about 6pm we picked them up and off we went.

The reviews were right on! The food was absolutely delicious. And so much for the price! I couldn't finish my meal, but Randy had no trouble finishing his (is anyone surprised?) AND mine! Forrest & Gail have eaten there several times and said they always enjoy their meals.

Randy & I really enjoyed getting to know Forrest & Gail. While Randy & Forrest work some of the same hours, Gail and I don't. So, we had to get together somehow and what better way than over a meal? :)

Of course, this morning was church. We went to first service and I sang with the choir. I like singing during the first service – it's very informal and NO robes! :) I do like this church, the folks are very friendly.

This evening Alicia and I went to a women's discipleship class. We'll study Scripture, share our lives and how God is working in them and fellowship. It was a good group; a mix of ages which is nice. I'm also going to attend a women's Bible study on Tuesday. That's going to be more structured, with a study guide and such.

Well, tomorrow's another work day for Randy. And while I don't work, it's not an “off” day for me – I gotta do laundry, update finances, and make up the menu for the rest of the month so we can go grocery shopping on Tuesday.

Hope you all have a great start to your week! Until the next time . . .

Laid Back Days

For the most part our days are very quiet – even the ones on which we work!

This past Monday was a busy one for me. Randy worked in the morning and I did three loads of laundry. Then at 2:00 I went to work until 6pm. Usually I only work on Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 2pm, but I worked for Kim Monday. It was busier which is a good thing 'cause I'd rather be busy than bored. And it gave me the opportunity to check folks in because no one comes in before 2pm.

And that was the busiest day of our week!

Tuesday we went out to breakfast and took a ride around the area just to familiarize ourselves with it. Yesterday we just hung out at home. Last night I went to choir at the church we attended on Sunday. Everyone was very welcoming. I look forward to singing with them.

Today Randy worked and I didn't. It's my “me time” day. :) As those of you who live this full-time RV life know, “alone” time is hard to come by. And it's not that I don't love my husband and enjoy his company, but it's always nice to get some time to yourself. And Thursday mornings will be mine. I didn't do much with it today as I woke up with a headache. But, I did work on my cross stitch project.

Tomorrow we both work.

Seems like we're going to have lots of down time the next few months. There's not a lot to do in this area, although the beach is less than a hour south of here. But, since we're not beach people, we probably won't spend much time there. :) And we are trying to save some money this winter, so down time may not be such a bad thing. I'm sure we'll find some things to do, but I'm not too concerned about it. We're very content being in our home. I've got cross stitch projects to complete, books to read, music to play. Randy is very content with his computer and his TV. :)

That's about it for us. Until the next time . . .

Finishing Up the Weekend

We are having a quiet end to a fairly quiet weekend. Just got back from a workampers potluck at the clubhouse. Was nice sitting and chatting with everyone. It's a pretty good group of folks here.

This morning we went to First Baptist Church of Bonifay with Andy & Alicia. It was nice. We sat up in the balcony! I don't think I've ever done that before. :) We'll probably go there while we are here. There's a women's Bible study beginning next week and I'm very interested in that; Alicia is, too. I think I may go to choir rehearsal this week as well. What the heck, why not just jump in! :)

Yesterday I worked while Randy had the day off. You know he loved that! :) It was pretty quiet as seems to be the norm for the mornings and early afternoons. Folks don't start coming in until after 2pm 'cause they are ready to get off the road for the night. So, I made myself busy; ensuring the reservation book was up-to-date and sync'd with the monthly calendar, played with a new design for the park brochure, came up with procedure for taking reservations, and anything else I could think of. I would much rather be busy than not.

We didn't do anything last night. I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and we watched TV for the rest of the evening. Pretty typical night for us.

Tomorrow I need to do laundry. Randy works in the morning and I'm going to work the afternoon shift in the office. Kim, who is supposed to work that shift, has been sick this past week so I told her just to take it easy and I'd work her shift. This will give me an opportunity to see how the afternoon runs. It's good to know!

Hope you've had a good weekend. Until the next time . . .

And It Begins

Randy & I have begun our work routine. Randy's working three mornings a week, four hours each day. I work just two days a week, five hours each day.

This is a very quiet park with campers coming in during the afternoons and evenings, generally staying just one night. Since I work from 9am to 2pm, I don't get a lot of traffic. So, it doesn't seem I'll be very busy. I'm gonna have to get creative 'cause I sure don't want to be bored for four months!

Randy, however, is not bored – at all! With all the trees in the park, he has lots of raking to do. And then, he has to pick up the leaves and get rid of them. And then, there's site maintenance. So, he'll be a busy boy.

Tonight I fixed a brand new dish for dinner – Chicken Caesar Florentine. I got the recipe from Lindsey Domer's blog. It is a definite keeper! Very delicious. I served it with rice as a side dish. Thanks, Lindsey!

I work tomorrow, but Randy doesn't. He's looking forward to that. :) We need to find a church home for the next four months, so Sunday we're going to worship at the church Alicia & Andy (our owners) attend.

Until the next time . . .

Settling In

We've just been getting used to our new “home.” We did meet with Andy & Alicia for a bit yesterday morning; no formal meeting, just a casual chat about what their philosophy is and how we fit into it. Both Randy & I feel like this is going to be a fairly laid back gig. As we suspected, their main campers are the “overnighters,” since the park is less than a mile off Interstate 10. There are several long-term campers here as well. But, for the most part, it's pretty darn quiet here.

Randy will be working outside, sharing the maintenance of the park with another workamper. He'll be working three days a week, four hours each day. I will be in the office two days a week, five hours each day. Tough, I know! :)

There are two other workamper couples and one single workamper. One of the couples has three kids who are homeschooled. They seem to be really nice, polite kids. I sure admire folks who homeschool – it sure wasn't for us!

The women get together Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings to exercise to a Zumba DVD. And I've already jumped right in on that. And with my walking video, we added that to Tuesday and Thursday evenings. So, I'm getting my exercise! I was concerned about that because the closest Curves is 33 miles away! Wasn't gonna be making that drive.

Today we did our first-of-the-month bank and grocery run. Yes, I realize it's not the first of the month, but this was the first opportunity we've had to do it. We had a bit of a drive, about 26 miles or so 'cause that was the closest bank. Of course, we had to stop for breakfast on the way – after all, you can't go to the grocery store on an empty stomach! We came across Sally's Restaurant as we drove to the bank and store. We were hungry, so we figured we'd try it. There were several other vehicles in the parking lot, so it had to fairly decent. And it was. There was also entertainment. Well, there were three ducks that entertained Randy and me. And one of them had a mohawk!! See?

After a couple of missed turns, we found the bank and WalMart. Mission accomplished. We were home around 1pm or so. We did have to go back out to another WalMart, one much closer to us, to see if they had a heater we wanted. They did; we bought it; and came home. A long day.

Tomorrow we have nothing on the calendar. I'll probably go hang around the office for a bit, trying to educate myself on the goings-on. But, I intend to just relax, too. :)

Here are a few pictures of the park and our site.

Until the next time . . .

New Year, New Adventure

Happy New Year to all! Our wish for 2012 is that all of our friends and family will experience contentment and peace in their lives. There's nothing better than that!

A few minutes past 9am, Randy & I were leaving Rainbow Plantation, heading east to Florida and our new job. We had an uneventful two and a half hour trip (for which we are always grateful!) and we pulled into Florida Springs RV Resort a little before noon.

We were greeted by Alicia, one of the owners of the park. We hugged one another and that's always a good sign! She and I began jabbering right away about the park and our place in it. I think it's gonna be good, folks. Alicia introduced us to her husband, Andy. He seems nice as well. Alicia showed us our site and we proceeded to get busy settling in.

The park is a relatively small one. Andy & Alicia have owned it for three years and it was uninhabited for the three years prior to that. And apparently, it was in bad shape when they bought it. But, they have cleaned it up nicely and have lots of ideas for its future. It's exciting to hear their enthusiasm for their park.

Tomorrow morning Randy & I are going to meet with Andy & Alicia to find out our schedule and other specifics of our duties. There are two other workamping couples and one single workamper in the park. There are several long-term campers as well. I'm sure we'll get lots of “overnighters” as the park sits less than a mile off Interstate 10.

So, this is home for the next four months. I'll post pictures soon. Until the next time . . .