Nuttin much

"To be safe on the Fourth/Don't buy a fifth on the third." 

James H. Muehlbauer

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RV LIFE:
A little bit of heaven. We are back at Columbus...State Park. A perfect place to unwind from the week of socializing with fellow Creekers. Although, because of the heat, not too much socializing. Many of us spent our days inside.

Oopsy! Just a little oopsy. While making a sharp turn into the State park, the road had a dip, then an incline. Oopsy, our back end hit bottom and scraped along the asphalt. Damn!
What kind of damage has been done?
Will it affect the workings of the RV?
How much is it going to cost to replace?
We ended up with a wackadoodled (meaning really bent) rear jack, a crack in our pvc pole sewer hose holder, and a rip in our sewer hose. As I've said before, don't go full time if you think there are less things to do to maintain an RV than a house. That is a total misconception.
Scott was able to sort of bend the jack back and was still usable, but for how long. We don't have sewer hookups so don't have to worry about the cracked sewer hose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RV PRODUCT REVIEW:
Our rating 5 out of 5
Seems good quality, good weight capacity, good price.

Scissors jack from Amazon

Scott installed the jack and realized that our old jack was only 20", the new jack is 24". Did not affect installation. Luckily this was an easy fix.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RV to House Transition:
We have never had a house and owned an RV. When we had a house, we would tent camp for vacations. Therefore, we ate on mainly paper plates and used as much disposable as possible. We had a couple of tubs with our camping equipment in them ready for vacation.
We are now beginning a new way of life. Living in a house, but having a huge RV to travel in. I don't consider our future RV travels to be vacation. I'm retired, living in a cozy cabin like home on 7 wooded acres within walking distance to a lake. My life is a vacation!
I have no idea how often we will actually RV and for what reason. I suppose we'll use it to visit family and to go to Cedar Creek rallies. But will we ever venture all the way West to Oregon and Washington? I so want to return to Custer, SD. Will we keep such a large RV? If we keep it, that means keeping our dually pick up truck too.

I have already committed to taking in TWO English Setter foster dogs. Shhh, Scott doesn't know it yet. All I can say, is I warned him. If we got a house, I would be fostering. HE'S the one that decided not to travel this summer after purchase of the house. I am now in settling down mode, looking forward to cooler times in the Winter.

Do we leave much of the daily living items in the RV and buy "new" for the house? That means we'll have double of a lot of items. But do we really want to have to plan to pack for a trip? I'm sure most people keep dishes, pots, glassware, flatware, etc in the RV. I guess the not knowing whether we will continue to use it, is what bothers me. I don't want to buy things that are not needed, that we already have.

But, on the other hand, even though I'm not much of a shopper, I am looking forward to buying "new" dishware & flatware. The furniture? not so much. I just want comfy without taking up too much room.
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CRAFTS:
I so wish I was more creative! What you say? Look at all the beautiful crafty things I make. 99.9% of my finished crafts are just following instructions. I follow instructions well, but to think up a crafty item...nope. It's empty up here in my head.
You're probably tired of hearing of my current passion...Pinterest. But oh my, my, my, it certainly has zillions of ideas to give my unoriginal brain a boost to create.
I get upset with myself because of the many simple things I see on Pinterest using everyday items. What can't I think of that? We all have our talents. I'll just continue to snatch the ideas from Pinterest and go with it.
Here is a sew simple project.

sew or iron on hem project for the 4th of July or picnic table.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
The Twelve Tribes Of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I am fascinated by the history of slavery and the strong black race that had to endure. I cannot fathom the idea that one human is treated so horribly by another human.
This book seemed to have no flow. I couldn't keep track of what was going on and who was who.
I just assumed, being an Oprah's pick,that this would be good. I didn't bother to look at reviews ahead of time. Lesson learned, read the reviews.
I was just trying to get through the book. I didn't finish. Read previous reviews for better judgements.
====================
MOVIE REVIEWS:
The Oranges - 2011 Dramedy
Hugh Laurie
Oliver Platt
My rating 2 out of 5
Two neighboring families are the best of friends, until the prodigal daughter returns and stirs up a lot of trouble.

7 Psychopaths - 2012 Dark Comedy
Colin Powell
Christopher Walken
Woody Harrelson
My rating 2 out of 5
Pretty bad movie. It got a 2 because I like to watch and listen to Colin Powell & there was a sweet Shih Tzu in the movie.
Just a bunch of killing and egos and stupidity.

Snow White and the Huntsman - 2012 Fantasy
Kristin Stewart
Charlize Theron
Chris Hemsworth

My rating 3.5 out of 5
I would have given it a 4 if they had cast Snow White with someone other than Kristin Stewart. Snow White is supposed to be the "fairest of them all" and Stewart is average with too big a chin to be called beautiful. Plus her acting is similar in all her movies. Mouth half open and a furrowed forehead.
Now Charlize is absolutely stunning!  They needed someone equal or better looking (if possible) than her.
The special effects were great, the dark story was very good. If you are a Kristin Stewart fan, then you'd like this more than I did.

The trouble with dually's

Branson Stagecoach Campground - Branson, MO 

June 16 - 29, 2014

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RV LIFE:
Now why didn't I think of that!

What a great idea!!!! Take a photo of where you've been in each State. Instead of just crossing out the state, or filling in the blank with a marker, cut out your own photo in the shape of the State and tack it on the map! I so wish I had seen this 3 years ago!!! I may try to search out my photos and try my hand at this anyway.

When we first were planning our RV life, and after we decided to live in a 5th wheel instead of trailer or motorhome, we knew we would have to get a truck to pull the 5'vr. Scott was totally opposed to a dually. For those who may not know (as I didn't know at the time), a dually is a pick up truck that has 6 wheels instead of two. Two wheels in front and 2 sets of double wheels in the back. This makes for a very wide vehicle. Since this would be not only our towing vehicle, but also our run around town vehicle, we did not want the bulkiness, which would cause problems maneuvering around small towns and fitting into parking places.
So our plan was a 250 pick up, with crew cab. We ended up with a 350 crew cab, long bed dually. Even though parking is a PIA, I'm so glad we went with it. I feel more secure with the double wheels in back and also the extra power of the 350. Maybe if we weren't fulltiming and pulling so much weight, a smaller vehicle would have been fine. With all the above being said. Look what I found on my windshield the other day!

Here's proof of the problem parking a dually truck. "Please keep vehicle between the lines." Really? Maybe the lines should be spaced just a touch further apart.

Hey parents and grandparents! Here's a very cool idea for the youngins. I found this from Land of Nod. No, I wasn't LOOKING for children's items. There are no children in my life and that is fine with me.

How cool is this!!! My brother and I used to love to make takes in our bedrooms. We'd take the blankets off our beds and use chairs to drape them over to make our own tent. Do you notice, there's even a fake fire? It looks like a pillow. Oh to be young again. But I still would not have had this tent. My parents couldn't afford it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TN HOME:
While doing a little window shopping in old town Branson, I picked up my first purchase for the house.

Sure, I could make this, but for $25.00 I thought it was worth saving the labor. I'll have plenty of other things I can make. I plan on decorating the TN house with wood & stone and experiment with splashes of color on the 2nd hand furniture I'll repaint. I'm usually fairly conservative in my color choices, but I've seen so many samples on Pinterest of people with a unicolor room, but bam! there's a pink chest of drawers, or bam! those pillows are orange! It's only a can or two of paint. I can always repaint to a safer tone if need be.
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RESTAURANT REVIEW:
Billy Bob's Dairyland - Branson, MO
Our rating 3.5 out of 5
Just a "fast food joint" next to a gas station.
As I was searching Yelp as I usually do when we arrive at a new place, Billy Bob's had very good reviews. Scott loves hamburgers and these were supposed to be good. I've grown to enjoy cheeseburgers now. I used to prefer hot dogs at cookouts, but now, give me a burger. That is more of Scott's influence on me.
The burgers were a hefty size & juicy. You can get practically whatever you want on them. The platter came with a side of fries. The fries just looked like crinkle cut frozen, but boy were they good! I think it is something about what kind of oil they are fried in. We also ordered onion rings. Again, the batter was no big deal, but there was some subtle flavor that I think is from the oil.
Even though I was full, I ordered a malted milkshake to go. We wanted a Black & White (vanilla milkshake with chocolate syrup mixed in), but the waitress looked at us cross eyed. We both settled for chocolate malts. I was very disappointed in the shake. First, I did not taste any malt and second, it was so thick, that it was more like a Wendy's frosty or soft serve. There was no way to slurp it up through a straw. I ended up putting it in the freezer for later.
Since I heard about their fried pies, I also ordered a peach fried pie to go. Now that was a delicious snack. It was like a peach filled empanada or similar to a McD's pie. Really great crust that was deep fried. Not a heart healthy place to eat, but I would return definitely for the fried pies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MOVIE REVIEW:

Cinderella Man - 2005

Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti

Our rating 4.5 out of 5

With the temperatures being in the high 80's/90's and high humidity, I've been spending my days inside. Of course Scott almost always has to have the TV on. So I sat through a movie or two with him.

What I'll remember most about this movie is the GREAT ACTING!!!!! 

This is basically a boxing movie, but it is also so much more. The movie is set in the Great Depression years. It gave us an inkling of what life was like. Begging for jobs, borrowing from friends, not enough food and going without to feed your own children. In spite of the down and out times, the love that holds the family together.

What a man will do for his family. Work at whatever he can, no matter how he feels. Beg or go on public assistance at the cost of friends feeling sad for your current state.

A true story about a has been boxer, and then his comeback because of the strength from his family.

I concentrated on my knitting during the fight scenes. I just can't handle that. The movie is a definite roller coaster, emotional roller coaster that is.

Renee Z. did a phenomenal job of portraying the loyal, loving wife and mother in dire circumstances. I truly could feel her making the most of a sad situation.

And Paul G. as the trainer, manager was also wonderful. I could feel my chest tighten with emotion as he fought for his friend's reputation in the boxing world.

Cabin on the Hill....cancelled.

May 12 - 18, 2014

Parnell Creek RV Park - Woodville, AL

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RV LIFE - HOUSE HUNTING:

Not too many things keep me awake at night. Even when I tell Scott that I'm wide awake and hope I can get to sleep, I roll over and within 2-3 minutes I'm out!

If you read my last post, we put a bid on a beautiful log home. 15 acres, but a driveway so steep, we can't get our pick up truck up to the house.

I put the bid in via email about 5pm. I kept thinking about it and thinking about it. Why don't I feel excited about this? The last house we bid on, we were looking forward to the possibility of moving in. But I just felt really scared this time around. Something is just not right. 

So I keep 

thinking and ...

thinking and...

thinking....

oops, my mind started to wander! So sorry!

Next thing I know, Scott is asleep (I am usually asleep first) and it's 2:30am!!!! I'm usually asleep by 11pm. Obviously, I'm not happy with this decision.

I open up my email and send a notice to rescind the bid. Almost immediately after sending that, I felt better. A little sad, because we loved the house, but knew the property was not right for us. Later that day, Scott admitted he feels good about cancelling the bid.

So we are free again, for now. We may look at a house on the lake next week, but after that, we'll reconsider in the Fall. I think I just had a very difficult Winter. I love snow and don't mind cold weather, BUT NOT IN AN RV.

Even in New Mexico this past Winter, we had some snow and almost every night had to disconnect the water line because the temperatures were going to go below freezing.

Then we traveled through, or tried to travel through Texas on our way to see a house we had been watching for 2 months. We were delayed for 3 weeks in Texas because we needed a new engine. Because of that delay, we were the 3rd bidder on this house/property we had been drooling over. Not meant to be. Maybe now that I'm over that Winter slump and everything is green again, I'm having a bit of a renewed love affair with full timing.

I plan on making reservations for a couple of months through this coming Winter in Florida...probably Cedar Key. I also hope we will finally start staying places longer.

This week we are enjoying the company of fellow Cedar Creek RV owners and some S.O.B.'s! Yep, I called them S.O.B.'s! Don't be so quick to judge. This is the Cedar Creek RV Owners Club, therefore you should own a Cedar Creek RV. But as time goes by, we sometimes upgrade, or go smaller or even buy another brand! Tsk! Tsk! That's why they are S.O.B.'s. They own Some Other Brand of RV. We welcome them with open arms. They have become friends and a brand should not segregate us.

There have been some group touristy things to join in, but we are neither touristy, nor enjoy large groups, so we are just hanging around the park for the most part. This is a really great group of people. Plus there is a wealth of knowledge among all of these CC owners. I would encourage you to look to see if your RV brand/model has a club. It's nice to gather together with something in common and make new friends and meet up occasionally here and there for rallies.We'll be in Branson, MO at the end of June for the CCRVOC (Cedar Creek RV Owners Club) international rally.

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MOVIE REVIEW:

This is the End 

Comedy 2013

My rating 2 out of 5

Starring:

Seth Rogan

Jonah Hill

James Franco

Six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange, apocalyptic events devastate Los Angeles. The actors play themselves and there are other cameos in the beginning of the movie.
As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Eventually, they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.
I think the guys may enjoy this more than the girls. Pretty raw, gross, shocking scenes of how guys act amongst themselves. Well, some guys, maybe guys in high school.
I watched it simply because I was on the computer and Scott had it on.
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RESTAURANT REVIEW:
Western Sizzlin - Scottsboro, AL
My rating 2.5 out of 5
A decent sized buffet style dining. You can also order a meal off the menu. We chose the buffet. Most items were so-so. The only item I thought was very good was the meatloaf. The worst item was the mashed potatoes. Instant potatoes have improved a lot in the last few years and with a little doctoring up, them can be quite tasty. These instant mashed potatoes were horrible. Seemed to be made with water only and no butter or seasoning added except on top.
Salad bar had much to be desired. Dessert bar was fair. The soft serve "ice cream" was some kind frozen ice milk. I enjoyed the bread pudding which had some coconut added to it.
We were a group of 20 people and the waitress, Linda was wonderful.
I would not return. Where is a Golden Corral to teach this place a thing or two?
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TV & MUSIC:
Showtime had a free preview weekend and Scott goes bonkers DVR'ing movies. There was a "History of the Eagles" (the band, not the bird) documentary on in two parts. The first part spanned from the beginning of their careers until they broke up. The second part was the reunion 14 years after the split and until present. Really, really interesting! Besides being drunk and high and jerks in their younger years, they really had talent. The documentary showed some of their jam sessions and how they harmonized and composed. It takes work, it does not just happen. I didn't realize how much I enjoy their music & voices.
Watch this documentary on line.

I turn on the tube and what do I see?
A whole lotta people cryin, Don't blame me
They point their crooked little fingers at everybody else
Spend all their time feelin' sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that
Your mamas too thin and your daddys too fat

Get over it!
Get over it!
All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin a fit
Get over it! Get over it!

You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if they gave you some cash
The more I think about it old Billy was right
Lets kill all the lawyers, kill em tonight
You don't wanna work, you wanna live like a king
But the big, bad world doesn't owe you a thing

Get over it!
Get over it!
If you don't wanna play then you might as well split
Get over it! Get over it!

Its like goin' to confession every time I hear you speak
Youre makin' the most of your losin' streak
Some call it sick but I call it weak, yeah yeah yeah

Yeah you drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt, you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down
You bitch about the present and blame it on the past
Id like to find your inner child and kick its little ass!

Get over it!
Get over it!
All this bitchin and moanin and pitchin a fit
Get over it! Get over it!

Get over it!
Get over it!
Its gotta stop sometime so why don't you quit?
Get over it! Get over it!

Get over it!

Songwriters
HENLEY, DON / FREY, GLENN LEWIS
Published by
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Don Henly/Glenn Frey/Eagles, Universal Music Publishing Group

A Dirty RV is a safe RV

Feb. 19-26, 2014 (1 week)

Sherling Lake Greenville, AL 36037 

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RV LIFE:

A new State! I believe we have driven through Alabama, but have never stayed in Alabama. It only takes one night to be able to add it to our map. And that is what it almost was! Just one night.

We got a late start on Wednesday. Scott couldn't get himself out of bed. Therefore, we didn't arrive in Greensville, AL until 5 pm. This park got good reviews, it was not crowded, it has a "park" setting, so we decided to stay for a week instead of overnight. So nice to have a relaxing, more open schedule again.

I turned on my computer so Scott could get the Direct TV satellite coordinates and oooohhh, it's soooooo slooooooow! Seems so shallow, but I can't stay more than 2 nights without internet. I've got to keep up with the volunteer work I do on the computer.

Scott extends the booster antenna, but still slow. We have dinner and discuss whether to leave in the morning and forfeit our week's camping fees. 

I try the internet again and it is working much better. Still somewhat slow, but definitely usable. Yeah! We're staying! The camp host said, "What are you going to do HERE, for a week". Hmmm. Ummm, relax and do what we've been doing and love doing, LIVING in our RV and enjoying the peacefulness of this park. We are so over sightseeing. If there happens to be something nearby, we may stop by, but if not, that's ok too.

On our last day in Tennessee, I was cleaning up the rig. Vacuum, sweep, mop floors. Dust, wipe down counters, stove, microwave, fridge, etc. Scrub shower. That would be so much easier if I cleaned it more often. While putting the vacuum away, I smelled something funny. Hmmm...what is that smell? The sewer hose? We have been 12 days without dumping. Oh well, tomorrow we'll dump on our way out. Then Scott starts sniffing around too. Ah ha! I know, it smells like a dead mouse! No, AH HA! Scott declares, it's propane! And just then the CO detector starts beeping. Can you say "freak out"????? I immediately look at our parrot. Is she ok? Ya know, like the canary in the coal mines. She seems fine. I go out and turn off the propane, while Scott continues to sniff around, turn on the fans, and open the windows. Scott figured it out. it was my fault (but of course!). When I was wiping down the stove, I accidentally turned one of the knobs which opened the propane valve waiting for us to ignite it for stove use. 

The moral to this story? Don't clean the RV! 

Remember our 3 week house arrest in Ft. Stockton, TX? Ya know, the $14,000. truck repair? Our friend Tom, whom we stayed with near Albuquerque, NM had to pass by there recently. Here's what he had to say...

"Went through Stockton, Texas where Deb and Scott were broke down and all I can say is Hell would be a step or two up from that place and that is being too kind. 

There is still a huge banner up there at the RV park. They were asking for them to come back as they so supported the local economy, It also says "Scott and Deb, we miss you". It is right at the exit on I-!0." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSE HUNTING:

We put a bid in on the lake house. Haven't heard back from the Realtor to sign it, but does it really matter? We're third in line.

We decided to forego looking at houses in the Eastern part of Tennessee for now. Our only reason to head to Tennessee at this time was to see the lake house. I found myself looking at other houses in other parts of Tennessee, and trying to plan our travels and time to include seeing these houses. STOP!!! We did not plan on purchasing just yet, unless we got the lake house. We really don't want to buy until the Fall of this year. So we changed our plans of staying longer in Tennessee, to just heading down to Florida to visit my parents. We'll return to Tennessee at a later date.

I find myself thinking, the lake house is not to be. Things happen for a reason right? I'm don't know, BUT...if we had NOT had the engine trouble, we probably would have been first to bid on the house, but the 3 week delay made us miss out. I can only hope that is because there is a better house, property and price in our future.

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CRAFTS:

I am just now missing my yarn stash tucked away at my knitting friend Shirley's home. As I cruise around on Ravelry, I see a few MKAL's I want to join. I have the yarn, BUT, it is in NJ. When we pass through there this Spring, I will bringing my stash with me. I have already scouted out little cubbies here and there in the RV to squirrel them away!

I have a knitting machine that I hope to one day be more proficient in using, but right now, it is a chore and a re-learning experience every time I try to use it. I brought it along for our full time RV travels figuring I'd have time to use it. The problem is, once you start a project on the knitting machine, you can't just pack it up and put away. The machine has to stay out with your project attached. The machine is portable, but is about 3 - 4 feet long & only about a foot deep. I can't leave it out using up precious RV space. So it has sat in it's box, covered in a plastic garbage back beside my bed, being used as a shoe rack. So the knitting machine will be sent to storage upon my short return to the state from Hell...NJ.
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MOVIE REVIEW:
Admission, 2013, Romantic-Comedy?
Tina Fey, Paul Rudd
My rating 3.5 out of 5
I'm not sure if I could rate this an actual comedy, but it was a light romance.
I'm a fan of Tina Fey, so would watch her flicks for pure entertainment.
In this movie, she plays a Princeton Univ. Admissions Officer. She is in a battle of ethics whether to make special allowances for a potential student or not.
Probably just a 3 rating, but I like Tina Fey, so gave a little extra.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
Forever Black by Sandi Lynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I guess I am an old lady. This could have been a great romantic mystery, but 20-something romance drove me crazy.
Ellery would pick a fight, her boyfriend would try to keep the peace, but Ellery just had to push it until there is an argument and stomping out the door. Then she waits for his return with his tail between his legs that shows (to her) that he really cares. Really? She's got some maturing to do. This must have happened at least 4 or 5 times. Get rid of the "B"!
Nice little romance with the mystery being the characters' history.
Light reading, some explicit sex. I think the author was trying to be erotic, but just wasn't.
I'm in my 50's. I think 20-something women would like this.
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WHERE WE'RE GOING:

Feb. 26 - Mar. 4, 2014 (1 week), Torreya State Park - Bristol, FL

Friends and Food for the Holiday

Hidden Valley Ranch, Deming, NM  

Mon. 11/25/13  Fri. 11/22/13 - Wed. 1/1/14 (5 weeks)

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"If you can't be a good example, you'll just have to be a horrible warning." 

Catherine the Great 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RV LIFE:
You meet the nicest people at Hidden Valley. We had a Christmas Eve Pot Luck dinner with the RV park supplying Ham and Turkey. Yum. Scott made candied sweet potatoes. What a huge buffet of food! What a great time. Even the little 2 year old girl sitting in the high chair next to me didn't bother me.

After dinner we had a camper sing a couple of songs while we were waiting for the special guest.
Santa (another camper) handed out gift bags to the 8-10 kids that were there. Santa is truly amazing that he can take time to hand out gifts to the kids at Hidden Valley on Christmas Eve. They must have been extra good this year.

Another camper donated a door prize in which Scott won!
A crocheted afghan. But not just "any" afghan, this one is made with the colors of the Irish Flag, so that was appropriate for an IRISH Setter owner to have.
Thank you Sherry. That was thoughtful. Sherry also makes WONDERFUL biscuits. I took 2 extra home in a doggie bag but they aren't for the dogs.

Scott is putting the afghan to good use already. He was overcome by sleepiness, ya know, after eating turkey? Or at least that is what he's blaming it on.
And dear Dina had to keep Scott company. Dina is still up for adoption.





I love it here, but I am itching to move on. A month in one place is long enough. I do like the idea of staying a month instead of a week or two. But I'd only want to do that at a place that we visited before and like or comes highly recommended by friends with like tastes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOOD & FRIENDS:

Our neighbors brought us over a "thank you" gift for recommending this RV Park to them. They are planning on staying until March. And what a delicious gift it was. I mentioned earlier that Mike ordered a smoker. Well he broke it in by smoking two beef briskets. One for him and one for us! Wow! Our travels have introduced us to smoked meats and fish. We have become spoiled by this process. When I think of BBQ now, it must be smoked first, or it's just not worth it for me anymore. It's not all in the sauce...it's in the finesse of smoking it just right, with a great marinade and dry rub. Thank you so much Mike and Maryanne. The brisket was HEAVEN!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CRAFTS:

Dog Sweater

I put a tub out at the office with some of the things I've crocheted. I was hoping that people would purchase some items for Christmas, plus that would free up some space in the RV. 

Bucket hat

More mint green than blue.

I sold these items as well as a few other small items.
Total money raised to donate to Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue? $47.00. Not too bad.




I finished blocking my lace Mystery Knit-a-long Scarf. I'm reallly, really happy with it. Blocking your knitted and crocheted items makes them really bloom.  It makes a piece go from wrinkled to beautiful. It stretches out the fabric to really show the stitch definition.

As stated in my prior post...
The photo does not do this scarf justice! The yarn is so light and lofty. It is Luna, by S. Charles. It is lace weight, 71% mohair, 20% silk, and 9% metallic (glitter). There are also blue glass beads worked into the lace. I am so proud of this beautiful piece.
I am willing to sell this piece. I love to knit, but can only use so many scarfs, hats, etc. The yarn cost me $37. (remember mohair & silk). I am willing to sell this work of art for $60. including shipping. That only $23. for my hours and hours of labor. I probably am making $1. per hour on this. But the thought of someone else appreciating it and enjoying it makes up for the almost non-existent hourly wage.

I also crocheted another dog sweater by request for Bubbles, the long haired chihuahua.
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MOVIE REVIEW:
Think Like a Man, 2012, Romantic Comedy
My rating 4 out of 5
A very cute movie. Four friends conspire to turn the tables on their women when they discover the ladies have been using Steve Harvey's relationship advice against them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHERE WE'RE GOING:
Thursday, 1/2/13 - 1/8/13 (1 week) Oliver Lee State Park, Alamogordo, NM (White Sands)

Lace Scarf

Hidden Valley Ranch, Deming, NM  

Mon. 11/25/13  Fri. 11/22/13 - Wed. 1/1/14 (5 weeks)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The belly is an ungrateful wretch, it never remembers past favors, 

it always wants more tomorrow." 

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RV LIFE:

Snow on the mountain tops, cold wind, temps in the 30's & 40's. Yep, it's Winter. I don't mind, well, maybe cut out the wind and it would be nice and brisk out.

Life is good in the Valley. 

I'm becoming a senior citizen. I turned 57 this month. But  also, I'm enjoying playing bingo and hanging out with the other old ladies on the ranch.

Our neighbors, whom we first met in Port Townsend, WA ordered a smoker! A few days back when the weather was nice, Mike was assembling his beloved smoker. His wife, Maryanne is almost giddy with the anticipation of having some smoked bbq soon. And I'm giddy too because they like to share!




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BROWSING THE WWW:

Go Pet Friendly is a nice little website with info about traveling with dogs and what places are pet friendly. This couple travel full time in an RV to explore places to take our dogs. 

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FOOD:

Another pot luck dinner this past Friday. Scott made Hobo beans and I made Cheese crescents. Both turned out excellent. My crescents were a hit and I was asked for the recipe.
Easy peasy...
2 pkg. crescent rolls
2 pkg. cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup butter (melted)
Instructions at above link.

Scott made Hobo Beans, which are more than just baked beans. They can be a meal in itself since it has chopped beef in it. We picked this recipe up from an Escapees member while staying at the park in Livingston, TX.

Hobo Beans
1/2#  ground Beef
1 chopped onion
1/2#  Bacon
1 can Kidney Beans
1 can Pork and Beans
1 can Butter Beans
1 cup Ketchup
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 Tbs Mustard
1 Tbs Vinegar

Fry Bacon till crisp.
Remove from skillet and crumble.
Brown Ground Beef with Onion in bacon grease, add bacon back to skillet when near done.
Combine other ingredients in casserole, add meat mixture and stir.

Bake at 350, about 1 Hr.
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BOOKS:
No review. Just taking notice of an occurrance that happens quite often it seems.
I am usually "reading" two books at the same time. One is actually being read, the other is an audio book being read to me. I'm surprised how often I end up reading two similar books, or two separate books that have similar or the same character names. For instance, right now I'm reading "Rules of Crime" and listening to "The Snowman". They both have to do with a missing person and they both have a character named Lyla, which also happens to be the name of my English Setter. Hmmm. I've decided to put the audio book "The Snowman" on hold and listen to some mushy romance instead. It's just too confusing with the two books being so similar.
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MOVIE REVIEW:

Beautiful Creatures, 2013 Fantasy, Romance, Drama, Young Adult
My rating 4.5 out of 5
Alden Ehrenreich
Alice Englert
Jeremy Irons
Emma Thompson
The trend these days seem to be Zombie (yeck) or Vampires & Witches. This movie is to do with Witches. It started out slow, but seemed to be a good "rainy day" movie to just sort of pay attention to while I knit. After the slow start and realizing this is about witches, it really caught my interest. It is a "young adult" movie so keep that in mind. But so is "Twilight" and you know how huge an audience that has gotten.
I liked the two main teenagers in love characters because they weren't Hollywood beautiful. They were nice looking in a normal way. Of course when Jeremy Irons appeared all dressed in a beautiful suit...be still my beating heart...he is still a handsome man after all these years. Emma Thompson was as ALWAYS wonderful. Just about any film she is in is worth watching.
I saw Emma Thompson on Jimmy Fallon this week. She is down to earth and funny, plus a wonderful actress. She can look pretty or homely. In "Beautiful Creatures" she had an American accent that was done so well, I had to check to make sure it was Emma Thompson.
A really enjoyable light movie.
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PETS:
How to wrap a cat for Christmas...

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CRAFTS:
Another project...COMPLETED!
I really enjoy Mystery Knit-a-longs as long as I know what kind of item I'll be knitting. Shawl? Wrap? Socks? Cowl? Blanket? Hat? Scarf? I pick and choose according to what yarn I have on hand (or not), how large a project, and is it something I could use. I don't want a large shawl, but the shawlettes are very popular now and can be worn as a scarf accessory. I've never knit socks but if the opportunity arises, I may try. Blankets are too large, too long to knit, too much yarn and I can't use it because the dogs go on our bed and it would be ruined. The next two Mystery Knit-a-Longs will be a cowl and a shawlette. Just right. And no, I didn't have the yarn for the shawlette, so yep, I purchased more yarn through Knit Picks. BUT, for the cowl, I'll be able to use some yarn I have on hand.
Here's a preliminary photo of my finished project. I'm finished knitting it, but to bring out the beautiful stitch work, I have to block it, which spreads out the stitches and flattens the scarf instead of curling.

The photo does not do this scarf justice! The yarn is so light and lofty. It is Luna, by S. Charles. It is lace weight, 71% mohair, 20% silk, and 9% metallic (glitter). There are also blue glass beads worked into the lace. I am so proud of this beautiful piece.
I am willing to sell this piece. I love to knit, but can only use so many scarves, hats, etc. The yarn cost me $37. (remember mohair & silk). I am willing to sell this work of art for $60. including shipping. That's only $23. for my hours and hours of labor. I probably am making $1. per hour on this. But the thought of someone else appreciating it and enjoying it makes up for the almost non-existent hourly wage.
Off to complete the tedious job of blocking this beautiful project.
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WHERE WE'RE GOING:
Thursday, 1/2/13 - 1/8/13 (1 week) Oliver Lee State Park, Alamogordo, NM (White Sands)

Afghans and Movies

Hidden Valley Ranch, Deming, NM

Mon. 11/25/13  Fri. 11/22/13 - Wed. 1/1/14 (5 weeks)
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"If you can't feed em, don't breed em." 
Bumper sticker
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To Hell with Black Friday

RV LIFE:

Ahhh, it's nice to be settled for a while. We've just been trying to stay all cozy in the RV during this cold spell or is this Winter in New Mexico? 

We got about an inch of snow when we first arrived. I was shocked. Snow in the desert???

Now that the wind has died down, it's not bad. I actually enjoyed the walk the morning of the snow. Unfortunately walking three dogs that are all wound up from the cool temps, the white stuff, and being stuck in the RV all day yesterday, made for quite the juggling act. Our 9.5 year old English Setter, Lyla normally does not pull on a leash. Devin is a crazy, bouncy ball and will get tangled on any length leash unless I wrap it around my waist and hold him close. Our reservation dog, Dina prefers to be on a long 20 foot lead for her bathroom needs. Even Lyla wanted to play outside, which I didn't expect. When she pulled on the leash unexpectedly, Dina got loose and just zoomed all over the open desert next to the campground. I wasn't worried. She was having a blast, loose about 100 feet from us, but always making sure she knew where we were. Sure enough, when I walked back to the RV and opened the door, Dina came running and was the first one up the stairs and into the RV. Treat for all, after they sit...yes even Dina has learned to sit for a treat.

Wish I was by our friend Tom's fireplace to warm up my tootsies!

The best place to stay in the RV when it is this cold is in the bedroom.  It's the warmest area in the RV. I guess because it is a smaller area, body heat, smaller windows, less drafts, it stays pretty comfortable. I had no problem knitting, reading and marathon movie watching up in the bedroom.Today has finally reached a reasonable temperature of about 60°. I may even sit outside for a while.

Our first night here at Hidden Valley, there was a pot luck dinner. Scott chose to stay home. I walked in and was recognized by Leann, so she introduced me to the group and mentioned that I rescue dogs. That gave me the opportunity to let everyone know we have a nice generic breed dog up for adoption.

Scott decided to join us at the clubhouse for Thanksgiving. The Ranch supplied the turkey and ham and the guests brought all the other fixins. Sherry, a guest I met during the craft get together, made home made soft biscuits. Oh my! They were so delicious! They were almost like those King's Hawaiian rolls. After dinner, I had a 2nd roll instead of dessert! They were that good! I made stuffing with sausage, apples, and dried cranberries added. It wasn't my best, but I still like it. I pretty much like anything with sausage.

We had a very enjoyable and relaxing Thanksgiving. We only had to walk 100 feet to meet with friends for dinner.

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PETS:

Reservation dog, Dina saga continues....

It is with a very heavy heart, that I have posted Dina on Petfinder. Sigh. I sooooooo want to keep her. The timing is just not right. This is the difficult part of fostering. The heartache of letting go. But unless you let go, you can't save another. You always feel no one can take as good care of your foster as you do. I will be very picky about who adopts this girl. I still have my reservations about adopting out our reservation girl. She really is a great, well behaved dog.

Here's her write up below.

"Dina is an absolute love bug. She loves to be with you, but is obedient when you've had enough loving.

Dina is an approximately 1 - 1.5 year old, 48 pound female dog of unknown breeding. I can't even begin to guess. But the important thing is that she is sweet, sweet, super sweet. 

Dina WAS a Navajo "res dog" (reservation dog), that hung around the campground along with a few other dogs, but Dina was usually alone. The other dogs seemed to hang out in pairs. Dina was very timid and unsure at first, but we could tell she wanted some attention. Little by little she got used to us and decided to hang out on a towel under our RV for the night. The rest is history. She wormed her way into our hearts. We began to feed her, introduce her to our own two dogs, then let her in our RV. 

We were eventually able to put a collar on her, then a leash. This all was done slowly and giving her time to adjust.  She has adjusted beautifully. She has been with us for a month. She has had no accidents in the house, in fact she can "hold it" a very long time. She is a smart girl and learns quickly. She is not food aggressive and will wait for her turn to be fed. She listens very well, but a soft reprimand is all that is needed. She is sensitive to yelling and will cower and go belly up in submission or fear.  She walks well on a leash. 

She has really made her way into our hearts. My 3 year old Setter loves to play, and play and play with Dina. They play well together with many different toys and no dominance nor toy aggression. They play tug of war beautifully. 

Dina has now made it into our king sized bed along with our other two dogs. Dina is a gentle snuggler and really wants to be near her person.

We would gladly keep her if we weren't traveling the country in an RV. I'm glad we saved her from having to find food and water on her own and prevented her having any more puppies. Is there a good samaritan out there that would like a very sweet, obedient, laid back girl?

She is spayed, up to date on vaccines, heartworm negative and has a microchip for identification.  An application via the Above & Beyond website and a home visit/check will be required to ensure this sweet babe will be happy.

She is currently in New Mexico."

While we went to Thanksgiving dinner, the dogs were left in the RV. What's wrong with this "picture"? 

Devin and Lyla are crated and Dina is left loose. It's a shame that the only trustworthy dog is the stray we took in.

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PET PEEVES:

Since we are settled in one spot for over a month, I don't have much to blog about, so I get to vent about things that bug me, since there isn't much to fill up a post with.

"If you can't feed em, don't breed em."  I saw this on someone's bumper sticker. Yes, a little crass, but they tell it like it is. This goes for not only animals, but humans too. If you can't afford to provide adequately for a child, you shouldn't be having them. 

Coffee or to go drinks in movies: Has anyone else ever noticed that when someone is holding coffee or hands a cup to someone else or takes a sip, you can just tell the cup is empty. It drives me bonkers to see them swing that coffee cup around while talking and never once a spill or drip. The movements are just too quick. You would have a much steadier hand if that cup was filled. They should at least fill it with water, so the action would be similar.

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CRAFTS:

I've used up some yarn that was given to me and I really like the way this beret/slouch hat and cowl turned out. The pattern is It All Comes Together. I liked the twisted ribbing so much, I decided to make a matching cowl out of just the ribbing.

This set is available for purchase for $20.00

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MOVIE REVIEW: 
With the cold weather and the bedroom being the most warm and comfortable spot, I've been watching a few movies.
In Good Company, 2004 Comedy?
Dennis Quaid
My rating 3 out of 5
A fun watch if you're trying to waste away the afternoon. A little comedy and a little romance.

Warm bodies, 2013 Romantic Comedy & Zombies
My rating 4 out of 5 (Really?, yes really.)
Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer
Scott dragged me in to watching this movie. I was pleasantly surprised by really liking a Zombie movie. It is not your typical Zombie with these gross unthinking brain eating beings walking around, although it starts out sort of similar. How can the main character "R" be cute when he is a Zombie? Well he is! A few Zombies are slowly learning how to communicate with other Zombies and then even resist the urge to eat humans brains! It's an interesting twist and gives hope to the previously thought hopeless, mindless Zombies. Very cute movie.

This is 40, 2012 Comedy
Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann
My rating 3 out of 5
Ugh, turning 40. Time to assess what has become of our lives. Tied down to marriage, kids, jobs. Our bodies are no longer perky and taught. Are we happy? Is this what life is about? Find out if this family has the strength and love to stick it out through financial hardship, temptations, and unexpected news. I found it somewhat depressing as it was making us all face the reality of aging and responsibilities. I guess this is sort of a love story as well as a comedy.
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WHERE WE'RE GOING:
Thursday, 1/2/13 - 1/8/13 (1 week) Oliver Lee State Park, Alamogordo, NM (White Sands)

Seasonal changes

Fri. Oct 11 - Wed. Oct. 20, 2013 (10 days) Moab Rim RV Campark - Moab, UT

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RV LIFE:
I'm feeling better about full timing. My emotions have been all over the place. I was quite depressed about leaving SD. Then we hit dèpressing Chappell with continued bad weather. I just wanted to cuddle up next to a fireplace.

Our trip on Thursday, Oct 10, from Nebraska to Colorado was somewhat stressful in that we hit snow in Vail.






Lyla (below) didn't have any stress on the drive.

My laid out plans were discarded with the recent storm that came through in South Dakota, and also the government shut down. Thankfully, no reservations were made.
We stopped at a surprisingly nice RV park 200 feet from Hwy. 70-River Dance RV Park - Gypsum, CO. (Review in next post)
The views were beautiful! It must be close to peak season for color changing landscape, maybe just a little past.

There was a nice flowing stream behind the park.  We were surprised that as soon as we dropped a few feet down to the stream, we couldn't hear the highway traffic anymore. There was like a mini beach along the stream and of course we couldn't keep Devin out of it.
There were a few hiking trails nearby.  Good trout fishing too. As we proceeded further on our walk around the park, we met up with three friendly dogs off lead playing ball with their owner. One of the dogs was a Boxer puppy. What a little wiggle butt! A short while later we were stopped by a guy who wanted to meet our Setters. Really nice guy who travels to where there's work. Everyone seemed so friendly except the camp host who seemed put out to see us.
Side note: This is a first...I'm typing this on my IPad as we're driving. We just saw a blinking sign saying the National Parks are open again! What timing, since we're headed to Moab, UT which is near some beautiful National Parks.
As we were getting ready to leave in the morning, we saw a puppy Golden, and then ten minutes later a couple more Goldens! Devin would have loved it here.

Now that we are settled in Moab, UT, we found out the government is still shut down, so how could the Utah National Parks be open? A little internet research and this is what I found.

Oct. 12, 2013: Reprinted from here:
"This is a godsend!" exclaimed Utah Gov. Gary Herbert late Thursday night, as he signed an agreement with the Department of the Interior to use state funds to reopen eight national park areas in his state for at least 10 days.
The Republican governor wasted no time in wiring $1.67 million to Washington overnight so that some of the areas can open as early as today. Rangers and other National Park Service employees will staff the parks as usual.
"Utah's national parks are the backbone of many rural economies, and hardworking Utahns are paying a heavy price for this shutdown," Herbert said.
State officials say Utah tourism generates $100 million in revenue in October, which is a busy period, given foreign visitors, the Columbus Day holiday weekend and fall break next week for many public schools and universities.
"The key is you can't make up what you lose in October," Herbert said Friday morning on Salt Lake City television station KUTV.
The deal comes as officials in San Juan County were poised to dismantle barricades and take control of Canyonlands National Park; the Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge and Hovenweep national monuments; and Hite Marina in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The National Park Service agreed to reopen Canyonlands, Natural Bridges and Glen Canyon, along with Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches and Bryce Canyon national parks, and Cedar Breaks National Monument.
The Salt Lake Tribune was reporting Friday afternoon that barricades had come down at Zion National Park. (The Utah Office of Tourism has devoted this Web page to news of which national park areas will open when.)
"The world should know Utah is open for business," Herbert declared.
Zion alone lost more than 72,000 visitors during the first 10 days of the partial government shutdown, according to the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees. Communities dependent on Zion tourism lost an estimated $3.5 million in visitor spending and more than 2,000 non-government jobs were at risk, the group said in a report issued Thursday.
Utah considers the money authorized Thursday a loan, but it requires an act of Congress for the U.S. government to pay the money back. Herbert is working with the state's predominately Republican congressional delegation to get a measure passed.
He's also called the state Legislature into special session next Wednesday to consider sending more state money if the government shutdown continues beyond the 10-day funding plan.
Utah is immediately tapping its own state parks funds, but the Legislature will consider reimbursing the Division of State Parks. Utah finished fiscal year 2013 with a $242 million budget surplus."
I believe Arizona, New York, and Colorado have joined in this also.
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CRAFTS:
One of my excuses for not blogging is because of my surfing Ravelry. As Laurie from Knice Knitties Blog states...
" -- all is forgiven for time spent in Ravelry. I look at it as my own form of video games."
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SIGHTS:
Since I haven't been blogging much, I'll have to backtrack to Custer. Yes, I'm still in love with that area and still wonder whether we should have purchased property. Oh well.
On Oct. 1, we took a drive along the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. What a beautiful ride. I so wish we had our motorcycles. (Yet another reason to settle down.)
Needles Highway is a beautiful drive. The amazing needle shaped rock mountains keep you in awe. The needles eye itself, eh. Just a ploy to get you to drive the Needles Highway, which is fantastic. Be forewarned, lots of hairpin turns, "highway" is technically a two way road, but the width of the road is a lane and a half. Our dually truck had to be driven right on the edge of a cliff with no guard rail at times. Because of the twists and turns of the road, you can't see ahead to what vehicles may be coming towards you.

Not much room to spare!

Also there are two tunnels, one of which is very narrow. It states 8'4" wide, but we believe it was more like 9'. Our dually had about 6-8" clearance on either side. This highway also takes you to Sylvan Lake which is a beautiful relaxing stop after the teeth clenching Needles highway ride in a large vehicle.

Needles in background

At the end of the drive, we came upon Sylvan Lake. What a little oasis! We just HAD to take the 1 mile walk around the lake.

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MOVIE REVIEW:

Les Miserables - 2012

My rating 5 out of 5

Oh my gosh! I'm hooked! The story for the most part is so, so sad. I cried and had to clap at the end even though I was alone. 

I had to look it up to make sure it got the Oscar it deserved. Sure enough, Anne Hathaway won Best supporting Actress and was well deserved!!!! Anne Hathaway's voice is angelic. The makeup was sensational & that too won a well deserved Oscar also! Music is such an emotion effecting instrument. I will never be able to hear that music score again without thinking of this movie and the sadness and love it portrayed. Oh yea, the Sound Mix won an Oscar also! 

I NEVER thought this movie would have the emotional effect on me that it did.  We only recorded this because of all the hubub about it. I didn't think I would like it, and almost deleted it before giving it a chance. I was cleaning the RV while watching/listening, so it gave me a chance to become involved. OH MY GOSH! Wonderful film, wonderful voices, wonderful acting, wonderful costume and makeup.

I am just worn out by the emotions this film brought up and I can't stop crying.
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SMILE!