Showing posts with label Betsy Brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Betsy Brown. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Flowing Lake County Park, Snohomish, WA
A nice county park with boating, fishing, swimming and, yes - CAMPING! There are rental cabins, tent spots and RV spots with hook ups. This is only 20 minutes from home for us, so we took a little drive out to see what was there. My only regret was that I didn't get a chance to take a photo of the roped off swimming area/playground; they were mowing and I didn't want to get in the way. Also, I missed getting a photo of site D3; it would accommodate a large rig, a boat and a car. Site #15 was also pretty bit (see that photo below). You can check on rates and other information by clicking here: Flowing Lake County Park, Snohomish, WA
This is spot # 15.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
The 100 Day Challenge: Day #14 Hot Air Ballooning in Snohomish, WA
I have been posting my 100 Day Challenge pictures on my other blog, Betsy's Blah Blah Blog, but I thought I'd share this morning's picture here as well. If you are ever visiting Snohomish, WA, you will learn the area is famous of antique shopping, skydiving and hot air ballooning. The hot air balloons often take off from a big grassy area near our home. I was hoping to catch the launch today, but I was about a block away when I heard the whoosh. I got a few decent pictures though. The company that owns this balloon is The Balloon Depot .
Friday, April 17, 2015
The 100 Day Challenge: Day #12 - Thousand Trails Thunderbird
We've all explored campgrounds or seen photos of places that look like wonderful places to set up. I have one of those places just 15 miles from home. Mind you we have yet to camp there, but I have been out to explore Thousand Trails Thunderbird Preserve in Monroe, WA many times.
The camp ground is split into 3 areas. The main area with the full hook ups, the bath house, pool, and family lounge is on the south side of Ben Howard Rd. The other two areas are on the north side of the road, and offer views of the Snohomish River. These sites offer water and electric only. There are port-a-potties available, but regular bathrooms, showers, etc., are in the main campground area.
I'm a "view person". I have wanted to bring our 5th wheel out here for a long time. The spots are back-in only (in fact all the sites in the campground are back ins), and we have a nice view window out the back of the rig. These spots along the river would offer great sunrise views (my favorite), bird watching, and so on. Once our rig is repaired (or we buy a new one, which ever comes first), this will be one of our first stops.
I didn't take any pictures of the rest of the campground, sorry. Just pictures of future views for my dream board.
The camp ground is split into 3 areas. The main area with the full hook ups, the bath house, pool, and family lounge is on the south side of Ben Howard Rd. The other two areas are on the north side of the road, and offer views of the Snohomish River. These sites offer water and electric only. There are port-a-potties available, but regular bathrooms, showers, etc., are in the main campground area.
I'm a "view person". I have wanted to bring our 5th wheel out here for a long time. The spots are back-in only (in fact all the sites in the campground are back ins), and we have a nice view window out the back of the rig. These spots along the river would offer great sunrise views (my favorite), bird watching, and so on. Once our rig is repaired (or we buy a new one, which ever comes first), this will be one of our first stops.
I didn't take any pictures of the rest of the campground, sorry. Just pictures of future views for my dream board.
Friday, April 10, 2015
RV Show at the Evergreen County Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA
We are probably a year away from buying a brand new rig, but we do spend a lot of time looking at floor plans and checking out different 5th wheels. There are so many brands, and so many levels of quality. What we have determined is that if we are going to full time it for 5-10 years (that's the current plan anyway), we are going to want what we want. While cost is important, it will not be a deal breaker.
Right now we have a 2005 NuWa Hitchhiker II LS. We love the floor plan and are looking for something similar but with a W&D connection that isn't crammed into the bathroom.
For whatever reason, the dealers did not bring the "new" fifth wheels to the show. I guess the newest models won't be arriving until June. Some of the sales people we talked to said they had new rigs at their permanent locations, and we should stop by and see them there. For the ones we talked to that actually listened to what we were looking for, we will be stopping by at some point. For the ones that didn't listen, and just wanted to push whatever they had on hand, well, we won't be your customers. Your loss.
We've narrowed down our major front runners to Forest River, Arctic Fox and DRV. The Forest River models at the show were not the top of the line, and the ones that were there were used rigs, more than a few years old with floor plans that were no longer available. Arctic Fox said their new rigs would be coming in this June. We will be following up with them then. I'm one of those people that can read reviews and become educated about the quality of the finishings, but I really need to see it and get a feel for it before I can make a decision. DRV did have one rig there that I liked. If I ordered from the factory, there might be a few things I'd see if we could customize. Like I said, if I'm going to live in something full time for 10 years, then I am going to want what I want.
Here are a few pictures I took of the DRV Mobile Suites rig. I think this was a 2014 model (or maybe even a 2013). The inside pictures did not turn out as well as I would have liked, but they will do. At least it did have the rear window that we want. We would take out the couch and put in swivel recliners, so we can enjoy the view.
Not the best show I have ever attended, but it was free for us with comped tickets from the sponsors website and the parking was free. The other plus was I got in half of 10,000 steps for the day climbing in and out of the various rigs!
Our rig is still in the state of disrepair. I praying for a June finish date. In the meantime, if I can't be camping, I can certainly be dreaming about our next rig!
Right now we have a 2005 NuWa Hitchhiker II LS. We love the floor plan and are looking for something similar but with a W&D connection that isn't crammed into the bathroom.
For whatever reason, the dealers did not bring the "new" fifth wheels to the show. I guess the newest models won't be arriving until June. Some of the sales people we talked to said they had new rigs at their permanent locations, and we should stop by and see them there. For the ones we talked to that actually listened to what we were looking for, we will be stopping by at some point. For the ones that didn't listen, and just wanted to push whatever they had on hand, well, we won't be your customers. Your loss.
We've narrowed down our major front runners to Forest River, Arctic Fox and DRV. The Forest River models at the show were not the top of the line, and the ones that were there were used rigs, more than a few years old with floor plans that were no longer available. Arctic Fox said their new rigs would be coming in this June. We will be following up with them then. I'm one of those people that can read reviews and become educated about the quality of the finishings, but I really need to see it and get a feel for it before I can make a decision. DRV did have one rig there that I liked. If I ordered from the factory, there might be a few things I'd see if we could customize. Like I said, if I'm going to live in something full time for 10 years, then I am going to want what I want.
Here are a few pictures I took of the DRV Mobile Suites rig. I think this was a 2014 model (or maybe even a 2013). The inside pictures did not turn out as well as I would have liked, but they will do. At least it did have the rear window that we want. We would take out the couch and put in swivel recliners, so we can enjoy the view.
Not the best show I have ever attended, but it was free for us with comped tickets from the sponsors website and the parking was free. The other plus was I got in half of 10,000 steps for the day climbing in and out of the various rigs!
Our rig is still in the state of disrepair. I praying for a June finish date. In the meantime, if I can't be camping, I can certainly be dreaming about our next rig!
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Tip Toe Through The Tulips
Today Kim and I made the 40 mile drive up to Skagit County, WA to visit the Tulip Festival in the LaConner/Mt Vernon area. This has been on my bucket list for many years. If you are in Western Washington in late March or early April, this is definitely worth a visit. There is a Thousand Trails RV Park in LaConner, and one in Bow (about 10 miles north).
And I found this lovable guy in amongst the red tulips.
And I found this as well
Who leaves a shoe in the middle of a muddy field? We won't even talk about the pair of underpants I saw (but didn't photograph) in the mud.
Until next time.......
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Ch-ch-ch-changes......
The older you get, the easier it is to recognize that you are pushing too hard to make something happen. And that is where we find ourselves this week.
Our lives were getting back to "normal" (whatever that is). Our daughter and her two sons (ages 4 and 2) had been staying with us. She had sold her home, and had made arrangements to rent a duplex near us. The landlord had said it would take a month or two to get the unit ready to rent. It just made sense that our daughter and the boys should move in with us. Well, two months turned into nine. The boys were thrilled. As Sam Levinson once said, "The simplest toy ever invented, one even the smallest child can operate, is called a grandparent." After about six months, the adults, however, looking forward to having some space to themselves. But, I digress. The kids moved into their own place last week, and we are working at getting back into our normal routines.
Kim has been working hard to fix the leaks, and replace the wall areas that had signs of wood rot. He is making progress. His expectation was to get the bedroom fixed, replace the carpet, put the bed, the dresser and cabinets back in. We would head south for a few months, and then come back and he would tackle the living room slide. My expectation was that it would all be done before we left. I was disappointed, but trying to be understanding. We had rescheduled trips to the Wine Ridge RV resort in Pahrump, NV and the River Lodge Resort in Parker Dam,CA four times. I had planned various routes and stops, depending on travel dates, more than a few times. We were both looking forward to getting out of the rain in the PNW.
Then, as they say, $hit happens. Kim wasn't as far along with the repairs as he had hoped. We got a fabulous quote for removal of a huge tree in our yard that has needed to come down for a few years as long as the work was done within 60 days. We have windows that needed replacing. Dental work that needs doing. But the thing that made us really rethink our plans was that the daycare center that the grandsons go to is closing in less than a month. It is a scramble to find decent day care at any time, but in the middle of the school year, it is almost impossible. We just didn't feel we could leave until other arrangements had been made for the boys' daycare.
So for many reasons, we have chosen to change our plans again. I knew it was the right thing to do because both Kim and I immediately felt a sense of relief. So much to do....so much more time. It's a good thing. It will be even a better thing if we have warmer weather and reduced rain here in the Seattle area!
Our lives were getting back to "normal" (whatever that is). Our daughter and her two sons (ages 4 and 2) had been staying with us. She had sold her home, and had made arrangements to rent a duplex near us. The landlord had said it would take a month or two to get the unit ready to rent. It just made sense that our daughter and the boys should move in with us. Well, two months turned into nine. The boys were thrilled. As Sam Levinson once said, "The simplest toy ever invented, one even the smallest child can operate, is called a grandparent." After about six months, the adults, however, looking forward to having some space to themselves. But, I digress. The kids moved into their own place last week, and we are working at getting back into our normal routines.
Kim has been working hard to fix the leaks, and replace the wall areas that had signs of wood rot. He is making progress. His expectation was to get the bedroom fixed, replace the carpet, put the bed, the dresser and cabinets back in. We would head south for a few months, and then come back and he would tackle the living room slide. My expectation was that it would all be done before we left. I was disappointed, but trying to be understanding. We had rescheduled trips to the Wine Ridge RV resort in Pahrump, NV and the River Lodge Resort in Parker Dam,CA four times. I had planned various routes and stops, depending on travel dates, more than a few times. We were both looking forward to getting out of the rain in the PNW.
Then, as they say, $hit happens. Kim wasn't as far along with the repairs as he had hoped. We got a fabulous quote for removal of a huge tree in our yard that has needed to come down for a few years as long as the work was done within 60 days. We have windows that needed replacing. Dental work that needs doing. But the thing that made us really rethink our plans was that the daycare center that the grandsons go to is closing in less than a month. It is a scramble to find decent day care at any time, but in the middle of the school year, it is almost impossible. We just didn't feel we could leave until other arrangements had been made for the boys' daycare.
So for many reasons, we have chosen to change our plans again. I knew it was the right thing to do because both Kim and I immediately felt a sense of relief. So much to do....so much more time. It's a good thing. It will be even a better thing if we have warmer weather and reduced rain here in the Seattle area!
Friday, January 30, 2015
Saying Goodbye To Parenthood
And I'm crying my eyes out, darn it!
I feel quite different from most RV bloggers whose adventures I read about. I do not hike. I do not ride bikes. I don't even socialize very much. I do, however, watch a lot of TV. I do this not because I consider myself lazy, but because I really enjoy the medium. Many people I know are big fans of going to the theatre for movies or live performances. I prefer to stay home and watch things on TV.
This year we are seeing series finales of quite a few of my favorite shows. We've said goodbye to Sons of Anarchy earlier this year. Last night, it was Parenthood. And yes, I'm a sap; I cried throughout most of the episode. Such touching moments they were able to capture. And Max Burkholder, the actor that has played Max, a young boy with Asperger's Syndrome, deserves an award for his performances. It was a lot of dialogue done in monotone with a straight face, and he captured his character in an outstanding way. I will miss this program.
Also to say goodbye this season will be The Mentalist and Justified. So far this season, I've found The Mentalist to be boring. It is like they lost their original writing team, and have now just taken the easy way out. I've been able to easily predict what is coming, and I do hate it when that happens. Now Justified, on the other hand, is looking to give us a great final season. We are only two episodes into it, but I've enjoyed them both immensely.
I do, however, take great pleasure in knowing that there are many RVers out there who will be enjoying TV this weekend - whether in their own rigs, in the clubhouse, or in a local bar/tavern. Of course, I'm talking about the Super Bowl. So I will end this post with a shout out to all the 12ers around the country - GO HAWKS!
I feel quite different from most RV bloggers whose adventures I read about. I do not hike. I do not ride bikes. I don't even socialize very much. I do, however, watch a lot of TV. I do this not because I consider myself lazy, but because I really enjoy the medium. Many people I know are big fans of going to the theatre for movies or live performances. I prefer to stay home and watch things on TV.
This year we are seeing series finales of quite a few of my favorite shows. We've said goodbye to Sons of Anarchy earlier this year. Last night, it was Parenthood. And yes, I'm a sap; I cried throughout most of the episode. Such touching moments they were able to capture. And Max Burkholder, the actor that has played Max, a young boy with Asperger's Syndrome, deserves an award for his performances. It was a lot of dialogue done in monotone with a straight face, and he captured his character in an outstanding way. I will miss this program.
Also to say goodbye this season will be The Mentalist and Justified. So far this season, I've found The Mentalist to be boring. It is like they lost their original writing team, and have now just taken the easy way out. I've been able to easily predict what is coming, and I do hate it when that happens. Now Justified, on the other hand, is looking to give us a great final season. We are only two episodes into it, but I've enjoyed them both immensely.
I do, however, take great pleasure in knowing that there are many RVers out there who will be enjoying TV this weekend - whether in their own rigs, in the clubhouse, or in a local bar/tavern. Of course, I'm talking about the Super Bowl. So I will end this post with a shout out to all the 12ers around the country - GO HAWKS!
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Hair Care On The Road
Disclaimer: This is most definitely a chick-post. Men may want to read for informational purposes only.
When we first bought our 5th wheel, my hair was somewhere between my elbows and my waist. I most often wore it up on my head with a clip or bunched up in back with a scrunchee. I'm not a girly-girl. I hate messing with my hair or fussing with makeup. Sounds perfect for life in an RV, right? Well, the problem came my long hair started clogging up drains. And the next problem occurred when I would get out of the shower. Why is it my DH always had to be heating water for coffee or tea at the same time I was blow drying my hair. Yep, you guessed it. We dealt daily with pop goes the circuit. Our breaker box is under the refrigerator. Not easy to get to (at least if you have arthritis in the knees), and hard to see. So there was always mumbling going on about the situation. The solution was easy. The next year, I just cut my hair off, really short. No hair dryer needed.
This worked very well for awhile. And then I went to the dermatologist. She pointed out that I had a precancerous lesion on the top of my hair. She burned it off - it happened so fast I wasn't sure what she was doing - and told me I needed to be sure to wear a hat when I was outside. But, but, but, but....I don't look good in a hat when my hair is short. I don't necessarily look good in a hat when my hair is long either, but at least I look better.
As our departure south has been put off due to RV repairs, I decided to grow my hair out. It is now chin length. Hopefully it will get to the length where I will just need a bang trim and some shaving around the neck during the time we are gone. I've always heard that a good haircut is the key. So here is a plug for my niece, Opal Fitzpatrick, at the Ola Salon in West Seattle. Best hair cuts I have ever had. She is also a very talented colorist. Anyway, I've been discussing with her about what to do when we are on the road. What terminology do I use so the stylist knows what I want.
It brought up the discussion of how to choose where to get your hair done when you are on the road. Is it trial and error? Do you ask other women in the campground? Do you pick the cheapest walk in place just to get it done? Curious minds want to know.
We will see how long I am able to maintain my new do. While I don't think drain clogging will be an issue, there will be time added to my "getting ready" routine, which already takes longer than DH would like. And we will be going back to "pop goes the circuit" I'm pretty sure.
Do you think this is a silly topic for a blog post? Perhaps it is. Perhaps I am making much ado about nothing. Or perhaps I'm just trying to be the good wife and traveling partner, keeping things easy for the guy that does most of the work. Or perhaps I am just a tad more vain than I think I am.
As always, comments and suggestions are appreciated.
When we first bought our 5th wheel, my hair was somewhere between my elbows and my waist. I most often wore it up on my head with a clip or bunched up in back with a scrunchee. I'm not a girly-girl. I hate messing with my hair or fussing with makeup. Sounds perfect for life in an RV, right? Well, the problem came my long hair started clogging up drains. And the next problem occurred when I would get out of the shower. Why is it my DH always had to be heating water for coffee or tea at the same time I was blow drying my hair. Yep, you guessed it. We dealt daily with pop goes the circuit. Our breaker box is under the refrigerator. Not easy to get to (at least if you have arthritis in the knees), and hard to see. So there was always mumbling going on about the situation. The solution was easy. The next year, I just cut my hair off, really short. No hair dryer needed.
This worked very well for awhile. And then I went to the dermatologist. She pointed out that I had a precancerous lesion on the top of my hair. She burned it off - it happened so fast I wasn't sure what she was doing - and told me I needed to be sure to wear a hat when I was outside. But, but, but, but....I don't look good in a hat when my hair is short. I don't necessarily look good in a hat when my hair is long either, but at least I look better.
As our departure south has been put off due to RV repairs, I decided to grow my hair out. It is now chin length. Hopefully it will get to the length where I will just need a bang trim and some shaving around the neck during the time we are gone. I've always heard that a good haircut is the key. So here is a plug for my niece, Opal Fitzpatrick, at the Ola Salon in West Seattle. Best hair cuts I have ever had. She is also a very talented colorist. Anyway, I've been discussing with her about what to do when we are on the road. What terminology do I use so the stylist knows what I want.
It brought up the discussion of how to choose where to get your hair done when you are on the road. Is it trial and error? Do you ask other women in the campground? Do you pick the cheapest walk in place just to get it done? Curious minds want to know.
We will see how long I am able to maintain my new do. While I don't think drain clogging will be an issue, there will be time added to my "getting ready" routine, which already takes longer than DH would like. And we will be going back to "pop goes the circuit" I'm pretty sure.
Do you think this is a silly topic for a blog post? Perhaps it is. Perhaps I am making much ado about nothing. Or perhaps I'm just trying to be the good wife and traveling partner, keeping things easy for the guy that does most of the work. Or perhaps I am just a tad more vain than I think I am.
As always, comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Trip Planning and Packing
Well, I'd love to say I was already packing for our upcoming (fingers crossed) trip down to some warmer weather. I'm just thinking about packing. Because I have taken up painting, I now have an easel, paints, brushes and canvases to pack. I've learned from many full-timers that if you take along something new, you have to leave behind things you've taken before.
I will be leaving behind some books to start. Considering I have most of my books on my iPad, this is not a big deal really. What I will have to watch is the hard cover/paper back books I usually carry around on the subject of writing fiction. Somehow, I have collected quite a few of these books over the years, and I admit that I have really written very little since I started writing a mystery a few years ago.
I've learned I don't need to pack around every DVD I might want to watch. I have no problem finding things to watch on TV. We have only camped in a few spots where we could not pick up a satellite signal, and most of those spots had campground provided cable. We will probably bring along the Boardwalk Empire series that we have yet to watch, and my personal favorite, West Wing.
I have a tendency to bring more pots, pans and kitchen gadgets that I have ever needed. And more canned goods than necessary. Therefore, I will be giving serious consideration to watch what makes its way from the house into the rig. Honestly, we mostly grill our meat and steam our veggies for dinner. I'm not inclined to try new recipes while on the road. Seriously, how many pans do I really need. I hate to cook in general, and I really don't like cooking on the gas stove in the rig. I save my experimenting for at home. And speaking of new recipes and experimenting, I posted a recipe for turkey, bean and corn stuffed peppers on my other blog, www.betsysblahblahblog.blogspot.com I thought it was great. Nothing I would make on the road, but pretty tasty.
However, my biggest category for overpacking is clothing. I have always packed for every conceivable situation or weather condition. But, just like at home, I wear the same favorite clothes, and the rest just hang in the closet. Do I really need to pack funeral appropriate clothes or fancy occasion clothes in the RV? If I should find myself needing them, it makes much more sense just to go buy something to wear. My "northern" clothes consist of jeans or sweats, a tee shirt and sweater with crocs or sneakers. My "southern" clothes are shorts and a tee shirt, or a sun dress, with flip-flops. One fleece jacket, one rain jacket, and one pair of rain boots should be more than enough for emergency weather situations. My husband will be so excited if I can accomplish this. If I start now to think about what I really want to wear, and plan accordingly, this should be a goal I can easily reach.
All of this because I've taken up painting. And speaking of painting, here's my most recent:
I think I've come up with the main stops for our trip this spring. We will be spending a week at the Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes in Menifee, CA. Then off to the River Lodge Resort in Parker Dam, CA. The next stop will be the Wine Ridge Resort in Pahrump, NV. And we will wind up the trip at Thousand Trails Palm Springs (fingers crossed we will be able to get reservations there).
When you head south from Washington, anytime between November and April, you just never know what the weather will be like. The Siskiyous could be clear and dry, or covered in snow. We won't know which route south (I-5 or 101) we will use until we leave. I have stopping points planned for each route. Our trip back north will be toward the end of April. I'm hoping we will be able to explore some of the Thousand Trails campgrounds in northern California and in Oregon on the way home. At some point, you just have to get home. For us, it will be because of property taxes and yard work.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things go as planned. I've rescheduled this trip so many times. It's not yet January 31st, so as our agreement goes, I am not yet able to nag my husband about when he will get to working on putting the rig back together. Sometimes I just have to check to make sure my tongue is not bleeding. Here's to an on-time departure!
I will be leaving behind some books to start. Considering I have most of my books on my iPad, this is not a big deal really. What I will have to watch is the hard cover/paper back books I usually carry around on the subject of writing fiction. Somehow, I have collected quite a few of these books over the years, and I admit that I have really written very little since I started writing a mystery a few years ago.
I've learned I don't need to pack around every DVD I might want to watch. I have no problem finding things to watch on TV. We have only camped in a few spots where we could not pick up a satellite signal, and most of those spots had campground provided cable. We will probably bring along the Boardwalk Empire series that we have yet to watch, and my personal favorite, West Wing.
I have a tendency to bring more pots, pans and kitchen gadgets that I have ever needed. And more canned goods than necessary. Therefore, I will be giving serious consideration to watch what makes its way from the house into the rig. Honestly, we mostly grill our meat and steam our veggies for dinner. I'm not inclined to try new recipes while on the road. Seriously, how many pans do I really need. I hate to cook in general, and I really don't like cooking on the gas stove in the rig. I save my experimenting for at home. And speaking of new recipes and experimenting, I posted a recipe for turkey, bean and corn stuffed peppers on my other blog, www.betsysblahblahblog.blogspot.com I thought it was great. Nothing I would make on the road, but pretty tasty.
However, my biggest category for overpacking is clothing. I have always packed for every conceivable situation or weather condition. But, just like at home, I wear the same favorite clothes, and the rest just hang in the closet. Do I really need to pack funeral appropriate clothes or fancy occasion clothes in the RV? If I should find myself needing them, it makes much more sense just to go buy something to wear. My "northern" clothes consist of jeans or sweats, a tee shirt and sweater with crocs or sneakers. My "southern" clothes are shorts and a tee shirt, or a sun dress, with flip-flops. One fleece jacket, one rain jacket, and one pair of rain boots should be more than enough for emergency weather situations. My husband will be so excited if I can accomplish this. If I start now to think about what I really want to wear, and plan accordingly, this should be a goal I can easily reach.
All of this because I've taken up painting. And speaking of painting, here's my most recent:
I think I've come up with the main stops for our trip this spring. We will be spending a week at the Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes in Menifee, CA. Then off to the River Lodge Resort in Parker Dam, CA. The next stop will be the Wine Ridge Resort in Pahrump, NV. And we will wind up the trip at Thousand Trails Palm Springs (fingers crossed we will be able to get reservations there).
When you head south from Washington, anytime between November and April, you just never know what the weather will be like. The Siskiyous could be clear and dry, or covered in snow. We won't know which route south (I-5 or 101) we will use until we leave. I have stopping points planned for each route. Our trip back north will be toward the end of April. I'm hoping we will be able to explore some of the Thousand Trails campgrounds in northern California and in Oregon on the way home. At some point, you just have to get home. For us, it will be because of property taxes and yard work.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things go as planned. I've rescheduled this trip so many times. It's not yet January 31st, so as our agreement goes, I am not yet able to nag my husband about when he will get to working on putting the rig back together. Sometimes I just have to check to make sure my tongue is not bleeding. Here's to an on-time departure!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Good Books and Great TV and A Little Bit Of Painting
I am generally a "home body" whether we are on the road or at our sticks and bricks home. And if you have read many of my posts, you know that I am basically a couch potato. I like the idea of hiking, and I like the idea of swimming, and I like the idea of walking hither and yon, but I rarely do it. And yes, this makes me wonder if I will ever fit in with full time RVers, because from the blogs I read, you are a busy and physically active group. Perhaps it is because those of you going and doing actually have something to blog about. I, on the other hand, blog about couch potato activities, recipes and general musings, especially when we are not on the road.....which we are not now, not that I'm whining. Okay, maybe I'm whining just a wee little bit.
When I find an author I enjoy, I tend to binge read all their books. Then I get frustrated when I get caught up to the last (most recent) book. I'm always on the look out for new authors and new series. I prefer the mystery genre, and I love books that are set in cities with which I am familiar. Books set in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, California, Alabama, Hawaii and Florida, top my list as those are the areas I have visited. I can picture in my mind the settings and surroundings that are described. I've been catching up on some J A Jance books I had missed over the years. I love all of her series, including Detective Beaumont, Ali Reynolds and Joanna Brady. I did a binge reading marathon of books by Chelsea Cain, which take place in the Portland, Oregon area. I'm so glad I discovered her. I've always enjoyed John Grisham, and it appears that I have missed quite a few of his newer books. That is where I am finding myself now.
On to TV......Well, Sons of Anarchy has aired its last episode. I loved those characters. I know those characters. I was not enamored of the last season. However, because it was so wonderfully written by Kurt Sutter and his team, what happened was exactly what should have happened. I just did not want to say good-bye.
I have to ask though, what the heck is up with the "winter season finale" - at least I think that was the term they were using. Apparently it is now common to develop an arc, insert a cliffhanger, and make you wait through the month of December to see what happens. It's not the end of the season, but instead a 4-5 week waiting period. And some shows only introduced a few episodes before they inserted the winter season cliffhanger. Can't wait for How To Get Away With Murder to return. I'm also waiting for new episodes of Scorpion, Madam Secretary and Stalker. This will be the last season for Parenthood. I've enjoyed this show in the past, but so far, I'm bored. I will watch until the last episode, but I have to wonder if the writers have changed or if they just ran out of story line and are trying to wrap things up. The Mentalist is in its last season as well. And it is the same thing with the few episodes I've watched this season. I've got my fingers crossed for the return of Justified, also in its final season. I love the characters and the way they have been written.
Two shows I have enjoyed in the past, The Bridge and The Divide, I hear have not been renewed.
I hope they don't mess with The Blacklist and The Following!
When I'm not reading or watching TV, or doing the mundane things such as housework, laundry, dishes or cooking, I have been painting. Here are a few of my recent projects.
What is up this week? Cleaning off my desk is on the list. It is usually in a state of organized chaos. Recently it has crossed the line into just plain chaos. I'm not sure what else, but I'm sure it will include reading, watching TV and painting. I love retirement!
When I find an author I enjoy, I tend to binge read all their books. Then I get frustrated when I get caught up to the last (most recent) book. I'm always on the look out for new authors and new series. I prefer the mystery genre, and I love books that are set in cities with which I am familiar. Books set in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, California, Alabama, Hawaii and Florida, top my list as those are the areas I have visited. I can picture in my mind the settings and surroundings that are described. I've been catching up on some J A Jance books I had missed over the years. I love all of her series, including Detective Beaumont, Ali Reynolds and Joanna Brady. I did a binge reading marathon of books by Chelsea Cain, which take place in the Portland, Oregon area. I'm so glad I discovered her. I've always enjoyed John Grisham, and it appears that I have missed quite a few of his newer books. That is where I am finding myself now.
On to TV......Well, Sons of Anarchy has aired its last episode. I loved those characters. I know those characters. I was not enamored of the last season. However, because it was so wonderfully written by Kurt Sutter and his team, what happened was exactly what should have happened. I just did not want to say good-bye.
I have to ask though, what the heck is up with the "winter season finale" - at least I think that was the term they were using. Apparently it is now common to develop an arc, insert a cliffhanger, and make you wait through the month of December to see what happens. It's not the end of the season, but instead a 4-5 week waiting period. And some shows only introduced a few episodes before they inserted the winter season cliffhanger. Can't wait for How To Get Away With Murder to return. I'm also waiting for new episodes of Scorpion, Madam Secretary and Stalker. This will be the last season for Parenthood. I've enjoyed this show in the past, but so far, I'm bored. I will watch until the last episode, but I have to wonder if the writers have changed or if they just ran out of story line and are trying to wrap things up. The Mentalist is in its last season as well. And it is the same thing with the few episodes I've watched this season. I've got my fingers crossed for the return of Justified, also in its final season. I love the characters and the way they have been written.
Two shows I have enjoyed in the past, The Bridge and The Divide, I hear have not been renewed.
I hope they don't mess with The Blacklist and The Following!
When I'm not reading or watching TV, or doing the mundane things such as housework, laundry, dishes or cooking, I have been painting. Here are a few of my recent projects.
What is up this week? Cleaning off my desk is on the list. It is usually in a state of organized chaos. Recently it has crossed the line into just plain chaos. I'm not sure what else, but I'm sure it will include reading, watching TV and painting. I love retirement!
A Post Holiday Musing
First an RV update: The infernal leak has been located and patched. We've had 3 relatively heavy rainfalls (sometimes spanning more than a few days - go figure, we live in the Seattle area), and the patch has held. No signs of any leaks. Kim will now begin to put things back together, and he has assured me that if I start making reservations for March and April, I will not have to change them up yet again. I'm holding him to it.
Now, on to the musings....
Re: Holiday Traditions
When I was growing up, we had set holiday plans. It rarely varied. All holidays were celebrated at our house, with my paternal grandparents. My mother claimed Christmas Eve to share her traditions. This meant lutefisk, boiled white potatoes, rutabagas, peas and creamed onions. This was followed by a drive around the area admiring Christmas lights. It also meant opening presents Christmas Eve. Christmas morning, my sister and I were allowed to get up on our own, open our stockings and see what gifts Santa brought. We just had to be quiet about it. Eventually the adults got up, and we had breakfast of Yulekaka (Norwegian Christmas bread), scrabbled eggs, sausage and grapefruit. Then it was off to church. The rest of the day was spent playing quietly (as it was in those days, children were to be seen but not heard). Most all of the Christmas Day foods and traditions (roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, broccoli and pecan pie served on Christmas Tree Spode and using the good silver), was determined by my dad's side of the family. Whether or not my grandfather gave dinner a two thumbs up was what decided if it was a good or a bad holiday.
Of course, in my mind, it was always a good Christmas. There was no drama. Everyone got along. All was good. In hind sight, I'm guessing my mom would have told a different story.
Once my sister and I grew up and got married and had kids, things changed a little. My grandparents had passed away. My sister and I both married into large families that had their own established traditions. My husband had a son from a previous marriage, who always celebrated Christmas at his mother's home. We started celebrating Christmas with my family the day after Christmas. It just worked out better for all. I think my mother appreciated that she could have a relaxed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, go to church without having to rush home to cook, and make sure everyone was happy.
Once my mother was of an age that she could no longer host the holiday celebrations, it landed on my sister and me. We tried to keep the traditions going but eventually our father had passed away, and our mother was nursing home bound. We started celebrating just with our own immediate families. By this time our kids were old enough that we were working to establish our own traditions. My Christmas Eve tradition is that we will never, ever, have lutefisk in our house again. Other than that, I have really established any tradition other than a Christmas Wreath jello mold that I serve every year. We also use the Christmas Tree Spode, but not the good silver (I also don't want to polish silver if I don't have to).
Four paragraphs later, and I'm finally getting to the point of this musing. How the heck can I have the Christmas of my childhood memories when I'm the one in charge? I've tried. It is darned near impossible, not with toddlers around. And should I mention that it is totally unrealistic? It is all about expectations, isn't it?
This was the insight I had at Thanksgiving this year. My grandsons did not care about how I had imagined this perfect turkey dinner, where everyone sat down at the table, said grace, and then raved about my wonderful cooking. Heavy emphasis on the word "imagined" here. First of all, I'm not a great cook and if anyone raves about just one dish - I'm usually pretty pumped. While grace was part of every meal I had growing up, it is not something I've carried through with my kids. We do have the talk about all the things for which we are grateful, but formal grace has rarely been said. And finally, I have yet to cook the perfect turkey. Half of us like it moist and juicy, half of us like it definitely cooked through and through. The potatoes are never warm, and the gravy turns out only about 50% of the time. And like my mother, God bless her, I almost always forget to take the rolls out of the oven. All this happens on its own. Add 4 grandsons under the age of 5 to the mix, and the whole day is far from relaxed. They are never all hungry at the same time, nor do they like the same foods, and they seem to find nothing more fun to do than run around the kitchen. I love my grandsons, and I would never change anything...except maybe my own expectations.
Taking this all into consideration, I decided to try something new for Christmas. My son and his wife and their two boys, would come to our house at noon on Christmas Day, to be joined by our oldest son, and our daughter with her two boys. We would have a day of snacks and finger food. The kids could open their gifts and play. The adults could munch away and visit. We used paper plates and paper napkins. My grandparents would have been appalled. My mother is undoubtedly applauding my decision to take away all the stress of fixing a meal, and just taking time to enjoy my family. As the grandsons get older, there will be plenty of time for formal sit down dinners with the Spode and the good silver. For the next couple of years, it will be munchies and paper plates and no expectations. Life is good.
Now, on to the musings....
Re: Holiday Traditions
When I was growing up, we had set holiday plans. It rarely varied. All holidays were celebrated at our house, with my paternal grandparents. My mother claimed Christmas Eve to share her traditions. This meant lutefisk, boiled white potatoes, rutabagas, peas and creamed onions. This was followed by a drive around the area admiring Christmas lights. It also meant opening presents Christmas Eve. Christmas morning, my sister and I were allowed to get up on our own, open our stockings and see what gifts Santa brought. We just had to be quiet about it. Eventually the adults got up, and we had breakfast of Yulekaka (Norwegian Christmas bread), scrabbled eggs, sausage and grapefruit. Then it was off to church. The rest of the day was spent playing quietly (as it was in those days, children were to be seen but not heard). Most all of the Christmas Day foods and traditions (roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, broccoli and pecan pie served on Christmas Tree Spode and using the good silver), was determined by my dad's side of the family. Whether or not my grandfather gave dinner a two thumbs up was what decided if it was a good or a bad holiday.
Of course, in my mind, it was always a good Christmas. There was no drama. Everyone got along. All was good. In hind sight, I'm guessing my mom would have told a different story.
Once my sister and I grew up and got married and had kids, things changed a little. My grandparents had passed away. My sister and I both married into large families that had their own established traditions. My husband had a son from a previous marriage, who always celebrated Christmas at his mother's home. We started celebrating Christmas with my family the day after Christmas. It just worked out better for all. I think my mother appreciated that she could have a relaxed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, go to church without having to rush home to cook, and make sure everyone was happy.
Once my mother was of an age that she could no longer host the holiday celebrations, it landed on my sister and me. We tried to keep the traditions going but eventually our father had passed away, and our mother was nursing home bound. We started celebrating just with our own immediate families. By this time our kids were old enough that we were working to establish our own traditions. My Christmas Eve tradition is that we will never, ever, have lutefisk in our house again. Other than that, I have really established any tradition other than a Christmas Wreath jello mold that I serve every year. We also use the Christmas Tree Spode, but not the good silver (I also don't want to polish silver if I don't have to).
Four paragraphs later, and I'm finally getting to the point of this musing. How the heck can I have the Christmas of my childhood memories when I'm the one in charge? I've tried. It is darned near impossible, not with toddlers around. And should I mention that it is totally unrealistic? It is all about expectations, isn't it?
This was the insight I had at Thanksgiving this year. My grandsons did not care about how I had imagined this perfect turkey dinner, where everyone sat down at the table, said grace, and then raved about my wonderful cooking. Heavy emphasis on the word "imagined" here. First of all, I'm not a great cook and if anyone raves about just one dish - I'm usually pretty pumped. While grace was part of every meal I had growing up, it is not something I've carried through with my kids. We do have the talk about all the things for which we are grateful, but formal grace has rarely been said. And finally, I have yet to cook the perfect turkey. Half of us like it moist and juicy, half of us like it definitely cooked through and through. The potatoes are never warm, and the gravy turns out only about 50% of the time. And like my mother, God bless her, I almost always forget to take the rolls out of the oven. All this happens on its own. Add 4 grandsons under the age of 5 to the mix, and the whole day is far from relaxed. They are never all hungry at the same time, nor do they like the same foods, and they seem to find nothing more fun to do than run around the kitchen. I love my grandsons, and I would never change anything...except maybe my own expectations.
Taking this all into consideration, I decided to try something new for Christmas. My son and his wife and their two boys, would come to our house at noon on Christmas Day, to be joined by our oldest son, and our daughter with her two boys. We would have a day of snacks and finger food. The kids could open their gifts and play. The adults could munch away and visit. We used paper plates and paper napkins. My grandparents would have been appalled. My mother is undoubtedly applauding my decision to take away all the stress of fixing a meal, and just taking time to enjoy my family. As the grandsons get older, there will be plenty of time for formal sit down dinners with the Spode and the good silver. For the next couple of years, it will be munchies and paper plates and no expectations. Life is good.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Sigh......
The other day, while driving to down I-5 through Seattle, I saw a good number of rigs, presumably heading south for the winter. Was I jealous or was I envious? Accordingly to Wikipedia, and I quote:
"Envy" and "jealousy" are often used interchangeably in common usage, but the words stand for two distinct emotions.[1] Jealousy is the result or fear of losing someone or something that one is attached to or possesses to another person (the transfer of a lover's affections in the typical form), while envy is the resentment caused by another person having something that one does not have, but desires for oneself.
It appears that I am envious....but not really. I don't feel resentment towards those of you that are already headed out. But dang, I wish I was one of you.
The repair work on the trailer continues. I stay out of it, and I'm doing my best not to nag. In fact, I have agreed not to nag/panic until January 31st. God help me! As it is, I am starting to get tired of whining about the situation anyway, and have been looking for other outlets to occupy my time.
First up, get the doctor appointments out of the way. Whoopie! I thought I may be looking at bunion surgery, and if so, we wouldn't be able to leave for 8 weeks anyway. Might as well get that over with. Then perhaps I can resume walking, and maybe even take up easy hikes. I read so many blogs and see so many gorgeous photos that people take on hikes - I want to see those scenes too. A swollen, throbbing foot has kept me from doing things like this in the past (not to mention that I am totally out of shape), but if I take care of the bunion, maybe I will be able to do some of those things. However, it turned out that it was going to end up being reconstructive surgery. Apparently, my proximal phalanx has started to slide off the first metatarsal, which would require realignment of the big toe, complete with metal plate and screws. That part I could handle. Also, there was the 6-8 weeks in a cast, putting no pressure on the foot at, using crutches, a walker and/or a scooter. Even that I could handle. The part that made me say, "Maybe later," was no showering for 6-8 weeks. Well, one could shower, if you had a hand held shower head and a shower stall big enough to hold a shower chair and a 5 gallon bucket on which to prop the casted foot. The only shower in our house that could possibly accommodate that is downstairs, and I would not be able to go down the stairs (or rather I could go down, but I could not go back up). I just could not do sponge baths and sink shampoos for 6 weeks and be a happy camper. Plus, I would be looking at 4-6 weeks of physical therapy afterward. Nope, it ain't gonna work. Although I do have to say, I will now be more open to a full sized shower if and when we buy a new 5th wheel. The salesmen always look at me funny when I'm not impressed with full sized showers in a rig. I'm 5'3" and my husband is 5'6" - we aren't that big - and I'd rather have more cupboard space than a tub sized shower......At least that was what I thought until I heard about what is involved in the recovery process of this bunion surgery. I guess Aleve and I will be good friends for the next few years. The pain is really only higher than a 5 out of 10 when the barometer sudden drops or when I've been on my feet for a long time.
The eye doctor appointment revealed that I am still seeing 20/20 or better, two years post-cataract surgery. I'm so glad I had it done.
In the meantime, I've wanted to take up painting. I started with watercolors and wasn't happy, so I switched to acrylics. I've made some progress. I have never painted before. And I doubt anyone would call me artistically inclined, but I'm watching You Tube videos and I've done a few pieces that make me smile.
Do you paint? Do you have any You Tube videos or other sources you would recommend. I'm obviously a beginner and would welcome any guidance. Maybe I'll try painting some scenes reminiscent of Arizona, Nevada and Southern Utah. I'd like to give up the envy and be happy right where I am.
"Envy" and "jealousy" are often used interchangeably in common usage, but the words stand for two distinct emotions.[1] Jealousy is the result or fear of losing someone or something that one is attached to or possesses to another person (the transfer of a lover's affections in the typical form), while envy is the resentment caused by another person having something that one does not have, but desires for oneself.
It appears that I am envious....but not really. I don't feel resentment towards those of you that are already headed out. But dang, I wish I was one of you.
The repair work on the trailer continues. I stay out of it, and I'm doing my best not to nag. In fact, I have agreed not to nag/panic until January 31st. God help me! As it is, I am starting to get tired of whining about the situation anyway, and have been looking for other outlets to occupy my time.
First up, get the doctor appointments out of the way. Whoopie! I thought I may be looking at bunion surgery, and if so, we wouldn't be able to leave for 8 weeks anyway. Might as well get that over with. Then perhaps I can resume walking, and maybe even take up easy hikes. I read so many blogs and see so many gorgeous photos that people take on hikes - I want to see those scenes too. A swollen, throbbing foot has kept me from doing things like this in the past (not to mention that I am totally out of shape), but if I take care of the bunion, maybe I will be able to do some of those things. However, it turned out that it was going to end up being reconstructive surgery. Apparently, my proximal phalanx has started to slide off the first metatarsal, which would require realignment of the big toe, complete with metal plate and screws. That part I could handle. Also, there was the 6-8 weeks in a cast, putting no pressure on the foot at, using crutches, a walker and/or a scooter. Even that I could handle. The part that made me say, "Maybe later," was no showering for 6-8 weeks. Well, one could shower, if you had a hand held shower head and a shower stall big enough to hold a shower chair and a 5 gallon bucket on which to prop the casted foot. The only shower in our house that could possibly accommodate that is downstairs, and I would not be able to go down the stairs (or rather I could go down, but I could not go back up). I just could not do sponge baths and sink shampoos for 6 weeks and be a happy camper. Plus, I would be looking at 4-6 weeks of physical therapy afterward. Nope, it ain't gonna work. Although I do have to say, I will now be more open to a full sized shower if and when we buy a new 5th wheel. The salesmen always look at me funny when I'm not impressed with full sized showers in a rig. I'm 5'3" and my husband is 5'6" - we aren't that big - and I'd rather have more cupboard space than a tub sized shower......At least that was what I thought until I heard about what is involved in the recovery process of this bunion surgery. I guess Aleve and I will be good friends for the next few years. The pain is really only higher than a 5 out of 10 when the barometer sudden drops or when I've been on my feet for a long time.
The eye doctor appointment revealed that I am still seeing 20/20 or better, two years post-cataract surgery. I'm so glad I had it done.
In the meantime, I've wanted to take up painting. I started with watercolors and wasn't happy, so I switched to acrylics. I've made some progress. I have never painted before. And I doubt anyone would call me artistically inclined, but I'm watching You Tube videos and I've done a few pieces that make me smile.
Do you paint? Do you have any You Tube videos or other sources you would recommend. I'm obviously a beginner and would welcome any guidance. Maybe I'll try painting some scenes reminiscent of Arizona, Nevada and Southern Utah. I'd like to give up the envy and be happy right where I am.
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