Monday, December 31, 2012

December 31, 2012


December 31, 2012

Bill and I went to the Apple Store this morning.  His Mac that was Natalia's has reverted to her settings.  Bill and Lori have tried (long distance) to solve the problem.  Nothing they tried had worked.  We'll see what the experts have to say.

We went by a Krispy Kreme place, but Scrooge wouldn't turn in. What is wrong with that guy?

At the Apple Store we both needed help...Bill with this computer and me with my iPad.  I was with a girl named Cindy.  She could answer all of my questions.  She was great!

Bill's tech guy was named Hunter.  He really knew about Macs.  He was able to show Bill some things to help him send forum messages.

On our way home we stopped at Sam's Club to share a piece of pizza.  We got an extra piece to take to Brent at home.

Sara called to see if we could take her, at 7:00, to spend New Year's Eve with one of her friends.  Brent took her, but we were the backup.

Brent went to spend the evening with some of his neighborhood cronies.  Bill and I stayed with Willie.  There were so many loud fireworks in the area.  Willie doesn't tremble like our little Muffet did at fireworks time, but he wants to be close to someone, and that someone was me.  Lucky me!  I enjoyed every minute of it!

It isn't midnight yet, but Happy New Year anyway!








Sunday, December 30, 2012

December 30, 2012


December 30, 2012

Today was another football day.  We weren’t able to get the Bronco game on the motorhome TV, but I was able to watch the game in Brent’s house.

The Broncos did really well.  They beat the team from Kansas City by more than 30 points.  It was cold in Denver, but no snow was falling.

We didn’t get the Seattle game, but I think they won, also.

Brent fixed a great dinner.  He cooked ribs in his smoker.  As always, they were very tasty.  He also made potato salad and had baked beans.  He is a fantastic cook and enjoys doing it.  When you are eating pork ribs it is OK to “pig” out, isn’t it?  Well, that’s what we did.  Very happy tummies!!!!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

December 29, 2012


December 29, 2012

It was cold when I woke up and it was colder when I went to bed.  Other than that, it was a regular day.  Lots of sunshine which didn’t do much to warm things up.

There were several college bowl games on TV today.  We watched three of them.  The only one of much interest to us was the game with Oregon State playing.  

I can remember back in the good old days when there were just a few bowl games and just the most outstanding teams played at them.  Now there are lots and lots more.  Some teams playing weren’t ranked in the regular season, but got bowl bids.

I guess, though, it is good for the economy because the teams are big, as are the bands.  And all of them have lots of equipment and musical instruments to take.  And there are all the fans that go to watch and cheer.  And spend money!  It doesn’t appear that there is any lack of dollars.  

While watching the games, I did some beading.  I have several crosses to make before we leave Brent’s.  Its a nice way to spend a day. 

Friday, December 28, 2012

December 28, 2012


December 28, 2012

More rain this morning.  Ugh!  And it went on for most of the day.

In spite of all the moisture, we went to Ed’s for Friday Fish.  They do a great job with catfish.  And the mac and cheese is the best, as well as the hush puppies.  Yum, yum!

We went to a thrift store before going to Sam’s Club for some shopping.  There are also lots of opportunities to browse.

We had planned to stop at a flea market on our way home, but it was closed.  Shucks!  It is a good one and we like to go there and roam around.  Maybe it will be open this weekend.

It was 4:30 before we got home, but in spite of the drippy weather, we had a good time.  And Willie was really glad to see us.  His wagging tail just about put him in orbit.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

December 27, 2012


December 27, 2012

Today was a “stay at home and try to get some chores taken care of” kind of day.  I am still battling the paperwork on the table.

In anticipation of my new iPhone arriving, I removed the photos from my old iPhone and put them in iPhoto on my Mac.  I had called my Mac guru, JP, for instructions on how to do it.  He explained it carefully to his old gray haired Abuela.  I was able to follow his directions!  It was an easy task and just took me a few minutes.

After dinner I played a game of Farkle with Brent and Coleson.  Coleson won by a whole bunch.  Brent was second.  I don’t think it is necessary to tell you how far behind I was.  I did, however, demand an audit of the score sheet, but the two ganged up against me and voted the request down.  Hm-m-m-m!  I tried to pull rank, but it didn’t do any good.  (Insert a big sigh of defeat here.)




Wednesday, December 26, 2012

December 26, 2012


December 26, 2012

The weather has improved since yesterday.  However, it is colder.   And that is expected to continue for the next few days.

Bill and I went to Verizon this afternoon.  I ordered my own post-Christmas present...an iPhone 5.  It should arrive by Friday.

Brent and the kids went to spend some of their Christmas gift card money.  They always like that kind of gift.  And Sara holds a Masters Degree in shopping.  She really enjoys the “hunt.”  Brent and Coleson, on the other hand, were not too swept away with the activity.

Tonight, Brent made chicken chili for dinner.  Mike and Amy brought cornbread.  It was made with cheese and jaliapeno peppers and was very good...great with Brent’s special chili.

Soon after dinner more friends came and we had a party, complete with three kids, plus Willie and two other dogs.  Things got very lively before the evening was over.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

December 25, 2012


December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas! Ours wasn’t white, but Meredith and Michelle sent pictures of fresh snow in Loveland.  Aren’t they so lucky?! 

Brent, Bill, and I went to Waffle House for a late breakfast.  As we drove up, Brent commented that they weren’t very busy.  Luckily, we could park right in front of the door.  It was raining hard and we just had a few steps to take to the door.

Not long after placing our orders, people started arriving and soon there was a waiting line.  We got there just at the right time.

Bill and I both took naps.  Coleson and Sara were with their other grandparents for Christmas dinner.  Brent and Willie were in the house.  There were tornados alerts for some of the counties around us, but none in this particular area.  Just hard wind and hard rain.

Brent said he was in his bedroom and heard paper rattling.  He went into the living room and Willie had one of his presents, a raw hide bone, nearly unwrapped.  Brent had put it back against the wall under a lot of other presents.  Willie nosed everything aside that was in the way and got to his present!

Coleson and Sara arrived at 3:30.  The first order of business was to open the packages.  Both kids got lots of clothes.  Sara was excited about that and Coleson was rather neutral.  It must be a gender thing.  She modeled most of her gifts and Coleson worked on his Kindle.  Later on he was wearing one of the sweatshirts Brent had given him.

We sat down for our Christmas dinner at about 7:00.  As usual, Brent served a very nice, traditional meal.  He’s a wonder in the kitchen and seems to enjoy it.

This was a wonderful Christmas day for us.  We were with some kids and talked to all the rest, some more than once.  What more could a Mom and Dad want!?

Monday, December 24, 2012

December 24, 2012


December 24, 2012

I spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon finishing  presents...making one and wrapping everything.  This was a last ditch effort.  Very unusual for me.  I usually don’t leave things this late.

Yesterday, Bill commented that he hadn’t eaten at Burger King since we arrived in Brandon.  I guess he has been feeling deprived.  I know he isn’t depraved so he must be deprived.  

Anyway, on our way to BK we met Brent on his way home.  Bill made a U-turn (probably illegal) and we went back to get him.  We had a leisurely lunch before going back home.  

Our Internet hasn’t been performing well here at Brent’s house.  He has also been having problems with his Internet so he got a new modem.  I am in his house now getting ready to post my journal.  

I hope you had a great Christmas Eve and that you have your chimney ready for the fat man in the red suit.




Sunday, December 23, 2012

December 23, 2012


December 23, 2012

Bill and I got brave and went to Walmart this morning.  After yesterday’s fiasco with the crowds and traffic, we were surprised at how few people were out and about.

Today was a good day to stay inside and watch football.  Cold and drizzly outside and warm and snug inside wrapped in a blanket and resting on the sofa.

First, we watched the New Orleans Saints defeat the Dallas Cowboys in overtime.  The next game was between the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns.

I watched most of the Bronco game.  I remember very little about the fourth quarter.  I went to sleep!  Brent said Denver won, but you couldn’t prove it by me.

Brent made nachos for dinner and we settled in to eat and watch the last game of the day.  It was between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.  Brent is a Seahawks fan so the “rafters were ringing.”

All of our kids were happy with their teams...the girls are Bronco fans and Brent cheers for the Seahawks.  Everyone felt good.  And me?  I’m just glad there wasn’t a fourth game!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

December 22, 2012


December 22, 2012

Brent, Sara, and I went shopping.  We couldn’t believe how crowded the stores were.  And parking was nearly impossible.  I had no idea so many people shopped this late in the time just before Christmas.

I needed to go to Hobby Lobby and Brent was nice enough to take me.  I went into the store, saw the long, long lines waiting to get checked out and turned around and went back out to the car.

Sara had eaten lunch earlier.  We took her to a friend’s house before going to eat Mexican food for a late lunch.  We won’t have many more days like this.  “Super MH Driver” is getting the itch to get on the road. 

Friday, December 21, 2012

December 21, 2012


December 21, 2012

Weather report...clear and cold.  We were on our way Ed's for "fish on Friday" and two in the car are wearing shorts.  Yes, Bill and Brent seldom cover their legs, even when it is cold.  Bill says there is no pill for stupidity.  I won't go there!

Ed's was very busy, but they had plenty of help  I wasn't needed to clean off the tables.  Darn!  That was fun!  As usual, the food was good.

Instead of tartar sauce with my catfish I had Comeback sauce.  It is used not only as a sauce, but as a salad dressing.  Comeback sauce was first made in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1930s and is a true Mississippi creation.  There's a lot of pride in that.

We were invited to an "end of the world" party tonight at Mike and Amy's.  We have been requested to wear black.  In keeping with the dress code, Sara put black spray color on my hair!  

Natalia, our family makeup expert, said the spray color might not wash out for a couple weeks.  That might be OK.  I can tell people I'm Bill's trophy wife.  

As soon as I got home from the party I took a shower, partly to get the spray out of my hair, but also to get warm.  I was really cold at Mike and Amy’s house.

***Update to my Hide and Seek entry in yesterday's blog:  Lori's comment was “Willie must have learned to play Hide and Seek from Brent.”  When Brent was two, he loved to hide.  We would say, “Brent, where are you?”  He would say, “I’m hiding.”  That made our job a whole lot easier.  I like these trips down memory lane!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

December 20, 2012


December 20, 2012

We had rain off and on most of the night.  Then at 5:30, the rain became more intense and the wind started blowing like “gang busters.”  It rocked the coach for a couple of hours.

I had some important book work to do so I stayed home while Bill went to Sam’s Club.  That’s not a trip I like to miss, but I needed to stay on task.

At 2:30, I had finished the immediate concerns and could try to do the errands I left from yesterday.  I made fairly quick work at Walgreen’s and Dollar Tree, but as usual, Walmart took longer.

I purchased fried chicken and rolls for dinner.  Brent made really good ranch beans and mashed potatoes.  What a feast!

In spite of the cold, Sara and Coleson, plus four neighborhood kids went outside to play hide and seek.  Willie went out to join the fun, but before long, they put him back inside.  It seems he kept giving away the locations of the hiders.  It is hard to ignore the attention of a 105 pound golden retriever.  He had a good time while it lasted.  He just didn’t quite get the hang of the game.

The temperature this morning was 62°.  That was the high.  The wind blew all day long which made it seem much colder.  At bedtime it was 42° and was predicted to drop at least another 10 degrees.  Br-r-r-r-r!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

December 19, 2012


December 19, 2012

When I talked to Meredith this morning she had just come in from shoveling snow.  It had started snowing early this morning and the white fluffy stuff was still falling.  I ask Bill how long it would take us to get to Loveland and he said, “Four months.”  He isn’t as fond of snow as I am!

At 11:00, I went to see my friend, Debbie.  We had a good visit and even enjoyed hamburgers at Sonic.  My plans to do three errands on my way home were put off until tomorrow.  I didn’t leave Debbie’s house until after 4:00.

It is always great to visit with a special friend.  I don’t get to see her often.  That’s how it is with our wandering lifestyle.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

December 18, 2012


December 18, 2012

This blue sky day turned into a rather unusual one...and that isn’t always good.  I got packages ready to mail to Colorado and California...finally.  I must be more organized next year!  The fact that I actually got things mailed was a good thing.

Another good thing about today was that Brent and I went to Ed’s for lunch.  When we got there they were extremely busy.  And Robyn, Brent’s neighbor, was the only waitress.  Ed, one of the owners, was helping but they really had a room full.

So what else could I do?  I started bussing tables and getting drink orders for new customers.  Brent couldn’t believe I was doing it.  He texted his siblings to “tell” on me.  I met some really nice people, some of them new customers.  Since we have eaten there so many times, I was able to tell diners about things on the menu.  I had a great time doing it.  And Robyn took the orders, so I had the easy job.

I went to the Post Office to get things on their way west.  One of the postal employees helped me carry my boxes in from the car.  A gentleman customer helped me put the packages on the counter.  The postal worker was really pleasant and helpful.  Bill likes to tell me that being a little old gray haired lady has its advantages.  Today I proved him right!  Another good thing!

I went to Walgreens to have a 5x7 picture made.  They had two machines for customers to use.  I waited, and waited, and waited to be able to use instant printing machine.  The man choosing his pictures to print took a long time.  Then, as he was finally finishing his order, he pushed the wrong place on the screen and ordered instant prints.  He should have had them printed and come back for them.  Do you have any idea how long it takes to print 402 pictures on one of those machines?!  Ugh!  I finally had mine printed to be picked up later.  That experience was not a good one.

Things improved when Brent fixed lasagna for dinner.  Yum, yum!  Afterwards, it was time to decorate their Christmas tree.  Brent is a “scrooge” about trees and doesn’t like to do it too far ahead.  This year, he didn’t realize how time was flying by and he waited a bit longer than usual.  But the tree looks beautiful.

As I look back I guess most of the day was good, with only a speed bump or two along the way.




Monday, December 17, 2012

December 17, 2012


December 17, 2012

Brent and I went to lunch and then did some Christmas shopping.  I just can’t seem to get it all taken care of.  I may have to get some help from the old man in the red suit, and I'm not talking about Bill!  He is almost no help in this kind of situation.

When Sara got home she helped me wrap some of the presents.  She did the wrapping and I handed her the tape.  That’s the best kind of team work I know of.

I spent the entire evening working on packages to mail.  My goal is to get everything on the way west tomorrow. 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

December 16, 2012


December 16, 2012

We woke up this morning to the sound of rain on the roof.  It increased in intensity accompanied by thunder before noon.  And to think, yesterday was such a nice day for caching, and today it wasn’t even considered.

I’m still trying to figure out Mississippi weather.  Mr. Bill, next door, has iris and roses blooming in his yard.  And we’ve had a forecast of snow a time or two.  It is always interesting to see what tomorrow will bring.

I watched the Denver Broncos play the Baltimore Ravens today.  The Broncos won without too much of a struggle.  That made the Dane girls happy.  The Seahawks won today, too.  That made Brent happy.

Bill and I watched the finals for Survivor.  It didn’t end quite as we would of liked, but it was OK.  At this time of year, TV programs and events are winding down.  Dancing with the Stars finished its fall season, NASCAR is on break until mid February, college football is no longer on a weekly basis, and now Survivor is no more for a few months.  Sigh!  Thank goodness, Gunsmoke reruns are still on!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

December 15, 2012


December 15, 2012

Bill and I shared a pancake breakfast at McDonald’s before going in search of some caches.  We found two and had a couple of DNFs.  The weather was great for being out. 

At 11:00, we went to a geogathering at one of the parks on the Reservior.  There were about 40 people in attendance.  We had lots of good food from the pot luck.  We spent time talking to some of the new friends that we made on Wednesday at the 12-12-12 meeting.  

We were there for several hours and were very, very tired when we got home.  We both napped, me longer than Bill.

I went into Brent’s to spend time with him and with Willie.  I really do enjoy both of them and I am taking advantage of all the time that I can.  All too soon, we will be out on the road again.

Friday, December 14, 2012

December 14, 2012


December 14, 2012

After spending part of the morning doing chores around the house, we went to Ed’s for lunch.  Their fried catfish is great.

I was invited to a party at Amy’s house.  That’s where we often gather for football games.  Tonight was different.  It was a Christmas party for ladies only.  

There were 12 ladies at the party.  We had a good time talking.  When I got to the party, I knew half the people there.  When I left I knew the other half.  Several of them were teachers so we had lots in common.  And the goodies were great.

When I got back home I went into Brent’s to visit with Coleson until Brent came home.  Because of Sara and Coleson’s school schedule and extra activities I haven’t had the opportunity to spend much time with them.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

December 13, 2012


December 13, 2012

Tonight we are having Texas Soul Food for dinner.  I was up at 7:00 to start the pinto beans cooking in the Crockpot.

A package arrived from Lori.  There were presents, cookies, fudge, two kinds of bread, and Christmas ornaments.  She had woven both of the ornaments, one a snowflake, and one a Christmas tree decorated with beads and a sequin star on top.  They are both very clever...keepsakes to add to our family ornament collections.

For years, when our kids were growing up, my Aunt Laura would send us a box of homemade goodies.  It was one of the highlights of the Christmas season...the day Aunt Laura’s package arrived.  There was lots of sampling going on.  

One year, Laura’s health failed and she was in a nursing home.  We made cookies to send to her, complete with Christmas plates and napkins so if she had visitors she could share.  That was her last Christmas.  Now the girls have taken over and are keeping the tradition going.  It is very special in our family!

Brent and I gathered items for a “thrift store run” this morning.  It was in the area of Sam’s Club so after making our donations, we went to Sam’s for some supplies.

Now I will tell you about Texas Soul Food.  It consists of pinto beans with chow-chow, pan fried potatoes, and cornbread.  Chow-chow is a type relish my grandmother use to make.  It has been about 20 years since Lori and I made a batch.  It goes really well with pinto beans.  We have missed it when we’ve had Soul Food.  Well, a friend of Lori’s ask if she had any use for green tomatoes, which is one of the key ingredients for chow-chow.  Lori got busy and made several jars for all her siblings and us.  It was a really good batch.  We had such a good dinner tonight!  Yum, yum!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

December 12, 2012


December 12, 2012

Today’s date is 12-12-12.  It won’t happen again.  There was a lot on the news about it.  Some said it was suppose to be the luckiest day in a person’s lifetime.  I don’t know about that, but it was a good day for us.

I spent most of the day relaxing and playing with Willie.  He’s such a good, happy dog and fun to be around.  As a watch dog, I think he would be a failure, but as a playmate, he is wonderful.

Tonight, Bill and I went to a 12-12-12 geocache meeting.  There were lots of cachers in attendance.  It was most enjoyable.  We were with this group on 8-8-8 and some of them remembered us from that night.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

December 11, 2012


December 11, 2012

Br-r-r-r-r!  32° this morning.  Bill was in sweats and Brent was wearing jeans.  No more Mister Tough Guy for those two.

Brent and I went to Ed’s for lunch.  As usual, it was good.  From there we went to the commissary at the base.  There is a large contingency of National Guard there.  It is a very small commissary, but there always seems to be something I need or want.

Our next stop was at Walgreen’s where Brent made copies of several pictures for Sara’s school project.  I hadn’t ever seen the kind of machine they had, but it looked fairly simple to use.  I’ll try it sometime when I need just one copy made.

Our next stop was home.  After a short rest, I baked some cookies using Brent’s oven.  Now don’t get excited and think that I’m reverting to my life of domesticity of the good old days.  I bought some cookie dough from a neighborhood kid’s school fund raiser.  All I had to do was dig the dough out of the container, plop it on a cookie sheet, and bake it at 350°.  And Brent did most of the operating of the oven!  I’ve told you before what a good kid he is!

Monday, December 10, 2012

December 10, 2012


December 10, 2012

We had rain most of the night.  Our plans for today included running some errands, so by about 10:30, the weather had improved enough for us to venture out.  Off we went!

Our alternator has been giving us some worries for the past couple of months.  Bill had it checked in Albuquerque and was told it was OK.  On our way from Loveland to Brandon, it began acting up again.  Super Driver was very concerned about it.  This morning, after checking with a distributor and a repair place, we decided to order a new one.

Our next stop was at Cummins for antifreeze.  The temperature has been dropping this morning so we may need it sooner than we thought.

We stopped at Sam’s Club for lunch and gasoline (regular, $2.96), and at Hobby Lobby before going back home.  It was time to rest.

I left Bill asleep and went to Walmart for groceries.  By the time I got back home I was really tired, but Bill and Coleson unloaded things for me.  That was a really big help.

The temperature was 39° at bedtime and is suppose to get down to 30° during the night.  Gadzooks!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

December 9, 2012


December 9, 2012

We got off to a late start today.  We were all tired from those tree lighting activities of the last few days.  It was after noon before we even made any plans.  

Coleson went to play with friends and Bill was polishing the motorhome.  Sara, Brent, and I went shopping!  Wow!  Can you believe that Brent voluntarily went shopping?  Mark this date in history!

First we went to Penney’s.  I was looking for a turtleneck sweater.  Sara found two shirts she liked.  I also purchased socks and a few things like that.

We went to Charming Charley’s to do some Christmas shopping.  We were looking for scarves and things for the young ladies in the family.

Our last stop was at Target where I was able to mark a couple of people off my gift list.  I made some good progress on my shopping today, thanks to Brent.  He’s such a good son!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

December 8, 2012


December 8, 2012

I had a dream that it was snowing and I was trying to text the kids, but I couldn't make it work.  I was frantic.  I really wanted to share the excitement.  When I woke up there was no snow (drats), but there was lots of fog.  Now if the fog particles would just get really, really, really close together maybe they could pretend to be snowflakes and fall down on the ground.  By the time I had all of this figured out, the fog had lifted.  Shucks!

Coleson and Sara each had a friend stay overnight.  After a late breakfast, we decided to go Geocaching.  We found three caches before Brent called for a lunch break and pulled into a Zaxby's.  By the time we got back into the car Brent needed to go back home for a bit.

When we got there the overnighters' parents were ready to come for their kids so the "party" was over and it seemed like a good time for a nap.

At 5:30, we drove north to Canton for another tree lighting event.  Canton has a "quaint" downtown area that has been used in movies.  The Help used it for some of their scenes, as well as several locations in Jackson.

Brent nor I had ever been to Canton, so getting to the right place on a very dark night was an adventure.  If you need that translated you'll have to ask Joshua.

The courthouse square was beautifully decorated.  Some of the shops around the square were open.  We went into several of them before driving back to Brandon.

Friday, December 7, 2012

December 7, 2012


December 7, 2012

I had my last chiropractic appointment...at least for a while.  My left hip is certainly feeling better.  Hope it stays that way.

Brent and I went to Ed’s for lunch.  Several friends were there so we pushed some tables together and had a fun lunch all together.  As usual, the fish was really good.  

On our way home, we did a little shopping.  Coleson needed jeans and Belks was having a sale.  I roamed around for several minutes and then found a place to sit and wait for Brent to make his purchases.

Back at the “ole homestead” I tried to get some more accomplished in my “office” which is what Bill calls our table.  Right now, I hope to be able to find the top of my “desk” before I am finished for the night.  Most of it has to do with geocaching.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

December 6, 2012


December 6, 2012

I spent the morning working on some medical things.  It was good getting some of that out of the way.  I had hoped to get some geocaching things done, too, but it wasn’t to be.  Perhaps tomorrow!

Brent, the kids and I went to a Christmas celebration at the park tonight.  The decorations were beautiful, with thousands of lights.  There was also a chile tasting contest.  We took part in that, of course.  A lot of people were there, but it was easy to get to most of the 13 tasting booths.  It was lots of fun, but very tiring.

If you read yesterday’s blog, you know Brent told Sara that reindeer can fly.  Well, there is a second chapter to that and it is something that I had never heard before today.

Meredith called to say shame on Brent for doing that to Sara.  Although she was joking about Brent, she told me of something that happened when we were moving to Oregon in 1980.  Having always lived in snow country, the kids had never seen reflective markers between the lanes in the highway.  (Those little markers don’t survive snow plows very well.)  They ask Bill about them.  He said “Oh, they are to help blind drivers.”  Meredith and I decided the nut didn’t fall far from the tree in this family.

We finished the evening watching the Bronco beat the Raiders.  Yippy, Skippy!  

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

December 5, 2012


December 5, 2012

Cloudy today and much cooler than the past few days. It was more like December weather should be.

After my chiropractor appointment, we went to Ed's for lunch.  We thought the special today was meatloaf, which Bill really likes, but we were wrong.  Instead, we had brisket.  It was very good.  I also had fried okra, which I really like.

Later, Brent and I went to Walmart to get my Rx, plus treats for Willie, and chocolate for Bill.  Brent checked out ahead of me. When I came out of the store, Brent was standing there looking perplexed.  He said he couldn't find his car.  I reminded him that we had come to the store in my car.  He said, "No wonder I couldn't find my car!"  Oh, my!  I don't know how many times
I've had trouble remembering where I parked.

We watched "Polar Express" tonight.  Sara ask what the difference between a deer and a reindeer was.  Brent said "Reindeer can fly."  Sara said, in all seriousness, "I thought that was just in the movies."  We laughed so hard we gave new meaning to LOL.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

December 4, 2012


December 4, 2012

The weatherperson got it right...we had rain today.  Not very much though.  

Brent and I went to a new store where groceries are sold at a discount and a very good lunch is served in the deli.  The lunch was yummy and the store was interesting.  

Actually, it was some of the things sold that were interesting, especially in the meat section.  There were packages of chickens’ feet (hadn’t seen that since shopping in the markets in Mexico), and other unidentifiable parts.  There were also many pig parts, including snouts, half snouts, ears, feet, and tails, which was a new one for me.  We didn’t shop in that section, but found some other good deals.

Soon after dinner the rain returned, with a vengeance.  There was also a good lightening show to add to the “fun.”  I was still in Brent’s house so Coleson said he would take me out to the motorhome with an umbrella.  I accepted his offer and tried to call Bill to have the door open for us.

Guess who didn’t have his phone turned on?  Right!  And since his phone had formally belonged to our grandchild, Natalia, that’s her voice I listened to about leaving a message.  “Techno-not” aka Bill, doesn’t know how to change the message, so it has been Natalia on Bill’s phone for several years.

Coleson and I braved the weather anyway.  He is such a gentleman!  I’m a lucky grandma!

Monday, December 3, 2012

December 3, 2012


December 3, 2012

Brent took me to the chiropractor this morning.  My left hip is still being cranky!  The good part was that Brent and I just had to go out to lunch.  Our choice was Mexican food.  It was really good.

We stopped at Walmart to turn in my prescriptions at the pharmacy.  We got home in time to rest before going back to Wally World for our meds.  

Sara and Coleson both came out to the motorhome when they got home from school.  Willie came, too.  He was so excited and his tail was going 90 miles an hour.  He was so happy to be in the MH again.  But he settled down for a little snooze.  All that tail wagging can tire a furry fellow out!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

December 2, 2012


December 2, 2012

It was partly cloudy and a bit breezy this morning.  According to the weatherman, we are to get some rain in a few days.

And speaking of weathermen, when I grow up I want to be a "weatherperson."  In what other job can you be wrong so much of the time and still keep the job?  Oh, I just described a politician, didn't I?  Hm!

Brent and I watched the Bronco game against Tampa Bay.  It was a good game, especially since Denver won.  Yea, Broncos!

Brent fixed liver and onions for dinner, along with mashed potatoes and green beans.  It was all very good.  I will give you a little Dane family history...Brent is our only child who appreciates liver and onions as much as Bill and I do.

So what did Brent do, but to send his sisters a picture of a package of calf liver and a bag of onions, with a text message that read “Official starter kit if you want to be the favorite!”  That was the beginning of a “sibling war,” which kept the text messaging going for several hours. 

Joshua even got into the “battle” when, upon being told of our dinner menu, suggested his mother call poison control immediately.

Michelle countered with a picture and a message about what she considers a true Dane tradition...grilled peanut butter chocolate chip sandwiches!  Of course, Meredith and Lori voted with her.  Brent’s comment to that...”Only impartial votes count!  The three of you are far to jaded to have a vote.”

Yes, it was an entertaining evening!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

December 1, 2012


December 1, 2012

I am distressed at how quickly another month has rolled around.  Maybe I am preparing for another year to roll by soon.  Yikes!

We woke up to a clear blue sky and a moderate temperature.  And we were lazy, but Bill did wash the Honda which was a big job because of all the miles it had been drug behind the MH lately.

Brent and I went to Wendy's for a little lunch before going to Krogers for some groceries.  They had some really good specials.  Brent buys most of his groceries there.  He doesn’t have a fondness for Walmart like we do.

At 2:00, Brent and I went to friends Mike and Amy's house to watch a football game...Alabama vs. Georgia.  Please understand that almost all of Brent's friends are Auburn fans.  To say they don't like the University of Alabama is a gross understatement. The cheering for Georgia was been thunderous.  But the food that everyone brought was great.  I'll put good food ahead of noise any day of the week!  

Alabama won and I thought we might have to have a funeral or two.  I mean, we like the Ducks a whole bunch, but the whole universe doesn’t depend on the outcome of a game...unless you are from the South.  College football rules here!

Friday, November 30, 2012

November 30, 2012


November 30, 2012

Bill had finished his morning chores (hooking the Honda on, securing things inside, fueling, etc.) and we were on the road at 7:15.  Mississippi, here we come!

Bill had a hankering for Friday fish at Ed's, so off we went toward Brent’s.  It's kind of like heading a horse for the barn.  There's no stopping the horse.  Well, fish at Ed's has that same effect on Wild Bill.

As we crossed the Mississippi River there was lots of honking and yahooing.  Soon after, we stopped at Walmart in Vicksburg to eat breakfast before continuing on to Brandon.

We stopped at Flying J for propane.  Bill unhooked the CRV and, while he continued on to Brent’s house, I went to see my chiropractor.  He was able to give me an adjustment on my left hip, which has been bothering me for quite awhile.

After Coleson and Sara got home from school, we went to a bike shop and then for ice cream treats.  It is good to be back with the “Sippi” group again. 

We traveled 137 miles today!  Now the coach and Bill will get a rest for a few weeks. 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

November 29, 2012


November 29, 2012

We were on the road this morning at 9:45.  The drive through this part of Texas is very pretty.  And into Louisiana, as well.  There was lots of green...evergreens and trees that were just beginning to change colors, plus green grass and fields.

The state line celebration (honk, honk! yahoo!) was a good one. We had been practicing.  This time I didn't sleep through it all like I did on the last two state lines.

After stopping at a Rest Area to eat lunch, we drove on to Monroe and parked at Walmart.  We took some rest time before leaving the MH.

It was a really nice day so we set off to find some geocaches.  Just as the sun went down, we found our sixth cache.  We also got to see some really nice Christmas decorations in the old downtown area.

Today’s Travel Totals:  Miles traveled, 168---Caches found. 6.













Wednesday, November 28, 2012

November 28, 2012


November 28, 2012

Happy Birthday, Matthew!  You’ve practiced, so make it a great day!  The big 14!

Diesel today was $3.69 when Bill filled the tank this morning.  That was at a Walmart station.

Our first stop for the day was in Arlington, Texas...at the In-N-Out for a late lunch.  Yippy, Skippy!  We've been looking forward to this for miles and miles.

With very happy tummies, we continued on I-20 through the mass of humanity known as the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  Actually, it was the easiest "crossing" we have ever had.  There were a couple of slight bottlenecks, but very little traffic otherwise.

Wally World was our "pad" again for the night, this time in Longview, on the eastern side of Texas.  It was nearly dark when we got here so there wasn’t any time to cache.

Today’s Travel Totals:  Miles traveled, 188---Critter sightings, 1 deer.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

November 27, 2012


November 27, 2012

Yesterday, we traveled through flat ranch land.  Today, we turned south at Wichita Falls, where the terrain changed to rolling hills with scrubby vegetation, cacti, and small trees.

The sign of wealth here, besides oil wells in your front yard, is the size of the entryway to your ranch.  Granted, the road passed the gate may be gravel or dirt, but the gate must make a statement!

We went by a small high school.  Most of the vehicles in the parking lot were pickups.  Yup, we're in Texas!

We parked at the Walmart in Weatherford.  After we ate lunch we went to the upholstery shop to see about having the foam in our sofa replaced.  Our appointment was scheduled for tomorrow morning, but after discussing it, neither of us felt good about it.  We will find some other place down the road.

We did some geocaching, but didn’t have as much luck as we would’ve liked.  Our percentage was 50%.  That’s not too great, but we had fun anyway.

Today’s travel totals:  miles traveled, 281---geocaches logged, 3---critter sighting, 1 deer (I didn’t count the dead possum by the side of the road).






Monday, November 26, 2012

November 26, 2012



November 26, 2012

Bill said we left Lamar at 6:30. You couldn't prove it by me.  I slept through the rest of Colorado, the Panhandle of Oklahoma, and into Texas.  Bill said he did our state line routine on both occasions. But once again, you couldn't prove it by me!

At some place along the way, we changed time zones. The good thing about that is lunchtime coming earlier.

In Amarillo, we stopped for fuel, for the motorhome and for us. When all three tummies were happy, we got back out on the road.

Between Amarillo and Childress we passed acres and acres of cotton.  Some fields had been “picked,” and some hadn’t.  A different method is used nowadays for the way cotton is “baled.”  Interesting the things that change.!

We parked for the night at the Walmart in Childress.  There was still some daylight when we got parked, but it had been a long day, especially for Bill, so we decided to skip the geocaching and get some extra rest.

Before we left Loveland yesterday, Meredith gave us “care
packages” from Thanksgiving leftovers.  We have enjoyed having dinner ready when we park for the night.  Thanks!

Early this morning, Bill saw a herd of buffalo.  When we went through the small town of Stratford, a sign announced that it was the pheasant capitol of Texas.  I looked and looked, but didn't see a one!  Darn!

Today’s travel totals:  Miles traveled, 333--critter sightings, a herd  of buffalo.




Sunday, November 25, 2012

November 25, 2012


November 25, 2012

We left Loveland this morning at two minutes 'til 10:00.  It was cold and cloudy but no snowflakes falling.  The only flake I see is in the driver seat.

Soon after getting on Interstate 70 we were out in open plains. This part of Colorado isn't very pretty, but it must be good for growing things.  The few trees that are here are leafless and are adding to the bleak terrain.

We stopped in Limon and parked at Flying J long enough to eat lunch.  We were soon back on the road going toward Lamar.  We parked at Walmart with just a little sunlight left, so we set out to find some caches.

The first one we found was in front of the Library.  It was an easy one.  The next one was across from a cemetery.  We weren’t able to find it and by then it was getting dark.

When we got back to Walmart the first person I saw was wearing a Bronco jacket.  I was able to find out about the Broncos winning against Kansas City from her.  Good news is anywhere you can get it!

Travel totals:  mileage traveled today, 250---geocaches found, 1.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

November 24, 2012


November 24, 2012

Happy Birthday, Coleson!  I can’t believe you are already 14 years old.  My, oh my!

Michelle and I went to a couple of places this morning.  Our first stop was at Hobby Lobby.  As usual, it took us longer there than we had suspected.  As did our next stop.  It was to deliver a beaded cross to Lorell, Joshua’s girlfriend.  We visited with her family longer than we had expected.  They are a very nice family.

We went back home after that.  There was lots to do before we went to Meredith and Dwaine’s for dinner and an early Christmas.

Joshua, Connor, Bill and I watched the Oregon Ducks play the Oregon State Beavers.  The Ducks won, 48 to 24.  Quack, quack!

At Meredith and Dwaine’s, we had supper of a Mexican soup that Meredith likes to make.  It was really, really good and was especially welcome on a cold night like this one.

After soup and several kinds of pie for dessert, we opened Christmas presents with the Colorado part of the clan.  Connor and Matthew called it “a practice Christmas.”

We will be leaving tomorrow morning.  Connor said it looks strange in their driveway when the MH is gone.  I’m glad we are missed when we’re absent.

Friday, November 23, 2012

November 23, 2012


November 23, 2012

Bill left at 6:30 this morning to take the Honda to Fort Collins. The locking mechanism on the driver’s side was making strange noises.  At first it sounded as if it had the croup.  It continued to get worse, finally sounding like a blast from a machine gun.

When he first drove up a service writer came out and Bill told him the problem with the lock.  Among other things on the cost of the repair was a $52 diagnostic fee.  Bill said to give him the $52 dollars because he had diagnosed it for them.  There was also a $25 charge for shop material...nuts, bolts, towels, things like that.  Bill said when he was in business he didn’t treat his customers that way.

The long and short of it was when Bill got the bill, neither of those things were on it.  I guess they didn’t want to take on a crabby old man so early in the morning.

Today was Black Friday, but Michelle didn’t go anywhere until after lunch.  We needed to go to Lowe’s and Walmart.  Neither of them were terribly busy by that time of day.  We really didn’t want to put our lives in jeopardy by going earlier.

Bill took me to Meredith and Dwaine’s in the middle of the afternoon.  It gave me some extra visiting time with them.  He came back later for “left overs.”  That’s the best thing about Thanksgiving dinner!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

November 22, 2012


November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  As usual, we have much to be thankful for.  Two geezers, four kids, seven “grandyoungens,” and five “grandpups” all healthy and happy.  And friends galore!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.  Between the three “girls” we had plenty of food.  All the usual items were present, except...

cranberry sauce!  JP and I both really like that part of Thanksgiving dinner.  I bought it yesterday, Meredith put it in the refrigerator to chill, and we both completely forgot to get it out.  Ugh! JP, I needed you here.  You would not have forgotten, would you?

Meredith said we could come back tomorrow for leftovers, including the sauce!

I think we watched a total of three football games.  That was a bit much for some of us, but just right for most in the family.  It all depends on your perspective!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

November 21, 2012


November 21, 2012

I had two errands to do this morning...one important and one not so much.  I needed to pick up my Rx forms from our doctor.  We will be leaving and I needed those in my hot little hands.  My second place to go, just a few blocks away, was to Dollar Tree for some gift bags.

Soon after lunch, I went grocery shopping with Frick and Frack, aka Meredith and Michelle.  We had made a menu for Thanksgiving dinner and divided up the list.  We each had our part to buy and make.  There were lots of people in Walmart and the store was getting ready for “Black Friday.”  There were some sections we couldn’t even get into because of all the crates, etc.

Matthew’s birthday will soon be here...November 28, but we will be gone by then.  So, tonight we had a “practice birthday” to give him our presents.  Michelle fixed his favorite dinner of lasagna.  When he opened our present he was so excited.  Remember that Matthew and I both love root beer floats and often go together to treat ourselves.  I had found two tall glasses with handles, just like we get at Red Robin.

We made floats for dessert.  It was a successful party, all the way around.  That may go down in history as the most exciting “practice birthday” Matthew has ever had!