Howdy.... Good Afternoon.

Howdy....  Good Afternoon. I hope this note finds you doing well.  I am at the office, doing laundry and there isn't any Wi-fi.  I came up here to also download my email and send a few things while I wait for the machines do their work.  Ah well. it is what it is. I'm just surprised that no one is here at the office yet.  I'll go look around the corner in a few minutes and find out if the office hours have changed again.  Today is a nice day. Saturday was gray and foggy all day long. If it wasn't foggy then it was smoke in the air from some forest fires that  are way away from her but the air stream was bringing the smoke up this way. We could smell the smoke every where we went. Yesterday wasn't as bad. it stayed cloudy but it was warmer.  While Jerry took a nap in the afternoon, I came up to the office to download my mail from the weekend and found Deb was soaking some of her Hubby's clothes in the sink. I knew she would be here soon, so I also down loaded a couple of book for the kindle reader on my PC.
Yesterday I got a pleasant surprise, I got two dollar coins in change. I could have asked him to take them back, but I collect them to spend at special events and if I find I'm getting more than a few then I know I have a good chance of going to an event.... I hope so.

 

Outside my door ...  We have a good breeze going, it's close to 70 and I don't have to wear a jacket even to drive the gold cart to do my laundry or take the trash to the trash bin. It's Sunny. The last three or four days have been cloudy and just plain out dreary. We had rain over night but it all blew out before the sun come up this morning.

 

The Dogs ... have been enjoying the cooler weather and I have given them more room on their leads to run and play with each other. The brown drive along has left and so there are only 5 campers up in our section. One has someone come in one day each week for a few hours, besides ours, two are being lived in full time and the other one is parked but not being lived it.  The other two full timers are hardly ever home during the week days so I can give the dogs a bit more lee way when it comes to barking and rough housing with each other in the afternoons.
 Rocky has become more playful with the cooler days and will even start a game with Barney. Macon is always ready for a good romp with Barney, as well.  We have finally taken the dogs for a ride in the cab of the truck. Two rides really. The first time was around the country block. The second was not nearly so far, it was to the trash bin and back home.

 

The Cats ... have discovered that I have an electric blanket and I turn it on at night. They all three want to cuddle up around my feet. I didn't have to turn it on last night, and two of the cats stayed outside last night. The third one slept with Jerry last night. They will come in around 7 PM. Stripes will try to lay on Jerry, if he's not on the couch then he tries to lay on my shoulder. Fuzzy tries to find a place on Jerry's lap. Tupelo goes straight back to the beds and is content to find a corner to stay in.

 

From the kitchen...
 Salad, Pasta with ground pork in the pasta sauce, Pudding for dessert. I think I better make cinnamon popcorn today after I finish up doing laundry because I need a fairly dry day to make it in and tomorrow looks like it may be rainy a bit. much cooler at least.

 

I am hearing...  The three dryers going. A jet went over head a bit ago. I hear the dry leaves tapping along the sidewalk because I have the door open.  The laundry room gets a heavy smell to it from time to time and needs aired out badly. 

 

I am wearing... brown sweat pants and a black shirt that has horses on it.

 

I am reading... Dragon Girl, and just started Amish White Christmas.

 

I am creating... some Santa Christmas ornaments. I printed out some Santa's last week . I found some frozen juice lids I had saved and used one to draw a circle around so I could cut out the Santa's to fit inside each. Painted each lid with white spray paint. Sprayed each Santa with Clear Paint (sealant) and used my Xyron to put glue on the backs of the pictures and set them in each lid. Now I'm debating on wether to pour some resin in each or just cover the rims with ribbon and put a magnet on the back of each.

 

I painted my finger nails with a brown I found at Wal mart that looks like it may be for a dark person to use for French Nails, then put a brass sparkle on top of that. I found a yellow sparkly polish at Dollar General and put that on one thumb to see how that looks over the brass and I like it. I need to figure out a way to make a card that tells me what polish I used and have it look like what is on my fingers.

 

One of my favorite things... watching the wild life around here. They have so much fun.

 

A few plans for the rest of today...
Put away the clean laundry
wash the spare kennel
make dinner, including pudding for our dessert
clear off the table so I can start sewing a dress I have cut out for Bailey

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...  Some baking, some cleaning. some packing, some organizing, Turn a yellow sweat shirt into a light jacket for a friend. I need to cut it, turn the edges and sew them down, then crocheted around the edges with some yarn.

 

Billie C.

Snowman Project plus some fall projects

I saw a really cute Snowman on Face book made with a battery operated tea light. No instructions with it. While straightening up I found one of those lights and thought. Hum, why not?

I had painted my fingernails the day before with Orange over white and still had the polish out. I used a thin coat of it to "paint" the light part orange so it would look more like a carrot. I then got out my black polish and Dabbed on two larger dots with just a bit of a line off to the side to make eyes with a toothpick, then using the same toothpick but less polish, dabbed on 5 or 6 smaller dots to make a face. I had to go to Wal-mart for the red ribbon because I could not find any here at the camper. I still need to make a hat but at least right now, I'm happy with how it turned out.

 

 

 

 

While I had the black polish out, I decided to make "faces" on my thumbnails.

 

 

I saw this idea on Pintrest if I remember. Only it called for real leaves. I found a couple of packs of leaves at the local Dollar store and picked them up,, this took less than one pack. I thought it would be too flimsy but it will hold a small amount of candy. Just use Modge Podge to glue leaves on a plastic wrapped bowl, allow to dry and then peal away the wrap.

I had out the spray paint and I painted a Nut can I had pealed the label off of pink.  Pink was just the one I had in my hand but I could have used any other color. using the left over leaves from the bowl, I used my Xyron to put glue on the back of them and then placed them around the can. It was a whim to see how it would look. Of course, I had to put a couple (3 really) On the lid.

Billie C.

Howdy, Oct 24, 2013

 

Howdy.... Good Afternoon.  I hope you are doing well and keeping happily busy. It's cold outside today compared to yesterday. I need a jacket to go outside and tomorrow is suppose to be even colder than today. Yikes I'm not ready for freezing weather at all.  At least it's not raining along with being cold. That may happen next week for all I know.

 

The Dogs  are enjoying these cooler days and love to play together then lay out in the sun for a bit. I let them when I can and even take them out an extra time or two just so they can play. The cats are not as happy with this weather and two of them slept inside last night. I expected Tupelo to come in but she didn't come to the door. Fuzzy used Jerry for a bed all evening and didn't want to move when he went off to his own bed. When we got up this morning she and Strips were curled up together on his side of the couch and Macon was sleeping on my side of the couch, with his nose tucked under his tail. I guess his nose was cold cause he didn't want to get up when I started Jerry's breakfast

 

 

From the kitchen...  I'm still debating wether to eat out or cook up something tonight. I'm doing laundry right now and if it takes me longer than I figured we will eat out. Otherwise I'll make hamburger something. Just can't make up my mind what that will be, I could just form  patties and cook those, cook the last of the hash brown potatoes I have in the freezer and a salad  .I am hearing... The dryer's working, they are rather noisy and so I'm not even going to try to hear anything else right now.
I am wearing... sweat pants (Maroon) and a pink T-shirt with butterfly's on it.  not much longer and I'll have to wear long sleeves all the time. I'm not looking forward to that at all.

 

 I am reading. I just finished reading Judges in The Bible and will start Ruth tomorrow.  Funny how no one talks about every thing that is at the end of Judges. Fighting between the families and why they fought.  I guess it's a pick and choose what you want to know sort of thing.
I am thinking.  How I can stretch my food money this week so I can help Beth out a bit more. We have a large bill we have to pay this week and two next week and I'm not sure just how much I can send her this week. Thank God though, she found a job and will be filling out the paperwork tomorrow.  I'm waiting to hear from Beth on what the doctor says is making Heather sick. I am praying that she never has to take her to the ER in the middle of the night ever again with a high fever.

 

 

I am hoping that Jerry has another job to go to when this one is finished.  He should have but nothing is ever promised. If we do have to move, I hope and pray that it's south of here and not north. I don't want to even think about moving "up north" in winter with a camper, pets and everything we have with us.
I am creating.... I just found the artificial leafs I picked up to make a candy dish with while cleaning out a tub of stuff and once I get back to the camper think I will start that since it will need many coats of Modge Podge and will have to dry between coatings of leafs and glue. I tossed all the newspaper I had to make a paper mache pumpkin because I no longer have time to do that for Halloween this year. I will have to make a note to start that in August next year so there is plenty of time for it to dry and to be sealed with clear paint.
One of my favorite things... driving around the campground, taking pictures of the lake

 

A few plans for today...  Well, beside folding and putting away the clean clothes once they are done, and maybe working on that bowl, I plan on sorting the stuff on the counter by the fridge again. I did it last week and it needs it again. I need to find a better place to keep my fresh potatoes.

 

Billie C.

Howdy....

 

Howdy.... Good Afternoon.  It has been raining off and on all day, more so this afternoon.  Once this rain moves out, it's suppose to get colder.
 I took the golf cart around this morning to take the trash to the bin. I covered it up again when I got back to keep the "decorations" dry. 
  I don't know  when the rain is suppose to end but I heard that tomorrow will be very nice for the Haunted Trail.  Had a bit of a scare yesterday.  One of the boys helping to set up got hurt. He's got a badly bruised leg but at least it's not broken.I had Rocky with me when it happened and he was upset because he could hear the pain in the boys voice. 
The Dogs ... are not happy with this weather.  They don't want to stay outside for more than necessary.
Two of the Cats are sleeping on our beds right now. They dont like this weather either.
From the kitchen...  I'm going to brown up some burger, then add it to a package of Noodles.  Of course I'm going to make up a salad.  I think I'll open a can of peas to go with it all.
I am wearing...  Black sweat pants and a white T-shirt with a beaded butterfly on it.
I am reading... Still reading Forwarned.
I am thankful for... Matthew Not haveing a broken leg. I knw he's sore but that will heal
I am hoping... That the rain stops and that I can find out where I'll be stationed on soon. I want to see it in the daylight so I will be comfortable in the dark there.
I am creating... I used my Xyron to put "glue" on the back of a few things I had cut out a while ago then stuck them onto some blank cards I have made up, as well.  I an looking for my craft journal so I can write that into it.  I washed the mats to my Cricut as well and they are now drying in the dish rack. I am thinking of doing some paper cutting here in a bit.
One of my favorite things... Watching the dogs play. They can get so goofy

While I was driving Rocky around the path, we had to weave our way around a few things. Rocky thought these were real people and I had to let him smell them up close before he stopped growling at them

 

 

Billie C.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.

Howdy....

 

Howdy.... I do hope that your having a great day. It's a bit cloudy and cool here but not so cool that I can't have the door open for a bit. The back window is open and the cats seem to think it's their personal doorway into the camper.  The trees here are very pretty, that is the ones that haven't lost their leaf's yet.  I need to take more pictures. Yesterday, I took my four Mum plants to the entrance and planted them under the sign to the campground around the roses.. So many thorns that I have to be extra careful.

 

 

 The first night of the trail is coming up and I still don't know where along the trail I'll be stationed and what I'm expected to do.  We will see.

 

 I decorated my golf cart yesterday, all but the lights. I still need to find command hooks to put them up with. I could use tie wraps but I'd rather use the command hooks cause I can put them where I want them.

 

The dogs are enjoying this weather. They get to spend over 45 minutes outside most morning and time outside in the afternoon, before I start dinner and about 15 minutes before Jerry gets home from work. Barney wants to play and Macon will usually play with him, Rocky, not so much, but every now and then he will start something. I need to get the play balls out from under the couch again and take one out for Barney.  Yesterday afternoon it was the yellow squeeky ball and he had a blast squeeking it and tossing it then bringing it to me to toss for him.  He has so much fun with that ball. He was wore out and went to sleep early last night. while cleaning out the living room I noticed that the dog's toy box was in sad shape to I've tossed it out after I emptied it. I tossed all of Barney's rocks outside and he found one and was playing with it while we were waiting for Jerry to get home from work.

 

That is one big rock that Barney loves to play with.

 

Dinner tonight is going to be a Salad, Chicken baked in a can of Cream of Chicken soup, and I'm thinking of making either a pot of rice or instant mashed potatoes to go with them.  I made up a Sugar Free Chocolate Pumpkin Cake yesterday by putting a can of pumpkin in a sugar free cake mix and it was okay but I'll not be doing that again. Jerry wasn't happy with it.  I do have a white cake mix that I'll do next time, and I'll add some pumpkin pie spice to it when I make it up. 

I am hearing... I have caught up all the back shows of Y&R through last Friday. I am saving that one, Mondays and maybe yesterday's show as well.. I will have to see today's show before I make up my mind on it as well. Right now, the noon news is coming on

I am wearing... a pink top and maroon  sweat pants..
I am reading... Forewarned A horse and healing mystery.
I am creating...  I had fun decorating my gold cart yesterday. I need to cut "faces" into a few cans tomorrow.

Billie C.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.

Howdy....

Howdy.... I do hope that your having a great day. It's a bit cloudy and cool here but not so cool that I can't have the door open for a bit. The back window is open and the cats seem to think it's their personal doorway into the camper.  The trees here are very pretty, that is the ones that haven't lost their leaf's yet.  I need to take more pictures. Yesterday, I took my four Mum plants to the entrance and planted them under the sign to the campground around the roses.. So many thorns that I have to be extra careful.

 

 

 The first night of the trail is coming up and I still don't know where along the trail I'll be stationed and what I'm expected to do.  We will see.

 

 I decorated my golf cart yesterday, all but the lights. I still need to find command hooks to put them up with. I could use tie wraps but I'd rather use the command hooks cause I can put them where I want them.

 

The dogs are enjoying this weather. They get to spend over 45 minutes outside most morning and time outside in the afternoon, before I start dinner and about 15 minutes before Jerry gets home from work. Barney wants to play and Macon will usually play with him, Rocky, not so much, but every now and then he will start something. I need to get the play balls out from under the couch again and take one out for Barney.  Yesterday afternoon it was the yellow squeeky ball and he had a blast squeeking it and tossing it then bringing it to me to toss for him.  He has so much fun with that ball. He was wore out and went to sleep early last night. while cleaning out the living room I noticed that the dog's toy box was in sad shape to I've tossed it out after I emptied it. I tossed all of Barney's rocks outside and he found one and was playing with it while we were waiting for Jerry to get home from work.

 

That is one big rock that Barney loves to play with.

 

Dinner tonight is going to be a Salad, Chicken baked in a can of Cream of Chicken soup, and I'm thinking of making either a pot of rice or instant mashed potatoes to go with them.  I made up a Sugar Free Chocolate Pumpkin Cake yesterday by putting a can of pumpkin in a sugar free cake mix and it was okay but I'll not be doing that again. Jerry wasn't happy with it.  I do have a white cake mix that I'll do next time, and I'll add some pumpkin pie spice to it when I make it up. 

I am hearing... I have caught up all the back shows of Y&R through last Friday. I am saving that one, Mondays and maybe yesterday's show as well.. I will have to see today's show before I make up my mind on it as well. Right now, the noon news is coming on

I am wearing... a pink top and maroon  sweat pants..
I am reading... Forewarned A horse and healing mystery.
I am creating...  I had fun decorating my gold cart yesterday. I need to cut "faces" into a few cans tomorrow.

 

 

 

Billie C.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.

Howdy.. Oct 8

 

Howdy....  And Good evening.  Not much going on around here today. I did drive the golf cart around a bit. I didn't go past the chain across the road although I have permission to. The  direction I went I have to get too close to the pole and it feels like I'm tipping the cart over before I turn it back toward the road.  I did go check out the small area that I took pictures in a few days ago, but I forgot the battery for my camera and had to go back for it.

 

 

 I took some stale crackers to the ducks and got a few pictures of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The geese wouldn't come close until after I left the area. 

 

 

  I spent most of this afternoon, straightening out my canned goods and the storage under the counter by the fridge as well as the counter itself.  Now maybe I can finds things there, again. I really needed to straighten it up so I can get to my bread maker easier. I want to make some fresh bread this week as a treat. I made a way to keep track of what canned goods I have, not counting the cans of stuff I kept out for our dinner tonight. Oops. I burned the creamed corn. I really have trouble not burning creamed corn. Not matter how close I watch it, it ends up scorched. Even when I use the microwave I have a tendency to cook it too long.

 

I had the dogs out several times today. It was nice and cool and they would play for a bit before wanting to come back into the camper. The cats were all staying outside today. Strips came in for a bit but then begged to go back outside once he got warmed up. 

 

We had cloudy skies and rain yesterday. Jerry got rained out and we took my phone to the local Sprint office only to find out, It's not the phone but the system. and it's acting up even worse today.  I had hoped that shutting off the phone then re-starting it would solve the problem but it didn't. I now have a phone number to call and complain to every day until it's fixed. The people at the office claim it's a tower issue. I don't know, I just know that, when Beth calls me, I answer and I'm talking to dead air. She can't hear me but knows I've answered the phone. She then hangs up and I can call her and it's okay.  All the phone calls on my birthday was like that, as well.  I can do that after each call but it's frustrating as all get out.

 

We are expecting rain again tomorrow. From sounds of things it's going to be more of a drizzle than a rain for most of the day but you never can tell just what is going to happen. Won't know until it happens if Jerry will get rained out again or not. I hope not, or else he may have to make it up on Saturday. He's already going to have to miss 1/2 of Friday because I have a doctors appointment . I'm not going to ask Joey again to take me.
From the kitchen... What's for dinner today, Salad, Ham steak, Cream Corn and peas.
I am hearing... NCIS is on.  I heard the Geese come in for the night a bit ago. I've heard the neighbors heater going off and on during the day. A few birds during the day and crickets.

 

 

I am wearing... Black Sweat Pants and a purple short sleep top.
I am reading... Forewarned, a Horse and Healing Mystery.
I am creating...  A Colorful Golf Cart. I have fall leaves around the top and picked up some artificial gourds to hang from the edges over the weekend. I also need to start the paper mache pumpkins I want to make. Jerry has cut the faces out of two cans and I sprayed one of the cans orange today.

 

 

One of my favorite things... watching the dogs play together. We are in a habit of, once I start dinner and it can just be keeping warm on the stove, I take the dogs out until Jerry gets home from work, They get to greet him outside and can express their joy of seeing him before we have to go back into the camper for the night.
A few plans for the rest of the week...  Not sure if I'll be working on stuff for the Haunted Trail this week or not. I've not heard from Wanda since last Friday. But I'll be ready. I want to cut out cards for Halloween for the Grand kids this week and get them in the mail soon. I made them cards last year, as well.

 

Billie C.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.

Howdy....

Howdy.... and good afternoon. I hope you are doing well and are having a good day.  It's nice and peaceful here. The Wi-fi is still being worked on, Now it seems that the problem is with the provider's side of things. I'm sitting in my living room writing this and will send it off here in a bit when I go down to the office to get the bulk of my emails downloaded to my computer and to send off a few things.  It's a nice day to spend some of it outside, that's for sure.
I know the dogs enjoyed a merry chase of each other this morning. Even with being limited to how long the leads are (20 foot each) they can still get some speed up. And they each know just how far they can run and not snap at the end of the line. Well, Barney likes that snap sometimes, I think, either that or he's just plumb forgetful. The cats all know just how long these leads are and if they don't want Barney to be sniffing all about them, will sit just out of reach, teasing him to just try.
From the kitchen... Instead of a roast I'm going to use 5 to 6 hamburger patties and cook in the slow cooker. When it's almost time for Jerry to get home. I'll cook up some Hash Brown Potatoes to put the gravy over and we will start our meal with a salad. Not sure if we will have a dessert or not yet. After dinner last night, Jerry went searching for something "sweet" but I'm not sure that the handful of Nilla Wafers was enough.

 

 3 Envelope Roast

 

Ingredients:
3 pound beef roast such as chuck roast
1 envelope of dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 envelope of dry ranch salad dressing mix
1 envelope of dry brown gravy mix
2 cups water

 

Instructions :
Put the water in a measuring cup that is larger then the amount of water you are using. Now add and mix all three envelopes to the water. Mix until blended completely.
Brown the roast (if desired). Add the meat to your cooker. Pour the water, salad dressing mixture over the roast. In the slow cooker cook it on high for about 4 hours on low about 8 hours.

 

I am wearing...  Dark Red Sweat pants and a white T-shirt. By the end of this afternoon, I may feel like I should be in shorts but I doubt I'll change out by then.  
I read "Kate's Song" in one go the other night. Once I got started I didn't want to stop and it was almost 3 am before I went to bed. I sure needed that nap Sunday afternoon but when I woke up, I saw that Jerry was taking a nap, as well.  I am starting " What A Young Woman Ought To Know. It was written in the late 1890's.
One of my favorite things...  taking my camera with me while I ride around the campground, taking pictures of the changes in the trees.
A few plans for today... I need to finish cleaning the camper, go to the office and download my emails, and start dinner.

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...  I need to go through all my Cricut carts and see which ones look like they have Halloween type stuff on them.

 

Billie C.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.

Good Morning.

Good Morning. I hope you had a good nights sleep.
Jerry and I had a nice weekend. Saturday, after breakfast we went to Wal-mart to cash his check and the lady in the money center said she didn't have enough to cover it and that the costumer Service didn't have it either.  Jerry was NOT happy. We had to go to the RV center to order a part for the camper. Our propane tank connection was leaking and we need to replace the flex hose on the end that attaches to the tank. They don't have them in stock. It will be this next weekend before they have any. They have to order them and are waiting for more items to be ordered before they place an order... so it will be next weekend before we can pick it up.  (Sigh)  Since we were so close and still had to cash Jerry's check we went into South Boston. He got his check cashed there, no problem.  We took a short drive around town and ended up back where we started. We saw several older homes and we enjoy doing that. While driving around South Boston, we discovered that they were having a festival, but we didn't stop and look around.  We headed back home because the dogs needed out.  After we got back home and the dogs got to potty we took each dog for a short drive around on the golf cart. They all loved that.

 

The new antenna has been installed, and I can get on line on the "new" modem while I'm at the office but not at the camper. We have 2 bars of strength  but no connection. (sigh) I didn't know if we should have tried that connection when I saw it in the network queue and now know I should have. I am just going to have to go up to the office each day and down load emails up there. I can read from here at the camper those that I need right off, but will wait until I get to the office to download all the emails I have. I'll also try to send off most of my notes at the same time.
 I picked up an electric Skillet so I can cook Jerry's breakfast each morning as well as our dinners. 

 

Billie C.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.

Howdy....

Howdy....  I hope your doing well today. It's been a cloudy day and a few rain drops have fallen from time to time.  It's been pleasant otherwise and I took Macon for a ride on the golf cart while I took the trash to the trash bin.  There were some people fishing at the lake but they were packing up when we got back. I had some stale bread that I gave to the ducks and one of the ladies took pictures of the ducks eating bread.  Rocky was mad because he didn't go for the ride and has been sitting with his back to me all afternoon now. The cats are enjoying the weather and are hunting in the woods for voles and leaving them for me to find.
We now have Dish Wi-Fi.  We get 20 gig per month 10 off hours and 10 on. Not sure how to find out when we are close to using them up.
From the kitchen...  Tonight is going to be Salad, Pork Roast with Green Beans and Potatoes cooked in the crock pot. 
I am wearing...  Sweat pants and a white T-shirt with a heart on it.  I am thinking that it's time for me to put away all the summer clothes and start to get out all the fall and winter clothes.
I am reading...  Judges 4 in the Bible, I need to pick out a book to read.

 

Billie C.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.

Howdy September 19

 

Howdy.... And Good Day. Not sure when I'll send this off but it will be something today.
 Yesterday was a very nice cool day. Today is going to be a bit warmer. I will have to remember to take my camera out with me today. There is color coming into the trees now but not yet that bold all over color just yet. Yesterday morning, We had a family of deer close to the camper. One must have made a sound because the dogs saw them and started barking at the noise then saw the white tails running away and the dogs were going from window to window trying to see where did they go. I do hope they come back again soon.
Yesterday afternoon, I took Barney for a ride on the cart to the other end of the lake. He got in the water 4 times. He loved running in and out of the water and following the edge of the water then jumping in again. Part of it, he could smell where the Geese had been and I'm sure he could smell other animals that had come down to get a drink from the lake. Then he would go roll in the grass on the other side of the road from the lake then want to get back into the water. It was fun watching him then he had to dry off a bit before I would let him back on the cart. He loves to swim but I think he got a bit chilled on the way back to the camper. He kept trying to hid behind me. I'll see if he wants to ride again either today or tomorrow. After Barney got his time in the water, I took Macon for a ride. That went fairly well. Better than the other two once he figured out how to sit on the seat. That is, until we saw a couple of squirrels playing tag in the trees by the road and Macon thought he was suppose to go help them play tag.  He quickly understood he had to stay in the cart and let the squirrels do their own thing. We stopped to talk to a couple of people on our way back to the camper and he was content to stay in the seat although I could see he wanted to go see the little boy and play with him like he does with Corbin.
We had all three cats inside for a bit last night. Two of them insisted I be their bed. Strips started on Jerry but he wanted to touch my arm.  He finally got off of Jerry and onto me and just laid down purring. Then Fuzzy came in and laid between us. Her head on me and her other end of Jerry's leg. When I went to go to bed I found Tupelo was asleep on my bed. She stayed in all night and went out when I took the dogs out for their first potty (at 4:30 am) 
From the kitchen... What's for dinner today, Salad, Hamburger Helper and maybe these cookies.  I can't put raisins in them because Jerry doesn't like Raisins but I can put them in some of the cookies for me.

 

Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies
It's a healthier version than most. And for 3 cookies it is 126 calories. So just have two. :-)
Ingredients:
⦁ 1 cup whole wheat flour
⦁ 1 cup oats
⦁ 1 tsp. cinnamon
⦁ 1 tsp. baking powder
⦁ 1/2 tsp. baking soda
⦁ 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
⦁ 1/4 tsp. ground allspice
⦁ 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
⦁ 1/2 cup raisins
⦁ 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
⦁ 1/4 cup water
⦁ 1/3 cup vegetable oil
⦁ 2 eggs
⦁ 1 tsp. vanilla extract
⦁ 1/4 cup finely chopped nuts
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat well. Drop by spoonfuls onto a lightly oiled baking sheet.
Bake in a 375 degrees F oven for 10-15 minutes or until browned.
Source: Long ago from my sister. I don't know where she got it.
Food exchanges:1 starch/bread and 1 fat
Calories per 3 cookies: 126; Protein:3 grams; Carbs:15 grams; Fat:6 grams; Sodium:66 milligrams; Potassium:114

 

I am hearing... As always, I have the TV on. I just heard Barney yawn. I'm sure he wants out of the kennel and he will be soon as I finish writing this up, because it's about time to take them all outside again.  I heard the water dripping in the kitchen sink, and sometimes I can hear the motor on the fridge going. I don't have to have the fans on this morning as it's cool enough in here without them. I am hoping that I don't have to button up the camper and turn on the air this afternoon although I know I'll have to have the fans on before much longer. Once the sun gets above the trees I'll be opening up the back window and the door.
I am wearing... Yesterday was the first true pants day of this fall. It was that cool. Today though, I'm back in cut off sweat pants. I went through my drawer where I keep the shorts and pants but I think next week may well be the last week for shorts and so I'll be putting them away for winter and exchanging them for sweat pants and long skirts.  I took the extra blankets out of the tub I had in the back and now will use that for summer clothes storage. I will have to get Jerry to get the tubs out from under the camper so I can check and be sure those clothes have not mildewed or got mold on them and get them ready for fall and winter wearing.  I will have to start watching Wal-mart for a winter coat. My last one had a few issues so I got rid of it. I usually wait until I have the replacement before I get rid of a coat because I never know for sure if I'll be able to find one I like the next year or not.
I am reading... I just started Judges in the Bible.  I read in a couple of cook books yesterday, just to get some general ideas on what to fix when the weather turns really cold.

Billie C.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.

Howdy

Howdy....  I hope you are doing well.  Hard to believe that next weekend is Labor Day Weekend.  Whew. I think Hubby will have a three day weekend. That would be nice even though it will mean a shorter pay check. I don't know that he plans on doing any thing special.  I have missed a few days of writing my "Howdy" notes. mainly because I have not had Wi-Fi and just didn't have much else to say.  I hope that the Wi-Fi is fixed soon. 
Our weather has been cooler that what we expect for this time of the year. The highs in the upper 80's instead of in the 90's. A bit more rain and, according to the weathermen on the news, We are way over the normal amount of rain for around here.  Yesterday, we had so much fog when I took the dogs out while Jerry was eating his breakfast that it was hard to see them less than 20 foot away on the lead, and I was wearing a headlamp. This morning is was nice and dry and I didn't need the headlamp either.
Two days ago, after Jerry got off work, we went to town to order Beth a new phone because Jerry was told he would be working 12 hour days for the rest of this week. When he pulled up to pick me up, I tossed the trash bags into the back of the truck but didn't really look in the back. When we got to the Sprint store, he asked me if I had put the golf clubs in the truck... Um, no. I didn't look in the back when I tossed the trash back there. Well, he found out who they belonged to. One of the rigging foremen put them in the wrong truck and now they are where they belong. I'm guessing there are a lot of white Super Duty trucks in the parking lot.  Beth should have her phone either today or Monday. Then we will have to get it activated. 
I have a large tub that the rim is breaking off of. I took it outside and put some water it in, for Barney. He didn't want to jump in it at first. I moved my step stool over by it and showed Barney he could go up the two steps and jump in.. but he didn't want to do that. He wanted to play with part of the rim that had broken off. So I tossed that into the water and he had to jump in to get it. I think the water may have been a bit too cold for him because he got back out. I'll empty it this morning and refill it so that it will be warmer water this afternoon for him. He loves to play in water most of the time. Once the weather gets too cold for Barney to be in the water, I'll use the tub to keep the trash bags in before Jerry gets home from work. 
The cats are spoiled. One, Strips, likes to get on the top of the camper. He then comes to the door when I open and looks in. I was able to get him by the scruff of his neck and pull him off twice now.  He'll learn to stay out of my way if he doesn't like me doing that.. He can get down on his own, but he makes a lot of noise and fusses about it while he's doing that. I haven't put out dry cat food for the last couple of days because of the rain chances.  I hope to put some out this morning for them.
I made a pot of Pinto beans for dinner yesterday. Really I had cooked them on Wen but then Jerry had called and we ate out so I warmed them up yesterday evening. Then Jerry didn't work the  12 hours he was told he would. He startled me when he got home.  He said he had text-ed me that he was leaving work and I never got the text. I checked my email and found his text in my in box... He has no idea how he did that.
I had made what I thought would be salsa last week, and forgot I made it. I checked it and it smelled like Chow-Chow, and man oh man is it hot. I used pickled Jalapeno peppers in it and that was enough vinegar to preserve  the whole batch and I'll tell you, it was great in my beans. I was also able to add some fresh onion to my bowl of beans. Jerry does not like onions. If I want them I have to add them after I get my own servings of what ever we are having. I can use onion powder but it's not the same as cooking with it. (sigh) But I do manage from time to time to sneak some into a dish. I plan on browning up some burger this morning while it's not too hot in the house and if Jerry has to work 12 hours today (I'll know if he's not home by 6:10) I'll cook up a packet of butter noodles and add the burger to it for a one dish meal.
Our high today is suppose to be around 86, but by the time I need to start dinner it should be much lower. We have a chance of rain, as well. I'll be opening the window, vents and door once the sun comes up and will shut them when the camper gets too warm to be comfortable. 
I am just about finished with the party invites I am making for Beth for her daughters' birthday party next month.  I just have to glue the Tinker Bell's to the cards and stamp them with two stamps one is "Your Invited" and the other is the party information that goes inside. Beth has been debating where to have this party. So I have a few more days grace to get it done by. If Jerry doesn't work tomorrow I'll put them in the mail to her when we go out to eat. Otherwise it will be Labor Day weekend before I can send them out.  I found a Scrubs top on sale at Wal-mart and picked it up that is in the size a friend of her's. I'll send that along with the invites. Next week, I hope to make Bailey a dress and Baby Heather a skirt or two.

 

Billie C.

Every day, when I wake up, I give thanks that I have been given another day to enjoy my life.

Howdy.... And Good afternoon

Howdy.... And Good afternoon.  I hope your day has gone well, so far today.  I'm playing a bit of "catch up" on the cleaning since I was gone for most of the day yesterday. Hubby came home from work, then we headed to the med clinic to have a sore on him checked out. It's not a Brown Recluse bite but it is a bug bite. At least it's getting better, now. From there, we headed over to North Carolina, close to where his new job is, and checked out a campground.. Um, it's not for us. Too many rules and not much shade. No Glass outside. They tell you where you are going to park.  Now sewer drops, you can have a large tank put at your site but from what Hubby said you can only have it pumped out once a week, not as needed. As much water as we use per day with cleaning and all, I don't think even the largest tank I saw there would last us a week.  The cat's may not roam at all. and These three, if they can't go outside, let us know they are not happy by pee-ing on our beds.  It's almost an hours' drive from where we are now, but I think we will not be moving any time soon.
Today's weather has been cloudy but very little rain. Then it clears up for a bit then gets cloudy again.  The high has been in the low 80's today. Very strange to me for the first day of August. The dogs have been behaving well today. Could be because I made them some Liver treats. The Cats were ready for their Breakfast this morning, Well all except Strips. He finally showed up about two hours later, asking for his can of cat food. 
From the kitchen... Dinner tonight is going to be Salad, Hamburgers and Watermelon.  I just finished cutting it up and putting it in a large bowl back in the fridge. I had a few bites and it has good flavor.
I am hearing... I have the TV on, and there is a fan blowing on me so I'm hearing that. Every now and then I hear a creak or pop from the camper and the fridge will run for a few minutes. I can hear the wind sometimes.
I am wearing... Cut off black sweat pant shorts and my butterfly white top.
I am reading... The Bible (Deut 27), and 1225 Christmas Tree Lane, A Cedar Cove book
I am thinking...  How Grateful I am that Jerry allows me to sleep in when he's getting up so early each morning. I did offer to get up and make his breakfast but he said he would buy it on his way into work.
I am thankful for... The doctor telling Jerry that it was not a Brown Recluse bite he had on him.  I just wish we did know what kind of bug it was that bite him and if we have any here.
I am hoping... That we can find a nice campground closer to that job, but thankful that we can stay here if we can't.
I am creating... room over my bed. I cleaned up and sorted up there and now have some space for a few more things. Now to get the living room done.
One of my favorite things... looking out the back window of the camper and seeing a few white Morning Glories flowers.
A few plans for today...Once I send this off, I need to clean off the table again and see what crafts I left on it to be worked on, today.
A few plans for the rest of the week... I need to wash all the kennels out tomorrow and allow them to dry well, and while they are outside sweep and clean the area that I keep them.

 

Billie C.

Howdy.... For Tuesday, July 30

Howdy.... Today is Jerry and my Annversary. Yep, 13154 days since we said "I DO" to each other... and still going strong.
Jerry had to work last Sunday, when I expected to celebrate it.. I was so disappointed but things happen. I wanted to go out to eat, someplace speical.  we are still going to eat out but I don't know where we will go tonight.  We are going to east out as much because it's going to be in the upper 80's as its our Anniversary. When I first suggested it to him last night he didn't look happy, but since he forgot to take a letter with him, to put in the post box at the end of the drive, he's just going to have to take me out, now. This letter needs to be in Alaska Saturday as that is my Older Brother's birthday. I have a bag of trash we will need to take to the trash bin, as well. I plan on wearing my new white and blue skirt and a white top with a butterfly I ironed onto it. I'll take a clean shirt out for Jerry and I think I better bring along a hair brush, as well.  Once I send this off, I'll have to go take my shower so my hair will be dry before he gets home.
I've gotten a lot of small stuff done today.  I straighted out the drawers in the kitchen opposite the sink.  Now I can find things, again. I got the back straighted up  and the dishes (what few there was) done and next (after that shower) is to start on the living room, Getting it ready to pack up.  Because We may be moving the camper this weekend.  Oh sure, there a Encampment I want to go to, that is about 2 hours away from here, but Jerry starts on a different job on Monday and I would like to try to find a place closer than an hours drive away from his job and where we are here, is just over and hour.   I'm ready for a change, anyway.  We changed the water filter less than a month ago and it needs changed again. Our water smell like rotten eggs, again. 
Outside my door ...  Mostly Sunny, warm and a slight breeze. I had to close up the camper as it was getting rather warm in here and I was busy enough to not want to stop in the middle of what I was doing to close it up.  The dogs have been outside three times this morning. Barney and Macon had a grand ol time playing with each other, Rocky was just content to sit in the sun shine.  I fed the cats and they were also sunning theyselfs on the picnic tables in our area. I cleaned up the yard each time we were out.
I am hearing... Y&R just went off. I will go take my shower soon so I'll not have to change the channel for a few minutes.
I am wearing... Right now. Black shorts and a dye splattered top that I made last year while we were in Cumberland City. I have on my rainbow colored tennis shoes, as well.
I am reading...  The Bible, Duet 25, and 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. I'm not ver far into it yet.
I am thinking...  What else I need to do before we move the camper. Where I'm going to put things on the floor while we go down the road and without breaking anything. The worst part is going to be getting it up a small but sharp hill in the campground. It has a rut at the bottom that is going to give everything a good hard jolt before we even get on the road.
I am thankful for...  Jerry having another job to go to. It's just across the state line in North Carolina and is suppose to last at least 8 months.  He's said that this job will end soon. Either it will end this week, or next so it's good to know he's already got one to go to from here.
I am hoping...  That, at the next campground, we can find a nice shady place to park the camper.
I am creating...  Well, I fixed the snap on the dress I made for Baby Heather and it's ready to go, I'll have to pack both boxes and the envelope for Nancy so we can send them out this weekend. Once I finish cleaning, I may trying sewing up a couple of things before the end of this week to add to the boxes.
One of my favorite things... is watching Macon rolling in the grass. He just looks so goofy when he does that and Barney just knows it's an invation to go jump and play with Macon.  Barney was even rolling in the grass today. Rocky will roll every now and then, but he's picky about how it smells first and will sniff and sniff the ground to find just the right place before he will roll.

 

Billie C.

Howdy July 29

Howdy....  and Good Monday Morning. (it's just 11 am right now as I write this) I hope you had an interesting weekend.  Jerry is still working 6 to 4:30.  He was going in a half hour earlier because he was subbing for his foreman.  Even though it's suppose to be hot today, I'm going to try cooking at home this afternoon.  Jerry gave me a bit of a scare over the weekend. We had stopped at a stoplight and he had dosed off. I woke he by saying the light's green, thinking he has turned his head to look at something but when I turned to him, saw that his eyes were closed.  We stopped at Wendy's, ate our dinner, then went back home. I did want to go to Hobby Lobby but what I want can wait a few more days.  He went to bed almost as soon as we got home. Yesterday (Sunday) he didn't have to work the full 8 hours. He called me at 12:30, to let me know they were leaving early. That's a good thing, We had the laundry done by 3:30 and he got to sit for a little bit before we had to go out again. We ended up eating Dinner a bit early (4:30 is a bit early) at Texas Steakhouse and Saloon.  It was wonderful if a bit pricey.  My steak was perfect. I had the 7 ounce Sirloin and Jerry had the chopped steak ( I knew that was what he would get) I ordered Salad and it was huge. Next time (if there is a next time) I will order the salad dressing on the side. Chris put way too much on my salad for me. I had Sauteed Mushrooms and a baked potato for my sides.  I almost didn't want to go to Wal-mart afterwards, I was so full.  I did the shopping while Jerry went and checked prices for new tires for the truck. (Yikes at a bit over $800 for all 4)  I guess we will be doing them two at a time. And to think we had almost new tires on the van we traded in for the truck.  I didn't go to that side of the store and forgot to ask Jerry to pick up the pet food on his way over there. I had mentioned Saturday night that, if he was going to cash his check in South Boston, that he may want to pick up the pet food and cola's and he forgot. I had to send him back over to get the pet food as I was already in line and I am so slow that if he had waited for me, would have been done and out of the store before I got back and we had a slow cashier as it was. He got back to me before I started putting our things up on the belt.
When the alarm went off this morning, I asked Jerry if he wanted to me to make him breakfast. No, I'll buy it on my way into work. Okay.  once he left though, I couldn't get back to sleep. Knowing he said that there's a good chance that this is his last week on the job (not holding my breath) I got in a "pre pack" mood and cleaned up the closest on Jerry's side of the camper.. Yes we have "sides" his is the door side and mine is the other side. I side on the couch on that side and my bed is on that side as well. (I hate twin beds, by the way) I made the beds before I started cleaning. I got the dogs to get out of my way and tossed a few things. After the closest, I went through all the storage areas in the bathroom and got them cleaned up, tossed out the old stuff that I don't need, and cleaned up a mess a small shampoo bottle made. (Yuck) It will be much easier to pack both, once I know we are moving. So, I had the back all finished before 7 am, this morning. I've gotten the kitchen done, dessert made and ready to take on the living room next. I was getting ready to pack up the dress I had made for baby Heather and one of the snaps I had set, pulled apart and I'll have to fix that this afternoon, while I'm cleaning up and sorting and pre packing a few things. I'll end up fixing that, maybe work on a craft and pack (calling the crafts part, part of packing, as doing that is going to get things out of my way) Oh, I've had the dogs out, cleaned up after them, fed the cats both a can of cat food each and a bowl of dry food for the day.  Whew, no longer I already feel a bit tired.. not counting that I started around 4 am and I'm taking my time doing all of this.
I bought a nice slice of ham that I'm going to cut in 1/2 then grill both in the Foreman grill for dinner along with a Salad. I'm not sure what else I'll serve with it. I do have a can of corn I could heat up in the microwave and we haven't had corn in a long time.
I am hearing... "The View" and then it will be the mid day news, then Y&R, then I'll go through some of our DVR' ed shows and watch what I want of them and delete them. 
I am wearing... Black cut off sweat pant shorts and a very light dye splattered T-shirt that Bailey and I did last Summer.
I am reading...  The Bible, and a couple of recipe books looking for some fresh ideas on what to make for dinner.
I am thinking...  I wish this weather would stay like this for a while longer, It's not too hot yet,  and a nice breeze is coming in through the door. I don't know what is "normal" for this area, but this is still nicer than what we had to deal with, last year.
I am thankful for... Jerry not falling asleep behind the wheel of the truck while he's driving home each night.
I am hoping... That Jerry gets plenty of sleep and gets rested before we have to go to the next job. Even if the next job is just across the state line, we will want to move closer to it as it's more than an hours' drive to get there from here.
I am creating... I need to fix the broken snap on Heather's dress, then hand sew the gap on Nancy's cap so I can send it to her in the mail soon. I need to make a Birthday card this afternoon and get it in the mail for my older Brother, as well.
One of my favorite things... Checking things off my "To Do" list and moving them to my "Done" list.
A few plans for the rest of the week...  I plan on pre packing the storage over my bed tomorrow. I'll have to put everything on my bed and then sort through and decide how I'm going to pack it up when we go down the road. I'll also have to do the stuff on my side of the living room.

 

Billie C.