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.