Howdy,

 

Howdy, From a rainy afternoon in Virginia. At least with the rain it's cooler and I'll be able to cook dinner at home tonight. I'm going to cook Hot Dogs on the Foreman Grill. I have cooked the noodles for Mac and Cheese so I can just pop that into the microwave and heat up, then add the Cheese to it once it's hot. I'll put together a Salad in a bit, as well.  I do hope that this slightly cooler weather will last a few days so I can cook at home. Even if it's cooking early, then re-heating when Jerry gets home from work. Rocky does not like being outside much right now.  He does what he has to do then runs and sits by the door waiting for me to open it for him no matter what the other two are going. I'm sure he'll get over it once fall gets here and things cool off more. Tupelo didn't show up for her can of food this afternoon. I fed the cats after it stopped raining for a while. I hope she shows up when Jerry gets home so I can give her a can of food then.

 

Billie C.

Howdy.... July 8

For Today ...July 8

 

Howdy....  I hope you had a great weekend. I ended up missing the fireworks this year.  I got soaking wet waiting for them to start and returned to my camper. When they did start I couldn't get outside to see them because I had a lap full of scared dogs. Macon was first into my lap with Barney right behind him, trying to push him out of the way. Rocky jumped up on the couch to look out the window to see all the sparkly lights.

 

I've heard from both my daughters today. The Girl's Vacation went well.  A few bumps in the plans but over all they girls enjoyed their time together and the problems came from the men in their life's and not the children. The kids all got along great and had a blast. It's too bad that it got  cut a day short. Maybe next year they can get together again and have more time together.
Our son tried to get a load for his truck through the area so they could at least spend an hour or two together but he was not able to get one going that direction.

 

Hubby Had the 4 TH off but had to work the weekend. And the rumors are that they are going back to 12 hours a day for 6 days a week and only work 10 hours on Sunday.  I'm sure this won't last long if they do go to those hours.  This job is almost done with but there is still lots of small stuff that has to be finished up before they can turn it over. Turn over date is looming and the company loses some of the bonus money each day they take beyond that date. That is the reason for the rush, now.  Too bad they had to let people go two weeks ago.Just not sure any one really knows when this job is going to be over with.
Outside my door ...  Here is Southern Virginia it's sunny, and pleasant at 10:30. With a high expected to be in the upper 80's. and a slight chance of rain or thunderstorms this afternoon.

 

From the kitchen... With Jerry not knowing if they were going to 12 hour days or not, I picked up a few things I can fix for my dinner in the evenings. It would be way to late for me to be eating if I was to wait for him to come home to have dinner.. and it would be a long time for him as well, since he eats at 3:30 in the morning and rarely picks up anything to eat during the day. He can pick up a fast food meal on his way home.  It takes him over an hour to drive home so he would be eating around 7 PM if he's having to work those hours.
I am hearing... The "Talk" on the T. V. but once it's off I plan to play one of my Christmas CD's then I'll watch something I've DVR 'ed .
I am wearing... Black cut off shorts and a blue top with shoulder straps (no sleeves)(Yes, you can see my bra straps) it's not like I'm going to be out in public where any and every one can see me.
I am reading... I read a chapter in the Bible and emails so far today.

 

I am creating...  I sent Beth some "puppy" cutouts I made with my Cricut to pick from for the invites for her Daughter's birthday this year. I still have plenty of time to work on them, once she makes her choice.

 

Billie C.

Howdy....

Howdy....  and Good afternoon.  I hope you had a great day yesterday. Jerry didn't want to go do any shopping but we did have to do laundry. We went to a different laundry matt and it's much nicer that the one we have been going to. It's newer but has older machines. The "Air" works at this one much better than the other one.  When we got back home, we left the laundry out in the truck. Good thing we did.  After watching a couple of old, and I mean really old. re-runs on the T. V. we wanted to get out. I suggested we Geo-cache hunt and Jerry said that sounds like fun and he went out to the truck and looked up a couple on his phone and put them in the GPS.  He found the first one, no problem.  It's on a post that is in the middle of an very open space.   We have now finished the "Nuts" series.  So, the next clue said it's by where the Blair's Community Center use to be. and His phone kept saying we are very close as we were leaving the second find.  Well. We got out on the main road, and Jerry's following the directions on the phone, and we have no idea what we are heading into. we are driving down an over-grown road. He stops the truck and gets out and walks down the road to the clearing we can see. He checks the ground and comes back and said he thinks we can turn around there rather than try to back up the way we had come in... and the truck got stuck. We have had a lot of rain and the ground is just saturated and the grass has not been mowed in the area, and it took us two hours (and I'll not say how many cuss words).  We tried to use two of our blankets we bought in Niota under the wheels to give the truck traction. Finally, after about two hours, we got the truck to get up on solid ground. We left our floor mats and the blankets there. They are all replaceable. As a matter of fact, I have been thinking of finding some thing more colorful to put in the truck anyway.  Jerry said that, as soon as we are out of this mess we are going home, and staying there. Once we got out of there, we went to a car wash to wash off as much of the mud as we could. There is still a little mud because that wash doesn't give much water for every Fifty cents spent on it.  I am thinking of asking Him to find a better car wash this weekend and wash the truck again.

 

We didn't watch any fireworks this year. By the time any one was setting them off, we were in bed. Some one here in the campground set off a few and Barney didn't like that. It was rainy in the evening, and that delayed any one setting off any at all.  I had thought of sitting outside and waiting to see if any were going to be set off, but with the rain, decided it wasn't worth it. 
I started to watch fireworks on the T. V. but it's just not the same as being outside watching them.

 

Outside my door ... It's been raining off and on this morning. More on than off. Right now it's mostly cloudy  and humid. At least the clouds are helping to keep the camper cooler. I need to put some sun shields in the windows in the front of the camper for the rest of summer.
The Dogs ... Rocky didn't like it when I took them out this morning. It was a bit drizzly and he does not like getting wet. He went and sat at the door waiting for me to open it for him. I was sitting at the front of the camper, watching the other two play and he would come over to me, and go back and sit at the door again. When Macon and Barney got tired of playing it was time to go back in. Rocky gave me a look before jumping into the camper.
The Cats ...  have been fed and are laying on the picnic tables when it's not raining. They are a bit spoiled and want their food, NOW!. 
From the kitchen...  the other day, I started a crock pot with potatoes, green beans and Pork chops in it. But Jerry got out of work early (on the 3rd) and we ended up going out to eat, instead.  I put the crock pot on low before leaving the house and put it in the fridge before we went to bed so everything is cooked and just needs to be warmed up. I'm going to put the liner back in the base around 3 PM (giving it about 3 hours to warm up) and I'll make a salad and we will have some melon for dessert.
I am hearing... Of course I have the T. V. on. but I'm thinking of finding my Christmas CD's and playing one once Y&R goes off.
I am wearing... Old cut of blue sweat pants and a striped, no sleeve top. 
I am reading... Christmas Stories this month. I down loaded several a few days ago, and wanted to read some of them this month by reading each evening
I am hoping... That, when this job is finished it's not so hot. It's hard to move the camper with we are sweating a lot just from packing it up, then having to deal with the animals and then, when we get where we are going, we will end up drenched again before we can shower off.  I am trying to figure out a way to pack yet have room to still get from one end to the other.
A few plans for today... I've got the back half cleaned up and am working on the front half of the camper.  I need to clean the counter by the fridge next. I have the dishes done and most of the floor swept in the kitchen but it will need it again. 

 

Billie C.

For Today ... June 24, 2013

For Today ... June 24, 2013

 

Howdy.... We traded the van for a truck Saturday. It took over half the day to make it a done deal. WE now have a 2008 F 250, Diesel Super Duty truck. We will be making payments for a long time but we can re finance it after the first of the year.We really needed get this truck as Jerry said the transmission on the van was making some very strange sounds and he didn't know if it could be rebuilt or have to replace it. We have learned long ago, when you have to start replacing parts on a vehicle it's time to get rid of it.
My Saturday, started early. We were woke up around 6:30 by the dogs needing to go out.  Wait.. there a lot to this story, you better go get something to drink, and get a bathroom break while you're up.
....
..
We ate Breakfast to Golden Corral. Toy isn't there but Venus is. We like her to cook our eggs for us and Jerry won't let any one else there cook his eggs. I ordered a Bacon, Ham, Jalapeno omelet. Most of the time, I just get eggs off the buffet steam table. It was a good Omelet, too. From Golden Corral, we went to Wal-Mart so Jerry can cash his check
Beth and I had been talking about a laptop that has a 17 inch screen on it. She said that WoW is much clearing on it and easier to read. So I told Jerry about that on Friday night and he said we could check out a laptop when we go to Wal-mart. Oh boy.... they are on sale. To help make this long story shorter, We bought two. It only took about 40 minutes though for Jerry to get them, and pay for them. I did some other shopping while he was dealing with that.
So now, it's about 9 am, as we are leaving the store. Across the parking lot is a huge tent set up. I'm thinking "Fireworks" and he's saying he don't think so.. so we drive by and Oops. it's not fireworks, but cars and trucks and on the very end is a truck we like. Full cab, full bed 3/4 ton. So we turn the van around and he finds a parking spot. I sit in the van and wait, and wait and it take about 50 minutes for him to come back. We can't afford it, right now. but it's a nice truck. We have no credit score. none what so ever and the man he was talking to was shocked. As Jerry said, we pay cash for every thing. and what we don't pay cash for, we use a prepay card for. But at least now we have an idea on about how much money we are going to have to save to pay cash for this large truck... And we head to the post office. We send off a box to Heather with a GPS in it so she can use that to keep from getting lost while she goes and visits her sister in Missouri.(Side note. We have never seen that many car's in IHOP as we did yesterday morning. They were packed.)
We were looking for yard sales and thought we would go check out the local "Flea" market.. but we are still kinda, sorta, looking at the trucks while we pass the shop here/pay here places and I told Jerry to go straight ahead instead of turning and check out the trucks on a side lot across from the Chevy dealer. Well, here comes this man in a golf cart, and they talk, and talk... and we find out the trucks we are looking at, are brand new. way out of our price range. But he's got a few on the lot, follow him. So we do. and I sit in the van, and I read a recipe book and I sit in the van and I drink a 16 oz cola, and I sit in the van and fall asleep and about 1 1/2 hours later, Jerry comes to the van and tells me we have to go back across from where we were looking at the truck cause that's where the used Fords are.. but there's one there he's interested in. At least he parked us in the shade and I sit in the van while he goes and checks out this truck. and it takes over 5 hours for all the paperwork to be done, the credit checked, find a loan company that will loan us the money (they're in PA) in the middle of this, WE have to go back toe the camper, so we can pick up some money. I wanted to take the van so we could quickly empty it, but the sales man said we should take the truck and try it out.. (sigh,) So we take the truck, go to the camper, get enough money from my stash to cover the down payment, stop at a mini-storage (they're closed, of course) and then it's back to the car lot. and we sit and wait, and some paper gets signed and we sit and wait and another paper gets signed. And we have to show we pay our bills and since we have a cell phone bill that will work but we have to change the address on it. And it rained while we were doing all this. Jerry tells me "it's Raining, is your window up?" of course not.. so I go out and roll up the window and when I come back inside I get about 4 or 5 steps away from the door and my feel slide on their slick A%% tiles and down I go. Luckily I kinda figured that would happen as the shoes I was wearing are the same ones I wore last fall when the dogs pulled me off my feet while I was on wet leaves. and I was able to fall without getting hurt. ( I managed to NOT land on my knees) but, of course, I'm embarrassed about falling. Jerry didn't see me fall. One of the salesman comes over to help me up and I tell him I'm ok, but don't touch me cause I'll just fall again. I kicked off my shoes and go walking back to the desk we are at. Of course it has to be the one farthest from the door. Finally, we get all the paperwork done for the trade and we now have a F250, Diesel Super Duty truck.
But now, we have to get the stuff we want to keep out of the van.. Mind you, we did not set off this morning with the intent of buying a truck... so we are going through the van. picking out all the stuff I store in the van cause there's no room in the camper, plus Jerry had two or three things of tools. one a large box, and at least a large bag of tools, A box of cat food, 5 tubs of stuff (one of blankets, two of winter clothes) my rake (Jerry said it's broken but I might still be able to use it) and the stuff from the front of the van that we use all the time.. and it looks like it's going to rain, again. We are looking though all the trash, cola bottles, he's trash from buying breakfast on his way to work (he just tossed it into the back and never took it out later.. Oh yes, the new computers are still in the van, remember those from the first of this story? And his leather jacket, His rain coats (3) He hard hat, his parking sticker.. it took us about 45 to 50 minutes to get all the "good" stuff out of the van. Since they only allowed us $1000 for the van, we figured they could deal with the trash in it. Any thing else left in the van that we may have missed, can be replaced. I can't think if anything we missed.
It's after 5 pm by this time, so we ate dinner at Kickback Jacks and finally got home around 7 pm...I took care of my evening insulin Oh, I didn't mention that we had two of the cabinet doors from the camper in the back of the van and we still don't have a mini storage unit rented.. I reminded Jerry we could just get new hinges and re hang the doors.. Okay, so now it's off to Home Depot for hinges. and It's all I can do to step up into this truck. So I suggested we stop at a couple of car parts places to find out how much running boards may be... between $240 and $500. and they have to be ordered.. We are going to have to get them, soon so I don't feel like I'm climbing Mount Everest just to get into this truck. It's a nice truck and I've already told Jerry he had to run it through a car wash at least once a week. Every week. I want this one to stay nice and clean inside.
Now we still have to do laundry, find a mini storage and buy our grocries for this week and I would like to take the dogs for a ride, first we will cover the back seats with an old blanket before we allow them in to the cab of the truck.

 

Outside my door ...  1 pm in Southern Virginia it's 85 with a high expected to be in the low 90's and it's partly cloudy.

 

From the kitchen...  Breakfast was
 Basic Banana Smoothie
From "10 Quick and Easy Fruit Smoothie Recipe)(Kindle book)
1 Banana
1/2 cup Yogurt (Low or no Fat)
1 cup crushed Ice
1/2 cup Milk.if needed
******
I used "Great Value" Light Orange Creme Pie Yogurt, a few drops of Vanilla and two packets of Splenda sweetner.  The ice didn't crush as much as it should have. (I've got to find a better way to do that)  this is a repeater, for sure.

 

Dinner will be sandwiches and chips. and angel food cake for dessert.

 

 

Billie C.

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Howdy....

Howdy.... Good Morning.  I hope you are doing well today.  We still don't know if this is the last week or next week, or the week after that.. We are flexable though and don't have any place we have to be yet, so it's all good.  Today's going to be a rainy day, from the looks of things, but unless there's a thunderstorm, Jerry will have to stay at work. At least it's not cold.   The dogs are all laying in the floor, snoring. The cats have come in and are sleeping on the bed. It will soon be time to feed the cats and that will be intresting, I'm sure. I think, because it is looking like it's going to rain at any second, I'll just put the dogs in the kennels for a few minutes and feed them inside, today.
We ended up eating out yesterday so we will have the hamburger patties for dinner tonight.  It got just a bit warm outside by the time Jerry called and I didn't want to heat up the inside of the camper with either a stove burner or the Foreman grill. I'll be cooking the brugers on the Foreman. I'll fix a salad and I'm not sure what starch just yet. 

 

Billie C.

Howdy.... For June 5

Howdy.... And Good Day to you.  We have "news".  Jerry has been asked to stay on here for a couple of more weeks, then we will be going to Ohio. Somewhere in the Hanoverton area.  (North Eastern Corner) Ah, adding another state to our list of places we have been.

 

Outside my door ...  Cloudy all day long but I was able to keep the air off and just have the vents a window and the door open all day long.
From the kitchen...
(Breakfast)
Mixed Fruit Smoothie (Magic Bullet)
About This Recipe
"This is sooo Yummy!! I just looked through my freezer because i was craving a smoothie, and this is what i came up with. I used a magic bullet to make it, but you could use a regular blender."
Ingredients
1/2 cup mixed berries, frozen ( i used a pre-mixed bag of blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.)
6 -10 slices frozen peaches ( depending on size and how much peach flavor you want)
1/2 ripe bananas, not frozen
1 cup 1% low-fat milk
Splenda sugar substitute, .. ( to taste, i used a tbps)
Directions
Add all ingredients til smooth. I added the splenda in last so i could taste it as i went.
*TIP* (if using magic bullet) add the frozen fruit after banana but before the milk so they blend better.
Page 2 of 2Mixed Fruit Smoothie (Magic Bullet) (cont.)

 

Dinner, Seasoned Hamburger patties, Mac and Cheese (from a box) Salad.
 Copycat Lawry's Seasoned Salt

 

This is an MSG-free copycat recipe for Lawry's Seasoned Salt. (Found it on the Web while searching for something else; haven't tried it myself.)

 

2 tablespoons salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cornstarch

 

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
Pour the blend into an empty spice bottle to store.
*************************
I am hearing...  That MJ's Daughter, Paris, tried to commit Suiside.

 

I am reading... Dragon's Kin, by Todd McCaffery

 

A group I own.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/morb/

 

 

Billie C.

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair ~ Kahlid Gibran<

Howdy for June 3

Howdy....  I know, it's been a while since I wrote a "Howdy" note. A whole lot of nothing has been going on around here. Jerry's never sure what hours he's going to have to work. He's been told that from last week to the end of the job would be 12 hour days,, today is a 10 hour day. and I'm not going to hold my breath that tomorrow will be 10 hours though, Some days they change their mind in the middle of the day how many hours he's to work. It's just crazy is all. I can't really plan on the evening meal until I have a good idea if he's going to come home and eat or eat on his way home.  I have enough of everything to be able to make a meal either way.
I spent a lot of Friday afternoon printing pictures onto 4 x 6 index cards to use in some crafts later this month. Some I'll use for post cards and some just because. I ran out of cards and wanted to pick up more but I never got to Wal-mart and the local food store I went to didn't have any white 4 x 6 cards. They had the 3 x 5 and the colored 4 x 6 but not of the while ones. 
I have had trouble staying connected all day long. I get on and a few minutes later would lose the connection.
Outside my door ... WE have had clouds, Sun and some rain. But at least it's not been really hot. Our high was around 81 or so. A little warm but not too badly.  I did have to turn the air on, because the humidy is very high.
The Dogs ...  have been mad at me all day long. I put the tubs on the beds to keep them off and they didn't like that.  They are shedding a lot and I don't feel like shaking the hair off before going to bed tonight.
The Cats ...  are also mad at me. I fed them their canned food this morning and they are wanting another can of food this afternoon. Now that it's clearning up, I may take a bowl of dry food outside and put it on the table for them, after Jerry and I eat our dinner. It just may turn out to be a nice evening to sit outside for a while
From the kitchen...  Mexican Meatloaf, Salad, boiled potatoes (may mash them)

 

 Mexican Meatloaf

 

2 lbs ground beef (or whatever ground meat you prefer)
1 egg
1 taco seasoning packet
¼ - ½ cup crushed crackers or bread crumbs
½ - 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar, marble or mozza)
1 cup salsa (optional)

 

Combine all ingredients (except salsa) and place in large loaf pan. If using salsa pour over top of loaf. Cook for approx. 40-45 minutes in a preheated oven f 350F until cooked through.

 

I am wearing... Grey sweat pant shorts

 

I am reading... The Bible (Numbers 26), Dragon's Fire by Todd and Anne McCaffery
I am thankful for... Jerry still working even though the hours keep changing and I never know when he'll be off work any given day.  He said this job is about over with and we may soon have to move.
I am hoping... That we know where we are going to go next, soon.
I am creating...  I have been trying to clean off the table yet again. I have a pink shirt I want to put some iron on decorations on and need the table in order to do that.
One of my favorite things... sitting outside with the dogs and just enjoying being outside. We were outside for a while this afternoon and just enjoying the day.  I took them out this morning but we didn't stay out for very long.
A few plans for the rest of the week... putting things away and hope to make something this week.
A link to one of the groups I own, mod for or am a member of.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/love-to-make-crafts/
 a picture from my camera

 

 

 

Billie C.

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair ~ Kahlid Gibran<