Another beautiful day

The progress on the pavilion is great. Despite the wind and the cold the guys have been cookin' right along. I snapped a few shots today between laundry, crochet and baking about 5 dozen cookies...... Yummy ;-)




















This little ditty is called a Crinoline Lady Motif. I found some of these when I was searching eBay to see what type of crocheted goods were selling and decided to try one myself. This was the only free pattern I've found for Crinoline so far, but will keep looking because there are some really intricate ones out there. Its an interesting and pretty thing, though I'm not sure what I would do with it. It could be a doily, be stitched to a pillow or matted and framed if you like that sort of thing. The colors on this didn't photograph well. For some reason the dark purple yarn photographs blue. This one is quite large; like everything else I crocheted it from light weight yarn rather than thread. Its 18x20 inches top to bottom and side to side.

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8 years of love

Not the best photo, I admit, but the most recent I found of Bubba and I. This shot was taken after services on the day we became members of the Heritage United Methodist Church.

Today we celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss. Its hard to believe we've been together 9 years. Time flies when you're memory is spiratic. HA HA HA Just kidding.

Our relationship has been like few I've ever heard of. for the first 5 years no one would believe we weren't newlyweds. We've never faught, not even really argued. We've disagreed on things and been disappointed in one another at times, but never angry. We made one agreement with each other when we met; "If you think it, you say it." If you have a feeling or an idea, share it. It doesn't matter how trivial, positive or negative it might be; its in the open.

It was difficult at first. It was a learning process for both of us, but we were determined to follow the one rule we set for ourselves. We told each other where we thrive and where we falter and agreed to help each other where we needed it. Now, 9 years later, we're nearly one person. We've both gotten much stronger in our faith these past 8 years and I know that is one of the greatest bonds we share. We've been through some difficult times. There were days when I raced him to the ER and wasn't sure if he would come home with me. But he always did and he's feeling better now, most days, than he has in years.

I thank the Lord every day for bringing Robert Allen Brooks into my life. :-)

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Up She Rises

And the beat goes on.

Some folks need a hand when they work. Jerry needs a foot. Contracting polio at age 7, he walks on crutches and his legs are supported by braces from the thigh down. To say the least, he is amazing! He works at ground level and occasionally needs someone to stand on the board while he cuts. Today I saw him working on a ladder. He's a contractor that doesn't let the world get him down.

I'm trying to be inconspicuous and have been taking these photos thru my living room window. They turned out pretty well considering they're taking through glass ............. glass that hasn't been washed in ages. ;-)

Yesterday I remembered that I used to be good at pool. Not as good as Bubba, of course, but not bad. There is a pool table in the clubhouse/office and we had fun challenging each other while we did laundry.




Today we received word that Bubba has lost two family members. He's been disconnected from his family, by mutual agreement, for several years and it was unexpected to receive contact. It wasn't a big surprise that his father had passed away as he was in his 80's and not in good health. It was a surprise, however, to find out that he had lost a son. Please keep Bubba in your thoughts and prayers. He's very strong and is handling it like a champ, but I know it hurts him terribly.

More later .....

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After the bath; before the brush

Its true. Those of us who have no children look at the world and our pets differently than those who have. God has given each of us an immense capacity to love and has given most women, though sometimes dormant, a maternal instinct.
I believe that my maternal instinct is completely put upon this poor little dog. ha ha ha Mijo has been with us well over 6 years and we hope he will be with us for many years to come. Most days we are attached at the hip. If I'm at my desk he's under it. If I'm on the sofa he's next to me. If I sit in my chair he's in my lap for at least 10 minutes before moving to his favorite hiding place. If I'm in the shower, he's in the bedroom, keeping his eye on both Bubba & I. BUT ......... When I head for the shower and use the words MIJO BATH, he mysteriously goes deaf and cowers in the living room. He desperately needs a hair cut but its just been too cold. I can't, in good conscience, trim him short and take him outside when the weather is in the teens and twenties. I don't have the talent to trim him without taking it too short so he'll just have to live with polar bear paws. This picture was taken today, after the bath and before the brush.

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Workamping

Before you go crazy and tell my I can't spell, check out this web site: www.workamping.com
The idea of work camping was something I first considered when we were RV shopping. I have been fixated on many other things since then and haven't thought about it since. Today I signed up on this web site and already received 10 listings, just posted today, of openings in RV Parks for the upcoming summer camping season. I'm hoping to secure a spot in a year round park in the South for next winter. We'll see what happens. I've created a workamper resume with all the pertinent info and my preferences. After reading the stories of others, it sounds like something that could be very rewarding.

The online home of Workamper News

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Angel Food in Arkansas

Though we thought we were cold ................ alas, we were confused. Despite the fact that we awoke to 11 degrees this morning; I was informed that the Angel Food Volunteers in Iowa enjoyed a balmy -12 while unloading the trailer in Cedar Falls. Yes, you read right, it was twelve degrees below zero there. BBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As reserved as ever, as you can see, Bubba jumped right in and enjoyed helping unload the truck and set up the table. The Host Site Director, Greg, brought his four teenagers to help and we enjoyed the company of several others we had met at church as well.
Tonight we're looking forward to a wild game feed and the beginning of Revival; my first. Rene is coming with us as well as Cecilia's Mom. The new pastor who has been "called" to the church will give his first message tonight and will continue to preach throughout the five night Revival. The congregation will then vote to decide whether they accept him as their new Pastor.



More later ....

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Follow Bubba with a mop ........

Have you ever seen a grown man slobber?? Take a man who loves to fish to a Bass Pro Outpost for the first time and be prepared. ha ha ha
After a great tour of the Bass Pro Outpost and an interesting conversation with a Tracker Boat saleswoman, we headed across the parking lot to their restaurant on the river. Even though there was remodeling going on inside there was still a great experience to be had. Our server turned out to be from Denver, Iowa (small world) and she had worked at the Hy Vee grocery store in Waverly. We started the meal with an appetizer of Alligator tail and Jalepeno corn bread. Bubba enjoyed a shrimp and pasta dish while I had a fried catfish sandwich and homemade potato salad .............. YUMMY!

Once again; our greatest experiences and the most money we spend while 'making like tourists' is on food. Material things serve to clutter our little home and harbor notions of guilt eventually. An amazing meal and/or conversation are much more valuable to the two of us.

I'm very excited about the Angel Food Distribution tomorrow. Will try to remember the camera to share it with you all.

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Yet another glorious day

More progress on the Pavilion pad for starters. I love to document projects start to finish.

And the crochet goes on .............

I just can't stop .... one would think I'm fixated. I think there might even be a couple I didn't remember to snap. Thinkin' Valentines Day the last couple. Can you tell? ;0)


Saturday morning is our first Angel Food Distribution in Arkansas. Its gonna feel funny to help another group rather than our own, but I'm really looking forward to it. I'm praying for the folks back home. While they're unloading the truck in the parking lot of First United Methodist, the forecast is for -2. Actual below zero temp!!!! Everybody please keep Grant Jensen and the other volunteers in your prayers this weekend. God bless you, Grant. We love you; take care of yourself Saturday.

More later ....

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For Cecelia

Not accomplishing much more than shopping and crochet the last couple days, I thought Cecelia might like to see some progress taking place in the park. ;0)

Bubba and Rene have been working on the pond. They've been adding some water and some Sodium Bentonite to help retain the water.

This morning two contractors made short work of setting up forms, spreading a load of small rock and prepping to pour a concrete pad for the Pavilion Rene is building, overlooking the new pond.

Crochet Mania

I'm hooked!!












I can't stop!







One of the blessings I received this week is the patience to follow a crochet pattern.

Thats amazing.


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Its my Doily and I'll brag if I want to : - )

Last night I amazed even myself. I had broken out the crochet a few nights ago and accomplished a bible cover of no great significance. This doily may not look like much to some, but its my first! ;-) I found a pattern that I could interpret and make from cotton rather than thread. Given enough practice I might actually accomplish thread yet!

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A walk in the woods

My adventure for today was a GLORIOUS stroll in the woods. I followed the path you see here and had an excellent time!Despite the wind today I felt energetic and promised Mijo a walk in the woods. Rene had told me it was a nice little walk down this path to his old barn and storage area and he was right. The first thing we came upon was a group of Cardinals on the path. I think there must have been half a dozen males and a few females dancing around right in our path.

As we kept heading down the path the wind subsided. It didn't feel like much of a hill till we turned around and headed back. ha ha ha

At the end of the path we found Rene's old barn and snooped around a bit. Signs, utility trailers, mowers and a boat are well hidden in the woods at the end of the path. The view is nice from the clearing there.

4 WHEEL DRIVE, ANYONE?

Somehow I just didn't feel it appropriate to take pictures of our new experiences today. Looking back it was probably pretty funny; something we will remember for some time, but not something you want to look at. If I weren't so distracted by the situation I could have taken some great bird shots, but the task at hand was too important.
I accept full responsibility for this one and am so thankful that our friend Rene is so kind and willing to help those in need.
As we pulled out the park drive this morning, headed for Wal Mart and some grocery shopping, I got the inspiration to take a quick drive down one of the gravel roads adjacent to the park and see what the neighbor's property looked like. Bubba, of course, humored me and turned down Happy Jack Road. As we drove the road became more narrow and continued to descend toward the bottom of the valley. Not sure what it connected to or where it come out we decided to turn around and head back up the hill. There was a pasture with a gate and we expected the ground would be solid there and attempted a three point turn. The drive on one side of the road had an electric fence across it so we backed toward the gate on the other side ................ and got stuck. Real stuck. The front bumper was gathering leaves from the berm on one side and the duals were digging holes in a wide hump of gravel which, obviously, was much softer than it appeared. If a neighbor had come along I would have pointed at the license plate and shrugged, I figured, but the road turned out to be very lonely. Thank goodness.... The truck sat straight across the road, stuck at a 90 degree angle from either direction.
After about 20 minutes of attempting to add traction under the duals with rock and boards we decided to give in and call Rene for help. He showed up, grinning from ear to ear, in his one ton dually. He brought shovels and chain. He told us about an experience he had which was similar this and how he had expounded much more useless effort before giving in and calling for help. ;-) The attempts to dig our way out were unsuccessful so Rene & Bubba went back to the park and brought down the tractor. I, naturally, took advantage of the time to find a tree and a couple tissues. HA HA HA HA Too much coffee. ;-P
With his 4 wheel drive tractor we were able to pull the truck back toward the gate and get it back on the road. We decided to point it downhill when driving over the big gravel hump to let gravity help us get it back to the middle of the road. Rene told me which roads to take to get back to the park and I jumped behind the wheel. Bubba drove Rene's truck and he drove the tractor. They went the other way. If I never see Powerline Road again I will be so happy. ha ha ha I turned onto the little gravel road and was nervous till I turned off of it. The road was only as wide as the truck, washed out in places, steep in places, strune with branches and very large rocks that could not be avoided. Turning from Powerline Road to Edwards road was a steep, uphill, 110 degree turn in the blind. I prayed out loud and kept my foot on the peddle. Needless to say, I made it back to the park safely but with the knowledge that, if we ever decide to buy property here, we will absolutely need a 4 wheel drive truck.

More later ....

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Southern Hospitality

We learned the meaning of Southern Hospitality today. Even though we're not that far South, the hospitality we experienced at the New Hope Baptist Church this morning was amazing. The cross you see above is in their almost new sanctuary. With around 80 people in attendance, the majority of which were participating in Sunday School when we arrived for church, I expect nearly a third of them personally came to greet us and welcome us to their church. We felt right at home, just like we did when we first entered Heritage UMC. We even got a good idea to share with Heritage in the form of a Greeting Package for visitors and new attendees.

I have to admit, going to church and enjoying lunch and a knap are about all we have accomplished today. I've listed a few things on eBay because they discovered I had overpaid and had issued me a credit.. ha ha ha ha We opened all the windows and the screen door again to let flow through the 71 degree air.......... HEAVENLY

More later .... ;-)

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Ozark Wildlife

New experiences abound. Today I got to know the laundry room first hand. ha ha ha Everything went so well ... I left it a bit cleaner than I found it and thoroughly enjoyed the time I had to read a book in silence. The owner, naturally, invited me to the office for TV or something more entertaining until I explained to him the meditative nature of undisturbed "me" time for a good book.
Bubba spent more time with Rene today. They've become fast friends. Rene is sssoooo easy to talk to and a really good guy. He is maintaining the entire park himself, learning how to do things he's never done before. Today he learned how to sharpen his chain saw. Thats something Bubba is real familiar with and happy to share.
Several of our neighbors, contractors working on a local airport, are coming back from the holidays. We met Chris tonight and his puppy Bo. After Mijo got done puting Bo in his place for being a silly puppy, we continued on our walk and let the guys chat.
The cute little armadillo above is a new friend I found in the grass at the end of our walk. I don't think I have ever seen one in person and I took several pictures. He was a pretty fearless little creature who got real close to me and didn't even seem to care that I was there. After the guys joined us he got intimidated and ran, but didn't go far.
All in all it was a gorgeous day. We hit a high of 66 degrees, opened the doors and windows and felt like kids in spring. After wearing the parka, cap and gloves just days ago it felt like Heaven!
More later. ;-)

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Our Maiden Voyage

This new blog will be a journal of sorts for me. I look forward to sharing our experiences and destinations with everyone as well as publishing my thoughts, opinions and photos.

Our maiden voyage was, hopefully, the last time we will pull our home in the snow. It was a learning and trying experience, to say the least, and one I am not willing to every repeat. Bubba is my HERO. He accomplished things behind the wheel that I didn't believe possible. My faith in God and in Bubba's experience were what I clung to when things were at their worst.

We started out Saturday afternoon, the 29th, at around 2pm. We were excited, confident and anxious to get underway. Thanks to the help of my parents, getting underway was as safe and easy as it could be. We sailed along, talking about the truck and trailer, how it was handling and what we might experience next. We stopped for fuel at the Boonedocks and headed South of I35. The first rest area was a welcome site and we made a quick stop. Shortly after this rest area the truck lost power and within miles would not exceed 20 mph. We deduced that we must have received summer fuel at the Boonedocks and our diesel was gelling up. From this point things got sticky and stressful but only about the breakdown, not between the two of us. We dealt with AAA, a few experienced driver friends and repair shops for hours and ended up limping the rig into a fuel station in Ames. We spent the night in the truck with it idling and limped it to a repair shop Sunday morning to have our fuel filter replaced. The repair shop was kind enough to write it up as a tow so we could be reimbursed by AAA and we were on our way.

It was amazing that the truck ran all night and didn't choke itself and stall. It was more amazing that it drove up to 24mph the next morning to get us to the repair shop. It was miraculous that there was a repair shop open and willing to help on a Sunday morning of a holiday weekend. Amazing still that they charged us, unknowingly, just the amount of cash in Bubba's pocket. It was amazing that we had phone service the entire time and did not run out of battery. Nothing is impossible when you pray to the Lord for his assistance!

We decided to stop in Osceola Sunday because we were weary from the night in the truck and knew the RV park was open at the casino. Getting in, hooked up and set up was an easy experience. We went in to the buffet, stuffed ourselves and went out for a knap. We decided to go ahead and spend the night and take off in the morning. At 4am Bubba woke me to tell me we had run out of propane and needed to head out. We made record time, working together to put things away, slide outs in, disconnect and get rolling. Everything was cool, despite the fact that we couldn't find propane, till about the state line. From that point the snow started, it got blinding and real scarey and it all becomes a blur of fear and functioning until about Kansas City. In Bethany, MO they were getting snow accumulating by inches per hour ........ it was bad.

Needless to say, I was never so glad to arrive at the RV Park Monday evening. It was extremely cold and windy for a couple days but warmed up today and will continue to do so. What a gorgeous park!!!!!!!! The facilities are great, the rates are superb and the hospitality could not be better. The photo at the top of the page is the view from the park office. The gentleman chatting with Bubba here is the park's owner, Rene.

We've been to Harrison and found the Wal Mart even bigger and with better selection than Waverly. We've been to the local Angel Food Host Site church and plan to attend Sunday morning services and to order our January box after.

This is going to be a great place to spend the rest of the winter. I miss my parents, family and church family something fierce, but I know we made the right choice.

More later. ;-)

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