July 2024 - Hartwell, Georgial

For our maiden journey, we booked a 3 night stay at an Army Corps of Engineers campground on Lake Hartwell which was only 40 miles from home.  We took a long way around to get there since we weren't sure how the tagalong would handle.  

Our site was right on the lake.  Since we have the America the Beautiful lifetime pass, the fee was half price....$16.  Hard to beat that!  I'm a happy camper, indeed! 

We weren't sure how Poochie would adapt to the camper, but aside from the sweltering heat until the a/c kicked in, she once again made herself right at home.  She has been an amazing dog...and in many ways, we almost feel Roscoe came back to us through her.

And here is Bob once again making some needed adjustments.  Thank goodness he is so handy, and willing to get his hands dirty and cuts and bruises all over!

We tried fishing....

...but even the fish were too hot to bite.

We pretty much just relaxed and enjoyed the lake views, and decided to come back again in August.

June 2024 Getting Ready To Be On The Road Again

Much to my delight, early in June Bob said he felt well enough to get another camper.  Not only was I happy that he was feeling better, but I had really missed our RV travels.  He looked around and found a  24-foot tagalong that both of us thought was a good buy, so we bought it. 

It is a 2015 model, but the exterior and interior appeared to be in great shape.

We knew we'd have to put new tires on it, and in doing so, Bob found one of the springs had broken loose.  He spent several days getting that replaced.  Hard to fathom, but he says he enjoys doing that kind of thing.

Behind the entertainment center is a queen size bed with cabinets on each side and overhead storage.

There are bunk beds which we can use for extra storage space.  A full bathroom is to the right of that, and on the opposite wall is a large pantry.  The kitchen has a full-size refrigerator and freezer, microwave, gas range and oven...

And a dinette across from the appliances which can convert into another bed or be used for storage underneath the cushions.  Above, there are cabinets for additional storage.  All in all, it is a big  improvement from the camper truck we sold last year.  

 

May 2024 Congratulations to Mr & Mrs. Kullman

... aka Annie and Dean, who got married over Memorial Day weekend at Lake Bomoseen, VT.  Although we would have loved to share in the celebration, we weren't able to make the trip.  Bob was still recovering from the wrist surgery and had therapy sessions and doctor's visits.  Plus driving that distance one handedly would have been quite a strain.  We were there in heart and spirit and got to share some of the joy via photos cousins Adele and Carol took.

Here are some of the usual suspects regularly seen having fun getting together at family gatherings...Uncle Mickey, front and center at 101 years old, surrounded by two of his children, Adele and Joe, and some of their families.  Missing persons include John and Christie Piascik, the nine munchkins ages 2 thru 9, and the Montero clan who were gearing up for the big event. 

Annie and Matt with their half brother and sister, Michael and Dina.

Here Uncle Mickey and Joe are enjoying the boat ride to the island where the celebration would take place.

The bride and groom in a beautiful woodland setting on the island.

Annie's dance with her dad.  The bride is beautiful, and Nelson looks quite dapper, too.

And now the happy couple who will be going to Zimbabwe for their honeymoon.  May they have many more wonderful adventures!!

April 2024 Myrtle Beach

For our 38th anniversary, we decided to go to Myrtle Beach.  I found a dog friendly beachfront hotel that was even nicer than the Litchfield one we stayed at last August.

And, no, I didn't choose it because of the name!

This is one view from our balcony

And another

The outdoor pool had ample seating

There was an indoor pool and two hot tubs, and in another section, there was an indoor lazy river for floating.

And the unit had full kitchen amenities.

We had avoided Myrtle Beach in the past thinking it would be too crowded, but in April, it wasn't.  The boardwalk was a bit of a disappointment.  It didn't have any amusement rides, and most of the concessions weren't open yet.

But, it was a beautiful day for a walk on the boards, and it really was a Grand stay.

March 2024 - Florida

 While the floor varnish was curing, we decided to visit with David and family in Florida and to tow back our boat which we had brought down last January in hopes of getting it sold down there.  Since there were no buyers, it made no sense to keep it down there.   We arrived on Friday and left on Monday, with overnight stays in Waycross, GA both ways.

Bob and David

David's older daughter, Chelsea with her 19-month-old daughter Saylor.  Chelsea and husband Steve are expecting a son in September.  David's other daughter, Emily, and his wife Amanda are in the background.

Emily and 14-month-old son Sterling.

Rubadubdub, two kids in dog beds. LOL

February 2024 Major Project

 Our hardwood kitchen floor was in need of a major refinishing.  As with most projects, Bob decided to undertake the job himself.    

At first,  he used a manual hand sander to get into the corners and along the baseboards.

Then he rented a large electric sander, but that caused too many gouges in the floor. So, he bought an electric hand sander and rigged his shop vack to it.  Even so, there were layers of dust everywhere. 

But, the end result   was amazing.

January 2023 - Cabin Stay in Blue Ridge, GA

Bob had to have a liver lesion removed in early January.  About a week later, the New Year brought covid to both Bob and me which we no doubt caught at the hospital.   It was rough with two of us feeling so weak, but we managed to pull through.  Bob took Paxlovid which seemed to help, and my fever went down after 4 days.  Luckily, it was a relatively minor case.  We had made reservations to celebrate Bob's milestone 80th birthday at a cabin in Blue Ridge, GA.  Our quarantine time was over, and we both felt a bit weak, but well enough to go. However, it rained for the four days we were there.  Luckily, we didn't get cabin fever.

View of the creek in back of the cabin as seen from the porch.

The porch wrapped around the house. It was too cold and wet to sit outside.

And more comfortable to sit in front of the fireplace and tv.

Relaxing in the cabin setting was what the doctor ordered.

A birthday dinner at the Toccoa River restaurant was a good idea, too.

The views are quite scenic there, and the food is great, too.

 

December 2023- Return to Ohio

One of Gwen's dogs is a Ratpinser named Pebbles.  Gwen had rescued Pebbles from outside an Amish store where she was in a box on a sweltering day with no water.  Gwen had wanted to adopt Pebbles out, but the one family who took her had to bring her back when they moved to an apartment and couldn't have pets.  We decided to make her ours, and when Gwen agreed, we drove back to Ohio to get her, but her new name would be Poochie.

Poochie enjoying Fozzy Bear's bed and toy at Julie's.

Long Overdue Update Nov 2023

 It's been almost a year since the last post...so long that the log in procedure had changed and it took me a while to figure out how to open the blog!  With the sale of our camper and Bob's many health issues, we haven't had a lot of blog worthy adventures, and in fact, not many adventures at all.  But, hopefully, that will be changing, and so, now to catch up from last October.   

Mid November, we drove to Mt Gilead, Ohio, to visit Bob's sister Gwen and niece Julie.  I had asked Julie if she would like to have Bob's mom's collectibles, and she did.  So I boxed them up, and we brought them with us to add to her museum-like collection of almost two hundred years of family heirlooms.

We stayed at Julie's, where there is never a dull moment with her 3 dogs and two cats, not to mention when Gwen's two dogs and Tony's mom's dog visit, too. 

Julie and some of her kitchen memorabilia on the cabinet top 

Gwen, who lives in her mobile on Julie and Tony's acreage.

Julie's husband, Tony, and his mom, Jody, who lives on the property next door.

Lucca, modeling a winter hat crocheted by Jody.

Nikko showing off his.

And Fozzie Bear, who fit in Julie's palm when he was born.

But, with their 8 acres of land, enormous mechanic's garage, huge house with the gorgeous family room Julie and Tony built, there is plenty of room for all...

Including Tony's juke box, and two old Marine buddies, Julie's dad, Spud, and Bob.
 

 

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