Not Much Going On...

I think I'll start walking at least part of my "route" tomorrow.  The stitches don't come out of my knee until next Monday - it's fairly flexible now, so ...  no running.... but at least a few thousand steps!

Since I haven't been out and about much, I don't have any new photos...

I met this guy along my walking route last week.  At first I thought it was a Holstein Cow...  I'd never seen a mule (donkey? jackass?) spotted like this.  I didn't have anything to give him and boy! did he let me know he wasn't happy...  brayed for about 5 minutes after I had walked on up the road.

Not on my walk, but right here in the yard...

Hmmm...  there's a chicken among those guineas...

Yep.... these guys were all raised together from chick-hood...  not sure whether the rooster thinks he's a guinea or the guineas think they're chickens.... but they hang out together all the time.

Meanwhile...

The girls are checking out what Bill's doing in the garage.  These chickens were handled a lot as peeps so it's quite normal for one to hop up on your lap while you're sitting on the porch.  They are just new at laying eggs and haven't quite figured out where the nesting boxes are....  the other day one just sat down on the sidewalk and laid her egg.   They'll get it figured out.

I don't have any game cameras up, but the deer come into the yard all the time...

Especially in the early morning or late evening you can look out and see a half dozen or more.  Victor keeps the deer feeders filled and they know where dinner is.

Yesterday, Bill & I drove into Ft Worth to Trader Joe's and Barnes & Noble....  we had intended to have lunch at the In 'n Out (umm ummm...  a double-double)....  but we had stopped at a roadside burrito wagon and had a greasy chorizo breakfast burrito and still weren't hungry at lunchtime...  so headed back home.

A good excuse to head back to Ft Worth again soon.

That's All For Today!

On The Mend...

This applies to both our motorhome and myself....

Thanks to all of you who wished me a speedy recovery.  I get impatient and expect instant results..... I have to remind myself that I fell pretty hard and those little stitches are minor when I look at the bruises on my knees turning lovely shades of green and yellow and the scrapes on my hands scabbing up.  I drove to church this morning and had no problem with the clutch pedal, so figure I'm well on the way.

The motorhome is still under repair...

The AC is fixed...  the rear shocks were checked but appear okay.  The front right shock is bad...  Bill is still trying to get the left shock out; it might be good, but it's going to be replaced anyway.  Makes me wonder...  why would the right front be worn out and the left front good?  I'm not tiny, but not overweight...  Bill has at least 50 pounds on me...  hmmmm......  

I had to ask what all has been happening to the rig's innards...  So far they've replaced the ac compressor and dryer, replaced the alternator, replaced all hoses, replaced the water pump and thermostat. They've replaced the belt and tensioner and idler bearing; replaced carrier bearing and u-joints.  They've cleaned the radiator and replaced fluids.  They also replaced the steering stabilizer.  Right now the front shocks are under repair...

This is how I see Bill these days...

Being a bit paranoid, I had to go out and check how we're jacked up...  looks pretty secure and Bill assures me it's okay.

We'll be parked here until mid-December when we return from our Asia trip, so some of the work might be put on hold until new shocks arrive.  Apparently shocks are under lifetime warranty as long as the vehicle belongs to the original owner.  I don't know where we'll have to send the old ones, but it probably costs a fortune to UPS them there.  No matter...  things need done.

It must sound like we are a rattle-trap waiting to fall apart along the road.  But really, most of these repairs are kind of like "preventative medicine"....  fix it before it breaks.  We're fortunate that Bill checks things regularly and even more fortunate that he can fix almost anything.  And especially fortunate that Victor, our son-in-law is not only willing, but eager to help.  He has not only the expertise but the necessary tools and equipment to make this project work.

Both me and the Lazy Daze will be back to normal soon.

That's All For Today!

Road Wear..... and Tear

Our Lazy Daze is nearly 14 years old.  We've lived in it full-time since purchasing it in January, 2001. We've had the normal expenses of tires, oil changes and the such.  We had one major problem a few years ago...   wheel bearings....  we had to be towed and spent a couple of days in a small Texas town having that repaired.  Another time the fuel pump filter needed replaced.  The refrigerator went bad, but was still under warranty.  The furnace and hot water heater both have needed repaired.  Over the years Bill has replaced faucets, restrung blinds, put new screen in the door...  things that any type of dwelling needs as time goes on.

With 14 years and 163,636 miles on it we've been fortunate to have had relatively few problems.  Of course, Bill doing much of the work himself has saved us a bundle.

On our drive from Maine to Texas the Air Conditioner quit working...  our home is built on a Ford chassis with a V10 Triton engine.  The AC is tucked WAY behind everything else and it's a major job just getting to it...

Bill can fix about anything, but he readily admits that the AC isn't in his line of expertise.  However, our son-in-law is very knowledgeable about these things and happens to be home for a couple of weeks.  Since they had to remove so much just to get to the AC unit they decided to replace hoses and various other parts...  even though some of the stuff probably has some life left, it's the perfect opportunity to do it while we're here, while Victor's home, and be able to work in a place with all the proper tools and equipment.  I think they have since kinda wished they'd pulled the rig over to the garage...  handier to the tools and all.

So far I think the parts have cost just over $1,000.  Victor and Bill's labor is free.  Many of my friends are like me...  they wouldn't even know there's a problem until it becomes major.  Not just the cost but even finding competent repair people can be formidable.  Still, I feel fortunate that we've had such few problems in these years on the road.

Speaking of repairs by being on the road...  I've been walking for an hour each morning before it gets too hot and humid.  Trying to ramp up the aerobic benefits, I kind of jog a few times during my walk.  The road here is asphalt, but has very little traffic.  There aren't even any hills to conquer.  This morning I hardly got out of the driveway and was jogging...  must have stubbed my toe.  Went face down...  skinned up both hands and even scratched one of my glasses lens.  But the worst part was my left knee...  when I got up I took one look and knew I was in trouble.  I tied my handkerchief around it and headed back home.  Bill took me in to the local hospital ER....  at 8:00 in the morning I was the only patient.

An hour and 5 stitches later we headed back home.  I've had a few surgical stitches before but this is the first time I've ever had stitches due to an accident.  So far I've had no pain.  Well, my hands sting some from their abrasions, but none at all in my knee.  What, no photos?  Well, yes...  I asked Bill to take some with his cell phone, but I don't think anyone out there wants to look.

That's All For Today!

Here For A Month...

We got to our daughter's place Thursday afternoon...

Got a big welcome....

Yep!  Ole Pistol Pete was stationed along the winding driveway leading to the house.  He's a Texan to the core (rebar?)...  and I always have to smile as we head in.

As I've written in the past, Celeste and Victor put in an RV site right at the edge of their yard.  A full hook-up that we are welcome to use as long as we want.  The trip here from Maine did include a short visit with our daughter in New York (and, by the way, today is our Great-Granddaughter, Evie's 3rd birthday...  Happy Birthday to our little charmer!).  But because of the unexpected volunteer job at Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR, we didn't get to stop in Pennsylvania nor Ohio to visit our 2 other kids.  

Back to our welcome here...  there have been some additions since we left this spring...

A new chicken house...  

Right now it houses 3 chickens, 1 rooster...  and 6 guineas if they chose to come in at night.

Even as I write this, I can hear those guineas announcing their presence somewhere fairly close.  Having raised both chickens and guineas for many years I have to smile a little..  remembering how I really do like hearing them and at the same time get annoyed at their constant chatter.

That wasn't the only thing awaiting us...

I have read Joanne's blog...  Cup On The Bus  (don't know how to make a link, but if you aren't familiar with her, she's definitely a person worth reading)... and among other things...  she's a weaver...

She sent me these tea towels.

Okay... I think she just considers them something to dry ones dishes with, but... oh my...  if you could feel the texture...  if you could really see the pattern...  I know you'd be as honored as I am to receive such a lovely gift.  Thank you, Joanne.  One of these days I'm going to meet you in person...  I'll see the town hall...  look at that new roof...  see where that pumpkin grew last year.  One of these days we'll sit together over cups of tea...  I love my blogging friends...  y'all mean so much!

After sitting on my buns just watching the miles roll by for the past week I knew this morning that I had to get out and take a long walk.  Well, maybe you could throw a little guilt in there as well...  my daughter and son-in-law ran an 8K race the day after we left...  our daughter and son-in-law here spent 2 hours at the gym doing zumba exercises last evening...  At any rate, I could hardly wait to take a walk this morning... 

Down a dead-end road that has no traffic...

I saw a deer, both cottontails and jackrabbits, a couple of squirrels, even a tiny snail carrying its tiny shell across the road.  Not seen a roadrunner yet...  but I saw several cardinals...  a beautiful bird that doesn't travel as far north as Maine.

It's hot here... but even harder to deal with is the humidity.  I was glad to be done with my walk by 8:30 this morning...  We're here for only a month...  maybe it will rain?  maybe it will cool down?  We sure hope so.

We do have both phone service and internet here...  WoooHoooo!  Maybe now I can get caught up on my "social" life.

That's All For Today!

Almost There...

And where might that be?

Well...  with us, that's always a question....

We left Aroostook NWR on Friday, August 22...  drove about 325 miles to Lake Umbagog NWR...  arriving there on Sunday, August 24. 

Bill worked almost 100 hours (I worked all of 9 hours) and we left there on Thursday, September 4th.  On to visit our daughter in New York, then down to Eastern Shore of VA NWR....  arriving there Sept 7.  We were greeted by 2 days of rain, totaling 7" which seriously cut into the time Bill could work there.  But, work he did (I didn't)....  and we left there this past Sunday, Sept 14...  heading across that BIG bridge...  across Virginia, North Carolina, into Tennessee and 

 Finally...  across the Mississippi, into Arkansas.  I never feel like we're really making progress until we cross this mighty river.

Down around Little Rock...  and over to Texarkana...  always an oddity to me because this town spans 2 states...

Tonight we are in Texas!

Over 1,300 miles since we left on Sunday.

We have about 300 miles left to travel...  tomorrow....

Tonight we're at (another) Wal-mart. (Have I mentioned that Bill & I are cheap travelers?  In fact, one of my little "hobbies" is to take my morning walk in the Walmart parking lots picking up coins...  today I found a quarter...  yesterday we found 69c).  Anyway...  I see that there's a Subway not far from where we're parked...  guess what's for dinner tonight?

I'm so far behind on reading and commenting on other blogs that I know what I'll be doing soon after we get to Glen Rose.  

Sometimes I think this travelin' is for the birds...

Starlings..

Probably on their way south 

(Kinda reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock...)

But then...  I can't think of any life I'd like better...  

So...

That's All For Today!

Moving Right Along....

Our week here at Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR is about to end.  Bill's had a busy week.  Despite all the rain on Sunday and Monday (7" total!), and the humid and very hot temperatures,  he'll still have over 40 hours in by the time he finishes today.

The job here was to re-roof at least one building, power wash and paint another building, install some new doors in one area, and general maintenance on what needed done.  The top left is a "before" view of the building that needed the new roof.  There were 4 men working...  Tracy, the maintenance mechanic at this refuge, Jesse, from Wallkill NWR in NJ, Bob, from Great Dismal Swamp, VA, and Bill, who has become an itinerant volunteer.  The bottom left is of Tracy and Bill, starting to rip off the old roof.  The bottom right...  they are starting to cut the material to install, and the top right...  the finished job, which includes the new roof, but also repaired or replaced fascia.  This building will also get painted.

The other 3 guys worked on the roof on Wednesday while Bill used the power washer to clean the debris and flaky rust from another building....

He was moving right along doing quite well...

Then he looked down and noticed that the power washer was on fire.  Not just a little fire, but shooting frames up high.  He moved the lift he was on out of the way and yelled for help.  The washer was a total loss...  (lower right)...  talk about having a melt down!  The upper right shows the building cleaned and ready for it's new paint job.  I hope they have better luck with the paint sprayer than that power washer!

Today I walked over to the job early and Bill took me up in the lift to get some photos...

The Maintenance Shop area is quite large, and all the buildings are in need of repair or just spruced up.  The volunteer RV park is nearby...  that's our rig in the lower right.  I didn't take that photo from the lift but you can see the RV area in the upper right...  in back of the re-roofed building.  

I have written before that Paul Horning, our friend from Crystal River NWR in Florida volunteers here.  He no longer moves back and forth between VA and FL doing volunteer service.  He took us out to dinner last night, and you can see below a very nice reason he's here year-round.

Paul and Lola

Paul will soon be 83....  I swear, he looks exactly as he did when we first met in in 2005!  It's so good to see his happy smile.

He and Lola took us on a tour of Cape Charles, a lovely little town right on the bay.  He jokes about the shopping mall...  a Food Lion grocery store, a Dollar General, and a McDonalds...  but you know...  that's not bad at all!

I've eaten crab before, and love it.  But I'd never eaten soft-shell crab...

Those are deep-fried crabs...  you eat the shell and all!  Right after a crab has molted, the shell is soft and pliable.

I had to have the french-fries and slaw with my crabs - as long as I was going indulge I was doing the whole thing!  Sure was tasty!

Tomorrow morning we'll head south...  across the Chesapeake Bay.  It's that 20 mile long bridge and tunnel to get over to Norfolk.  From there we'll wind our way west...  heading for Texas.  It will take us a while to get there...  I'll post when I can.

That's All For Today!

Don'cha just hate it when this happens?

Not exactly Victoria's Secret kind of undies....

 See the folded underwear... kinda hard to tell, but they're pink.  See the shirt on the right?  It's orange.  It's new...  bought it at Cabela's last week.  Didn't read the washing instruction tag (it's sewn in the side seam if you want to know...  ).  Did laundry this morning.  I quit separating the whites, colored, plaids, polka-dot stuff years ago.  I'm doing good to wash grungy jeans and greasy shirts in a separate load.  So...  after the damage was done and I got it all folded I did read the washing tag in the shirt... "wash separately before wearing".   My Mom always said to wear clean underwear with no safety pins...  just in case we were in accident.  I'll bet a lot of your mothers said that, too....  she didn't say anything about pink.

Our underwear isn't all that's coming up rosy...

Look at the sunrise this morning.

My Mom would have said "Sailors Take Warning"...  (rain's coming), but it's in the 90's this afternoon and the only moisture is running off everyone's bodies as it's one hot, sweaty day.  I don't know how those guys are working up there on that roof.

Aroostook NWR, up in Maine housed the nuclear bombs during the Cold War.  The bunkers there are a main attraction.  Here, at Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR, the bunker is very different.  It's from World War II...  and the gun and shell are on display.  There are plans to have better signage and interpretive plaques in the future, but I'm guessing that funds are as big an issue here as with most Federal agencies.

I have been enjoying my free time this week.  Once the rains quit I've walked most of the trails and often seen white-tail deer and their (still spotted) fawns.  We are located on the peninsula jutting down from Delaware, across from Annapolis and along the Chesapeake Bay. 

I took this photo from the top of the tower that overlooks the bay.  We're only a mile or so from that long, long bridge that spans the waters between the peninsula and Norfolk, VA.  I can hear the traffic when I'm walking along the trails.

 Trumpet Creeper grows wild here....

I don't know if it's native or invasive, but it's wild and is all over the place.

But hummingbirds like it, so I guess that's okay.

I'm not sure how much longer we'll be here...  I can almost see the gears in Bill's head calculating how many more days he can work and how long we need to drive to Texas...  

Tomorrow I think I'll drive up to the nearby State Park... there's several geocaches hidden there, and we all know I can't resist that challenge.

That's All For Today!