Up close and personal with the Border Patrol

At the neighborhood yard sale in February one of the neighbors had some awning bows for half the price of new ones so we bought them. These bows are attached to the trailer and the awning to support the awning during wind. We also have the awning bars hooked to 60lb cement blocks. Ok, this may be confusing so tomorrow I will take a picture of it. The point is we can now have the awning out 24/7 and with the days now getting pretty warm it helps keep the morning sun off the side of the trailer. Grant has had theirs up since shortly after they arrived last fall and we've had some pretty strong winds.

This afternoon we had to go over and check out our renters. I so wish all of them would leave the place like this woman did. Even took Murphy's Oil to all the wood in the trailer. I think that's it on renters for the season, especially with so many people leaving earlier this year. We'll need to get over there and secure it, drain tanks, put the inside window coverings back up (keeps the hot summer sun out) and pull the propane tanks to be locked in the shed. We do have it rented for part of next winter already so that's good.

While sitting at happy hour tonight Dale Bruss suggested we go out to eat. Bonnie and Gail Quinn leave tomorrow morning heading for Las Vegas to celebrate their wedding anniversary. From what they said they have quite a few family members meeting them there so I'm sure they'll have a great time. They aren't taking the rig as they will be staying in a hotel there so they will return in a couple of weeks. So off to Buffalo Wings the 11 of us went to do a mini celebration.

Something interesting happened on the way home. We took Military Road back which is a dirt road than it runs up on the levee Pretty soon there was flashers behind us. Larry pulled over and it turned out to the Border Patrol. Seems they are looking for a group of illegals so just checking everyone out. There's been many here in the park that have been pulled over but this was our first.

That's it for tonight. No new readers today but that's ok. Till next time.................................

Hoods up bring out the boys

The day started out a little cloudy but soon the sun was shining and by mid afternoon it was 92 degrees. I'm afraid with all the cold temperatures this season it may take a little getting use to the heat again. But that's OK, we'll work very hard at adjusting to the 90's verses the 60's. Having to hit the pool to cool off will put more pressure on our busy schedule but we'll manage, someone has to do it.

I sent a email to some of the family, did a copy and paste of their current weather and ours. I received some responses back but unfortunately they can't be publish on this blog. I try to keep this a PG rating.

Larry went over to Gary's this morning to help him find a problem with the brakes that go back to their little trailer they pull when traveling during the summer. One of the things I've noticed is it doesn't matter if it's one of our big trucks, a pickup or a car, the minute the hood goes up it seems to draw men.

Here's the beginning with Larry and Gary. Could it be those are instructions they are looking at?

Not long and Jim shows up to give either a hand or moral support. Not sure which one.
The next time I looked out Doug and another neighbor are there. It wasn't long and Larry and Gary were back to just the two of them. And I'm happy to say that the problem was found and repaired. Oh FYI while the men where solving the brake problem the woman were sitting on Gary/Marilynn's patio in back drinking coffee.

I had my camera while riding bikes today and realized I'd never shown you a picture of the RV Ports in Phase 2 of our complex.
Click on the picture to enlarge so you can see them a little better. These are just two of them on this street, there are several more but it gives you the idea. The casita's are 1,2, and 3 bedrooms and I think the starting price is $150,000. Not my thing, they are nice but the two bedroom houses here in the complex start at that price and you have a two car garage and lots more storage space. But they have sold quiet a few of these so not everyone feels like us.

Not much else happening today. Went for our nightly walk with Jack/Danielle/Poppy after dinner. The sun set was really something, wish I had my camera.

Welcome to Wrodaw Dolnosiaskie Poland and Santa Monica CA. Till next time...................

Afternoon social at the Lawrences

This morning we had the regular Monthly Village Meeting at the clubhouse. It was a pretty typical meeting, some good things said, some "why in the world" things said and some things all you could do is shake your head.In talking with other people at different parks they all seem to be about the same, just a different park.

The afternoon was much better. We (the big truck people) we all invited down to Larry and LaVila's place in Mercedes for lunch and to see the finished project of their out door kitchen. I have posted pictures of it in the past while under construction but the finished work in just beautiful.
Here's Poppy all settled in her seat to head for the big party. I think she was afraid she'd be left behind. Little did she know that Larry L. emailed Jack with a special invitation for her.
Poor Larry (Moore), bad enough having two back seat drivers but he also had a 4-legged one. Poppy pretty much kept her eyes on the road all the way there.
As always LaVila made sure there was plenty of food and no one left hungry. While she made sure the food was taken care of Larry L. made sure the beverages were available.

As the season nears an end here we won't have to many more of these gatherings so we try to make each one special. Thanks Larry and LaVila for giving us wonderful food, yummy beverages and lots of laughs.

That's about it for today. Welcome newbie's from Fred TX and Hoboken NJ. Hope you come back and see us again. Sometimes we only get one hit, but most times readers will keep coming back every couple of days. We don't get any where near the number of hits some of our friends do on a daily bases but I'm happy with what we have and each day it grows a little more.

Oh, I want to mention that I think the global warming has finally arrived here and by the looks of the forecast it's here to stay. Sunny skies, and highs in the 80's. To my family and friends up north your turn will come and when it does that's when we head your way. Till next time..........

Shopping & another Mystery person

Yesterday was a man afternoon of watching sports so us ladies went shopping. Dale, Bonnie, Danielle and I took off about 1:00 and stopped at several stores before we found what we wanted. Than a stop a Barnes & Noble for a cup of coffee and we got home in time for the second half of happy hour.

I only have one picture to share tonight. I've been trying to remember my camera when we go for a walk and here's one from yesterday. Can anyone recognize these legs.

It's the beginning of the northern migration. Every time we are on the road we see RV's heading down the highway and the parks are starting to have empty lots. There's just been a couple of residents here that have left but come next week it will really pick up.

Most feel like they need to be home to do taxes, haven't figured that out when you can get a extension or use the UPS to get paperwork to the CPA. I guess that's one of the good things about being poor and happy, can file on line. Actually last year was the first time Larry did our taxes. We were one of those that just couldn't give up the CPA signature, but with the software pulling the info for the investments and (hopefully) putting the info in the right spots it was fairly easy.

Guess that's it for today. Welcome readers since my last post from Merrick NY, Action CA, Crockett TX, Oak Vale MS Breingsville PA and Berlin Germany. Till next time....................

Home with Jack & Danielle Mayer

I've been going to start a new series of posts introducing our northern family/friends to our southern friends. I thought you might be interested in who we hang around with during the winter and also maybe see their homes. So today you will meet Jack and Danielle. We first met Jack & Danielle at a Heavy Duty Truck Rally in Wichita KS in 2006.

Danielle is originally from the Montreal, Quebec area and Jack was raised in Pennsylvania. Their "other" life consisted of Danielle working for a national transportation company, Jack for a major computer manufacturer and spending their off working hours with their horses.

In 2000 they decided to make the move to living full time in a RV and spend their time just traveling from one end of the country to the other. In 2004 they adopted Poppy who I've done a post on under our 4-legged friends. Currently the three of them divide the winter months on their lots in North Ranch AZ and our park here in Mission TX. For several years now they have been spending summers in Woodland Park CO where they have been work camping. To listen to them you couldn't really call it work, it sounds like a beautiful area with great people to be with.

Jack & Danielle's home is a beautiful 43ft New Horizon 5th wheel. The pictures below says it all.

Here all three are relaxing in their living room.

Cool mornings are taken care with the fireplace.

The cherry wood all through the house just makes everything homey.

Jack helped us by setting up a website for our rental lot/trailer, which sure has made things easier for potential renters to see what we have. He also has a site that is geared towards technical issues for the RV'er. There's a wealth of information on his site so take a look at their blog.

Today was a rather quiet one. We went up to the clubhouse this morning for the Saturday morning coffee gathering. After wards Linda Cypcar and I ran over to Target to do a walk about there. Happy hour was at Donna and Grants as their friends from Wisconsin will be leaving tomorrow so it was a combination goodbye and a happy birthday to Donna gathering.

That's it for tonight. Oh, if any of you try to leave a comment on future posts you'll have to do one of those frustrating word recognition. I've gotten hit with some spam so this is the only way I can avoid those. Sorry about that, I just hate having to do those too.

Welcome readers from Valparaiso IN, Aurora CO and Shepherd TX. Till next time................

The New Slide & Mystery Person

Yesterday morning I went out to breakfast with 12 other ladies in the park here. We went to the same place as last Saturday only this time the waiter did a little better job, I'm thinking last weekend he may have been new as he didn't seem to be as nervous this time. We had a nice time and it was a good meal. Can't believe I had my camera in my purse and didn't take any pictures, must be slipping.

As I mentioned Larry has been working on a slide to put the generator on. He finished it up yesterday and it really works good.
With the generator sitting on the bed of the truck we had to be careful on making sharp turns. Too sharp and the trailer would hit it. With us not carrying the bikes anymore Larry attached this slide so while traveling the generator is moved up to the tool box. The majority of the time it wasn't a problem being back so far but on those very "rare" occasions that the navigator misinterprets the GPS there may have been a call to do a rather tight U-turn.
We had happy hour last night up at the clubhouse and had two new couples join us. They both own Big Trucks and one is staying here in the park and the other in the RV park next door. I'm afraid their names have fallen off my memory bank but they will be here for awhile so maybe it will sink in. No guarantees, I'm beginning to think my memory bank is having a global warming and pieces keep drifting off.

While out and about with my camera yesterday I came across this sight and just couldn't resist taking a picture. I would never reveal this persons name. She puts the rest of the big truck ladies to shame by getting right in there and having a hands on learning experience. She's been seen on top of the trailer helping to replace rubber seals, crawling under the truck to install mud flaps and of course this picture of her doing god knows what under the dash. Hmmm - I think maybe we need to take this lady aside and teach her the rules of the trade in owning a big truck & trailer. 1) There are Blue Jobs and than there are Pink Jobs 2) the two colors never/ever cross 3) when conversations begin with the word "install" you immediately remember that trip to the mall you promised so & so you'd take, and 4)under no circumstance admit you know what the name of a tool is. Again, I won't reveal her name but lets just say she's from a German background.
So that's it for now. Welcome readers from Detroit MI and Moscow, Moscow City Russian Federation (how cool is that. Till next time...........................................

Down Town McAllan Texas

This morning was a trip to downtown McAllan. I've been wanting to go down there as people have said it's like being in Mexico. So about 9:30 this morning Linda Cypcar our driver took myself, Jamie Leighton and Adele Knitter to see what new and different things we could find.

This is looking down Main Street.

Here's Linda, Jamie and Adele standing in front of one of the stores looking for a bargain.
There seemed to be quiet a few shops that were more like the flea markets around here. A little of everything with nothing that is worth buying. But than we crossed the street and I think we entered the sleazy district.

Here's a store that you can get a great sale on dresses. As long as your a size 2. We didn't bother going into this one since none of us have seen that size in many years, if every.

Then we came across this place. Again kept on moving.

Now it was time to walk a little faster and get to the next block. There we came across a good old Payless Shoe Store. After a few more stores we decided it was time to go back to the car and go have lunch. Decided to go to Sweet Temptations which is a neat little cafe. I didn't take a picture of the inside as they were busy with the lunch crowd but the food is very good and it's nice to go someplace beside the chain type places.

Here's the front of Sweet Temptations.

While I was busy out with my friends Larry was home working on putting a slide on the bed of the truck to set the generator on. Right now when we make a sharp turn the front of the trailer can hit the generator. Jack gave him a slide that use to be in the basement of their trailer so once Larry gets done he'll be able to slide the generator up closer to the tool box (when we're hooked up) so we don't have to worry about hitting it. When it's finished I'll take a picture.

This afternoon Jutta and I went for a bike ride in the RV park next door. There are some empty lots already. People seem to be leaving early this year for some reason. We've had a few residents here leave already and several will pull out during the month.

So guess that's it for now. Welcome Rochester MI. I think I've thanked all our regular readers. Till next time................................