Fair weather in Flordia

After a week we now have wifi.  Apparently, lightening blew out all the routers here at Hope International Children's Home.  Been fixed and everyone is happy.  Today we went to a PCA Presbyterian Church.  Very conservative which was sweet after last Sunday's booming music.  It was a special dedication service for a new building just finished.  The church hosts a Chinese church and today it was a combined service.  The Chinese pastor translated the service for the Chinese Christians.  Very interesting.  Afterwards was a potluck....do we know how to pick a church!
Yesterday we went to a perserve and walked a 4+ mile hike.  Nice hike, tired legs....lots of birds and armadillo's, turkeys and a huge turtle. 
Today wore shorts for the first time.  Beautiful today, although I slept most of the afternoon. 
The new RV is working out great.  I cook all of our meals and the kitchen is FANTASTIC.  It is very easy to cook, lots of room and the bigger frig.
There is a nice pond on the property.  Dale has found a friend to fish with and there is a little boat available.  Almost heaven!  He has also been treasure hunting.  Found a couple of brass monkeys....

It's cold here but not at cold as you are....

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Haven't had wifi access since we left Roanoke on Wednesday.  Spent the first night at WallyWorld.  Our very first Walmart overnight.  Not bad at all except for a couple of over RVer's who contrary to RV Wallymart parking etiquette ran generators into the night.  Not very pleasant.  Anyway we both survived,.  Our bodies stopped vibrating sometimes the next morning.  We drove a few hundred more miles and stayed in a Florida rest area that gives notice with a very sign "Overnight camping Prohibited".  We asked the very nice, professional armed security guard and he said we could overnight.  Glad we asked.  I'd hate to answer the door to a gun wielding fellow late in the night in our jammies.  Friday we arrived at our first project, just north of Tampa, Hope House international.  Today, I'd like to tell you a little about them. The children live at Hope House. Some are from one family, two, three and even four children.  It is a permanent living place for most of the children.  The families could not or would not take care of them.  They range in age from 2 through high school.  This is their home and they are part of a big family.  They are not adopted out.  They are not troubled youth, but neglected and left behind. Between 70 and 90 children live hear, ages 2 to high school graduates.  There are siblings, even 3, 4 and 5 family members.  They are neglected children.  Many left by a mom who can't care for she children.  They grow up here as part of a loving family.  A big family. I am working in the "Birthday Building" with one other lady.  Margaret and I are sorting through piles and piles of leftover Christmas gifts.  We are organizing them in boys, girls, young and older, games, sports, crafts and a few other categories.  It's a little building, I think an older one room camp cabin.  There are so many gifts it will take us all three weeks to finish the project. Dale is working on remodelling an apartment for house parents.  They live with the children, but seem to have a bit of their own space. It's chilly here, in the 50's, but from what I hear we are hot compared to anyone north of here.

Getting to the warm places

Burr, it's cold outside!  Tomorrow at first light tomorrow morning we are off again.  We have two projects planned, both in Florida.  How is that for good planning.  The first is at Hope House, a residence for neglected boys and girls.  We'll be arriving on Friday. 
Last night we enjoyed the peaceful company of our very small Bible group.  It is a place of the soothing "Balm of Gilead" for me.  The past few months have been very hectic for this frail child of the King.  Monday nights are a place of the sweet fellowship of the dearest of brothers and sisters.  A place of trust, comfort and learning about our Savior.  I miss those Monday nights when we travel.
Daisy has been bathed and is ready to go.  She knows change is in the air when we start cleaning and packing the RV....she is glued to my side.
No photos today...they are all on my laptop which is packed.

Tired and Happy

A brief note to say we arrived at Appalachian Bible College Friday after a very busy day getting the final jobs done on the RV, the house and yard.  I (Jane) slept in unto almost 10am on Saturday and was still very tired. 
Went to a wonderful small country church on Sunday and heard the most refreshing message.  Sang a few neat Hymns and enjoyed communion. 
Today was the first day of work.  I didn't sleep much last night worried about getting up so early at 6:15am.  Of course, I can hear some of you laughing...but that is WAY TO EARLY for me.  Am once again enjoying the fellowship of some wonderful women.  I'm tired now and still must go out and find a new heater.  One of our little portable heaters died last night and West Virginia is COLD!!!! Waking up in the 40's and the high today is 51....

New RV and back on the Road

We purchased a "new to us" RV early this month.  We have gone from a 30' with one slide to a 40' with 3 slides.  We plan on working at SOWER's projects about 6 months each year.  We've been very busy getting the RV ready for long term living.  This past weekend we took it to Richmond to spend a couple of days with our son Aaron, beautiful wife Susan and fantastic grandsons Christian and Luke.  We spent most of Saturday enjoying little league games, first Luke and later Christian.  Both the boys were great players.  Lots of fun!

On Friday we'll be leaving for Appalachian Bible College, just 136 miles from us.  We will be there for the month of October.  Looking forward to life back on the road.



Gramma and Grampa
Christian and Luke



Susan, Luke (what a great smile Luke) Christian and Aaron

Alena #1 Grand daughter

Remembering Uncle Jim

My Uncle Jim died Friday. I just found out. It brings a sorrow to my heart. I haven't seen my Uncle for several years. When my Aunt Nancy was ill with ALS he wouldn't let me come to see her. He wanted me to remember her as she was before she got sick. I wanted to see her, I wanted to be with her. I remembered her kindness to me as a child, touching me with loving touches. The only touches I remember receiving as a child. I remembered visiting her apartment in the Bronx just after she married my Uncle and the fish aquarium in the apartment. I remembered the time she brought home Maryann and proudly wheeling her about in the carriage. She wanted children and they wouldn't come, then Maryann, beautiful little Maryann came home, then Brian. I really don't recall Brian very much. Years after Maryann, Aunt Nancy was finally pregnant and the sweet, precious Kelly arrived.

Uncle Jim was the story teller. Boy, he could spin a yarn that would scare you silly. He was involved with the boy scouts for years and years. He loved the boy scouts. He loved to tell them the scary stories at night, in the dark, sitting around the campfire. He would tell the stories to me and my four brothers...."the hand"...oh would we jump, scared to pieces every time.I remember pitching pennies in the corner of my Aunt Vieno's apartment on Perry Ave in the Bronx.

She was really my gramma. My mother's mom died before I was born and grampa remarried a beautiful young teacher from Minnesota. She became Aunt Vieno. A more gracious and lovely lady I do not think every lived. Growing up we went to her apartment about once a month for Sunday dinner. It was so special. The table set with her finest China. Uncle Jim told us stories and pitched pennies. Aunt Vieno made peanut butter and bacon appetizers for us and set a special table for the children.

I spent many weeks with Aunt Vieno and Grampa when my folks would go off skiing in Canada. I loved being with my gramma, except for going down into the basement of the apartment building. That is where the laundry was done. It wasn't very nice and to a young girl frightening. I would never go down there alone. During those visits after Uncle Jim married I would walk down the street to visit with my beautiful Aunt Nancy.

I loved my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jim. He was my mother's brother. He was Irish and Aunt Nancy came from a big loving Irish family. She was beautiful, very beautiful.

Uncle Jim got remarried after Aunt Nancy died. I never did meet his wife. Her name was Jane. I wanted to see Uncle Jim, but things changed when he remarried and I was not able to contact him. I missed him, I missed Aunt Nancy.

Now they are all gone. As the cousins got older we lost contact. Now I feel as if my family is gone. It makes me very sad.

Comfort, Texas

Aquarena, man eating catus!

Comfort, Texas a typical backyard in town

Aquarena, San Marcos the old street lights

San Marcos River walk

Jane and her Indian friend, San Marcos

Main Street, Comfort, Texas

Greetings from Comfort, Texas, His Hill Bible Center. Located in the lovely rolling hill country, where there is a view from every bump in the landscape. Speaking of bumps and lumps, this ministry is not good for the figure. One lovely lady's ministry to the SOWERS is to bake something luscious every work day for coffee break. And coffee break is two hours after we start working and and two hours prior to lunch. She has opened her home to serve the SOWERS. Hard to resist, but resist I must because my wardrobe is complaining mightily. Even though Dale and I go for a long walk each day, it is not enough to equate calories in, calories out.  I decided not to eat any breakfast so I could enjoy the yummy freshed baked treats. 

The little town of Comfort was founded mid 1800's by "Free Thinkers". German folks who base their lives on their minds, minus God. Many of the descendants of the Free Thinkers are still living here, so I am told since everyone knows everyone gossip is a bad idea.

Yesterday we visited one of my favorite places, Aquarena in San Marcos. It is 70 miles from here, that in Texas is around the corner. We have visited every time we are in the vicinity. Aquarena used to be an amusement park featuring mermaids, swimming pigs, glass bottom boats, a hotel, an arial ride across the natural springs and restaurant. It closed years ago and has been purchased by Texas State University. They are developing the area as a persevered natural habitat. The springs are the beginning of the San Marcos River that leads to the Gulf. The original structures have been left standing, taking one back in time to around 1950, a wonderful time capsule.

It is very dark at night, with no city lights to interfere with the stars. The Texas sky is huge, one can see from horizon to horizon a zillion stars. Amazing!

Still in Spicewood, Texas

Today we should be in Comfort, Texas at our second project, but we are still at Highland Lakes in Spicewood.  Dale has been ill with pneumonia and is recovering.  He is not strong enough to work and the wonderful folks here at this camp would like us to stay as long as we need too.  They are so very gracious and loving.

I'm getting a little stir crazy.  The project is finished, the next group of SOWER's has arrived and I don't have work to do.  Hopefully we will be leaving here within the week and move on down to Comfort, TX.  When I arrived here for my first project, I was a little apprehensive.  I thought that all the ladies would be so very spiritual and better than me.  I found out we are all the same, children of the Lord in various stages of growth.  There are ladies from good, loving and Godly homes, from abusive homes and everything inbetween.  Some ladies have ministered to me and I have been able to befriend and minister to a very hurting lady.  It has been a blessing and another of those wonderful learning opportunities.  God is so good!

First SOWERS project finished

It snows in central Texas..biggest snow in 6 years

Here is Dale teaching our Group Leader Ray how to tape the walls of the new Medical building the fellows built. 

Dale on the roof of the garage being built by the SOWERS

We have finished our first SOWERS project!  It has been a great experience always learning wonderful lessons from the Lord.  Now it will be March on Monday and we are ready for spring!  You can see the HUGE snowfall we had this week.  Of course, it was gone quickly but the folks around here and in the Austin area were so excited about the snow.  One fellow was shown skiing on the Capital building lawn on about one inch of snow and lots of green showing.  Very big deal.

Dale is ill and has been for several days with a very bad cold.  He has spent yesterday in bed and also today.  I hope he gets better soon, but he tends to stay quite ill.  I was very mildly outs of sorts for a couple of days, but I tend not to get sick.  I really think he should eat more chocolate. 

Highland Lakes is rather remote.  Thursday we went out for some cold medicine and had to drive almost 20 miles round trip to the closest store.  We haven't gotten out very much.  Today we were going out to an RV show in Austin but will not be doing that, maybe tomorrow but unless Dale is blessed with a miracle probably not. 

Hello to Christian, Luke, Daniel, Josh and Alena....Gramma and grampa miss you very much!  Have you been sledding?  I look at the news and see that you have had great amounts of snow...I think some mom's are looking forward to Spring!

Oh Boy the Sun doth Shine or Oh Boy the SON doth SHINE!!!!

Josh what are you looking for ?

Ok it's a bit chilly

What a smile Daniel!

She's our girl Alena

Before we left for Texas the 3 little munchkins stayed

with Gramma and Grampa

Luke with a friend

And here we have Christian and puppy

We have just started our second week at Highland Lakes, Texas.  The first week was adjusting to this new life style. I have gone from being "home alone" to living with the SOWERS family.  I'm learning lots of good stuff, for one I can be with people and even enjoy it....and I can get up at 6:45am and survive.  We have devotions each work morning and that is a lovely way to start the day.  I was worried about this aspect and find once again it was a great waste of worry. 

Saturday Dale and I drove into Austin and had a fun afternoon with our nephew Dean and Bonnie.  It was Tye's first birthday (our great niece).  A little cutie.  Dean is Dale's brother's son.  We were able to visit them last year when we were in Texas and were glad to be able to renew our friendship. 

Sunday afternoon was beautiful, sunny and warm.  Dale and I have been eating way too much of the great food served to us here at camp and wanted to walk some of it off.  The Camp is surrounded by Lake Travis (part of the Colorado River) and a County Park.  We picked a trail and walked and walked and walked and walked.  The trails were very poorly marked so we traveled in what seemed to be the right direction.  Of course, neither D nor I have a good sense of direction and we finally found the road several miles from our expected destination which added about 3 more miles to our walk.  About a mile from the camp a cold, windy front came through and eventually we were REALLY glad to get home.  Our SOWER neighbors had put our awning up so no damage was done.  We were SO glad to put our feet up.

My work has been putting craft projects together, very enjoyable for me.  Dale has been working on building a garage. 

And the sun is still shining....

Life in Progress

Dale and I arrived at Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center in Spicewood, Texas last Friday.  Okay, so it only rained a little....and Saturday a little more and my word the SUN came out and the sky was blue for one entire day before the flood gates opened again and again...something like the snow you are getting we are getting with cold, windy rain.  It's been a blast, sometimes I can even hear Dale when his lips are moving and he is looking in my direction.  Get out that metal barrel in your garage, snuggle up in there and roll out to the yard and wait for a good pelting thunder, rain storm.  Wow...you will have a great time.

Life is full of new interesting experiences.  They (the more experienced SOWERS) say this is the Hilton of SOWER projects.  It just might be.  We are fed three meals a day on weekends.  That weekend might start on Thursday and end Sunday noon.  The food is fantastic.  Yes, I mean it is REALLY good.  We are also given a coffee break after working an excruciating long hour, sometimes even an hour and fifteen minutes. It's just awful! Here I am cutting out butterflies from foam with another SOWER lady and we have to stop talking and take a break, go have drinks and snacks provided by the camp for a half an hour. Then we go back to work for another 1 1/2 hours and go have a yummy hot lunch again provided by the camp then go home and wash last nights dishes. I leave them for something to do. Dale works until 3:30. It's a very hard life. But, I think I should be the one to sacrifice and not have others having to endure this because I refuse too.

Not only the sacrifice of all this hard work, but today after lunch we were requested to pick out several tee shirts for ourselves. I mean all we do is sacrifice. But, I am learning patience.....

Today the sun is shining, although it is very cold, mid 40's. 

Well, We Certainly Missed the Texas Drought!

The drought apparently did not stop the guy who drank these bottles dry

They say we missed the drought!  "They" are certainly correct.  We are very sorry about that.  We also missed the normal temperature high, but I think we are smack into the normal lows, very lows!  Very FUNNY!....But, I am my normal cheery self.....yes, that's right, laugh if you must....but surprising, even to myself, I am cheerful and enjoying the trip anyway.  See, God works in the "elderly" as my grandchildren (even my children) would say.  They don't realize age happens too quickly and "old" age not until you are about 90 or so....I am just a tad over middle age, like most of the rest of you.
Haven't seen alot of Texas yet, since we have been either driving or waiting for the rain to stop.  We were able to get a shortish 4 mile hike in the other day, but that is about it.  I love to walk and enjoy hiking.  Was looking forward to that, but eating is good too.....that is an indoor exercise.
Gave Daisy a bath in the shower this am.  She loved it, didn't even bite me....well maybe she didn't love it, but tolerated it pretty well.  Traveling with Miss Stinky Face in confined spaces can move even Miss Cheery Self to stop eating and bath the dog.

Silsbee, TX

Lunch in Mississippi at our site over looking the lake



Now that's a bridge up up up!!!!

Jane says, "IS IT EVER GOING TO STOP RAINING....

Arrived yesterday, Silsbee, Texas. Stayed only one night in Louisiana due to the RV campground was pretty much a shallow lake. They had 5 inches of rain in just a couple of days. The area is called a bayou, maybe because it looks like a forest under water...interstate 10 went for miles and miles and miles on piers over the bayou (swamp) It rained and rained as we traveled. This am as I awoke in Texas (about 25 miles north of Beaufort) with overcast skies I was feeling a bit cooped up, but wonderful day the sun has come out and it is in the 50's.
We visited a local church and enjoyed a bit of Jesus refreshment.....
We will stay here a few days, hike, do some bird watching and visit the area.

Desoto Park, Childersburg, Alabama

Beautiful, cool, clear morning. We will be leaving here shortly for Mississippi. Dale is out treasure hunting with his new metal detector. I think we will soon be rich. He already found over $3.00 yesterday.
Desoto Caverns Park is a nice campground with a sort of "roadside" flavor. It has a large cavern found somewhere in the 1400's by military, Spanish I think. Prior to that it was used by Indians for a very long time. Now, you can pay $17.95 to see it. A little rich for our entertainments. We go for free or almost free. But, nevertheless, a nice place with pleasant surroundings.
Daisy still does not like the riding part. She actually bit me as I tried to get her out from under Dale's seat to put her into the kennel. Wow, that has never happened before and for her sake it had better not happen again.
We will be heading to Mississippi today and will not have WIFI for several days. So we will see you in Louisiana....

Day two

We made it to Tenn yesterday with a good travel day.

This is today,Sunday...rain...rain...

rain, but we

are packing up and will soon be on our way to Alabama...Daisy is not to sure about this travel business. Yesterday she hide under my seat while we traveled. Gl.ad we bought a new heater, working well. Warm and toasty

Travels with Jane and Dale

Oh, I'm a bit nervous today, getting ready to leave tomorrow morning for new adventures. This should be about a 3 month trip with two months in Texas. It's cold outside and I hope we will be heading into warmer climes. We'll spend just one night in Tenn and head further south on Sunday.

The trip takes us to Spicewood, TX to work at a Christian Campground for three weeks and then 3 weeks in Comfort, TX less than 100 miles from the first project.

Daisy just had a bath, the RV is packed (with a new space heater) and we are ready to go. We will miss Daniel, Josh, Alena, Luke and Christain, oh and their parents also. We'll miss our dear friends and give much thanks for the ones helping take care of our home while we are away.

Don't forget to pray for us, we'll be praying for you.

Life in Wisconsin

We have now been in Wisconsin for 2 weeks. It has been a bit cool and damp. Yesterday was lovely so Dale and I took the day off and went to the Zoo. We have been to the Milwaukee Zoo several times over the years. The first time Aaron, Susanne, cousins Lori, Dean, Uncle Mark and Aunt Linda were part of the fun. It was many years ago and many memories. The children were about the age Aaron's, Luke and Christian are now.

Zoo's are always fun. Dale and I meander slowly enjoying the animals (and people). We will sit and muse at an interesting exhibit, pondering both the animals and the people. Near the end of the day, we sat at the JAPANESE MACAQUE exhibit for about an hour. You get to know a lot more about the animals when you just sit and enjoy their lives. They learn to totally ignore human life around them and live as they normally would, well sort of live as they would.

We are now half way through our time with Mark and Sally. I wish we could stay longer to see the completion of Sally's new kitchen. I just hope we are able to get the majority done. Sally has been a long time without much of a kitchen. This is very exciting to be able to help with her dreams.

So Where is Spring?

Dale, I don't think that is how you milk a cow!

We have been so many places I am beginning to lose yesterday. After Oklahoma we headed north to Kansas, stopping in Assaria. The campground was beautiful with a big lake and beach area. We went to the Rolling Hills Zoo and spent the entire day almost alone, up close and personal with the animals. One of the best zoo's I've ever been too.

In Seward, Nebraska we stayed at a city park. For 2 nights we were the only campers and the 3rd night one more arrived. Found a neat 2nd hand store, purchased a new straw hat, some scarves (25 cents each) and a Catherine Cookson book. Ms. Cookson is my very favorite fiction author and I purchase her books wherever I find them. We also walked a very nice 5 mile walk with Daisy. Okay, Dale had to carry her for the last mile. Then she slept the rest of the day.

We left Nebraska on the 23rd of April for Newton, Iowa, stopping at Rock Creek State Park. So many of the campgrounds we have stayed at are so beautiful (well I can think of two or three that I would not care to visit again) We arrived on Thursday, just about had our pick of sites, choosing one directly next to the lake. Not much to do in Newton. We just spent one full day enjoying the grounds and leaving Saturday bright and early for Wisconsin. It was a full day of driving (326 miles). An RV takes longer to get somewhere than a car and we drive to enjoy the day of driving. Getting into Illinois getting out at the welcome center it was a surprising 76 degrees, two hours later it had dropped to 48...wow! And since arriving in Muskego, Wisconsin it has been cold. Right now it is 55....ouch!

We are at Dale's brother's home. Dale is building a new kitchen for our sister-in-law Sally. We only have four weeks here before heading to my Dad's 90th birthday so he is working long days trying to get as much done as possible. Dale's dad is cared for by Mark and Sally 24-7. It is a huge job to care for him, so we are grateful to be able to offer Dale's abilities.

Kansas heading north

We arrived in Kansas yesterday. Much cooler as we head north and very breezy...okay seems like hurricane force winds. I was told that they had a foot of snow just a week ago so let's look on the bright side....it is a very pretty place and VERY quiet...It is Sunday. We found a church this am to attend and enjoyed the service. Dale is now off somewhere looking for treasure with his metal detector. He says he must upgrade. Why not...he has found at least $1.28 so far...

I don't have any pictures of this area yet, so I thought I would indulge and show off my stunningly gorgeous grandchildren, Daniel 5, Josh 3 and Alena 2...

Oklahoma

We spent just two days in Enid, Oklahoma. Two nights were quite enough at Brown's RV Park, directly off the main road through town and also one of the main highways through Oklahoma. I did purchase some fantastic ear plugs that muted the road noise down to a dull roar. And it was not too bad navigating through the carpet of cigarette butts on the ground. The neighboring bars music wasn't too bad either.

We did enjoy Enid anyway. The town was having its annual Bar B Que cook off and gave out free FANTASTIC bar-b-qued pork sandwiches Friday evening. Yummy! Seems the barbeque folks travel some kind of circuit with their very fancy huge barbecue cooker thingy's trying to win best barbequer of the world. We ran into the same thing in Texas. Quite a hobby. The cookers are actually pulled around on trailers they are so big.

I forgot to put some of the "pump jacks" pictures on from Luling, Texas. The town has more than a dozen of these differently decorated "pump jacks" through out the town and tourists like us go around the town following a map to take pictures of them all.

Meeting Tye

Yesterday we met our brand new great niece Tye Slocomb, eight week old beautiful daughter of our nephew Dean and sweet wife Bonnie. They live in Austin, Texas a BIG Texas city of about 1,000,000 folks and growing. We enjoyed a fun day at their home, out to a great Tex-Mex lunch and a visit to the Capitol of Texas building. A very Texas size building.

We enjoyed a great Easter service at the Central Baptist Church here in Luling. Very refreshing!

Then a picnic in San Marcos and a walk along the river. Beautiful weather and a peaceful refreshing day.

We've been really enjoying Texas. If we were to move, Texas definitely has the call. Of all the states we have visited we feel at home here. The history, the people, the climate and the terrain are great. I think we might come back next winter for a couple of months.

We are leaving Luling tomorrow (Monday) to start heading north. We've go to northern Texas for a couple of days. I hate to leave the warmth of this area.

A Day in San Marcos

I just love San Marcos, Texas a beautiful town located on the same San Marcos River that we are presently camped on except it is 20 something miles upriver. We visited this town three years ago on our last trip to Texas. We remembered enjoying a wonderful day walking the river path along the San Marcos River as we enjoyed it today. A breezy upper 70's day with plenty of Texas size sun. One of my fondest memories was the discovering of the Aquarena. The Aquarena was an amusement type park that operated from 1951 to 1996. It closed because of the rise of big fancy water parks. It boasted a swimming pig, water dancing mermaids and a tram ride. There was a motel and the beautiful aquifer that feeds the San Marcos River. It reminds me of a movie "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken". It is a time capsule...the grounds are now owned by Texas State University and maintained by them as a ecosystem. The skeleton of the submarine ride, the tram and building are left intact. The water is crystal clear with abundant waterfowl, fish and birds. To me it is walking back in time to a simpler time, before grunge, loud music and individualism.

Texas Travels

We are in Luling, Texas camped (okay parked) with the San Marcos River behind us. We are 20 feet from the river and on the far side a farmer field with cattle. The sides of the river bank are washed away and the drop to the water is about 25 feet. The cattle sometimes try to get down and have succeeded to walk along a path they have made 6 to 10 feet down. Looks very strange and I wondered how the two who tried would get back up again, but they did.

We drove about 300 miles from Newton, Texas a couple of days ago. While spending just two days in Newton we came across an awesome sight birding at a Texas state fish hatchery. A bald eagle was also enjoying the fish hatchery looking for dinner! It was my first sighting of a bald eagle in the wild.

Yesterday we went into Luling and had a Mexican breakfast summer sausage and egg soft taco. Interesting! The town was having a car and bar-b-que thingy. Only you could not buy the bar-b-que...interesting. We enjoyed the Oil Museum and spoke for while with an older fellow (yes older then us!) whose mother had worked in the store where the museum now resides, something of a old time Walmart of the 1920's. Starting with his dad in 1920ish, him and his sons they have worked for the same oil company for over 80 years. Luling and many of the the Texas towns look very much like you would find them in the old cowboy movies.

Luling is also where Tiny Texas Houses are made. These are one room house, with a loft for sleeping made from salvaged materials. Each one is unique ranging in the very surprising price of $38000 to $90000. I was shocked at the price. They look more like $25,000 to me.

Goodbye Louisiana

We have enjoyed 6 nights near Natchitoches, Louisiana, the original French colony established in 1714. It is also the beginning of El Camino Real de los Tejas, the 300 year old road through Texas to Mexico. Lots of history, a favorite interest of mine.

Tomorrow we'll leave here and head to Newton, Texas. Not a long way, just over 100 miles. Let me say spring is not the best time to travel. We can't go north due to the winter storms and the south has constant violent

thunder storms and many tornadoes. We'll rethink doing a spring trip in the future.

The azaleas are beautiful and fully in bloom.

See you in Texas

Stormy weather

Meridian, Mississippi …Arrived Sunday, beautiful lakefront site with spectacular sunsets. We are surrounded on 3 sides with the beautiful Okatibee Lake. One of the prettiest places we’ve stayed. Lots of nice hiking and several miles of biking.
Today is cloudy and we are expecting rain through Saturday. We will stay a couple a more days due to the stormy weather and the desire not to drive in it. It is getting darker and darker outside, expecting some severe weather. Hope we don’t blow away.
Dale has been out treasure hunting with his metal detector. He has found many matchbox toys and almost 2 gallons of gas money. It’s nice to have a husband who goes off to work each day.
Did you know you can cook macaroni in the microwave, yup you can. And you can cook cornbread in an electric skillet…yup you can and it turns out very nice.

And the next day...

Oh MY!!! Don't know if you heard the news about the weather in this part of the country. We have not only heard it but experienced it in an RV! Around midnight the rain intensified to a mighty roar. The lightening flashed and boomed continually throughout the sky. I kept hearing the "freight train" sounds the folks talk about just before the tornado strikes. I was thinking we would end up in the lake just a few feet behind us. It certainly was not sleeping weather.

We did survive the storm, but just a few miles from us a tornado did level a few homes and businesses. Violent storms were once again predicted for last night (Thursday 3/26). We decided to try to get behind the storms and headed almost 400 miles west to Ajax, La., a small RV park across the street from a log mill. A little daytime NOISE!...but the storm and tornado's just bypassed us about 45 miles north of here. WHEW!...today (Friday 3/37) is cloudy with some rain predicted, but I'll take the rain and like it! Wow Virginia is peaceful....spring in the south is apparently NOT the time to travel. We will be here until Monday am and then head to Texas.

Alabama Sweet Alabama

Thursday March 20 Spring in Alabama.
We are in Valley Head, Alabama at a very nice Rv park. This am Dale, myself and Daisy hiked up Lookout Mountain. A 3 mile slightly strenuous hike with Daisy in the lead. The weather is beautiful in the 60’s and the Mountain Laurel just starting to peek out. The nights are a bit chilly in the 30’s….whew! We have a little heater that does a good job of warming us up in the mornings. There are caverns, cattle, sheep, goats, a peacock, a rooster and his 2 females. A family farm that has been in the same family for over 170 years.

Above is Jane with a couple of machette's at the top of Lookout Mountain.

Back on the Road

Tuesday, March 17 St Patrick's Day..left Roanoke about 11am heading south on 81. Soon the sun was shinning through the fog and the day blossomed into spring. About 100 miles out of Roanoke, I realized the key for the Yaris was on the kitchen counter. One key in the Yaris in the ignition, the doors locked and no key. Called Brother Jim who is house sitting for us. He sent the key overnight to arrive this am, but it is now pm and no key....Oh Well!! It is a beautiful spring day and we need a little time to adjust to life on the road again.

Vermont adventures

We spent two wonderful weeks in West Dover, Vermont with my dad and brother Jim. Brother Bob, wife Judy and children Marisa and Gregory live three houses down. Dale worked with Jim and dad on his final house. Dad is a builder and has been for 60 years. He is now 89 and ready to retire. But, for years and years he has said, "just one more year". I think he is finally ready.
While in Vermont Dale and I drove north to the little town of Wheelock. Dale's mom was born and raised in Wheelock on a 260 acre homestead. The home is still there with 60 acres. It has been passed on, first to the six children who are now all gone, Dale's mom the youngest died one year ago August. It continues to be kept carefully in the family, maintained and used by many family members. This is way past rural. The house is one story with a large open attic. The six children slept in the attic. The parents had a bedroom downstairs. No electricity, no phone, low ceilings for heat conservation, no insulation, no neighbors. The children rode to school in a pony cart. This is northern Vermont. It is cold and snowy. Now there is a propane frig and stove. Then it was wood stove only. They now have some propane lights in the kitchen and dining area. The others areas are lit with lanterns.
With only two days notice Dale's cousin Carolyn got the local cousins, the four Gadapee boys and wifes together, cooked a wonderful turkey dinner and just overwhelmed Dale with love. The dinner was brought to the homestead where Dale and I spent the night. I am not on my own computer so I can't show the pictures of this wonderful place of memories.
We spent the next day searching out the places of Dale's childhood. His first homes, the graveyard's of his relatives, the hospital where he was born. We bought maple syrup at the Danville farmer's market from a cousin Gadapee. We did a couple of hours of "history detective" to find the now closed 12 bed hospital in Hardwick. It was a great day for Dale....except for.....
The cousins were once again going to meet us at the farm for dinner and we were to spend another night. In rural Vermont many of the roads are not only dirt, they can turn in 4 wheel drive, not a Yaris road. We were a little late trying to find our way back. The GPS was leading us down a road we knew was 4 wheel so we tried the next road. About a mile in the road forked and we did not know which way to go. Dale chose the right fork, drove aways up a hill and discovered we were in a driveway. He turned away and started out. We started to hear screaming, I told Dale to drive fast, he did and a fellow was screaming and screaming running after us throwing fist sized rocks. Even though we were on a poor dirt road, I said drive faster and faster, that guy was going to come after us. We bounced down the road and finally came to a newer built house with the garage door open and vehicles in the driveway. We swerved up into the driveway and I ran to the door banging for help. A pickup truck was careening down the road, past this house and slammed on his brakes turned around and fishtailed back up the road. He had come after us.
I was shaking and finally after talking with the homeowner we were given directions back to the farm. We were going to stay another night, but after we had dinner and all the cousins left, Dale said he would take us back to my dad's, about 3 hours away. I was to frightened to stay. So I say don't drive up JILL HILL ROAD in Wheelock, Vermont. We know if that guy had a gun at the ready he would have shot us.
We arrived in Effort, PA Sunday. Another cousin lives here and we are visiting her. Dale is once again busy, fixing, pruning and enjoying helping take care of things she cannot do for herself. Linda's husband died in 2004 and taking care of a home for a widow is a challenge. This is Dale's joy to be able to use his talents for others.

Home to Vermont

Grandparents Cathy and Stan

Grace, Hope and David grandchildren

(our great neice's and nephew)

Cullen and Heather (our nephew - Cathy and Stan's son and daughter in law)

Coming Home
We spent a short two night visit with Dale’s sister Cathy and husband Stan in Amsterdam New York. They are a VERY busy team entertaining and teaching in a wide variety of settings in the Northeast. We were very happy to be able to spend even a short time with them and while there, spend the most delightful afternoon and evening with our nephew Cullen and family. He and Heather have the cutest and most delightful little family. The girls Grace and Hope look like little dolls come to life. David the family namesake at 2 is a precious and busy little fellow.
We arrived in West Dover, Vermont Friday August 29th. My brother Jim cooked the most fabulous lobster dinner for us. He is a wonderful cook and has been providing the most tasty meals. This is a talent we did not know about and when he once again visits us in Virginia this fall…he will be doing the cooking!
My family moved to West Dover in 1962 when I was a youngster. We lived a mile from Mount Snow and the five of us children grow up skiing and enjoying winter sports. Well the boys enjoyed them more than I because I never liked being cold. I attended high school in Brattleboro and actually lived there during my junior and senior years. There are many, many memories here for me.
Aaron and Susanne were born in Brattleboro. We lived in one of the first houses built in West Brattleboro, an farm house my dad and Dale renovated. Nothing much had been done to it over the years and it had no indoor plumbing or kitchen to speak of. The upstairs swayed. It was a wonderful place after the fix up and we enjoyed that home more than any other we have owned since. The memories are bittersweet.
Brattleboro is a beautiful Vermont town so different from the southern style of building. The villages are quaint mostly from the middle 1700’s to 1800’s. A town common or square is not unusual, with the village being built around it.
We are visiting friends we have loved and not seen in many years. Friends so close it is difficult to visit because the time is so short. Vermont is where my roots are and they run deep. It is a time of memories. My mother is buried here. I visited her grave and felt the loss. So many memories, I could stay here a month.