Messing with my mind, that’s what this is.  I’m speaking, of course, of Daylight Savings Time.  How dare they don’t let the sun come up until later.  I want the sun up with my morning cup of coffee.  So, I’ll tell you what, if they want to mess with my mind then I’m fighting back.  How?  I just refuse to get up until after the sun is up!  Hah, though you could get away with keeping it dark while I was having my cup of coffee.  No way.

Now that is off my chest.  Today, of course, being Sunday we were off early – too early with the loss of an hour – to The First Presbyterian Church.  All I can say is I hope it is one forceful message, preferably in a good, strong, loud voice.  Not saying I’m going to fall asleep during church but there is always that possibility.  So let’s not take any chances.  Ok, I nodded off, but just once, and only for a brief second, maybe two, or three, or four.  Whose counting anyway.

After church we decided to go for a bite to eat.  The winner came up as

We had lunch here once before and were impressed with the menu, the food, and the service.  Sadly, their breakfast fare and service was not quite up to their lunch selection.  I believe in the future we will go back to The Diner on Route 41 which is on the way home from church.

Tummies full we started for home.  Guess what?  We didn’t have to stop, not even once, not even at one store for a thing.  I wonder how we managed that.  We always seem to need this or that gizmo or thing-a-ma-bob or thing-a-ma-jig.   Who said there is no such thing anymore as miracles.

Home again only one thing to do.  After struggling to get out of bed this morning the best course of action was – you guessed it – take a nap.  So we did.  It’s really nice when you don’t have to worry about something not getting done and you can just lay your head down in the middle of the day and zonk out.  Retirement, it truly is grand.

Refreshed and invigorated the next choice was an easy one.  To the activity hall for the

Let’s be honest there is always time and room for ice cream, we all know that!

The rest of the day was spent doing some more research for campgrounds and routes.  I went over again in my mind what still needed to be done before we leave in two weeks.  The list has dwindled down to just a few odds and ends.  To the best of my ability we’re ready for the wheels to again begin to turn.  Yipee!

Well, day is done, and night, better late than never, has again come upon us.  It was an enjoyable day from start to finish.  Hope your day was pleasant, positive, and enjoyable as well.  I leave you this evening with this thought from Marianne Williamson:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.  Thanks again for sharing our day with us.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before. 

The Sun will, it must, it has to, oh please yes, come out tomorrow!  It started out shining brightly early morning but by afternoon it was gone for good.  Ah well, yes there is always tomorrow and I remain hopeful.  At least we know of one Son that always shines brightly.  Shines with the light of God’s love.  I give thanks for that every day.

People have been leaving in mass all around us.  Which gives me the itch to move even more.  17 days and we will be on the road north to places we’ve never been to before.  Excited?  Yes!  Nervous?  I’d be lying if I said no.   Yet, this is why we chose this lifestyle;  that is to boldly go where we have never been before.  We’ll take it day by day.  Together we’ll meet each challenge as it comes.  Together we’ll enjoy the blessings that God grants us along the way.

Today was a rather ho-hum day in the life of Graybeard and it’s occupants.  Once again we spent most of the day in the RV.  I noticed that after the self leveling jacks were fixed, they would no longer auto level Graybeard.  So I did some digging on the internet, talked to a friend and learned how to reset the computer for the leveling jacks.  Actually, it was quite simple and took less than 2 minutes to do.  I tested them afterwards and, yes, we are back to being able to auto level.  Another new skill learned and filed away in the memory bank.

We ate lunch at home and then left for down town Bushnell where they were holding a car show and a blue grass festival.  Well, that is how it was promoted.  Sadly the car show was only 4 or 5 cars, one of which was a rather unique 1953 Studebaker, take a look

It has a hand built tube frame, and the body is really all fiberglass, the molds taken from an actual 1953 Studebaker.  Yes, it is street legal though I sure would not want to drive it in the rain – it has neither windshield wipers nor side windows!

The festival was really a one band show.  I will say they were really good and we both enjoyed listening to them for the time we were there.  Below are some pictures of the event and the band that was playing for the small but attentive crowd.

After spending some time at the park listening to the band, we left to do some shopping.  Funny, but we always seem to need something from somewhere.

Barb and I really did not do anything major this afternoon.  Just some house chores and then we both worked on the computer, me – looking for campgrounds, Barb – working on taxes and researching places to go.

So, now the day is done and night has come again.  Remember what you have to do tonight?  It’s that time again, time to set the clocks ahead, oh poo, I hate losing an hour.

Once again, we had a great day.  We were able to do something unique again.  We were able to do it together.  Life is so much better when you have someone you love and who loves you at your side.  How about you?  Did you have a great day?  We truly hope so.  If not then tomorrow is coming and you’ll get another shot at it.  Hey, here’s a suggestion tomorrow why  not make the day brighter for just one person other than yourself?  Make an effort to help another person smile and enjoy their day to the fullest.

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.  Thanks again for sharing our day with us.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before. 

Surprises, when good, are always pleasant.  Today we had one of those.  Unfortunately, it was not the return of warm temperatures.  It did not, thankfully, go down as low as they thought it would last night but it was still on the cool side.  That, however,  is why they make coffee pots!  A steaming cup of coffee on mornings like this is really nice.  Regarding coffee we have this down to a science.  Barbara sets up the pot the night before.  In the morning, I get to push the button to start it brewing.  Perfect division of labor!  Then I get to spoil my sweetheart by bringing her cup of coffee to her while she is still in bed.

So what did we do today?  Where did we go?  Absolutely nothing and nowhere.  We had to wait for the tech to come out to finish the hydraulic hoses, that is find the leaking hose (hopefully only one) and replace it.  Remember this is how it all started.

Then came the pleasant and unexpected surprise – it wasn’t the 30 foot hose that was leaking, it was only the fitting on the end.  Yipee!  What this meant simply put was that the bill came to less than 50% of what was expected.  No complaints here.  So everything is put back together, I might add even better than originally.  All the hoses are wrapped in a protective shield to keep them from chaffing.  Also, originally some were in contact with the hot water hose going to the water heater, that is also no longer an issue as those hoses have been moved and shielded as well.  So all’s well that end’s well.

The remainder of the day was spent doing what neither of us wanted to do but Barbara accepted the challenge and began to work on that which had to be done.  Namely,

Come right down to it, if it wasn’t for her they would never get done because I have neither the heart nor the head for such things.  While she was doing that I began, again, to try to locate campgrounds, routes, etc. for the remainder of 2018.  I also did some more research on places to stay in Florida in 2019.  Campgrounds in Florida will, of course, change drastically if we accept the position as workcampers at Dade State Park.

Supper time was a delightful meal of roast chicken made in the convection oven.  Barbara really does have that gizmo down pat.  She can whip up almost anything and everything using it.  Which makes the lack of a traditional oven a non issue.

So, we come to the end for today, end of the blog, end of the day as night envelops us with its darkness.  It was truly a great day again.  The hit on the wallet was less than expected.  The issues that could have hit us hard on the road have been taken care of.  Yes, there will be we expect more issues along the but that’s life in a motor home.  We’ll just have to with God’s help meet and overcome the challenges as they come.  We hope you had a good day as well, maybe even with a few pleasant surprises thrown in.   Now let me share with you a quote that my sister shared with me this morning:

It’s not where you go in life, it’s who you have beside you that matters

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.  Thanks again for sharing our day with us.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before. 

 

Two Down, One to Go.  We’ll get to that.  But first, man oh man it was cold this morning.  I know, nothing like those in the Northeast are suffering through.  I feel your pain.  Understand, though, my blood has already begun to thin and anything under 60 degrees is now winter to me!  Tomorrow morning it appears is going to be even colder.  Ah well, a couple of more layers and I should be fine.  As for tonight, I won’t tell if you don’t but when I walked the dog I actually had a knit hat and gloves on!

Fortified with a couple of cups of coffee and breakfast in the RV finished we were ready to head out.  Where you say?  Why to a very familiar place for us by now.  We were going back to

Dade Battlefield for something neither of us had ever thought of doing in the past.  Hats off to Barbara for discovering this one.   It was a class in pine needle basket making.

Pine needle basket class is for beginner basket makers. It was held at the lodge and led by an experienced instructor working with several knowledgeable assistants.

This is our class gathering together.

These are the materials that you use which are provided to each class participant.  You receive a supply of pine needles, a needle for sewing them together, and raffia straw which is the material that binds it all together.

Here is Barbara diligently working on her basket

Here are some of the previous baskets that were made by our instructor

And here is what we were able to accomplish in the few hours that we were there.  Want to guess which one is mine?

Yup, mine is the coaster for a shot glass on the left!  Barbara’s is, of course, on the right and she brought it home to continue working on it.  I guess we all know who has the pine needle basket weaving talent in this family!

It was a really great way to spend several hours.  To think that I did what I did.  Never in a million years would I have ever thought that I would be doing something like this.  Yet, I really enjoyed it.  Do I have the patience to make another one?  Perhaps.  I can’t wait to see how Barbara’s is going to turn out.

During the class, we happened to get into a discussion on volunteering at the park next winter in exchange for a full hook up site on the premises.  We were given a tour and shown where Graybeard would be parked.  Below are the 30 amp sites and

here are the two 50 amp sites that are currently vacant  because they are short two work campers at this time

We accepted an application but need time to think it over before making a 2 to 3 month commitment.  Whatever decision we make, we’ll let you know when we do.

So back home we went.  After lunch, we sort of just puttered around for a while.  I did some bookkeeping and firmed up some campground reservations.  Barbara began getting things ready for supper, tonight it is going to be eggplant Parmesan.  Though I’m getting ahead of myself, I can tell you it was great!  My wife is a really great cook.  Among many other things.

Ok, two down and one to go.  Jason, our RV tech, was out tonight to take care of the solenoid for the hydraulic pump for the leveling jacks and to replace the missing sway bar bushings.  He started out by telling me “you know they don’t make the solenoid for your pump anymore” and then with a big smile on his face he went on to say “but don’t worry, I have you covered.”  That he did.  He is truly one remarkable tech, easy to work with, always positive, knowledgeable, and has a great can-do attitude.  In short order, the jacks were working again.  Then he tackled the sway bar bushings and quickly had them replaced.

That leaves us with just the original problem, the leaking hydraulic hose.   This, remember, is where it all started and went from there.  The  mobile tech for the hydraulic hose is coming back out tomorrow to finish that up.  That should tidy everything up.

Now to some dominoes and maybe some cut-up strawberries with cream?  We will see what Barb has whipped up this time.

Once again day is done, night is upon us and the temperature is falling like a rock rolling down a hill.  Another great day, one in which we discovered we had talents we never knew of.  Great too in the fact that we had a chance to do something we had never done before.  That is always a lot of fun.  We hope you had a great day as well.  That you had the opportunity to enjoy each moment of the day that God had given you.  If perhaps, however, today was not quite the way you wanted it to be, remember, tomorrow gives you the opportunity to make a new start.  Make the most of it.

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.  Thanks again for sharing our day with us.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before.