Cat-flicted! & happy birthday to me.

 

“Go away!  This is my house!”

My heart got lost a couple of days ago after discovering this critter in the back yard.  After two nights of intermittent sleep and two trips to the vet, it looks like I have a new baby!

Although my heart is in a good place, my head is reeling!  What have I done?  We have worked so hard to eliminate the obstacles to traveling….. quit the part time job, turned the rental property over to a management company and found a part-time home for the two cats we already own.  Why can’t I just be logical, pull up a cold heart and continue simplifying our lives?  I did try….closed the door on him at least twice!

Been so distracted….could not even remember if I put on the rinse while shampooing my hair, missing my turns while driving.   Completely lost my piece of mind, going crazy, letting the little cat’s presence disrupt my flow.

Now, four days into this process, I’m slowly feeling sane again.  It will all work out somehow as the compulsion to rescue him was just too  strong. 

Princess, our 9 year old rescue

New cat…still unnamed…9 months to a year old

I’ve had a birthday during these upsetting few days….now 64 years old!  Can’t help but think….if the new cat lives 20 years, I’ll be 83!  Hope I don’t turn into one of those COCL…(crazy old cat ladies!)…….who am I kidding, I’m already there!

Proud to report that the reflectix project is completed and hope to have a dark trailer while sleeping in Alaska.  I cut out the material larger than the windows and bound it with metal tape.…hope to hold it in place with curtain pins and cubicle clips.

The long one will go above the side dinette tucked behind the overhead lights. (That’s Sheba, the Siamese, caught in the picture.)  The reflectix has great insulating properties but hope we won’t ever need it to protect us from cold.

Besides working on the windows, we have been enjoying the spring weather and playing in the yard.

New bird feeder!

New figs and leaves forming on the fig tree.

Thrift on the driveway wall….

Lots of our flowers came from the former owners.  This looks like a ruffled jonquil…name unknown.

It’s been a week full of birthdays.  Ice cream and cake this afternoon at my mom’s  celebrating 3 generations of birthdays: stepfather, age 87, niece, age 5 and yours truly. 

We should be on the road by the middle of next week heading to the Townsend rally.  The weather forecast looks troublesome but it could always change.  Looking forward to catching up with everyone and seeing the spring wildflowers.

 

 

Maybe I’ll call him Sir William.  He needs to be of royalty to co-exist with a Princess and a Queen Sheba.

 

I’m not the only one smitten.

Spring Thoughts

 

Four years ago this month, after turning 60, I left my full time job.  It was a decision easily made as the husband was retired when we married 13 years ago and he had been patiently waiting for me to be free of the work commitments.

It was easy to leave the job that I disliked....but, hard, due to the fear factor.  The fear of not having enough money,  irrational fears of being homeless and hungry!

Now, approaching my 64th birthday, I’m looking back on a wonderful 4 years, loving the freedom that this life gives me and hoping to be blessed with many more years of happy living!

And the money thing?  There is none to throw around but there’s always enough to do what needs to be done.  Years ago, when gainfully employed, I would not thought of enjoying NOT spending money!

Contemplating life is one of the great things I get to do with my freedom.  Getting up early, making the coffee and watching the sun peep over the ridge from the warmth of my kitchen. Feeling grateful for life.

No, this is not through the kitchen window but dawn at Chester Frost park just north of Chattanooga.  Contemplating, again, how grateful we are to be able to travel and come home to a beautiful area.

Speaking of travel…..

No progress to report on the reflectix window project.  I did go back and get the longer length, hoping to be able to secure the coverings without velcro.

Also no progress on the solar panel redo.  While looking at the forums, found someone was using piano hinges to secure individual panels.  Guess we will try that.

Evenings have been spent perusing The Milepost, an Alaskan travel planner and reading blogs of others who have made the trip.  It feels overwhelming when imagining the distance, so I’m just going to ignore it.

During the daylight hours we have been getting exercise by working in the yard and walking.  Inspired by reading too many cooking blogs, I made a place under the steps to use the dutch oven.  Hubby has always been in charge of the outdoor cooking so it was a first for me when I made City Chicken…….

http://dutchovenmadness.blogspot.com/2010/06/day-160-city-chicken.html

Other than wasting lots of charcoal briquettes (none were needed for the lid), it turned out great!  Wish I had a photo!

In a few weeks we will be heading to the Smoky Mountains and the spring rally in Townsend.  There were over 80 trailers last year… and more expected this year.

2011 Eggscursion

The spring wildflowers are always peaking during the rally.

Maidenhair Fern

Dogwood at Cades Cove campground….Smoky Mountains National Park

Glad it’s finally spring…thought it was never going to show.

Good times are happening now, good times coming in the future.  Who could want more?

 

 

Happy!

 

This morning I awaken happy….and then wonder why?

Is it because we are planning our “trip of all trips”?  Is it because spring is really coming?  Is it because we are healthy enough to enjoy exercising?  Not sure what the answer is but I will take these happy feelings anytime they want to show.

We are simultaneously working on the house, yard and Casita.  Doing some clearing of surplus kitchen wares, chucking out the unused items.  How did we ever manage to collect so much stuff?  When traveling, the Casita kitchen drawer has 6 spoons, 4 forks and miscellaneous knives.  Not paring (pun) that far down but attempting to drastically reduce unnecessary items.

Our yard is alternately a source of joy and a crushing burden.  Twelve years have been spent playing in the dirt…digging, planting, weeding.  Now, due to our traveling, guilty feelings over plant mistreatment are emerging.

Spending the afternoon trimming bushes and pulling weeds reignited my plant passion.  Underneath a layer of leaves, sticks and vines were tiny shasta daisys, black-eyed susans and larkspur.  My once prized day lilies were smothered in weeds, their nametags bent and crushed into the ground. 

Dear plants…I promise to take care of you for the next 8 weeks.  Then you are on your own again!

Yesterday involved a trip to Lowes looking for unnamed items  needed for the Casita.  They were unnamed because we saw several things at the rally and did not know what to call them.  Every time a clerk would say “May I help you?”, we would start describing a product, they would scratch their head, lead us to an aisle, leaving us looking.

Trying to figure how to easily cover our Casita windows to block out light.  We still have our blinds and not interested in making another set of curtains….been there, done that and got the T-shirt when we had the 13 footer!

Remembering someone discussing Reflectix and not paying attention ‘cause of having no intentions of being anywhere cold.  Found it a Lowe’s and guess we’ll try it to darken the windows.

Another project will be converting our solar panels to a more user friendly arrangement.  While in Arizona last year we purchased an inexpensive Harbour Freight 45 watt solar kit.  Rather than getting rid of it and buying something new (and more expensive), the goal is to find a way to store and set up it up easily.  Thought about putting hinges on two of the three panels.  Does anyone know the results of putting screws in the sides of solar panels?

Can’t quit this post without showing some pictures.  Took a walk down memory lane when I found these old pictures from 2010 to 2012. 

They will need to bloom without us this year!

Spring Snow: Ten Good Things!

 

I’m sitting at the kitchen table watching the snow flakes meander through the back yard.  I can’t believe my eyes but, outside, the bitter howling wind tells me it’s real though it’s been spring for a week.

Surely Mother Nature had something positive in mind when she refused to admit Spring!  Can I think of anything good about this?

1. Lovely to look at, snow contrasting with new green grass.
2. My fuzzy new winter coat will get to be worn.
3. This dose of winter will make us appreciate the warmth when it comes…if it comes!
4. Can’t wash the Casita!
5. Lots of time to prepare the taxes as there is no desire to go outside.
6. Can look forward to a tasty meal of Wendy’s chili tonight….chili is better when it’s cold outside.
7. The cold will help kill the bugs…..(heard this all my life and hope it’s true).
8. Reminds me why I am glad to be a southerner.  Can’t fathom 14 inches…(better you than me, Carla!)
9. Lesson learned!  If you are somewhere warm, stay there until April!
10. And, the best thing, it will be gone soon!

Desperately clutching at straws here!

One more wintry day before the temperature starts climbing toward the 60’s.

BACKTRACKING……

Last Monday night, while still at Miller’s Ferry, a huge storm hit us with lightening, rain, wind and hail.  The new antenna was lowered and we hunkered down, watching the hail pile up outside and weathering our first storm in a long time. 

A few days later we are heading to the fiberglass egg rally at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, AL. 

 

This is a great place for a rally!  The park had electric, water and sewer hookups, an enclosed pavilion with a fireplace and was located on a lake.  Sounds like a great egg gathering!

But it was 26 degrees Thursday morning and we wimped out, leaving after 24 hours of fighting the brutal wind.  I was ready to be home, out of the cold. 

Florence, Alabama friends’ egg.

No plans to travel for a few weeks…it’s time to work around the house and yard…..when we can!

 

Five Fast Days! The 2013 GE&H

 

Can’t believe that it’s over!  I’m talking about our first trip to the Green Eggs and Ham rally that’s held at Miller’s Ferry in Camden, AL.  This is a fiberglass egg celebration with a St Patty’s Day theme.

On arrival last Tuesday we are disappointed to have reserved a campsite so far from the central hub of activity.  The letdown did not last long as a bitter cold wind is blowing across the lake forcing those with the prime lakefront sites to huddle down in their campers.  Meanwhile we are basking in the warm morning sun, the wind blocked by the thick foliage.   Our site is on an inlet, far from the river, and it’s situated so we can slip our kayaks into the stream.

This is our view from back window.  Alligators were reported to live here but none are sighted.

It appears that we are all alone…..and we are!

Peaceful, quiet, spending our time watching the egrets and turtles.  But this is not why we drove 275 miles!  We came to socialize!

On Friday, with the temps rising into the 70’s, we found ourselves moving to a river front site, closer to friends, but still private.

We are feeling like we’re in a brand new campground…with morning sun and afternoon shade.

This is the unopened pot from the chili dump, my first night of overeating.

If there is a complaint about the rally, it is that the food is too good and too abundant!  The first night started with chili, progressed to gumbo and ended with an unbelievable pot luck.

Eating and socializing pavilion.

Morning tech talk led by Ray.

Friday’s egg parade…(where everyone got a chance to show off their camper.)

Little Snoozy

Primary occupant of the Little Snoozy

Our Texas friends with their Escape.

 

Kentucky friends!

The sites are so spacious, some trailers double on a single site.

More of the Texas Casitas.

 

Sunset from site 21.

Bridge over Alabama River and hubby in kayak.

 

Our new walmart TV antenna and painter’s pole mast…..works great.  Good Morning America!

Yesterday the masses left and it seemed like a good time to host a dinner party for a few old friends.  Not experienced in camp entertaining, we opted for burgers and dogs.

Hubby tending the charcoal.

Guests arrive!

Lovely evening…note to self…must do more of this!

Today finds us alone again with the last egg pulling out this morning.  And we are dug in for a few days until it’s time to head to another rally in Alabama at Joe Wheeler State Park.

Any one want to join us?