For anyone interested here is my new blog:   http://oregonthroughmyeyes.blogspot.com/
Pictures of Oregon, friends and stories

Home, new blog

Now that I am home I won't be posting anymore every day but will try to update once in a while.

I am starting a new blog, I will let you know when I get it up and running. It is about home, Oregon through my eyes

Home sweet Home

I have been home for two weeks now. It has been a very busy time. I have got to see two of my daughters, my son and one grandson. I finally got to go out to the sagebrush country yesterday and I can't tell you how good it is to be home.

Jeep made it to Oregon in fine shape and I think it belongs in Central Oregon. The color fits so well with the sagebrush and juniper.

Oregon

well I am back in Oregon, I can't explain how good it is to see a pine tree, a fir tree and a juniper tree. I love the smells, I want to just stick my head outside and breathe. Whoops, way to cold out there for that, it was 29 degrees this morning. The snow covered mountains are beautiful! I love the Cascades and I can't quit looking at them, wish there weren't so many clouds where I could see them better.

We had wind, heavy winds, strong winds, sideways, head-on, tail winds all the way from Arizona to upper California.  Then we had light winds until just past the Oregon border and now we have a slight breeze carrying all those wonderful smells of pine trees my way, sagebrush, juniper trees, oh how I love the smell of home.

My daughters are planning a big surprise for my mom and part of a surprise for me so we can't get to Madras before noon when they are ready so we are goofing around this morning.

My shoulders, arms, thumbs and neck are still sore and stiff from fighting this big long rig in all those strong winds but they feel much better this morning then they did yesterday.

As excited as I was when I saw the sign "Welcome to Oregon" I can only imagine how the excitement will mount as I get even closer to home

be safe everyone

Sunshine is back

The sunshine is back!  I don't know if it will last all day but it is back this morning. It was cold last night and the furnace kicked in several times.

I am waiting to see if they call about the Jeep. Maybe tomorrow or the next day we can head for Oregon. Keep your fingers crossed.

weird weather

Blizzard conditions in Arizona and 82 degrees in Minnesota, now what is wrong with this picture? We have had rain, wind, hail here and the hills around here have snow and some parts got 30inches of snow.

Be safe everyone

Marriage

Today my big brother gets married and I am broke down in Arizona. I wish him the best. He is marrying his best friend of the last 10 years. I wish him the best. Hugs across the miles.

It rained last night, it rained hard but did not hit with force so it did not sound like I was inside a drum in fact it was quite relaxing. It settled the dust and I bet it makes a lot of the cactus bloom.

Have a great day and be safe

I think it is going to rain this weekend

Woke up this morning to cloudy skies and warm.  It is suppose to rain which will be cool because it will settle the dust and make all the cactus that is budding to bloom. I have so many that are real near blooming and I am sure this will make them come alive. I am excited on both accounts. It is suppose to be windy too and that I am not looking forward to.

They say a thunderstorm is coming tomorrow too...I am curious as to how bad that will be. I have heard they have some really awesome storms down here.

The birds and rabbits were everywhere this morning. I actually got to take some photos again. One little bird was getting stuff for a nest.  There were 5 little rabbits at once in the yard.

I am going to go see if I got any good photos and if I did I will post them.  Everyone have a safe and fun day

banks suck sometimes

Yucky so far today, something will go right today, I swear it will.  After all the problems we have had this last month I am so ready to go home and not go anywhere!!!!

Went to use my credit card which has 16,000 credit limit on it and nothing on it, paid in full last month and they would not take it at WalMart....called the bank....finally got it straightened out..Man what a pain in the neck. Did some yelling today and I am in a rotten mood. I need to go to the boonies and have a talk with God about my attitude and I will as soon as I get the Jeep going. I might just go spend several days in the boonies when I get home and only come home to sleep....lol  I need a long attitude adjustment time....Not really, I will be fine I just was embarrassed and mad but it is taken care of now so I need to get over it.

Got the motorhome all pre tripped to go home again, now all I need is a phone call saying come get your Jeep. Well I might still not come home for a few days, wind storms predicted all the way the next 3 days and then snow from northern California at night and cold at night. We will see. I sure don't want really strong winds.  We have until the 23rd before our rent here comes due again.

Have a great day and be safe

sunny exciting day

Today is exciting...I might have a Jeep tomorrow or Monday.

Problem day as I need to go to get our meds in Parker if Jeep is not going to be done in the am. Waiting for 10 to call and find out if they know  yet.  I would have someone pick them up when they go to Parker tomorrow but need to use credit card as I don't have that much cash left and they shut my card off as someone tried to use the number in New York to get a hotel room so I can't go to cash machine.  Oh the problems of being out of town. It is amazing what problems arise when you don't have a car. If the price of gas was not so high I would just drive the motor home but 100 miles in the RV is expensive.

The school bus wreck in the US today with over 24 on the bus. A semi crossed the line and hit them almost head on....How sad but at least it wasn't like Switzerland so far most of the kids anyway have lived. No reports of any deaths to the kids, wish I could say the same thing for the adults.  Pray for all

bad Jeep news

Well the insurance company will not pay for Jeep, they said they have to have some physical evidence that I hit something to be able to pay. Your word is useless anymore. Oh well life goes on. this has been an expensive winter trip to Arizona for us and will effect our summer plans that is for sure.

In the 80's yesterday and again today and snow at home.  They said a winter storm was coming in this weekend and the temps will drop significantly, yep down the the high 60's...lol  that to me is not a winter storm, that is a summer storm.

They are working on the Jeep and they are trying to get it done by Friday but it might be next week but at least we have a estimate of when we can go home. Since it will be within a week we are going to wait for it and take it with us. Hope it does not do this again on the way home, it it does I am shoving it off a cliff....lol  Or at least running it into a pole....I love my Jeep and I want it to be ok.

The dealership fought for us and the claims adjuster had to take it to her boss but I still lost. Why do we pay insurance.  We have had that insurance for years with only one claim on a wind damage that ripped the sun visor off...I got my license the day I turned 16 and was insured by this company. The 27 years I was married I had a different insurance from 1964 to 2001 then back to this insurance since 2001.  We have our house, RV, horse trailer, pickup, car, motorcycle, Jeep, place all on that policy and we have paid for years and years and no claims. My driving record is totally clean, and I finally have a claim and they say "nope", we need proof that it actually happened that way......................gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr to

Well life goes on and so do I.  I am going to concentrate on the fact I get to go home!!  I get to see my kids, my horses, my friends, my mountains, my sagebrush, my juniper, my cats and on and on...I am so excited

Sunny in Salome

I look at the photos of Oregon, snow west of the mountains too, even the coast. One friend posted pictures of 5" of snow in one night. Guess I am glad I am broke down here in the sunshine.

It is hard to be grounded. I am going to make up my mind tonight on if I am leaving Jeep here and going home and getting Jeep whenever they make up their minds. Larry Green Auto is fantastic, the Jeep dealership, they said to go ahead and do whatever I needed to do and they will fax me stuff or do whatever I need to be able to finish this from Oregon. They said they will release the Jeep to my daughter to pickup if that is what I want too. I love Larry Green Auto, wish they were in Oregon I would probably deal with them for all car purchases, great friendly helpful group of people. Wish I could say as much for the after market warranty or the car insurance but I might be saying "they were great just slow"...lol

Have a great day

Good news this morning but isn't about the Jeep

My daughter who had pneumonia fever is gone this morning and she is better. Great news!

Also found out someone who is very dear to me is getting married next week. They aren't telling anyone yet but it sure is exciting news.

Yesterday I was suppose to think of a project but did nothing but goof off the whole day, played on Facebook games, visited the neighbors, took a nap, read...yep that is all so I really don't have any news this morning.

If I can't find a doctor to take care of moms problem I am going to have to leave the Jeep here and head for Oregon and either come back and get Jeep or let my daughter drive it to Madras and fly back to Phoenix. So I might have some news about the Jeep, does it go to Oregon or get left here.......

Have a safe day filled with love and laughter

Bath day

I just love having dogs when it is bath day time. I must admit my little Paco was a whole lot better then he has ever been before. Freckles ears were dirtier then the whole rest of his body but he is always so good in the bath. YoYo was a good boy. It is impossible to bathe Hank right without lots of water pressure or a big tub, that double hair of the Aussie the water just runs right off him even when I scrub but he was by far the cleanest of all because I think the dirt can't get through all that hair either.

Gets harder every day to sit in this motor home with no car to go anywhere. The cactus in the desert are starting to bloom, people are talking about seeing big horned sheep etc and here I set with the boob tube to look at. I am thankful that I do have a boob tube where I have something to stare at but the walls.

Not quite sure what my project for the day will be, maybe I will clean out and organize the big outside cabinet.

Have a great day and be safe

Yesterday

I did not accomplish much of anything yesterday.  The neighbors dog got into the cactus and got it in his leg then he tried to pull them out with his mouth and got his mouth full.  We held him and pulled them all out again. OUCH! I hope he learned a lesson. Some dogs get a porcupine and then leave them alone, some get a porcupine and try their best to bite and kill any they see after that.  He is a Beagle and has that howl instead of a bark, you always know when it is him that is barking. I am sure it is quite a week for him since he just got here from Montana.

Just waiting to see what today brings, so far sunshine and no wind. It was so nice at 6:30 when I took the dogs out so I think it might get hot. I can't believe it is time to spring ahead and I am still in Arizona and can't go look at all the cactus and animals. Hopefully Jeep will be done soon or at least the insurance company say they are paying for it..

A friend of mine posted on Facebook about two different gun incidents at small schools in Eastern Oregon. Sure is scary and I sure hope that parents start getting involved in their kids lives. It can happen anywhere at anytime. It is a parental society issue not a gun issue. We all had guns in our cars growing up as we were farm kids and no one got shot or even threatened with one.

Have a great safe day

Good Morning with no wind

The wind quit about 9:05 last night and by 9:07 I think I was asleep and boy I slept like a log all night. I did not want to get up this am as I wanted to hit the snooze alarm and go back to sleep but mom won't let me hit her dogs so I got up....

You don't know how good it is to walk on a floor that does not rock and roll unless you have been on the ocean. It was warmer this morning too without the wind. I did not freeze when I took the dogs out. Yesterday was warm out of the wind but that wind was COLD.

Going to spend the day hoping for a phone call saying "ok we are taking care of the Jeep and you can pick it up next Wednesday". See I am getting specific about my hopes...maybe that will help.  Either way we will take care of what needs taking care of and be on our way to Oregon. I have to get home in time to do my taxes.. maybe the government will give me enough to pay for my Jeep...ha ha. I am not poor enough for the government to help me but I might be after I pay for the Jeep...

Have a great day and remember to count your blessings as it will help you get through those rough times  Stay safe and have a safe and fun day filled with love and hugs

When the wind blows, it blows hard

Holy cow the wind blew last night. I was afraid it was going to rip the covers off the slides or ruin them. This RV was a rolling around like a ship on the sea again but it came from a different directions and was really doing a number on the slides so I put them in.  that means I sleep on the couch without it being made down or in the recliner chair.  Sleep, yeah right with the wind rolling us around and sounding like it was tearing half the neighborhood apart. No sleep. Today every time I tried to take a nap the phone would ring or the dog would want out so no nap either.  I am so tired my eyes do not want to read at all.

The wind went away around 4 and I was thinking I could not believe how quiet it was and then BOOM here it comes again, we are rocking and rolling again but doesn't sound like it is tearing the slides off yet.  No wind advisories so hopefully it will shut up when the sun goes down as I really want to sleep tonight.

I did not hear from the insurance company today and neither did the dealer so I guess no word is a good word...right????  I tried to call them but just got a recording and no one called me back yet, maybe tomorrow morning.

I want to go home!  Do you think it has to do with the fact I can't go home that I want to so bad???? I think it does

Friend from the past

Had a visitor today from Madras that I had not seen since the 60's and we had a blast visiting and catching up on everyone we had seen.

Wind Advisory

We have a wind and blowing sand advisory today. Suppose to have gusts up to 60 miles per hour. I sure hope it comes from the right direction or I am going to have to put in my slides and then it is a small area in here. I think it is funny cause we did fine in a shorter motor home with no slides for years but now we have got used to this one with the 3 slides we think we are mistreated if we have to close them....I will be happy as long as nothing gets damaged.

My friends cousin got here from Montana yesterday. Gee they waited for winter to be over and then came down..lol  Nice people and they added a beagle to our mixture of dogs. At least when someone has dogs they don't get as mad at yours if it barks or gets away and poops somewhere it shouldn't.  I had my trusty one at the neighbors the other day and all of a sudden he squats and BOOM. I had no bags with me so I had to walk home and get the bags and then walk back and clean it up..Good exercise. I think that is why people with dogs live longer is because they keep you active and give you lots of love.

Have a great day

Tired of hearing today is the day

I waited all day for that call and it never came. Just before closing I called the dealership to see if the claims adjuster even showed up. They said he was there early this morning and said they would hear by closing time. Well they never heard again so I called the number for info on your claim at my insurance company and guess what the lady doing my claim won't even be in the office until sometime today...........grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr  so it is another day waiting at the phone.  Come on people, I need to go home, my mom already missed her doctors appointment, we need to get home

Today is the day

Today is the day the claims adjuster is suppose to be here to see the Jeep and then maybe I will know something and can start working on getting home. Being broke down is not fun in more ways then one. We have got so used to having a car being without one is not fun. I should have tried to get my bicycle off the rack and into the motor home where I had some kind of wheels. It is 50 miles to a grocery store or WalMart of anything here and it is 4 or 5 miles to the little 7-11 store her in Salome. Another problem when you like the boonies...lol

Sure put the wrench in the plans we had for a week ago. I am so afraid that it is going to be so long before I get to go home that the plans are not going to work at all...so is life. We are all healthy and have a place to stay which is more then most people who break down for weeks have.

I want to tell the insurance company, who cares what happened just fix my Jeep, I mean come on if I run a stop sign and run into something it is my fault and they fix it, if a rock falls on my car they fix it, if I fall asleep they fix it, if a deer runs out in front of me they fix it, if a drunk hits me they fix it. Fix it and then we will figure out what happened. I want to go home. I really need to be there at least one week before spring break and mom is already weeks past her doctors appointment.

Ok enough whining, got a friend that might come by today and I am waiting for a phone call finally so it is a good day. God bless and be safe

Good morning sunshine

woke up to a beautiful morning. Sounds like it is sunny and beautiful in Oregon to.  I did not sleep well last night, suppose to know something about the Jeep  Monday so I was spending the night thinking of all the alternatives and what we would do with each one...and then the blasted dogs got up at 6....ggrrrrrrrrrr

Had fun last night we went to dinner with some friends down at KOFA cafe between hope and Brenda and it was good. We even had banana splits for dessert. Yummy, been a long time since I have had ice cream and I am an ice cream lover so it was a real treat.

One of the couples that came was friends of my friend and are from Maine. He has a great sense of humor and an accent that is darling. Did not get to talk to the wife very long but they sure seemed nice.

Watching politics this morning, oh boy, who do you believe, they all have their own stories and it is which ones benefits them not us.

Going to be a long day today and tomorrow waiting to hear about my Jeep...Man this is not the way I wanted to end our first long vacation of retirement wondering if I have to go back to work to pay for the Jeep.

Have a safe day and count your blessings. So glad to see that the tornadoes back east are gone, those poor people. Now the tornadoes are gone the scum bags start trying to get money from their pain, I hate that, these people have been through enough, leave them alone and earn your own money and give part of it to them instead of taking what others give for yourselves.

Sunshine again

Today is a sunny day with no wind, not even a breeze so far, the garage sale stuff is sitting there and we don't have to chase anything down.

I feel so sorry for all the people who have lost loved ones in the storms. I HATE tornadoes with a passion. I think of all the destruction and feel so sad and here I was whining because my Jeep was toast, these people lost their vehicles, their homes, their family heirlooms, their lives, their schools so very much worse then a Jeep that is for sure. I mean come on I still have another rig at home and yes I still have a home. How very sad. These are the people we should be helping with money etc instead of people who don't want to work.......or don't want to work at a job that pays less then what they used to make, a job is a job and then work your way back home but these people had no control over what happened to them and they will be working from scratch and they will be working at it.  My heart just bleeds for them. Then their are the non-workers who will be running scams trying to get these peoples donations...........heartless!

Enough preaching but I really feel for them and someone always takes advantage of a crisis and tries to make money for themselves out of the money donated.

Be safe and God bless, prayers and hugs for all those involved in the storms

News on Jeep will come Monday

Claims adjuster said he could not get to see the Jeep until Monday and then maybe I will know something. I just want it done and head back for Madras.

Garage sale went better then what I thought in this wind. Lots of people came and caps were a big hit. Tomorrow it is not suppose to be so windy and maybe we can put some more stuff out that won't blow away.

Friday

Today is the day I am hoping to get some final word on the Jeep, scary but hoping for the best. I LOVE that Jeep and I am afraid they will total it. Then I have to figure out how to get salvage rights etc...I just want them to fix it where I can go  home. I know for a fact I had it in neutral when I pulled out as I had my mom move where I could test it by putting it in gear and trying to go and it would not move and then I pulled it up to the motor home by myself and I have witness's so who knows.

Today is garage sale day on Colena Ave, well the only thing out for garage sale is WIND and then wind gusts that blow the tables over and nothing on any tables yet, it would just blow away if you did put stuff out there and it is suppose to last all day long so I bet tomorrow will be the only day of garage sale instead of Friday and Saturday.

I am so ready to go home. This sitting in a motor home with no car to go anywhere sucks but I am so lucky I was close enough I could come back to Salome where I have friends that will run me to the store etc and we can play games with. I am also really lucky that I fixed the TV where we have something to do. Kind of fun to have tv without having it for 4 months. It would not have been the treat it is if we would have had it all along. God works in mysterious ways as now we love watching TV.

Have a great safe day

bad news

They said the Jeep's engine and differential are both bad as it was towed in 4L and the warranty people won't pay. I put that dang thing in neutral and put it in gear and it did not go anywhere. They said it could have popped into gear and that my car insurance should pay so today we will see about that.

Problems, problems but so much less then the parents of the Ohio school shooting or the tornado victims from last night...Sad times

Prayers for all who hurt, going to be a day of phones calls that is for sure

Today should be the day

Well they said yesterday I should hear about the Jeep that evening or this morning. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear when I get my Jeep back.

It rained last night, yep rain in Arizona. The wind was not as bad as I was afraid it was going to be. I guess Phoenix area got hit pretty hard. We could see it in the distance, all dusty but either it was the direction it was hitting the RV or we did not get it as hard as expected.

Today dawned bright and sunny with a slight breeze, damp ground.

Will let you know as soon as I hear about my Jeep.

Yesterday was a sad day, friend had a friend lose their young child to cancer. My daughter had a kid a year older then hers at the school die in a car accident. Now 2 have died from a school shooting in Ohio, and on and on.  Boy I am sure counting my blessings, I am so blessed compared to others. Thank you God for being so good to me and please give your love to the ones who have wet pillows this day, I wish so much the world was a safe place

Pizza party was great

Had a pizza party at Rae Ellen's last night, yummy pizza, salad, pumpkin bread and good company.

Then we played King's Corners and Golf. I won a Corners but Golf and me are about the same as a game of real golf and me, not good but funny.

Watched the Oscars kind of, I was reading my nook and looking up when something interesting was on like Circus olay (can't spell it).

Today is a waiting day...sitting around waiting for them to call about the Jeep, nervous day, stressful. I sure would love to get it back by Wednesday where I could go home. I am really homesick. I think I am mainly homesick because things are going wrong with the Jeep. You always want to be home when you are sick or upset.

I do love Salome, Az though. The only problem with Salome is having to drive 50 miles for anything except auto care, the Napa Auto shop is FANTASTIC.  We do have a couple of little 7-11 and one cafe and a post office and welding shop. Have RV repair and handyman, small and I mean small hardware store.

Ok off for my day of waiting...Have great and safe day

Oscar night

I understand tonight is the Oscars, I have not even seen any of the movies. I did read the book "The Help" and I liked it.

Got some more deep cleaning done, some more thinking about what could have happened to the Jeep and still at a loss.

Another sunny day but it is suppose to be gearing up for some high winds tonight and tomorrow. I hope they don't catch us sideways again, we will be sea sick. Suppose to be up to around 80 again today.

The price of gas is going up so fast that if they don't hurry up and get the Jeep done I am not going to be able to afford to go home...I think I need a tail wind all the way. It was already going to cost us more to go home and we are climbing most of the way home.

Going over to Rae Ellens this afternoon for pizza..yummy yummy

Stay safe and see you tomorrow

My Cockatiel named Buddy

We brought our birds with us for the winter and Buddy, the cockatiel has learned many new bird sounds. He can be a mourning dove, a quail and some back bird that makes some really weird sounds. He loves to talk the most early in the morning right after sunrise when it is nice and quiet. He is so cute!  Love my Buddy bird

I can't go anywhere to take pictures until Jeep gets out of hospital so I took some sunset pictures from the window of our RV

Flowers starting to bloom in desert

One of the hills out the window of the RV towing Jeep to the Jeep hospital

Ok I am back

Been to busy with the Jeep I have not been good with posting. Part of it was just plain being depressed and not feeling like writing. I just can't figure out what happened and I do love that Jeep.

Anyway they have taken off the oil pan and the head and now we are waiting for the warranty people to decide what happened and if they are going to pay for it.

The good news is that my family is healthy, my friends are great and the desert is starting to bloom. Can't go to take pictures but I took some sunset pictures from our RV in the lot.

Have a great day and count your blessings, makes me realize the Jeep problem really is a small one compared to what so many are having to go through

Reason to worry

Ok I had reason to worry, new starter did not work, had to tow the Jeep to the Jeep dealership where I bought it. They are behind and will get to it Tuesday or Wednesday. Does not sound good but they think they can get it covered by warranty so that sounds good. I am just sick, I love that Jeep. I also love the dealership I bought it at so maybe things will work out.  It did not do any good when they told me when I cried so today I go on with life and figure out what to do with my lemons.

If you are ever near Salome, Arizona or Quartzsite area drive to Salome to Growers Napa and Auto, they are FANTASTIC group of guys to work with. I am their biggest fan!  They treat you the way a customer loves to be treated and they are honest.  I back them 100%.  They are right on Hwy 60 on the west side of Salome. Well worth the drive from Wickenburg, Quartzsite, Wenden or anywhere else in the area.

I got the satellite fixed in the RV since we are housebound for a week and it sucked to watch the news after 4 months. What a rotten world we live in anymore. Time for the silent majority to stand up and take a stand instead of the two extreme ends. I know there is lots of nice people out there that still have common sense and are hard working.

Off to clean motor home. Maybe I won't have so much cleaning to do when I get home now I have time to spend inside...lol

waiting, worrying, waiting

Sitting her thinking my part should be in today. I sure hope so. I want to get this waiting and worrying over with. I am much better at dealing with something once I know the facts of what I  have to do. I hate this waiting and worrying and my worrying is usually worse then what it turns out to be.  I want my Jeep fixed. Pittsville without the Jeep, can't go anywhere. My friend is so sweet and said I could borrow one of their cars but I don't feel comfortable with that since I broke mine I sure don't want to break theirs. I would borrow it in an emergency but not to just play around.

I don't think we are going to hit weather to go home until next week sometime now we missed this window but I am NOT going to unlock that trike. That is the biggest thing to getting ready to go, it is staying on the rack and the dogs can just stay home if we go somewhere. Loading that trike flat sucks and it is on there so good I will probably need help getting it off...lol

Well I have all the laundry caught up maybe I will wash windows today...maybe shampoo rugs...maybe wax all the woodwork, gee I bet mom wishes we were broke down more often, I get more done....

Have a great day, be safe, and God bless

Wind storm in Central Oregon

Was reading on the internet of the trees coming down on the north end of the reservation at home. Sounds like they are really getting it.

Nice and warm here last night, 46 degrees, sun is out and suppose to be up to 77 to 80 today.

We are still waiting for part for the Jeep. I am still really depressed about it. I am sure it is something I did wrong and now I am terrified I will do something again.  Lessons learned can be expensive but I think I have it all figured out now, I sure hope so.  I just love that Jeep. It is the most favorite vehicle by far that I have ever owned. Subaru coming in second and my pickup third and my Jimmy fourth. When I had the Jimmy I never thought a vehicle would get ahead of it but.......This Jeep is amazing, comfortable, goes anywhere, reliable unless I screw up, pretty, good gas mileage for 4x4, good AC, good heater, good radio, good CD player and on and on.

Going to hook back up to sewer this morning because it looks like a storm is coming in and it will be next  week now before we get a window to head for home. Will be watching it daily and if the Jeep gets done and nothing else is wrong with it we will head out if possible, staying ready to go. Going to do up laundry, might as well since I can't go anywhere...lol

Stay safe and pray for my poor Jeep that I did not do any damage to it

broke down already...ha ha guess we were not meant to leave today

Well we made it a few blocks... We broke down, the part should be in a couple of days. I am so glad if we were going to break down it was in Salome because I love Napa Auto parts and service here. It is called Growers and they are fantastic and they are honest. They have taken good care of us and they are taking care of us again.  They got the pre-authorization for warranty to cover part and we will be on the road again as soon as part gets here.  If you are ever in the Salome area go see Doug at Growers, they will do a good job for you.  We have been using them for stuff since we got here and I have not one complaint.

Well keep everyone advised on getting started again.  A lot will depend on the weather

Headed home

Today is the big day, we are headed home. I have some stuff to do but hoping to get out of here before to long. Going to take a leisurely drive home. No rush, enjoying scenery. If the roads get bad we will hold up and wait the storm out. I see where our home town has wind warnings out until Wednesday night so don't want to get there to soon...lol  No way we can get there by then unless we were driving 14 hrs a day.

Everyone have a great day....be safe, fill your day with love, laughter and hugs

part of mom's art set up at craft show

interesting time

It has been an interesting couple of days. Had to take my mom in to the hospital (55) miles away to have her checked out then she had to go back this morning to get an ultra sound but she is all cleared and ready to head for Oregon.

Got the motorhome almost ready to go in the morning, just have to hook up the Jeep. It is all ready and pulled up to the motorhome but did not hook it up in case I need it tonight. Checked all the fluids in the RV and tomorrow I just need to unhook, clean the gray and black tanks where we will be empty to head home and off we go, Oregon here we come. I am so excited. It will be nice to be home but I am so going to miss the life we lead down here and especially all the new friends I have made.  It is hard when you are anxious to see old friends and family and said to leave new friends and family.

Next year we will be a lot smarter then we were this year and many things are staying home next year. Also going to find a doctor,have mom's recommend one where she can do the things she needs to do without going home. I am so glad she is healthy.

Many friends say they are coming with us next year and I have 3 lots to rent them so they had better get their bid in early...lol

craft show day

Off bright and early for craft show, going to be a long day and we are already tired. Have a great day and be safe

craft show

Today is the busy day, got to load up RV and got get propane and then start loading pictures and paintings and tables etc in Jeep to set up this afternoon for the craft show tomorrow at the chili feed. Everyone come on down.

Everything was so blue in the desert this morning you would think I had a blue filter on my camera but I swear I didn't

I just love this mourning dove sitting atop the flag pole. I also love listening to them coo

Heading home soon

So many mixed feelings about going home. I will so miss my new friends. I will miss the band jams, the potlucks, the art club, the scenery, the friendliness of the people. I will enjoy so much seeing my beloved Cascades, juniper, sagebrush, canyons and my other two girls and my friends.

I will love having a washer that holds more clothes at a time and a big dryer. I will miss my gas stove top but love having an electric oven. I will love having my big kitchen aid mixer and bread maker.

I will love having  fenced yard where I can just open the door and let the dogs out when they need to go especially in the wee hours or the middle of the night, those are the ones I really hate or when the wind is blowing and cold. The rest of the time I enjoy taking them for walks.

I will love having a bed again that I don't have to fold up and put away every morning. I might even like laying in bed watching tv but I am so hooked on reading my nook I bet I do more of that then TV.

I will love having a craft area again even if it is messy but I miss doing crafts.

I will love having the big shower with Madras water pressure. I am going to also have a Calgon moment evening in the bathtub.

I will sure enjoy the wood stove and the pellet stove, how much you want to bet I use both of them the first night I am home. Nothing heats like a wood stove and it is such a stress reliever. Not much better then curling up in a comfortable chair, a cup of hot chocolate, a Nook or book in front of a roaring fire to destress you on a cold day.

I will enjoy having my big desktop computer too though my little lap top has been great and the motorhome is set up where I have a computer station up front on the passenger side but the printer sets over one of the big glove boxes so you can't open it without moving printer so I took almost everything we use very often out and put papers in it like insurance etc that we don't use but have to have.

The phone will be nice, there is no place in the motor home that a regular phone works at well, right now it sits by the drivers seat on the floor, it could set where the printer is but I use the printer more then the phone. The extension phone sits on the table hid among all of moms art supplies.  I do like having our home phone with us and we have had that number since the early 50's but transferred it to Verizon too, and yes you use your regular phone from the house. Mom likes it better then a cell phone, she says she can hear better over the handset.  She likes her ear piece for the cell phone but never has it on. You plug your extension phones in just like at home too. We can use it going down the road but the extensions won't work unless plugged into electric, just the main phone.

I will love having my recliner chair again. We have a small one in the motor home but mom grabs it ASAP...I get the couch but usually I am in the front at the computer.

Well I need to get off here and get something done or else go have some fun....Have a safe day filled with laughter and love

These cloudy days make good sunsets

Our little home away from home seen at the bottom of the picture is Indian Hills where we live

I love all the colors, it looks like a brush swipe cross the center of the sky but that is blue sky showing through

I love all the pinks and purples of the desert

Spooky night on the desert especially since second photo was taken after the first one and it was lighter... weird

Indian Hills where we live

My mom loves the little red cactus, these are as many as I have seen all together at the top of a hill

4 of a kind. I just loved these, all four were right against each other, quadruplets

Busy day

I got a lot accomplished yesterday, I washed the Jeep. Salome is like Madras the dust is everywhere and it really shows on that dark green Jeep. Also the bugs were out in force when we came home from Surprise the other day and I wanted to get them off before they got fried on there.  That is one reason I like to paste wax my rigs at least once a year because then the bugs don't stick as bad.

I put a hasp on the shed door where the wind will quit blowing it open. I stick a board up there and then the board gets knocked down so I got a hasp, only 2.70 and well worth it.  Since we plan on coming back next year too it will be nice to be able to lock the shed too but here in Salome theft is not a problem.  I think because most of the people are over 60 and live by a different set of rules.  They are also so nice and friendly.

Got one outside cupboard cleaned and rearranged for the trip home. Next year will be different as we learned so much down here this year.

I will be leaving the little tent room home as this ground I can't even get the dog tie screwed into the ground.  It is like solid granite just ground up and hard as pavement except for about 1/4 inch that blows all over...lol  You can dig but you can't just stick a stick into the ground without digging first, really weird. I hauled the tent room, the sun umbrella ( to much wind for it too)

Dog kennels (4 of them) that have never been used since we left. I only use them at home when we go stay at someone else's home where the dogs aren't running around. I probably would have used them more if we would have kept the pickup because they used to stay in them in the back as mom's dog would not stay in pickup without the kennel.

Unfinished paintings...yeah right I have painted two days and it was because I wanted to paint a quail. To busy here doing outside stuff.  Kind of like in Madras, I craft in winter when you can't go outside for long.

Tons of tie downs but again if I still had the pickup I might use them more. I use the little ones in the jeep to keep things up on the side where they don't fall on the dogs.

One of the things I got for the pickup (my big white one) that is one of the best investments I have ever made. A big canvas bag that goes on top of a car as a roof top carrier. I used it in the back of my pickup to put things in when we traveled. Well I found it works great in the Jeep. I put it on the side and attached the straps that tie it to the car rack or side of the pickup onto the roll bars on the side of the Jeep. It keeps it over to one side and we put groceries etc in it to keep the dogs off it. It is amazing how much that thing holds. we will use it for luggage etc if we travel far.  I have yet to put the back seat down, it works so well folded up and still has room behind the front seats. I love my Jeep.  I think I should be a salesmen for Jeeps as I am in love with them 100% and I bet I could argue with any point someone made to not have one. Not enough room, not comfortable, no fancy extras and on and on. Jeep has it all now, you can even get heated seats, bluetooth in the dash etc. even though I don't have them I have a place for the bluetooth.  I just love, love, love my Jeep.

Portable radio, never been out of the cupboard, use the radio in the RV and the Jeep but that one has never been used at all.

I could go on all day long. I took out fishing stuff but found a box when I got here that I thought was toilet paper was only paper on top and underneath was fishing stuff.

For some reason we have the area under moms bed filled with pillows,yes pillows, now what are we going to do with 8 pillows?? talk about a waste of space.

To many clothes, way to many clothes, most of the closet clothes have never left the rack.

To much computer paper, way to much, I have hardly used it. I have printed mostly pictures and business cards. I have not had time for letters and not working anymore I don't use it like I used to when we went camping. That cupboard is going to be almost empty when we get home.

One of the things I am happy with is the little fold down tables mom bought. We have two that adjust to different angles and heights where you can eat, hobby, paint etc. They fit great over the drivers seat and that is what the birds sit on. It makes a wasted space area usable and the birds love the windows and so easy to move when we want to go someplace, then we set there cage on a oil cloth on one of the dinette chairs by the window.  The birds mom did not want to bring and now we are glad as they have been a joy and I love peoples reactions, OMG they have birds in there...lol  Seems like home, now if I could get my cat and horses in here I could be happy...I think I am going to have problems getting my cat to stay home, he loves it at my daughters house. I think he is happier then he has ever been before especially now he is old, not as many big dogs in the neighbor hood running loose but then he doesn't go out much up there, he loves getting spoiled.

Well I had better get off from here and start cleaning motorhome. dust, dust, dust....I also need to find all the books RaeEllen loaned me and get them back to  here before I leave. I am going to order the one book, it is my favorite book on Arizona. Has all the back roads and maps and distances, even down to resetting your odometer and going like 1.2 miles and turn left. It also rates each road for beginner, intermediate and advanced 4x4 drivers. Tells you the problems like scratching the sides, high rocks, steep grades, narrow, water etc.

Have a great day full of love and laughter and God's love and strength

groceries, we have groceries

Well we finally made it to Parker to get groceries and fill prescriptions. Have to go back because one of moms she has not filled since she got here and that takes at least 3 days...bummer!  UPS coming Tuesday with some more prints for mom, art club is Tuesday. Wednesday or Thursday back to Parker and still have to get the picture prints ready to go....No picture taking for me again this week unless I can get my lazy self out of bed and take some night photos of the cactus in the moonlight.

RaeEllen's friend got here about 15 seconds after I did so I could open the house for them to get in. I am so glad they did not have to set in the car and wait for me as it was really hot again, still around 76 degrees at bedtime, I had to turn on the AC in the RV yesterday it got so hot. Nights are getting warmer all the time too. Yep almost time to head back to the northwest.  I love it here and I really love the people, wish I could take the people home with me but I am ready to go home. I miss home and my friends and my mountains.  The smell of sagebrush and juniper and seeing deer etc.

 I have never spent so much time running around in the boonies without seeing animals. Rabbits and birds and 2 coyotes are all I have seen. Oh I did catch a glimpse of something coming home from music jam, looked about the size of a rabbit with a long bushy tail but it was dark and he was going about 100 mph....I think he was a fox.

Got some hasps to put on the shed door where it doesn't keep blowing open all the time. There is nothing in there but my garbage and the boxes from the printer and the rug shampooer in case I had to take them back but they are going to the dump today. They have some baby jars, some screws and some odds and ends. I put the bike trailer, the walker, the jogger and the bike rack in there but they leave with me.

I am also going to work on getting some more rocks to put around the drain, the faucet and the electric hookup where no one can drive over them again this summer and it will be all ready for me next year. We plan on coming back here next year and it will be so much fun to see all my new friends again.  George and Jenny from Montana have been coming for 12 years and they live right here in Indian Hills too.

Guess I had better go load up the garbage, I am just stalling because I don't want to put that stinky stuff in my Jeep. That is what I get for not going last week, I was so busy last week with all the problems I never made it. Dump only open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday until 2. I usually go Tuesday morning on the way to art club but we were already 1/2 hr late to art club. Busy time!

Have a great day filled with love, laughter and sunshine, God bless

rug is clean

I got the rug shampooed. What a mess that is when you are living in the RV. When we are at home I do it, it is not as much work. We have so much stuff in here that you have to move stuff, vacuum, shampoo, wait for it to dry a little bit and then move stuff back with some more stuff from next area. I did more moving and stacking then I did shampooing but I got it done and it looks so much better. 4 dogs, 2 people, 2 birds in a motorhome along with some company here and there for 3 1/2 months makes a dirty rug.

Off to Parker to get some food today, been putting off going grocery shopping all week but I can't any more because the dogs ate the  last of their dog food this morning so off we go.

It was 80 degrees yesterday, I almost roasted, suppose to be a little cooler the rest of the week. I like the 70's and 60's.  Nights are also much warmer so the heater does not even kick in at night.

Have a great day and be safe and don't forget to count your blessings. That old song count your blessings name them one by one is something we should get back to

Trip to Surprise for prints

It always amazes me how fast you can cover 100 miles down here. The roads are straight and hardly any traffic so you just zoom right along at the speed limit and don't have to slow for corners or traffic and it goes twice as fast. The old saying 70 MPH well down here you actually do 70 miles at 70 MPH.

Surprise is a huge town and many towns right against each other so it all seems like part of Phoenix. I mean this is Portland size town and there are golf carts EVERYWHERE!  Little custom golf carts and they run around right down the 4 lane roads.  I thought it was weird to see them running around on the streets of Quartzsite which is much smaller but to see them running all over and at all the malls was amazing.  You can't go anywhere without seeing them.  The mall we went to for PetSmart, Michaels, Best Buy etc is bigger then any mall in Bend by far and golf carts are everywhere. The mall I took these in is about the size of the malls in Bend but slow enough traffic I could stop and take a picture. I just wish I could have got some of the ones in the big mall or on the highway because there are some cute cute golf carts down here. I loved the little Jeep but we were on a 6 lane road so no way with bumper to bumper traffic would it be safe to take a photo.

Got lots of things yesterday as we had to wait for the pictures to be printed. Is that a good excuse. Went to Michaels and got lots of stuff to make some more business cards, some frames, some foam board for the backs of the prints, tape and all kinds of stuff.

Spent a fortune at WalMart but got a rug shampooer for the motorhome that folds flat where I can put it in an outside compartment. 2 people, 4 dogs and 2 birds, you need a rug shampooer.  The dust here is unbelievable too and my belt on my vacuum broke. I can still use it but without the brush it just doesn't do as good as job. Might have to order one on line.  I got stuff to make postcards, regular cards, business cards as mom is almost out, hair stuff, little stuff all over the store.

It amazes me how much stuff I can get in that Jeep along with us and the dogs. I figured the dogs would be sick of that Jeep after spending all day until dark last night in it. I did not unload everything so this morning I went out to unload and there they all were lined up to get back in it. They love the Jeep as much as we do. It is so dusty as you can tell from the pictures and I have not even had it on dirt roads this week since I washed it.

Well off to get this motor home cleaned up and the rug shampooed or else go to Parker to get groceries and prescriptions. Haven't decided which to do. I think Mom has had enough of the traveling but she could stay home so I will see.

Have a great day, be safe and remember to tell your loved ones you love them

golf carts everywhere, even little custom ones. They had one that was a red Jeep but I could not get a picture of it. Hard to drive in this kind of traffic and take pictures so this was the best I could do

great music jam

Had a blast as usual at the music jam. I almost did not go as I was so tired but I am glad I did. Sometimes it is so easy to give in to our laziness and then we miss out on so much in this world.

One of my favorite musicians I found out is from Montana, they gave me their address where if I go see my grandson I can stop in and see them. That would be cool, at least meet for lunch. They are great people. I have met some of the nicest people here in Salome, Arizona. Old fashioned people, kind, thoughtful, Lord loving people who enjoy the simple things of life.

Off we go today to Surprise to get some prints made of mom's paintings. She is working a picture I took up in the Tetons now and I love it so far. I will be posting pictures when she gets done.

Have a great day, be safe and God bless all of you

Art Club fun

Yesterday was art club. We were running about an hour behind so I did not bother getting my stuff ready to go. Met two ladies from my area, one from Sisters and one from Bend that were there. They were paining gourds and it looked really cool. I just might have to try that. I also did not realize that gourds could be dangerous with a fungus they get on them. I am going to get this book they had about them.

The guys made some more beautiful things on the lathe, one I want so bad. I want to learn how to make them and they said they would teach me but I already have to many hobbies I dont' have time for and I know I could really get into that lathe thing too so I just stay away and admire. I wish I would have got some good photos to post but I will because they are amazing.  Photos will have to wait until I get back to Oregon.

We stopped at the little store that has pizza yesterday and found there prizes are not bad and the pizza is not bad and they also have hamburgers, chickenwichs, subs, burrito's etc and stay open until 10. Not a good thing to know because now we have some place to go grab something to eat when we are in a hurry or tired instead of eating healthy...

Salome is like Madras with the dust, everything gets coated with dust every day no matter how hard you try to keep it out but I love it here.

Tonight is music jam...yeah!  I love Wednesday nights and it is free, I have some pictures of my favorite banjo guy to give him tonight.  Might run to Parker...Tomorrow to Surprise, I can't keep putting it off. Got to make an appointment for some work on Motor home in Quartzsite too. Busy day so off I go to get started.

Have a great day, count your blessings and be safe

small show

We set up moms paintings in the yard yesterday for the neighbor and they loved them. She was so proud but she was tired last night.

Mom took the her dogs out last night and did not realize Hank had gone too. She came back in and went to bed and later that night we heard a dog bark that sounded like Hank. Mom came out and asked if Hank was in here, I said I don't know I think so. Nope he was outside! She had not realized he was outside..He was having fun I am sure probably out cruising the neighborhood.

I am not looking forward to Rae Ellen, Mary, Tom, Leon leaving. I enjoy everyone of them and I love going over and checking on the boys to see what they are making today. What a great group of people.

I am kind of excited that it is getting closer to going home. I get to see my beautiful mountains, smell the sagebrush, see my horses, see my friends, see my kids, well except for one that is here in Arizona, see my cat, See Paco's sister Tia and meet Vinnie. I miss the smells of Central Oregon. I miss the view of Central Oregon. I miss my friends. I miss my horses, even their smell. I miss their greeting when I come to see them. I miss brushing them.  I miss my yard that is fenced where I can just open the door for them to go outside instead of having to take them. I am starting to miss my TV, I mean I need to watch American Idol to see if anyone is on there worth watching this year.

A bird I don't know what is was just sitting on Paco's little pen. I got a picture through the window and the screen but when I tried to open it to get a good picture he flew off. I am leaving it open hoping he comes back.

Guess I had better go start my day. Going to be busy, have to take mom to art club at 9 then I probably will go to Parker this afternoon and Surprise tomorrow.

have a great day and be safe. Roads are slick in Central Oregon

pretty sunrise

It was a pretty sunrise this morning and I was so tired I laid right there in bed and watched it and never got up and took one single picture.  My mom's dog Freckles woke me up at 3 this morning to go outside and I could not get back to sleep.  Now it is time to get up and around and I took the other dogs out, ate breakfast, read facebook and I am ready for a nap...lol

Lazy day yesterday but I got the big bunch of limbs I trimmed off the trees in the yard burnt. I wanted to get it done before I had to go home and they ended up blowing all over.

I went over to my friends house and actually watched the TV for about 5 minutes but could not keep my mind on it. Guess I am out of the habit now it is almost time to go home.

Tom & Leon made some beautiful things on the lathe again yesterday. Rae Ellen said I should go out and have them teach me. I said I had enough hobbies and then I would want a lathe because the stuff is so pretty. She said I could come up and work with Tom. I said you mean live with you...she said "no"...I would be there to much then I would want one of my own where I could do it when I wanted and my poor hobby room does not have any room left for any more hobbies..NONE!  She said you lathe outside but you would polish inside and then you have to store all your stuff, chunks of wood, stuff to make lids and clock hands and ........ NOPE no more hobbies. I will just buy some of the stuff he makes, he is fantastic. You should check it out, anyone want some wood salt and pepper shakers? Bowls? Vases? can't think of what it is called but the bowls with the lids with holes you put smelly stuff like dried rose petals in...etc. etc. Each wood is so different, the same bowl looks totally different and since each is handmade I don't think any are exactly alike even if it is the same wood.

Mary & Leon head for Oregon tomorrow and we are going to miss them. I wish so much they could stay awhile longer as they are really neat people. Won't be long and we will be headed there too.

My rabbits and Quail enjoying breakfast together. I love all the rabbits they have around here. They are Cotton Tails but some look like a cross with a jack rabbit as their ears are big.

Potluck potato salad

My mom decided she was going to make potato salad for the February Birthday Potluck.  She thought it was at Rae Ellen's house which is right against the lot we are on.  I asked her if she was ready to go and I went out to the Jeep to get my camera ready. Pretty soon here she comes, I asked her where the salad was and she said "I already took it over"  I said "over where?"  She said to Rae Ellen's house. I said "but the potluck is at Denise's house"...She said "I guess I had better go back and get it then".

We all had a good laugh. I told her you really think I would drive to Rae Ellen's? It is as close to walk to her house as it is to the Jeep.  She laughed and said she thought I just wanted to take the Jeep for some reason as maybe I had planned on going somewhere.

She went back and got the salad. At the party she told them "she had told me it was over here I just forgot"  I told her to not worry about forgetting just be thankful she could walk that far and then walk back again to get it back and I hoped at her age I was doing as good as she does.  The reason was all the stuff as been at Rae Ellen's house so she just assumed this was too.

We had a great time and I am glad she went back and got the salad because it was sure good.

Oldies music concert, he played a lot of Marty Robbins, Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rodgers. We had a blast remembering old memories and he did a trivia set of who made this famous..ha ha I got one right. That was Tennessee Ernie Fords 16 tons

Potluck

Today the Stillings family is having a birthday potluck for all the members that have birthdays in February. To many to have one for each..Going to be fun and lots of good eats. We are taking potato salad.

One of the main things I love about Salome is the old fashioned fun. The friendly people who are old fashioned helpful people. What a great little place this is. If you want to come to Arizona to shop, go to Quartzsite, if you want to gamble, go to Laughlin or Parker, if you want fancy uppity go to Yuma, If you want a big city go to Phoenix but if you want good old fashioned caring people who believe in good old fashioned fun come to Salome.  I have not been to many places in Arizona and I have not been to Yuma just heard stories. I like Parker and Quartzsite but my heart belongs to Salome.  Tonight I am going to the community center to see Robin Arnold, comedy and music for me tonight and again it only costs me $3.00.  When I go to music events at home it is a minimum of $20.00 for a concert and down here I am going to people who have won national and international awards for $3.00.

Well my sore back and my cold back, lightbulb!  maybe that was why my bed was so cold last night you are suppose to ice an injury.....God provided a big ice cube for my big back...lol

Fun Evening

My back is still giving me problems so I almost did not go to the Haining Family Front Porch music last night and I am so glad that I toughened up and went because they were amazing.  I can well understand how the one girl got international yodeler of the year. I loved everyone of them, they all have very unique talents and so inspiring. What a great family and a great group of kids.  They have been through some tough times but they follow God and their family is strong. You can go to their web site to see what awards they have won bluegrass,fiddle,yodel etc. and everyone was well deserved.

Check out the schedule here and if they are near you and you like bluegrass,fiddle,yodel and good ole time fun go see them: http://www.hainingfamily.com/home.php

My friends are going to drive 56 miles to their next concert to go again, that is how much fun they are

My day gets better

My friend RaeEllen made me stew and cookies last night. No cooking supper, a fun desert and no mess to clean up. Everyone should have a neighbor like her. She has been a God send during my sewer mess and has taken care of everything for me.  Tom has helped with me knowing what to do and comes over and oversees what is going on where we know what to do. Tom and I have spent a lot of time watching the other Tom and Dave work so I finally dug out the lawn chairs for us to supervise from.

Tom had a rotten day yesterday but he turned it into a adventure. He had a flat tire out on the back road and his jack was not all there so RaeEllen and I got some tools from her uncle and went out and changed the tire. They (the tire store) did their usual of putting the lug nuts on so tight that even with W-D40 it was hard for Tom to get off. You could see the muscle straining in his arms clear down through his legs. I could not even get it to move by standing on it. I wish they would not put them on so tight.

Dave from Salome Handyman is great!  He has done work for RaeEllen & Tom and Steve also recommended him. He dropped everything to try and get my sewer up and running, even working after dark. He did a good guess on where the tank was so that saved us the locator fees and then they actually dug right where the cap was at both times which saved a lot of time which is money.  So if you are ever in Salome, Az and need a handyman be sure and give him a call.  He is fair priced and a hard worker.

River Septic out of Parker, Az were also great. They charge the same as the one that is a lot closer and they sent a truck right out the next morning and a lot more friendly then the other service was. I look forward to all the parts getting in and getting it all up and going. Today though I am unhooking and going to fill with propane and dump the motorhome in the other spot here and then I can last until everything is up and running great.

Off for my adventure in the sewer saga. Have a great day

The sewer saga continues, doesn't this look like a fun way to spend the week. At least it will all be done for next year. The pipe had got old and rotten to where if you touched it, it fell apart and the drain between the septic tank and the drain field was ruined so it was not draining from the tank. Going to be all new by this time next week. My landlord is a doll as this is costing him a lot more money then he got from me staying here and he still is letting me come back next year.

bad back

I hate my hide-a-bed, my back gets a little more sore every night, guess it is time to start using the air mattress again until my back heals.

Music jam Feb 1

What a blast tonight was. My favorite guys that I took pictures of and printed out for them loved them. The wives thought it was neater then they did but everyone enjoyed them. One guy insisted on giving me $20.00 for his picture.

My friends went tonight too and everyone had fun. Part of the people I had met at the band jam before are actually friends and acquaintances of my friends. RaeEllen went to introduce me to Richard and I said "I know him" She asked how and I said because he was a cop in Alabama...lol  I think it is funny how cops just know each other.  I still swear this is where all the Oregonians come.  Is anyone left up there in Oregon because someone told me all the Oregonians to Yuma and as many that are here and down at Brenda I am beginning to wonder how many of you are left up there..

I have really enjoyed the people here in Salome, they are friendly, helpful and fun to be around

Sewer saga continues

Goodness they worked and worked digging the septic out. I did not realize you had to dig a septic out to pump it. We had a pipe in the top and they just pumped it but down here they want you to get a plat map, a locator and then dig it out before the septic man will even come. Then they charge $350.00 to pump it. Going to cost about 500 by the time they are done. What a pain and trying at this time of year to find people who have time to do any of it is hard. The population here is about 10 times what it is during the summer and all of it is septic.

Lucky for me that my friends know a guy that does work and since they are loyal customers of his and friends he dropped everything and came over and worked on my septic. They found it without a locator so that saved $50.00 and then they were lucky and found the two doors by just guessing and dug in the right place. Still going to cost over 100.00 by the time they are done but the septic pumper is suppose to be here at 9 this morning. Then they have to put the dirt back they dug out...GRRRRRRR. I am lucky and my poor landlord who is a sweetheart is very unlucky. The septic people will not even come until you have it all dug out. I like the way ours was in Madras, no digging, we put the drain field and septic in so we knew where it was. Thank God for my dad and his way of doing things cause we sure did not have this hassle.  We got the one lid off and it is FULL!  I am going to put some redix in the other septic tanks here that my landlord owns and run some water down them before I go home and hopefully that will keep them working right. They think part was caused by non-use and drying out for so long, plus not getting treated so hopefully that will save Wayne some money.

Hopefully by tonight we will have a working septic again..Everyone have a good day!

Sewer continued

Went out bright and early and the stuff I put in the sewer did nothing, you can still see the water in the pipe! BLAST IT!  hope the septic guy comes today or I am going to have to go dump...GRRRRRR

sewer problems continue

This is one of those times I wish I was home. If I was home I would know who to call with my problems with the sewer and I would not have to wait for a landlord because I own the house...My landlord did finally call, he is the nicest man, he has been out of state the last 4 days.  He was a doll about the whole thing, if you have to have a landlord they don't come any better then him.

It was a hurry up and wait kind of day, waiting for phone calls. I did go get some stuff to put in the septic that is suppose to break up any hard crust from it setting and not being used so long and hopefully when I get up in the morning it will be all fixed.  Prayers everyone!  Sewer problems are not fun.

I broke the little prong off my nook charger so I am without a nook. I can't gripe to much as I am finishing my book on my droid. That screen is so small it makes for lots of page turning.

See everyone in the morning. Count your blessings, it sure helps you get to sleep and you never run out of sheep and it is a whole lot more fun and does wonders for your mental health.

sewer problems

Last evening was not a fun evening. I was going to get ready to go to my gospel concert and decided I should empty the black tank. Bad decision as the sewer ran for about 1 minute and then backed up and squirted back up...YUCK! STINK!

I tried to call the landlord in Montana and no one was home, I sure hope he did not go on vacation. I looked in my little book the chamber of commerce gave me and nothing about septic people. Now who do I get to empty the stinking thing. One time I wish I was at home then I would know who to call!  This flat sucks and I did not get much emptied before the blow up so not only do I have a full septic tank, I have a full black tank.

Guess I had better get off her and see if I can find someone.  Have a great day everyone

Painting

Well I actually tried to paint something yesterday. I think I forgot how. It is so much faster, easier and prettier when I take a picture but it was a lot of fun.

I have to try and find my water colors today because I have something I want to try and paint in water colors. I am also going to try and burn some of my yard clippings today.

Tomorrow is art club again and I have to try and decide what I am going to work on. Mom is still busy painting away every day most of the day. She kind of over did it yesterday as she painted so many hours her back got sore and so did her arms.

Everyone have a great day

Band Scramble

What a fun day, spent the whole day listening to music. I wish I could post a picture of everyone I liked but I just had to put my all time favorites on here.  It was fun to be a judge. When they first said Band Scramble and I knew they had money prizes I thought it was just a contest where people form a band and try to win but it isn't. It is a real challenge, they put everyone's name in a can depending on what instrument they play and then they draw the names. When four people are drawn you have a band and they have about 20 minutes to group together and then they play.You luck out if you get someone that can play a lot of songs or is any good. It really was fun.

Mom did not go but she painted all day and had a blast. She also fell out of her chair last night. She was reaching way out to get something and tipped her chair over but luckily she did not get hurt as she was already on the floor because what she was reaching for was on the floor.

My poor dogs thought I had deserted them as I have not left them for more then an hour since I retired and when I left all day they were sure glad to see me last night.  Hank is a good dog, Paco not so good. He has got where he minds me better but with mom he thinks it is a big game. He loves grabbing stuff and taking off and playing catch me if you can with her.  If he gets outside the does the same thing to her and stays just out of her reach. He loves to snuggle with her though.

They had a plane poker run here yesterday so planes were in and out. Something is always happening here to entertain you.  My favorite is music night on Wednesday and when I get to go drive around and take pictures. Mom favorite is art club day. Two of the people I have met, one from Washington and one from Oregon own houses right on the airport, their hanger attaches to their house like our garages do. They were telling me they have a real problem with people driving on the runway. The other day and big motor home pulling a car went right down the runway like it was a road.  I wonder what they thought all those blue lights on both sides of the road met and I know they did not read the signs.

Going to clean house and paint today. Have a great day everyone!

My favorite and an audience favorite banjo player. He puts his heart and soul and body into his playing

The blue grass band that played after the band scramble. They are fun and really good

My favorite guitar player

My favorite guys. They did not play in the band scramble as they were the host band and played before and during lunch. They play every Wednesday night but not just the four of them. The met on Wednesday nights and they practiced together for a week for this. 2 guys from Washington, One from Oregon and one from Arizona. Great group of guys

The winning band from the band scramble. If you love an accordion you should hear George play. If you like yodeling you should hear the guy on the right. What a fun group, the two in the middle could really sing

I am sore!

I have found waxing on paste wax is not to bad, waxing off paste wax sucks. My Jeep does look nice and it is nice to know it is protected from minor scratches better but I am so sore today. Now I know why my mom used to wax the floor before self shining wax and had us kids put on our socks and skate on the floor to polish it. What fun we had and we actually looked forward to floor waxing day. I sure wish I could have put on socks and skated on my Jeep...lol

Off to the band scramble today. I hope my core group of guys wins but either way it is going to be one fun day.

Be safe everyone

The core group at the music jams I go to on Wednesday nights. What a great friendly group of people