The Wall

Well, here we are! The last time all of us "kids" will be together at the old house!

On Saturday March 27th, we loaded cars, trucks and dumpsters. We hauled, swept and painted. We drank a little beer and ate sliders. ( White Castle burgers) I am ashamed to say that we demolished the box of thirty..that is an average of five each...a family tradition. Luckily this tradition is only celebrated about every ten years..I don;t think our coronary arteries could withstand more.

Mom is cozy and settled, quite happily, in her new digs, a retirement apartment. My brothers can heave a sigh of relief...they no longer have to worry with this house that has been falling apart since Dad passed 30 years ago!! All is well!!!

And whoever hits the Alton Goodwill in the next few days will score some major vintage treasures!!!!

The wall heighth chart is my dad's art work....still fresh after 30 years..he took great pride in measuring how tall we were getting. We had to poke fun at my older brother who is actually shorter now then when last measured!!! And how my younger sister was very short!!!

Time flys when we are having fun! Click on my grooveshark link..."Who says you can't go home?"

You can't go back!

This is the little playhouse my dad built for my sister and me many years ago! It was a pretty thing when it was new. We spent lots of fun times in that miniature house. Playing with our dolls, coloring, sewing and hiding from our brothers!!!

Mom loved that we had a playhouse..it was out on the edge of the lot..far away from the main house. She was able to enjoy the peace and quiet of her own home when my sister and I were out there. She used to even pack a lunch for us!! Now I understand and I remember doing the same thing for my kids!! Packed a lunch and sent them down the lake in their little fishing boats!! AHHHH!!!!

Reality Check! The end of an Era...Dad has been gone for years..passed away even before my first child was born. And now...we have moved Mom into a retirement apartment. She loves it and I can't blame her! It is beautiful, new, clean and the food is good! Plus she has a housekeeper every week. Hey..I want a retirement apartment!!!

So this weekend, we empty out the house and the new owner takes possession in just a week. And I feel really good about it..I have never had problems saying good bye..in fact, I have never figured out if it is an asset or a fault...being able to cut your losses and move on. I lived in that house, with the playhouse, longer then anywhere I have ever lived! And that was only 17 years...what can I say, I have wanderlust! I think that is why I so love to camp. It is that mobility, the change, new surroundings....a drop of Gypsy blood perhaps in my genetic makeup...right along with my French and German heritage.

"There is always a few little pieces you can't find...." Toby Keith "You can't go back" click on the Grooveshark link, please

"I swore I'd never do this anymore. There is always a heartache behind each door"

I love you Toby! This song is soulful!!!

The Second Day of Spring!!

The second day of spring finds us building snowmen and measuring the depth of the snowfall..looks like 6-8 in inches! All in all, it has been a swell weekend!

I think it is serendipitous(definition:lucky in making fortunate discoveries by accident) that this same group was camping during the first snowfall of 2009. We were surprised by snow on Saturday morning of our Bridges of Madison County weekend. You can see pics of that weekend by looking in my archives. It was also a beautiful snowfall but only 2-3 inches, hardly compares to the major storm we had this past Saturday. We are looking forward to warm weather so we can fish, swim and enjoy the great outdoors, instead of huddling under a blanket in the trailer!

The First Day Of Spring!

The first day of Spring has arrived! I just couldn't wait to have our first campout of the year and sit in my Adirondack chairs and have a cool drink!!

Wow, was I surprised when I looked out my camper window at this fluffy, white stuff!! It continues to snow the entire day and into the night!! Just wait until you see the pics tomorrow ...we have had at least 8 inches of snow in the past 24 hours! Beautiful and cold....but I have a cozy camper complete with electric blanket, flannel sheets and space heater!!! No problem, just hope I can get back home by Monday to go to work!!!

Downnorth vs Downeast

Here is my latest addition to the "The North Face" wardrobe I am building, spending the money that would normally be left to one's offspring. As soon as I saw this coat, I had to have it..it is the warmest, lightest winter coat I have ever owned! It is soft and cozy like wrapping yourself in a blanket. Most coats are annoying and uncomfortable, restricting your arm movement and just plain old bulky! Often winter coats add at least ten pounds to haul around on your shoulders.....not this sweet little down coat! I bet it doesn't even weigh a pound...matter of fact, I am going to go weigh it... I'll be right back!

Okay..it weighs two pounds..but oh so light and fluffy...probably no hydrogenated fats or preservatives, but I digress. And by the way, when I was on the scale, weighing my coat, I noted I need to knock off about ten pounds myself!!

Anyway...order it online, if you are lucky enough to still find one...the Metropolis ladies coat....it almost makes me hate to see winter come to an end!!

Sizing? Crazy thing but it is pretty generous sizing..not at all like most Northface clothes that are cut for the extremely streamlined body....I ordered a small..I am about 5'3'', 123 (gulp!) It is a close fit but not tight..it would be hard to layer over a heavy sweater but it is perfect over those nice thinner fleeces. Mine is Bittersweet Brown, it is beautiful in Black ( I've seen it!) and I think it comes in a few other colors too!!!

Go for it!!! Hey I am out of room but I really set out to write about Downeast. (Maine) That word always fascinates me..so I will blog on it later, just in case you are curious too!

Hey, "How bout them Cowgirls?" click on my grooveshark link!

"Saddle Up"

Last weekend a group of us were in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for "Saddle Up". An annual event, "Saddle Up" is a gathering of Cowboys (and some Cowgirls, too) There were Poets, Musicians and Chuck Wagon Cooks. Cloggers and Two- Steppers enjoyed themselves at the Dance...it was just great. The proceeds of "Saddle Up" benefit the Cal Farley Boy's Ranch in the panhandle of Texas. Cal Farley's is one of America's largest privately funded child and family service providers.

We stayed at Sharon's house, piled in and and threatened to never go home! Didn't bother her in the least..she has many generations of southern hospitality in her genetic make up!!

A highlight of the trip was the "Riders in the Sky" show. These cowboys have been performing together for thirty years, still the original band members. The show combined comedy, music and even cartoons. Ranger Doug(arch top guitar), Woody Paul, (fiddle), Too Slim (bunkhouse bass) and Joey, the Cowpolka King,(accordian)... all performed beautifully and with enthusiasm. The old style Cowboy Music was refreshing to hear. The surprise was a bit of Cowboy Rap thrown in...lots of fun!

Can't wait to go back next year! Saddle up, we will be riding out Feb 2011!