Oh.... vintagegreenjeans, how I have missed you!!!

I have been amiss in posting!!! Last post...back in August...can't really explain or justify! Watched the movie "A Dog's Year". Oh yes, I see, it was writer's block! I have to break free, have to write again!! I can't sing, I wish I could play the piano better and I haven't won any beauty contests lately...however, I try really hard! Author, yes, I must try!!!

I know, it must seem absurd! I am a writer at heart! Ever since my college freshman professor offered me "literary support" ( did he know I was only 17?) I have been a author wanna be! And I am depending on all my blog-ers and facebookers to support me, to the extent possible, of course, in this endeavor!!! Thanks to all for your continued support!

Sunflower City!

Driving back home today, after a weekend at Perry Lake, we spied this field of gold! Acres and acres of sunflowers growing with abandon! All facing east but starting to turn their pretty heads to follow the sun moving to the western sky.

I envisioned pound upon pound of tasty sunflowers seeds! Just last evening my husband was munching on sunflower seeds, while sitting at the picnic table drinking a glass of white wine... seems like an odd scenario but may I remind you...
we are talking about Kansas, the Sunflower State!! What could be better?!

Camping at the Crawford!

We had a wonderful weekend at Crawford State Park, which is near Fort Scott, Kansas. Beautiful, very warm weather until Saturday evening, when an exciting thunderstorm and heavy rain hit. I am never disappointed by the falling barometer, as it gives me a chance to check my camper for leaks and to wear that spiffy raincoat I bought at the Goodwill for just $2.00!! We were just finishing dinner, taco salad and margaritas, when the black clouds moved in...we picked up and headed for shelter under the RV awning, just as the sky opened up and bucketfuls of rain fell!

Earlier in the day, I met up with a nice couple, Claudia and Jim. Jim was very interested in my 1959 Winnebago, as he was in the process of trying to determine age and model of his own Vintage trailer...he had narrowed it down to Comet vs Winnebago. We had a lot of fun comparing notes about our campers. I also gained some info about the frame, as Jim had reinforced his recently, when he noticed it flexing and "porpoising" during tow... I have not noticed mine doing this but will be keeping an eye out, now that I know what to expect and the probable cause! Always something with these vintage trailers.

Next stop Roaring River State Park... a repeat of a trip we took last year that was so successful we added it to the list again this August. Can't wait to wade in the cold stream..hopefully, but not likely, catch a trout!

It has been such a busy summer! Time to slow down and enjoy what is left of this hot weather!! Soon it will be winter coat time!

Click on my grroveshark link to the right "A Summer Place"

Murphy's Law

What happens when you are scheduled to have a houseful of company, family that you haven't seen in ages! The refrigerator quit, the air conditioner in the car pooped out and the washing machine died! It was a very expensive week! I did go to the laundry-mat today to catch up on some washing..we had been swimming or boating every day, coupled with lots of showers, the dirty towels were piling up!!!

My new washing machine is coming tomorrow, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to my favorite laundry. Located at the corner of 40 Highway and 7 Highway in Blue Springs, Missouri. It has been there as long as I can remember. When the kids were small, I could always convince them to go along. There were a couple of arcade machines, a candy machine and pop for sale. Mom always had a lot of quarters saved up for the trip, so the children knew they were in for fun...after they helped me lug the clothes baskets and laundry powder inside.

Today I brought my laptop along for the first time...much better then reading the outdated magazines left behind by other customers! I got some strange looks as I sat by the machines typing away!!

My new fireplace!

A lot of the gals in my camping group have been talking about putting fireplaces in their vintage campers...you know the ones, little electric, fake fireplaces that give off heat and ambiance!

Well, today I found the perfect fireplace for my 1959 Winnebago...and it was only $5.96!! The Salvation Army Store, my favorite shopping place, was able to provide me with just what I needed!! There is a little switch to turn on/off the red bulb that simulates the "fire"!! And the electric clock is working and keeping accurate time, although it sounds like it is sending Morse code signals as it ticks along...the sweep second hand moving smoothly, thanks to the miracle of electricity!!

I need to do a little research to find out how old it is....I suspect the late forty's, maybe early fifty's...it says "Manufactured Exclusively by the United Clock" Corp. Brooklyn, New York and the lettering has that vintage look!! If anyone has seen one of these before..let me know, I am curious about it!! I laid the modern night light next to it, to give you a idea of scale...it uses a little bulb like that light.

Turtle Soup

We were camping at Lake Jacomo this weekend and noted how bold the "wild-life" ( LOL) at the Park had become!! First thing Saturday morning the drunken campers that were in the site across from me were evicted from the campground by the Sheriff and the Park Ranger!! They were camping in a mini van from which they had removed the seats and were using them to lounge around the fire. At ten o'clock their site was quiet and peaceful....they were resting up from the party they had all afternoon and preparing for one that would last throughout the night!!!

I suppose someone complained...after all we all needed to be quiet and asleep so the huge raccoon could raid our trash cans! I swear, he was the biggest raccoon I have ever seen, living on all the some- mores and hotdogs left behind by campers, There was also a huge bunny who frequented our site, looking for the diet conscious campers who would provide him with a lettuce leaf!

This baby Snapper was really a find!! I saw movement on the road in the hot afternoon on Saturday.....I had plenty of time to find my camera as this little fellow was going as fast as he could, which was VERY SLOW!!! He made it to the grass..I am sure he was seeking relief from the hot pavement to the cool, damp grass!! I couldn't belief my luck when then I noticed the Lady Bug!! It gave such great size perspective to the picture....but I was curious about the intent of the Lady Bug...didn't she realize she needed to fly away, fly away, fly away home??!!

After the Storm...

Last night we got hit with a terrible storm...rain, thunder, lightning and wind. This morning when I checked on Mother Duck she was walking about our yard, looking at the carnage. Then suddenly, she flew off. There were broken eggs scattered about although the nest was still intact, with four dirty eggs. I am not sure what happened over night. Possibly the storm flooded the nest, maybe a snake found it, maybe a dog...there are many possibilities. Mother Duck has not returned to the scene of the crime this morning. I am wondering if she has abandoned the nest in fear of her own safety. I wish I could have offered more protection. My husband was sympathetic this morning, what he doesn't yet know....he will have to be the one to dispose of the eggs and nest, if mama doesn't return in the next day or so. I couldn't stand to do it....it made me queasy seeing the duck eggs open and no babies. I am getting more and more squeamish as I age, what's up with that!? Being a nurse, I used to be fairly thick skinned, now I feel almost every ache, pain and sorrow, of others, to my inner core. I guess that is why God provided retirement....so we could be absolved of our duties, to be able to "stand down".

COME ON RETIREMENT!! Unfortunately, I have a long way to go!!!