DAD ARRIVES FOR INSPECTION

     Today my dad came to spend a night with us on his way back to Southern California for the coming cold season.  He couldn't wait to see what we've done to the motorhome, and I'm glad to report Dad was quite pleased with what he saw.  He checked out everything, including the water tanks and hoses and such (for some reason this is much more important than all the nice little aesthetic touches I added that men just do not notice).  Dad made a trip with Ron to the RV store to pick up a clear pipe that is attached to the black water tank, and after that important detail was taken care of, we had Dad's final assessment: :   
    "You're ready to roll!  Everything looks great!  I wish I could go with you!" 

     I guess he was pleased with how the motorhome looks as well, because he went inside to sit on the sofa and we couldn't get him out. I mentioned to him that we have a true hide-a-bed in that couch, and if he wants to fly out to New England when we're there for an Autumn season, he can and we'll take him along with us on a tour.  He kind of liked the idea, so I hope it works out.  

AUTUMN AT LAST

Whoa!   Summer is past and Autumn is here, and we have just five and a half more weeks until we roll out of our driveway of ten years and head down the road.   Ten years goes by fast, I've found.  In ten years we've had seven graduations, one wedding, and fifty-one birthdays (and that's just in our immediate family).  We've climbed mountains, gone snow shoeing, boated, water skiied, hiked and camped.  In ten years we went from being in our forties to being in our fifties.  We've said goodbye to each of our kids as they grown up and left home.  We've been blessed with another daughter (and a sister).  In ten years we've painted the walls inside the house four or five times.  We've painted green, yellow, raspberry, purple, and tan.  We've bought furniture and we've sold furniture.  In ten years we've enjoyed many things but none so much as the relationships we have with our family and friends.  Those relationships aren't going away just because we are.  It's Autumn at last, and soon we'll  be starting a new chapter in the book of our lives.  We're looking forward and not back, we're almost there, on the road in our rv!  Yipppeeeeee!!!!!

A WORD ABOUT RV TIRES WE DIDN'T KNOW WE NEEDED

Apparently, tires on a motorhome should be changed every seven years regardless of the fact that a motorhome may have only put a few thousand miles on those tires.  Tires are made of material that breaks down over time, especially if left sitting out in the sun.  Since the previous owners spent their winters down in Arizona, the tires have had a fair amount of sunshine heating them up, and this is what has led to the kind deterioration that requires replacement.  So, Ron called a few tire places to get prices for the mamoth tires that make our new home mobile, and he learned that we must fork over twenty five hundred dollars as soon as possible.  Fortunately, we have a friend whose husband works in the tire department of a certain company that is headquartered in our backyard, and we are now down to forking over two thousand dollars.  We thank the good Lord for friends.  And now, as soon as the metal place gives us back the new and improved and stronger frame for the rv bed, we will take the motorhome over to the tire company and fork over all of our garage sale money plus a hefty check for new tires we didn't know we needed.  

I hope you noticed that I added a link this morning.  It was because of my sister Mary that I have now become a fan of the Pioneer Woman.  Mary lives in Slovakia and she's always cruising around the internet looking for fun, new sites that she can enjoy in english first of all, and that she can learn from in order to share with her friends and students in Martin.  I love this new site, and I especially love all the contests and give-aways which is why I will be having some contests of my own on this blog.  So, I hope you follow along and enjoy the ride with us.  Check out the pioneer woman and let me know what you think. 

A BRAND NEW CHAPTER

    Well I guess just about every household in America has been affected by the crashing economy, and ours is no different.  With the loss of Ron's job, and no new jobs in site in our little town that made the BBC news for "Boom Town Goes Bust", we had some big decisions to make.  We sort of had a plan, but when our daughter encouraged us to live Ron's dream of rving, we made a new plan.  We started watching craigslist for rv's for sale, and soon found our dream motorhome.  The motorhome cost us less than twenty thousand, and it's in pretty good shape considering it's ten years old.  We're doing some modifications and re-decorating along with putting on new tires, and soon we'll be taking off on an adventure that is sure to bring both joys and challenges.  Our biggest question right now is, do we buy kayaks?  We both love being on the water, and in the past we owned a ski boat with which we spent many fun hours on the lakes around Central Oregon.  Neither one of us has ever kayaked, but it does look like fun.  I'm not talking white water or ocean kayaks, I'm talking about the kind you can float lazily-like on a calm lake or gently meandering river.  I'm talking L.L. Bean because they make a few nice things for the out-of-doors life style.  Now here's the dilemma;  Ron thinks we should each have our own kayak but I'm wondering if it wouldn't be nice to have a two seater that will take us both in one boat.  That way, if I get tired of paddling, Ron can get us back to shore.  Any suggestions?  I need to know what works best.  I'll be checking to see what you all think.