The 20 Year Itch...

Saturday, May 11, 2013

ignore the previous post..THIS is how it should have looked:-)

Otherwise after over 3 weeks "at home" in Northern Illinois, It would be impossible to catch up on how things are and have been going.

We arrived ay my BFF’s (Audrey) House to get in our 1^st hugs, and found ourselves

accepting an offer to stay in her driveway (water, electric & sewer). After a quick check with the local law enforcement to see if this would be legal (it was) we settled in quite comfortably. Molly & Tessa LOVE hanging with Audrey & Michelle & NATE! With a yard as big as their old one and Nate’s throwing arm, they got plenty of exercise.

April 25^th was actually Michelle’s birthday. Michelle is a proud sponsor of 15 Compassion International children (both financially and in writing for some, for others she is a correspondent supporter). This a a ministry near & dear to Michelle’s heart. We could think of no better birthday gift for Michelle than to sponsor a child ourselves. I think she liked it!

Our sponsored child is Eudoxie (15 YOA) from Burkino Faso. We are very excited to get to know her and watch her grow.

https://www.compassion.com/sponsor-a-child-charity

Our weeks were busy, a whirlwind of doctor visits, chores at the storage facility and in the trailer, while squeezing in fun times with family & friends.

Add caption

THE main reason for our visit at this specific time was KATE.

Last year at this time we had just embarked on our journey and promised Kate we would not miss her birthday this year. Especially as THIS YEAR was her turn for the “birthday shopping spree”.

Her shopping spree was quite successful as you can see.

And, as Gramma Jan predicted, THIS was the outfit Kate picked to wear to her party on April 20th.

Kate’s party was a GREAT success, at which all of the kids “performed” at their talent, entertaining us all.

Leo & Eden performed a song and dance routine respectively:
FABULOUS! Watch for them on The Voice and/or America’s
Got Talent.

Christine played the Piano!

Johnny also played the piano!

From Teagan’s littlest performer somersault

To her Daddy & Aunt Christy taking a turn on the ivories

And culminating with Grandpa Ron

& Papa providing music & dance!

It was at this party that Katie made a suggestion when presented my dilemma: what to for Bill’s 70^th birthday when we will be in California on October 4^th? Her suggestion “throw him a surprise party now, he’ll never guess it”. So, a week later we pulled it off with his 4 kids

and completely surprised him at El Jardin.

With their birthday gift he purchased these:

They were sorely needed, AND we had such fun picking them out at a huge western store in Missouri!

Being "home" has been filled with family & friends. Our heartstrings were tugged on by the grandchildren, but we are committed to the "vagabond" lifestyle and our hope is that we can begin to communicate with them via "Facetime" or "Skype".

On May 2^nd we headed for “Curecanti National Recreational Area” within the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (southwest Colorado). I could not pass up the opportunity to stop in Springfield, IL to see the new Lincoln Museum . IT WAS WORTH IT!!! Just wish we had more time.

Also, we found ourselves in St. Louis, MO and realized we could

CATCH DINNER WITH MY NIECE HEATHER, HER DAUGHTER FAITH, AND

for our 1^st meeting ever, her significant other, Terry. Turns out Terry is a great guy!

ON TO DILLON, COLORADO, where my son James is a police officer. We spent 5 wonderful days here with James & Sarah &

well

We also had the privilege of meeting James

I can leave with the peace of mind knowing james continues to make good choices and good friends.

Today: On to Curecanti, we finally have a day with no snow and sunshineJ There should be no worries about Hoosier Pass?

Our assignment at curecanti will be as “campground Hosts” and last until Labor Day. After that we will head back to Wisconsin for 10 days at Starrett Lake (how could we miss it?)

The last week of September will find us in Monument, Colorado, where Bill will be taking a course to become a certified RV technician and RV inspector.

We are due at Joshua Tree NP October 1^st where this years assignment will be as Hosts of the black rock campground. And that will finish out the year for us.

We are looking at 2 different locations for Jan. thru April, 2014. One is down in southern texas, but the one we are really hoping to get is at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park as visitor guides. we should know within 10 days.

We should have cell & internet service at Curecanti, so keep in touch.

Friday, March 29, 2013

mixups, confusion & crazy, 19 hour driving days

Arrived back from the Chicago area after a 2nd 19 hour drive in a week.... The drive was uneventful, as they should be, but

entertaining nonetheless. Slept when we slowed down about 6:30 PM, and were fresh and ready at 7AM Friday morning to head to Currituck (our final Lighthouse destination for this project).

Though the scenery is fabulous, during the night the road could be loud.

Currituck prove to be the most "out of the way" lighthouse to date, but the hour of driving gave us the opportunity to see the local area and find a great place for lunch:

Sooeys BBQ and Rib Shack - North Carolina BBQ - Outer Banks BBQ

www.sooeysbbq.com/

We arrived rather late in the day, which gave us fairly good shadows, and Bill went to work.

http://www.currituckbeachlight.com/

I got so preoccupied with taking the reference pix, that I failed to have my NP Passport stamped prior to closing. I caught up with the volunteers as they were locking up to leave and the kind volunteer unlocked again and got my stamp for me...I didn't even care that he stamped it upside down. It would have been another 120 miles to "return tomorrow" as the volunteer originally suggested..

Currituck is an unpainted lighthouse, and it was beautiful!

The "northermost" active light station in North Carolina!

With The Lighthouse Project temporarily on the back burner, we plan to spend Saturday at Kill Devil Hill .....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_Devil_Hills,_North_Carolina

as well as....

The Wright Brothers Museum >>>http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

THEN, for a few days (Saturday night, Sunday, Monday) we will be onto Tom & Linda's & Hank & Louise's BOTH in the Virginia Beach area: http://www.first-landing-state-park.org/

On Tuesday we'll head for Sophia, NC to visit Larry & Sandy (who's last day at a VERY strenuous job was Friday).

And CELEBRATE with Mexican food!!!!

Wednesday (April 3rd) we will be back in Cornelius for my doctor post surgical check-ups and a deep tissue massage at Massage Envy (I love Armons).

This will prepare us for the next leg of the trip to Marietta, GA to visit with Jim & Lydia....

Jim is the 1st volunteer to be a plowboy! The guy controlling the handles of the plow is Jim :-)

LOVE to know what the "high 5" was for?????? Lydia??

Your prayers for our friend Jim are greatly appreciated!

Then on Sunday we will make tracks for Northern Illinois (may try to see family in Indianapolis). While back "home" for the balance of April, we will make all of our annual doctor check-ups starting on he 9th as we prepare to begin our "busy" season at Curecanti National Recreation Area in Gunnison National Park, CO. To be followed by another 3-4-5 month stint at Joshua Tree NP, S. Cal.

We welcome visitors to our assingment locations, and will always have the time for you.

For example: our Curecanti summer is booking up fast with our time there May 6th to September 6th and Rory visiting May 31st to June 8th, and Cindy & the kids arriving July 22nd to July 29th (approximately).

Some of you may have been observant enough to note this BLOG should have started with our visit to New York to see Kelly, and it is with great disappointment I have to report that she had to call it off. About 3-4 weeks ago she started a new job with "Diesel" and, well, yáll know how it is when you're working your way up that ladder...she needed a "break" and we gave it to her.

MANY THANKS to Tami & Brett for putting up with us (I mean "putting us up") while we were "up north" for Lisa's funeral. When 2 days stretched into 7, Tami took it all with grace (and alot of patience). THANKS GUYS!!!!