I haven't blogged in a while. Today is the last day for my medication and I will be happy to have that behind me.
Greg and Kate Kerlin were in town to swap from their "Doghouse" aka truck camper to their Montana fifth wheel. If you have been following their blog, Tails from the Highway, you know about their adventures from North Carolina to Arizona.
Note that this photo was taken with Bill's camera but my new indestructible one will be here tomorrow. Hopefully, it will arrive before our luncheon in Mesa tomorrow.
We met Greg and Kate for breakfast because they had a lot to do moving out of the truck camper and back into the Montana. They are staying a stone's throw from our house. We didn't get much of chance to talk with them in Goshen this past summer, actually to be truthful we probably talked more to their dogs, but we made up for it today. Our breakfast lasted almost three hours and now I feel a little guilty because I know they were pressed for time. They are headed back to Kartchner Caverns park tomorrow.
Every RVer knows that we never are a loss for words.
We're so looking forward to seeing them in Quartzite at the Circling of the Wagons. I know it won't be long before we leave and there are a lot of things to get done before we go. Kate has a neat craft class she is planning to do while in Q.
Our plans now include meeting up with two other friends in Yuma before we head to Parker. They will also join us in Quartzite. The Florida bunch, Peggy and Tony, Roger and Sharon, and Mike and Maureen will meet up with us in Parker.
Jim, Sandie and Paul do you think our two hours for lunch tomorrow will be enough time?
Turtle Safely......
Casa Grande
Home Base
It's a wonderful time of the year. You have the normal excitement of Christmas but you also have those RV friends that are heading this way for warmer weather. Everyone wants to get together for a meal, drinks, coffee or a party.
I saw my family doctor again today. He put me back on two medications for my infection of my voice box. Hopefully, I won't have to go back for a more invasive procedure and this will do the trick.
The only real restriction I have is to not talk. Now how do you go to a party and not talk? Bill has never said I've been at a loss for words but he was smiling when the doctor told us this.
This is going to be a very busy three weeks. We have five doctor appointments in the Valley before we leave for Parker. The Escapees Chapter 21 is drawn out in pencil but coming together nicely. There are still all the supplies to get for the rally. It's been more difficult than I thought to find beach stuff this time of the year. The beauty is no one really cares, they just like getting together and also meeting new people. Being a rally host is no big deal. Everything just sort of falls into place. If you haven't had the fun of being one, volunteer the next time someone needs one. I can't believe there are RVers out there that haven't heard of the Escapees, but if you are one of them, you can attend their events without being a member.
We are joining the Circling of the Wagons with the MOC in Quartzite right after the Parker Rally. This will be our first time with the MOC circle, but we are looking forward to it.
We haven't been over to storage except once to empty the refrigerator since I've been sick. I need to think about going over and seeing what we left in there when we parked it. I only know if Bill is looking for something to wear, that's what was left in the Mountaineer, aka "The Turtle". If I'm looking for an ingredient to cook with, I remember it's still in the trailer.
Boondocking in Quartzite usually means easy, fast meals. Since there aren't any great nearby stores a little thought needs to go in the stocking of the pantry and freezer.
I know I must be getting better, because I might have a slight case of hitch itch. Not my full blown case of it, but a small case of it.
Turtle Safely.........
Casa Grande
Home Base
Yesterday Sandie and Jim Dixon came in with a beautifully wrapped gift. With everyone arriving about the same time, Bill set it under the Christmas tree.
Bill said, "let's wait until Christmas to open it". I started watching TV and waited for Bill to say it's time for bed. When he went in the bedroom, I grabbed the present and opened it up.
What better present for someone who is into cowboy Christmas! Bill is a Luchesse boot fan and he said these lights were done as well as the handmade boots he has. He examined all detail on the boots.
I was going to take a photo of the chocolates that John and Karen Knoll brought us, but I'm ashamed. They have heard the story of how much I love the dark chocolate covered blueberries from Costco. I've had to ask Bill to lock them in the safe and hand me one serving a night. Well I didn't have him lock them up and I must confess I overdosed on them. I'm too ashamed for anyone to see how many I ate in one evening.
We did have very good news today. Bill had his follow-up appointment with his heart doctor today regarding the tests he had in November. He said everything looked good. Bill had a quadruple by-pass in 2005 and he said 7 to 10 years is usually when things change. He said as long as he didn't develop diabetes and he kept exercising, he should have no problems.
Now if I can just get my strength back from my little health problem everything will be perfect.
I finally got in touch with someone at the casino. I knew they were having the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit but I couldn't get anyone who knew the actual dates. The exhibit starts on January 11th and I wanted this to be one of the options during the Escapees Chapter 21 Rally. I tentatively planned on January 12th since we don't have the pavilion that day. The best part is they will give us a $5 discount per person on the tickets as a group. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we did. We saw it in Butte, Montana and I'm sure we paid a lot more to see it.
I never realized how much trouble it would be to find beach party stuff for the rally this time of the year. I thought since this is Arizona there would be pool stuff available. Oh well, that is what's going to make it fun.
Turtle Safely.......
Casa Grande
Home Base
There's something exciting about taking out all the Christmas decorations. We actually put up two trees. One is a cowboy tree. If you've ever been to our house, then you'll understand. The second tree is what we call "Our World Tree". This is a smaller tree but whenever we traveled internationally (before RVing) we would buy an ornament from that country. In some cases, we bought a key ring representing the country as was the case in Swaziland which didn't have ornaments. Bill always put the date on them. It's 20 years of memories every time we take them out.
This is our "world" tree.
This is the cowboy tree.
Now what goes with a cowboy tree but a cowboy nativity set.
And since it was so difficult to find one, we found another one outside of Yellowstone that we had to have.
And of course, you need to have a larger cowboy and cowgirl to go with it.
This is a cowboy music box.
How about a cowboy bobblehead?
Friends never are at a loss for words.
Do you think Jim wanted to get his hands in there?
I think they've solved all the world problems.
And they say women talk a lot.
Vern and Polly Folger are two special people in our lives.
It's truly amazing how you meet someone RVing and it's like you've known them your entire life. The strange thing we've all said, is we met them all across the country and the following morning departed. But some unknown force kept us in touch and now they are family.
As usual, I didn't think about taking pictures until it was almost too late.
It's just the beginning of great fun this time of the year.
Turtle Safely........
Casa Grande, AZ
Homebase
I just want to thank all of you who sent get well wishes. What would I do without such dear friends?
I finished up the antibiotics Saturday. Bill did a show in Casa Grande and I thought I could handle it but ended up coming home. Yesterday, I told Bill I thought I was almost back up to normal. It's a good thing because we had one of those house projects going on. Today I declare I'm 100% back to normal, whatever that is!
I've slowly gained back most of the 7 pounds I lost the first couple of days. Darn it!
My dear friend, Karia Basta Hanson, stopped for a visit while I was still in the PJ's all day stage. It was great seeing her. We just never seem to find enough time for visiting.
I had a call from Sharon Hime, our friends from Florida who were so supportive when Bill was in the hospital in Kentucky. They are coming out for a visit and going to Quartzite with us. Mike and Maureen, who we will be meeting tomorrow, will also be joining us. I love seeing the reaction to Quartzite, the Woodstock for Seniors, the first time someone goes.
It's amazing some of the things that run through your head when you have a scary situation. I've always handled the bank statement and bill paying. Today was spent making sure Bill knows how to handle that stuff.
Bill did see another eye doctor and he has agreed to have the cataract surgery. This doctor did not recommend spending the $5,000 for a special lens. This doctor also said his cataract was ready to be removed while the one last May made it sound like it had to be done immediately. I'm so thankful Bill walked out of the local eye doctor in town. They will call us when they have the schedule for the surgery.
I'm getting anxious for the circling of the wagons at Q. This will be our first year to stay with the Montana Owners Club. They've already asked for the names of our guests so that they will have name tags ready.
Plans are coming along for the Chapter 21 Rally to be held in Parker on January 10th to the 15th. I've placed phone calls to a business and they still haven't returned my call. Why do you have an answering machine, if you aren't going to return calls?
Are you going to the Escapade in Goshen this year? I finally got our registration in. Let us know if you are going and we can arrange to have a meeting place close by so we can go in as a group.
Thanks again to all of you.
Turtle Safely..........
