Guess Who's a Guest?

I hope you will stop by and read my guest post over at Cresting the Hill. A huge thank you to Leanne for asking. If you remember a couple of weeks back, I had a guest post at Sizzling Towards 60.

Sue and Leanne run the most amazing websites. Be sure to browse around, after reading my post. ;)

Ciao for now!

Where do you eat?

An online author friend posted this and I thought it might make a good blog post. Where to you typically eat? As long time full-time RVers, we ate on TV trays while sitting on our loveseat. Our dining table had been converted to a computer desk area for Stu (I had a small computer cart that I used).

When we moved into our house here in Tennessee, we agreed we would break that habit and eat on our dining room table. Well, that lasted maybe two months and we find ourselves back eating on TV tray tables in the living room. The table gets used when Stu eats his breakfast there (I'm usually still sleeping) and when we have company.

Growing up in the 50s, we ate traditionally, all at once seated at the dining room table. I don't remember eating anywhere else unless we were at my grandmother's house where we often ate outside on a picnic table in the shade.

As retirees, sometimes we don't even eat at the same time. Stu is busy working on the Backend of Nowhere Garage build and might not come in until dark. That means I may have eaten two hours earlier when I was hungry. LOL! Thank goodness for leftovers...

Now no post would be complete without mentioning the #2Doods. Needless to say, they eat on schedule. Mornings around 8-8:30 and dinner around 6-6:30. Of course Cooper is asking by 5pm for his dinner. Then there are the unexpected treats, like licking the peanut butter spoon when dad is done.

Ciao for now!

Fall is finally here!

While our weather up here on the Cumberland Plateau is usually not too hot, this summer seems to have been a bit warmer than usual. I remember growing up and Labor Day always marked the start of fall for me as did Memorial Day and the start of summer.

This year, the cool weather has been elusive - well, until this past weekend when the rain moved in bringing temperatures in the upper 60s to mid-70s. A nice change, although we don't need a lot more rain. Stu says the grass is growing an inch a day and the pond is overflowing. The good news is the French drain he constructed is doing its job and the middle-lower section of the pasture isn't a swamp ground now.

He's been busy continuing to prep the Backend of Nowhere Garage for the concrete pour. So busy, in fact, he's behind several blog posts of the steps taken so far.

Yeah, SOOOOO busy!

I'm staying busy just washing his daily work clothes...including leather gloves (which got soaked yesterday). They weren't quite dry when I pulled them out of the dryer so had Stu puff them out so they would dry inside. They look kind of creepy sitting on the dryer now...LOL!

On Saturday our good friend, Earl, came over to help Stu put up the foundation boards for the concrete pour. He was designated babysitter for his four year old granddaughter. She kept me company all afternoon while he worked with Stu. The weather was nice so after an hour of watching "Paw Patrol", we moved outdoors.

She was drawing nature things - the sun, butterflies, caterpillars, bees - then moved on to writing her name as well as her sisters' and mother's. A little dancing for me and I asked if she could draw a ballerina. She did and asked me if I want to tear it out of the book and keep it. It's now on my refrigerator.

She and Murphy hit it off immediately...

Cooper was a bit more shy and she was so good about not pushing him...

She and Murphy watched Pop-Pop and Mr. Stu work for a bit...

Back inside, some fun for the two of them [video]...

Then watching "Ice Age" for a bit...

All in all, a good day. She and her Pop-Pop headed off to Cracker Barrel for dinner.

I've been busily working on defining new characters, plotting the back story, and doing research on life in the 60s on religious cults and communes in both California and Hawaii. Going to be an interesting book. I did a little cover reveal on my author blog if you want to take a peek!

Ciao for now!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Had a great day....dropped the #2Doods off at doggy camp for two days and headed into town for a double movie feature. First movie was Kin and while we both enjoyed it, we are hoping for a sequel. The second movie was Peppermint and it was edge of the seat, kickass action! Wow! Best Jennifer Garner since her tv series, Alias.

While there had been no rain, there was a rainbow in the sky when we came out of the movie theater. Definitely rain in the distance.


After that we went to Logan's Roadhouse for a nice dinner. I got a filet and Stu got shrimp. We both got veggie skewers although I gave him all my mushrooms. Yummy!




When we walked out, there was the most gorgeous storm night sky...I'm still in awe that my phone captured this!


Tomorrow it's back to Cookeville for errands, then pick up the #2Doods and back home.

Thank you to EVERYONE who sent me birthday emails, texts, messages, as well as posts on Instagram and Facebook. I so appreciate the thoughts and well wishes! I also greatly appreciate the donations to my Facebook fundraiser for the Scleroderma Research Foundation in honor of my daughter-in-law who suffers from this not well known, debilitating and terminal disease.

Ciao for now!

September 13 2018: Enjoy the Simple Things

“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.”
John Maeda

Till next month...

Views....Doggy Views, that is...

Everyone thinks these two are SO GOOD thanks to photos like these...Naw, they just know they have to wait for their treats. LOL!








Although they do know better than to charge out doors...


For example, here is Cooper on his designated table, surveying the yard.


And here is proof of his being on NOT his designated table, lording it over Murphy who can't jump up there.


Ciao for now!

Ketchup or Catsup or Catch-up?

We're staying busy and time is flying. Before we know it, November will be here and we will be heading south in the RV for the winter. Yikes! Lots to get done. Anyway, here are some photo highlights from the last couple of weeks to ketchup catsup catch-up!

A gorgeous full moon and I got to use my new Panasonic Lumix camera...


The proof copy of my C'Mon Inn Mystery Series Trilogy showed up...


No, not a tire. One reason I dislike washing sheets & blankets in my agitator-less washing machine...

Our roses not only recovered from our trimming, they are thriving...

A cracked windshield, thank goodness for a zero deductible policy and a quick replacement...


Had a wonderful dinner with a motorcycling "sister" and her husband, in the are from CA...

...at, of course, Cracker Barrel where the holiday decorations are out in full force.

Our weight loss journey continues....my excitement was finding out my wedding ring fit again...


The Backend of Nowhere Garage build continues as the dirt pile that was growing flowers disappears...


Enjoying a pretty sunset from our deck...


Attended an amazing benefit for our good friend who is fighting cancer and came home with this...

Loving my new coffee cup...using it every day!


Ciao for now!

They're moving on up!

Yes, I sang the blog title as I typed it....

It's the #2Doods - they've moved up to two separate XL (42") crates. While they can and do sleep in one, it's getting crowded and they both have to stay curled. So today Stu moved the power outlet up higher so the second crate would fit in that corner. Our foyer tables and a few knick-knacks were moved.

Needless to say, even the chaos of no crate bothers them...

And they're in!!

You can see why they each need their own. It will be interesting to see how they do at bedtime.

Ciao for now!