ON THE ROAD

I am writing this in Seymour, IN and we were able to get online so, I decided to blog.

We are on the road and going to Gulf Shores, AL. It seems we can never get out of town without snow. Last night it snow and Davison had 3 inches of the white stuff. When we awoke our streets and driveways were cleared. That always helps.

We got dressed and went to breakfast at "Applo". We were going to meet Anita and Dave but Sarah was feeling so poorly they took her to their doctor. After breakfast we ran our car through the car wash so it wouldn't have to sit in the garage for three months with road salt on it.

After draining the pipes and turning the temp down we loaded the things we were going to take into the truck with us and we were off. It was 9:30 and the sun was out but the temperature was 17. The expressway had one lane open with snow in the passing lane. Once we passed throught Lansing both road lanes were clear and dry. Actually it was probably a better day to leave than last year.

We made a rest stop to check everything out and then stopped at a Meijers in Lansing and proceed on the road again.

We crossed the border into Indiana at 2:30PM. Very little snow and dry roads. The rest of the day we had dry roads with some flurries and sunny skies. To my surprise we only saw one other RV on the road.

We stopped at 1:30 PM just this side of Ft. Wayne to eat at Bob Evans. Before preceding Denny filled the truck up with gas and we were on the road again. We had gone 194 miles as of that fill up.

We arrived in Seymour, In at 5:30 PM and are staying the night at Knights Inn where we'll bring in the New Year. Wow! I can't believe it's going to be 2009.

The time seemed to go fast as we listened to the audio book "Lifeguard". We didn't get to finish listening to the end but, it's a good story.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL".

"Goodbye until later".

ALABAMA HERE WE COME

If your reading my blog today. I am packing our fifth-wheel. Tomorrow we are heading to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Since I took care of my Christmas decor I've been stacking stuff I want to take with me to Gulf Shores. I know you all may think it will be really warm. Yes, warmer than Michigan but some 50 degree weather at times. That won't even feel cold after the weather we have been having. So, I have to pack for cool and warm weather. One think for sure I won't need is my snow shovel.

I do have knitting and crochet projects, jewelry stuff (for making jewelry), books, sewing machine and projects, games and my hair cutting equipment. No I don't cut my own hair but I'll need it for Denny's hair.

We always empty out our refrigerator and we will be taking the freezer meat gift from the Clark family. I have my flour, sugar and spices I think I might need. I might as well take the spices it's so expensive to buy new.

We have lots of things in our fifth-wheel but when we're going to be gone for three months there is always so much more I think we need. I know as a woman I've probably over packed way to many clothes. But a girl just doesn't always know what she wants to wear.

Keep us in your prayers for a safe trip going to Alabama and when we get settled in I'll write more on my blog.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all reading this blog.

"Goodbye until later".

DINNER IN FRANKENMUTH

All of us in the picture; Sarah, Dave and me got a free dinner in Frankenmuth. That's because we have a December birthday and we have signed up to receive a birthday postcard for a free dinner. We always try to take advantage of this promotion and this year was no exception.

Anita made reservations for 1 PM at Zenders on Friday, the day after Christmas. There was no long lines, many empty tables and very few people having lunch at this time. We probably could have acquired a table without a reservation. As we talked we don't know if it was the economy or because we had decided to go to Frankenmuth after Christmas this year. It didn't matter because we were seated at the round table that was requested.

As soon as we all got our coats off and were seated around our table our male waiter asked what we would like to drink. That was the beginning of a wonderful dinner. After chowing down on special bread with jam, cranberry relish, small toast with cheese or liver pate', cottage cheese and cole slaw we were ready for our main meal. I do have to say Dave and Anita refrained very well from the appetisers. Myself...well all I can say is I just couldn't help myself it all tasted so very good.

Next waiter brought the chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, squash, and noodles. Oh, it all tasted so....delicious. It's no wonder they do such a great business in Frankenmuth. It always amazes me, the food is put in very small bowls yet there always is enough to go around. The waiter asked us several times if there was anything more we needed. Our waiter was very prompt. He always seemed to know when our drinks were almost gone and another one was put beside us. Never once did we have to ask for anything he was jolly on the spot. At the end of dinner the waiter cleared our dishes and asked if we would like to take the leftovers. Of course we did we couldn't let that food go to waste.

When all of us were finished eating the birthday guests got their choice of a chocolate sundae, vanilla ice cream or sherbet first. The three of us chose the chocolate sundae. Anita, Denny and Nathan got their chose of dessert also but chocolate sundae was not one of the desserts. I do have to mention I could not, I repeat not finish my chocolate sundae. This was way to much food for one setting.

"Goodbye until later".

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone that is reading this blog. I wish you all a safe, joyus, merry and blessed CHRISTMAS. Enjoy all the happy times together and may you find the special meaning of CHISTMAS.

I will not post again until next week so, that I may enjoy CHRISTMAS.

"Goodbye until later".

PRECIOUS PICTURE

My birthday was this past Sunday and what a wonderful birthday I had. It was snowing and blowing gail winds outside, but the celebration was inside at Anita and Dave's house.

Surrounded by my kids, grand kids and my husband we had a tasty meal of stir fry. Dave and Denny were the stir fry chefs. Each of us filled our bowls with a choice of chicken, beef or shrimp. We then had our choice of carrots, onion, broccoli, pea pods. Or we could put all in our bowl.

The chefs then fry the veggies and meat. Just before the stir fry is ready seasonings are added. That is our choice also. With our drink and rice on the table our meal was complete. Simple but one of the best tasting meals.

Later on I opened my gifts and loved each and everything that I received. The picture at the top was what Christopher put on my envelope with his and Ian's birthday card inside.

I will decipher in case you cannot affirm the details. Across the top are balloons. In the middle is Santa Claus. To the left is Santa's sled and a reindeer in front. To the right of Santa is my gift. I think it's pretty detailed for a five year old. Who knows what next year's picture will be?

"Goodbye until later".

DENNY'S SPECIAL PROJECT

While Denny was working on the yellow boxes (one of my earlier blogs) when we had a great idea that he could make a side table for Chris & Lisa and Dave & Anita for Christmas. I have one of these tables beside my recliner. And every night I use it for my drink, magazines, directions to what I am knitting or crocheting. Last year I took it with me when we went down south to use in our fifth-wheel. I would be lost without my side table.

Next, Denny took measurements from my side table and began the process of cutting each piece out of the oak we bought. There is a top, bottom, two legs and connecting pieces. He then put an edge on the tops and bottoms.

These tables are make of oak, stained in golden oak and four coats of polyurethane on them. The side table will fit nicely in their trailer or wherever they want to use them. It is so nice to have a handy man living right with me.

Beings we celebrated our family Christmas this past weekend I could now post a picture of Denny's special project.

And you might have noticed there are three side tables. Yes, I have one for our fifth-wheel now.

"Goodbye until later".

PROJECT TO COMPLETE

I have decided this year while I am down south I will take some projects that I started and never finished for one reason or another. Or bought and never got around to starting. If you are a crafter you know what I'm talking about. I have no excuse now that I'm retired.

One of the projects is a crocheted granny square afghan. I cannot tell you how long I have had this project but I think at least 20 years. When we moved to the Potter Rd. house it moved with us. Then when we moved into our condo it moved with us again. We're not planning on moving again but this project is going to be finished and put to good use.

I dragged it out of it's storage box and read the directions to see what needed to be crocheted to finish this granny square afghan. I need 2 green squares, 2 orange squares, 24 gold squares. I probably didn't finish it because I discovered I needed more yarn. In the storage box was a small amount of green. A skein of brown and tan.

After going to JoAnn's I can tell you I couldn't match the yarn color exactly and couldn't match the orange at all...so, change of colors. This shouldn't surprise me after 20 years who would think the yarn colors would match? I will mix the granny squares together. New squares and old squares. When I get to the point that I can put these squares together to make my afghan it will probably hardly be noticed, the new yarn being used.

It will keep us warm and no one will care about the granny squares that don't match. I have started to make more granny squares and I realize I probably put this project up because I ran out of yarn and got sick of making granny squares. When I finish all the squares there will be 143 granny squares.

I will complete this in 2009. Hopefully in the early part of the year.

"Goodbye until later".