10.31.13. Trick or Treat

Watching Tanner and Landon answer the door tonight is a 

new experience!

Part of the time they would reply to the greeting "trick or treat"...Merry Christmas"...their version of teenage humor.

Trisha and Jeff left late afternoon for their weekend trip.

10-30-2013 Traveling In The Rain (Greenwood AR Fairgrounds)

In the past six years rainy travel days have been rare.  Today was one of them.

We left central Missouri, Miller County, home of my sister Jan and husband Bruce, this morning, heading to our daughter Trisha and husband Jeff, and family, just south of Ft. Smith, ARK.

The south half of Highway 71 between Joplin and Ft. Smith was absolutely gorgeous.  The fall colors were so concentrated and beautiful and thick.  The northeast section of the US couldn't be any better than what we saw today.  The downside was it was rainy, and couldn't take pictures.  It was reminiscent of the Smokey Mountains with steam/fog lifting into the sky over the creeks amid the varied colors of the trees.  

We are parked and set up for the next 20 days or so.  

Brady and Landon continue (of course) to be taller each time we see them.  Tanner had something to do after school so haven't seen him.  

10.29.13 Pitter Patter of Rain

We awakened to the welcome sound of a much needed rain.  It rained most of the day.  

Glen visited with his cousin this morning. I took the time to make some calls which included a doctor 's appointment  and reservation at Rv park for Thanksgiving week.

We visited a couple of times Bruce and Jan.  Jan has been busy with details of mpm's estate. I appreciate very much the time and effort she and brother Mark have expended on all matters legal.

We will be on the road tomorrow.

10.28.13.

It was a beautiful day in the Ozarks.  

We caught up on paperwork this morning.  This afternoon we shopped at Walmart, visited the investor and filled out papers, investigated an insurance policy in my name paid on when I was age 2 to 12.  We found it going thru mom's paper.

I don't expect to be rich but will be interesting to see if it is still active.

10.26.13 That's all folks

There were about four customers this morning. We hung up the "closed" sign at midday.  

We all were pleased with the amount of things sold and more pleased that it is gone.  

There were no pictures taken. Somehow it didn't seem right to show the world what was accumulated in mom's house. Isn't that a strange sentiment.

All of the quilts will be shared when the family gathers at thanksgiving.

Needless to say we are ready to get some rest.  

10.25.13. One day down, one day to go!

The first day of the yard sale started with the alarm....6 o'clock, still dark! We got there by seven.The first buyers arrived at six, according to my brother who was there to sit out things.  The last buyers were there at 5:30.  The best news:  90 percent of the stuff is gone.  Ask me how sore my feet are!    Buyers tomorrow aren't going to find much.  

The best part of the day was seeing friends I hadn't seen since high school.

10.24.13 one more day

We have finished the final pricing, got everything moved out . Now to be there at 6.30 for the first customer.  It will take lots of layers as it will be in the 20s in the morning.

10-24-2013 The Light at the End of the Tunnel

We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

There is a yard sale scheduled for tomorrow and Saturday at the home of my mom.  

The house is three stories; my mom lived there 62 years, and it was filled to the brim.  

We filled a 30-yard trash dumpster.  I am sure we will have to order another smaller dumpster after the yard sale is over for the items that doesn't sell.  I am not experienced with yard sales.  I have never hosted a yard sale, and have only gone to three or four.  My neices, sister, and brother all tell me that the stuff will sell.  I hope they are right! 

The first half of next week we are going to our daughter Trisha's.  Trisha and Jeff are going on a long-week-end honeymoon/first anniversary, and we are going to keep the kids company.  

We will be back on a regular schedule by next week.  

10.22.13. Thirteen Days and Counting

We finished 13 days of preparation for the yard sale that will be this Friday and Saturday,  the house is virtually empty except for the furniture that will be carried out last minute.  Glen has been invaluable help.  He has carried boxes and tossed trash and made saw horses. All of us are using muscles that haven't been used in a while.  By the way it is supposed to be in the 20s Thirsday morning.

10.18.2013 Brr-rr

My goodness, it has turned cold or at least cooler. The lows are to be in the 30s the next week.  I am working on the blog using the IPhone.  If there are strange words then "spell check" has taken control. Also I haven't figured out how to do paragraphs.  The sorting and categorizing is still going on.  My brother from Iowa drove in tonight. We are planning on tackling the upstairs tomorrow...where things have not seen in decades.  Have a great weekend.

10-17-2013 60 Years of Accumulation

We--my sister Jan, brother Mark--with help from Glen have jumped into "cleaning" out our Mother's house.

Can we say "60 years of accumulation"!  Neither parent ever threw anything away!  From the silly: containers full of bread wrapper ties; to the serious: our grandfather's Army discharge papers from WWI.   

We have rented a 30-yard dumpster for ten days.  I am not sure we will be finished by then!  

Before and after cleaning/sorting there is paper work to be done, delivered, copied for the CPA, financial advisor, and attorney!  

Check back in two or three days, I will bring you up to date on the progress of this big project--"Operation Clean Up"!

We are enjoying this weather: lows in the 40s and highs (yesterday) in the 50s.  Think it might get into the 60's today.  

10-12-2013 Plans written in Jell-o (Durant, Oklahoma; Lowe's Parking Lot)

Okay, plans written in Jell-o aren't solid, they are wiggly!

Glen worked at getting things put away, and we left Zapata Saturday-not Sunday, not Monday-morning at 9:30.

Except for the first fifty miles all 600 miles were on interstate.  Many of those miles are under construction.  

It is nearly city to city from San Antonio to north of Dallas!  

We stopped Saturday night in Durant, Oklahoma, parking in the Lowe's parking lot.  It was raining, dark, and the Walmart lot was full of shoppers.

It's on to my sister's Sunday morning.  

10-11-2013 Schedule Changed

There actually hasn't been a schedule for the future but this afternoon plans changed.

After having an informative conversation with my brother we are going to start "home" either Sunday or Monday--"Home" being where my mother lived in central Missouri.

The time has arrived to begin emptying her home.  We, Glen and I, want to/need to be there to be a part of this procedure.  

Temperatures reached 93 degrees this afternoon with lots of humidity.  It felt plum summer-ish!  

10-10-2013 Finally, Slowing Down

Finally, a slow day.

There were several small projects: 
     cleaned the grill
     cleaned, threw away, organized one basement section
     cleaned all surfaces in outdoor kitchen area after activation of a bug bomb (last night)
         including mopping floor

There was some sitting in the lounge chairs, watching the hummingbirds.  Yes, there are at least four female h'birds coming to the feeders.

Last, not least, we received the past month's mail.  Even if most of the letters are from the pharmacy coverage company, medical bill, a couple of magazines, personal cards, it is "fun" to go through all of them!

10-9-2013 Slinging Dirt

Glen slung dirt all day!  

He finished moving those dirt piles on the concrete to the edges late this afternoon.  He spread fertilizer, sowed some rye and Bermuda grass seed just before dark, and sprinked it all down.  As warm as it is right now, it probably will sprout in just a few days.

There was a break in the action mid-afternoon when we went to Jim and Dee's to visit and hear about their summer adventures.  They left here the end of April and arrived back yesterday.  

I imagine Glen will be ready to have a day with no plans tomorrow.  He is doing a lot of deep sighs every time he moves/gets up! :}

10-8-2013 Looks Like Work!

Does this look like work?  Too bad, the shovel doesn't fit my hand!  

This is six yards of top soil to fill in around the edges of the concrete!  You can see the difference in the existing "soil" compared to the top soil!

Glen says he will be finished moving the soil in the next couple of days!

We had visits from three more neighbors today.  We appreciate all of the "welcome backs" we have received.  This is a friendly neighborhood.  

Jim and Dee, winter Texans parked one block down the street, arrived "home" this afternoon.  They have been on the road, seeing the USA since the end of April.  They retired from the Chicago area.  

I did some scrubbing on the concrete where we are parked.  The beans from the mesquite tree stains the concrete when it lays there for months.  Some elbow grease and concrete cleaner made it look better.

10-7-2013 If Butterflies were Snowflakes.......

How's that for a strange title?

Yesterday and today there has been waves of flocks? bunches? gaggles? of butterflies in the air.  It obviously is migration. The butterflies are flitting from north to south.

These butterflies are about the size of a quarter, not a Monarch.  Driving into the butterflies is like driving into a snow storm.  

Vehicles are filthy with smashed butterflies.  How's that for a visual.  

I wanted to take a picture to show you but it didn't have the proper effect/perspective of the actual numbers of butterflies.

Our plan for the day was to leisurely start cleaning the yard. Glen was using the weed-eater, I was using the push mower.  Two different neighbors showed up, offering to help. We declared it wasn't necessary.  

Did they listen?  No.  Here comes Gilbert with his weed-eater and push mower; and here comes Mark with his John Deere riding mower.  All-righty, the entire is now mowed and trimmed.  All thanks to the goodness of great neighbors. That calls for a cook-out, I would think.  

Glen hung a (filled) hummingbird feeder and just a few minutes later there was a female ruby-throated, spending minutes drinking and refueling.  

To summarize the day:  take Tylenol or ibuprofen as needed for sore, unused muscles! lol

10-6-2013 We Made it! (Our winter home, Zapata, TX_

Here's what we found at our winter parking space when we arrived at mid-day.  Obviously there has been enough rain for the grass to be green; but not enough to put water in the lake.

This is where we normally park the mh, but plan on having some dirt added to the end where the dirt is washing away.

This is to show how the grass has grown.

This is "our" normal parking spot; dirt will go at the far end.

This is where Gary and Evelyn park when they arrive.  We are now parked here for a few days.

Looking from the "back" of the lot,  The right corner is where the "kitchen" is located.

Looking from the "back" toward our normal parking area.

You can see how low the mesquite tree limbs are hanging!  There will be trimming soon.

We were greeted by Shirley, one of our neighbors, who danced a jig when she saw us pull in!  She has been in the neighborhood since last Monday.  

We have hosed off the concrete under the Outdoor Living Space, cleaned up the patio table and chairs, ready for some leisure time outdoors tomorrow!

Falcon Lake is 34.53 feet below conservation level, about as low as we have seen it.  It sure needs to rain--a lot--to put some water in the lake.  Irrigation down river is pulling it down nearly year-round.  

We watched lightning and heard thunder but there was no rain this afternoon.

10-5-2013 Connecting with Friends (San Antonio KOA, TX)

Glen and three other veteran friends, Bill, Ron, and Don, drove this morning about 50 minutes to see another friend, Larry.  All five were in Vietnam at the same time.

Larry is in the hospital, with complications of radiation treatment for bone cancer.  Sometimes the cure is as bad as the disease.

Larry and his wife, Francis, appreciated the surprise visit.  

Glen and I enjoyed lunch at the "Iron Lizard" restaurant located along the River Walk.  The guacamole prepared table-side was delicious!

The reunion of the Dak To Defenders, Viet Nam, came to a close this evening.  As always, the conversation, the "do you remember" questions, the help given to each other regarding VA questions/issues, all help each veteran.

It's on to Zapata in the morning, our winter home!  I know you are going to say "it's not winter!"  We are only four hours from Zapata.  We will be going back to Missouri around Thanksgiving.

10-4-2013 Welcome Home, Brother (San Antonio KOA, Texas)

As we traveled this morning we enjoyed seeing the cotton fields being picked!  

Forty-seven Army soldiers, members of the 299th Engineers, who first met in 1969, reunited tonight in downtown San Antonio, Texas.  These 47 soldiers served at a special time in a special location under special circumstances.  

In May 1969 to July 1969 approximately 400 US soldiers were surrounded by approximately 14000 to 15000 North Vietnamese soldiers at Dak To, South Vietnam, near the Laos/Cambodia borders.  There were battles, shelling, bombing, all of the things associated with war.  One ambush was even described in the September 19 1969 issue of LIFE magazine.

For some unknown reason, those engineers survived the daily onslaught, and one day those 14000 NVA disappeared back into the jungle.

There has been a reunion of those soldiers annually for the past ten years.  Each year brings newly-located soldiers/brothers.  Tonight there were 5-7 attending for the first time.  These reunions bring remembering, healing. 

Even after 44 years there is a need for healing.  One of those attending for the first time said tonight "every night I think of you, I remember you, I remember what we went through, I remember what we survived."  

These are the 47 Dak To Defenders attending.

This is Company D of the Dak To Defenders; Glen is the back left.

Tomorrow brings another day of reunion.  As you read this, you may be reminded of someone you know, love.  Welcome them home.  They may never have heard those words "Welcome Home Brother!"

10-3-2013 On the Road--Again ! (Overnight at Greenwood, AR Walmart)

430 miles traveled today according to the route suggested by the GPS , but it was a few miles farther since we stayed off of interstates, and drove on a few "scenic" routes through southeast Oklahoma.

Here's how the day started:

Mountain road with low clouds over the trees, curves, and log trucks!

Ouchitia Mountains

Very low clouds hanging over the mountain tops; Notice another log truck!

By the time we reached Texas the sun had replaced the clouds!

We are stopped in Rockdale, Texas, a mere two hours from San Antonio, TX.

We will be in San Antonio while attending the annual reunion of the Dakto Defenders (Vietnam)(May-July 1969). We will overnight at a rv park rather than stay at the host hotel.

10-3-2013 I'm ba-a-a-c-k!

This is the absolute longest I have gone without blogging since I started in 2007!  

We have been parked at my sister's.  We have no Verizon WiFi there. I could have taken the computer to her house but never had/took the time to do that.

My mom passed away a week ago today.  The services, both visitation and Celebration of Life, were on Saturday.  Needless to say, there were some busy days, before and after all of that.

We--the family--were honored by the many family members and friends that offered kind words, brought food, sent flowers, you know the kind of things that family and community does in that time of life.

Things settled.  Monday evening we decided we could leave.  We will be back Thanksgiving week unless there is a need before that.

We traveled yesterday to our daughter's, spent a busy evening with them.  Trisha's 90-year-old father in law is in the hospital. We even got in a short visit with Willie.

Today we are headed to San Antonio, Texas, where the Dakto Defenders, Glen's Army friends and cohorts, are meeting Thursday through Sunday morning.  

This is my mom in the center.  I am the oldest, (R); Jan (2nd from left); then Ron with cowboy hat; then the baby (ha) on the left