April 30, 2014 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAUGHTER, TRISHA

It is our firstborn, our daughter Trisha's birthday today.  

She is foremost a beautiful wife and mother, a wonderful and thoughtful daughter, a big sister,  a beloved aunt to Ashlynn and Zade, a seventh-grade science teacher.  She has taken flying lessons, she is a designer/organizer, loves her aunts/uncles and cousins.  

We are proud of her!

It has been a quiet day.  Errands, marking things off the "to do" list, getting ready for the beginning of the big road trip.

The day ended with a few hours with Ashlynn and Zade and their parents.  Zade was scheduled to have a baseball game tonight but it was cancelled due to water/storm damage to the field.

April 29, 2014 Catching Up (The Landing Point RV Park, Cape Girardeau, MO0

Saturday, after the rain stopped, at auction.

Monday afternoon successful morel hunt at my sister/family's farm.

Total count: 155.  They were delicious tonight for dinner.

Ancient grinding rock found by my nephew.  It's weight is approximately 45 pounds, 14 inches square.  There is a 4-5" depression in center used for grinding.  The four "holes" in each corner was used to hold nuts for cracking.  And, even more neater: the reverse side also has the grinding depression.  The straight line was probably caused by a modern-day farmer using a disc in the field.  Most probable the grinding rock was used by the Osage Indians.

A beautiful scarlet tanager perching on the fence around a corral on my sister/family's farm.

I also saw a blue grosbeak two days in a row at the farm.  The photo I took of it is fuzzy.  It also is a beautiful bird.  I think it is only the second time I had seen one.

We drove back to Cape Girardeau, MO today.  The outside temperature ranged from 51 to 59 degrees, which means we actually turned on the heater for part of the trip.

We picked up Ashlynn and Zade after school, went to the grocery store, bought meat to grill.  Dinner was the grilled pork chops with sides of mashed potatoes, mac 'n' cheese, cauliflower, and ta da! battered morel mushrooms.  Delicious!

We appreciate very much the strong WI-FI supplied by the RV park!

April 28, 2014--#2 post Fun day on the farm

okay, I tried downloading pictures of our fun day.

You will have to wait until tomorrow when I have better internet service to see the pictures.

We will be back in Cape Girardeau tomorrow.  Check back for the pictures of our fun today.

April 28, 2014

We are now at my sister Jan and Bruce's farm. Posting using my phone. Going to see my mom' s place this morning.  Had a delicious meal and better visit at nephew and family's home last night.   Be here until Tuesday morning.

April 26, 2014 Oh, My Aching Feet; or, The Auction is Over!

Oh, my aching feet!  All I did was be at the auction.  I wasn't doing any of the heavy lifting/moving.  I can only imagine how Gary and Evelyn are feeling about now.  I hope they are being visited by the Sand Man!

Gary had the moving crew:  grandson, two sons, son in law--moving furniture out of the house and into the big garage by 7:00 a.m.  

The clouds were darkening, the thunder rumbling, and soon the rain was threatening, and then coming down.  Tables and goose neck trailers loaded with items were quickly covered with plastic, or, moved back into the garage.  

The bidders arrived, received the bid numbers, wearing their ponchos or rain coats or carrying an umbrella.  

At eleven the auctioneer started with the speech  "OK, folks, this rain is gonna move through quickly.  Let's begin."  Finally at 12:30 the rains stopped for the rest of the day.

The auctioneer had predicted that he would be finished by three.  It was actually 3:20 when the final item sold.  Not too bad with some minutes of rain delay early on.

The final sale numbers were very good.  Gary and Evelyn were happy with the numbers.  Very good results.  

The family members had a great time of visiting after the auction.  We said our good-byes.  We will see Gary and Evelyn in about three weeks, at the start line of the Alaska caravan.

April 25, 2014 Auction Eve

It's the day before the auction.  You have sold your home and acreage.  You have sorted and boxed things from every room.  That is what Glen's sister Evelyn and Gary are going through.

We helped moved boxes from the house to flatbed trailers and/or tables today.  All that is left is furniture to be moved outdoors in the morning before the start of the auction.  There is also some furniture that is being kept and will go to storage.

Grandsons, son, son-in-law, and brother will be there in the morning to do the heavy lifting and moving.  

Evelyn and Gary are down-sizing.  They will move into a smaller home with a smaller yard--when they find just what they want.  Until then they will live in their fifth-wheel RV.  There is no hurry as they, Evelyn and Gary, are traveling to Alaska with us in a month.

As a reward for all the work today we, all of us, went to the small town of Montrose, MO, to the restaurant, "Short Street" whose specialty on week-ends is prime rib.  OMG, it is delicious.  Glen and I shared one order, and there was still a few bites of prime rib left.  

April 24, 2014 The 'Taters Wagons Rolled

Have you heard the expression "the 'tater wagons are rolling!"?  I grew up hearing that from my parents during spring thunder storms.  

Thunder rolled and lightning strikes were bright on and off during the day's thunderstorms and rains.  There was lots of wind during the morning hours.  

The farmers have been busy, preparing fields the past few days.  All of the corn planted will be growing quickly with today's rains.

We went to Gary and Evelyn's this morning.  Glen, Gary and Evelyn made several trips to the storage area with boxes not going to the auction.

Today's special at "Gray's Diner" in Butler Mo was Fried Chicken.  Gray's Diner is the place where the locals eat lunch; the place you want to know about when you drive through a small town; the place where you have to get there early before the "special" is sold out!

The fried chicken was delicious and very crispy.  The side dishes were scrumptious, also.

We will be going back to Gary and Evelyn's tomorrow.  It will be a sunny day; great for the final moving of the boxes to either the storage area or to the auction tables.  

April 23, 2014 Travel Day (Dielhl's Corner RV Park, Passaic, MO)

We crossed Missouri today all the way to Passaic MO, about 40 miles south of Kansas City.

We are at an RV park that has been upgraded in the past year to accommodate the pipeline workers that were in this area for a project.  

The park now has full hookups, located in a corner near Highway 71.  There is good WI-FI and cell service  and satellite service and only five miles from Gary and Evelyn's. The pipeline project is finished and the workers gone from this area.  

We had dinner with Gary and Evelyn  early evening.  They are worn out, getting ready for the auction Saturday morning.  

Before or after forecast rain arrives tomorrow we will help Gary and Evelyn carry boxes/items to the needed auction area.

Our daughter who teaches seventh grade in the Greenwood AR school system had a first today.  There was a bomb threat written on a bathroom wall in the building.  The school was evacuated.  Of course police responded.  The teachers were responsible for checking backpacks and their rooms.  Police told the teachers they were most familiar with what was normal and what would be out of place.  

Trisha also told us that just two weeks ago they had had training for such a situation.  

Thankfully all ended well.  No bomb found.  

April 22, 2014 Signs Winter is Truly Over

This is Ashlynn, age 7, tonight getting ready for swim lessons.  I think the gappy smile is wonderful!

Maybe, just maybe, winter is truly over!  There are so many shrubs and trees and flowers in bloom.  We, speaking generally, are so ready for color after the coldness, drab browns, dirty snow.  Even the yellow of dandelions are a welcome sight.

This morning in the RV park a propane company was picking up propane tanks for summer storage.  

People are mowing yards.  The neighbor across the street from our son's mowed his yard last Saturday morning.  And, he mowed it again this afternoon.

People are washing vehicles, expecting them to stay shiny for a few days--until the next rain.  Glen has gone over the bottom half of the motor home with a waterless cleaner and shiner.  (He got as high as he could without a ladder.)

Of course there is sports...soccer, baseball, swim lessons (indoors), biking, jogging.  

We are leaving here in the morning.  We are heading to south of Kansas City where Evelyn and Gary live.  Have I mentioned they have sold their home and 7 acres?  They are downsizing and will be hosting an auction Saturday morning.  We are not planning on buying anything---where would we put it?but going for moral support!

We will be back next week.  The RV park is holding our spot for us.

April 21, 2014 Errands, Again

How can it take one whole day to run errands?  That is what we did today.  It seems as we have this happens every week.  Oh well, all we would do is be at home if we weren't running errands. What else do we have to do?

Of course, the first stop was Verizon Wireless, which took an hour.  We had a question about a call from my phone to Grand Cayman Island for 18 minutes and was charged $32.  My advice: if caller ID shows a call from a area code you are not familiar with, don't answer.  I remember getting an email from Verizon telling us that spammers from a foreign country can use an area code from the USA, and the call then costs many bucks.  All the spammer does is verify an active number.

Verizon stepped to the plate and gave a fifty percent discount on the call.

Forecast from early in the day indicated that more than likely soccer practice at 5:30 would be rained out.  Nope!  No rain--at that time.  We picked up the kids, took them home, and got Zade ready for practice.  Darin got home in time to go to practice.  Glen went with Zade and Darin.

As Ashlynn said "all the girls stayed home!" Sarah's mother came by for a few minutes.  

We received the following pictures from daughter Trisha, taken on Easter Sunday.

Tanner Wilkinson, Brady Wilkinson, Trisha Wilkinson Burklow; Natalie Burklow, Jeff Burklow, Landon Burklow

Four teenagers under one roof: Brady, 16; Landon, 16; Tanner, 14; Natalie, 14

Brady Wilkinson, Trisha W. Burklow, Tanner Wilkinson

Landon, Natalie, Jeff Burklow  

We helped Darin move/rearrange furniture in Ashlynn's room this evening.  A student desk was moved in her room.  She is so-o-o excited.  Now she has a place to "do homework"---and color--and draw pictures--and write notes.  If a project involves, pencil, pen, colored pencils, markers, colors, she is happy.  

April 20, 2014 Happy Resurrection Day

Our Easter was a very quiet day.

We attended worship service at Cape LaCroix Methodist Church.  The sermon was awesome and ended with a beautiful song called "The Mercy Tree" .

It has been just us the rest of the day.

Darin, Sarah and family went to Poplar Bluff to spend the day with Sarah's family.

I made two batches of banana bread, using up six very, super ripe bananas!  And, the bread is delicious.

April 19, 2014 No Jacket Required

Might be a little "hands" from the other team against Zade (with glasses)

Goalie Zade just kicked out the ball.

Goalie Zade with a save!

Sometimes goalie, sometimes coach!  Giving directions.

Big sister Ashlynn cheering from the sidelines.

Zade with end of season team trophy.

This is a team of kindergarteners.  It was fun to watch today.  They have learned to play position, and as a team.  Regular season ended today.  Now, there is "all star" team play.  Think the team Zade is playing on has three tournaments lined up.

I must mention the weather at this point.  No jacket needed today.  In fact a light sunburn showed up on some cheeks, noses, and arms.  There was a high of 82 degrees.

After soccer, and a quick lunch, we hurried back to Darin's house.  He and Sarah had advertised and sold in one day their living room furniture.  The buyers?  Glen's niece (daughter of younger brother, Paul) Charity from St. Charles, MO.  They came to load it and take it back to Charity's house.  

They had time for a good visit before heading north.

Spring must be here.  Darin and Glen removed the hard top from Darin's jeep, and installed the soft top, which is more warm weather friendly.  

Ashlynn and Sarah worked on Rice Krispy Easter Eggs treats this afternoon.  That is what we had for dessert tonight.  

It been a full day, filled with sunshine and memories.  Even the work was fun.  

April 18, 2014 Play Day

Ashlynn and Zade were out of school for "Good Friday".  Their mother also took the day off from work.  But, Sarah had a couple of errands and projects that needed to be done without children nearby.

We went to their house and had play time.  We took them the game "Connect Four".  I thought it would take them a while to figure out the game.  Oh no, they sat down and immediately started playing.

We then played outdoors.  It was a beautiful day.  There was some scooter riding, sidewalk chalk art, bat and ball.  Then Ashlynn and Zade helped Poppy wash his truck.

Hoping you are enjoying this, finally, great spring weather!

April 17, 2014 General Check Up

My computer has been visiting the Geek Squad at Best Buy the past few days for a general check up. It came home this afternoon.  Many viruses were deleted and updates loaded.  The computer is responding at a quicker rate of speed.  

The past few days has been "life, as usual".  There have been visits to:
** The Outlet Mall in Sikeston MO.  We stocked up on jeans and shorts at the Lee/Wrangler Outlet.

**Wal Mart.  The cupboard is stocked again.

**Practices for baseball and soccer.

**Cummins dealer in Sikeston.  There are now spare oil drain plugs.

**Best of all, visits each afternoon and/or evening with Ashlynn and Zade and Darin and Sarah.  
The colder temperatures of the past few days has not slowed down the blooming trees and shrubs.  The red buds are heavy with colorful blooms.  The dogwood is about one warm day from being in full bloom.  

We visited the opening day of the Farmer's Market this afternoon.  I bought a bouquet of three varieties of jonquils/daffodils.  Is there a difference in jonquils/daffodils; or is a regional name of the same flower?  

If you are in Cape Girardeau on Thursday afternoon 2:00-5:00 the Farmer's Market is now located on the back parking lot of the mall, across from the back of MacAllister's.  As it warms the number and variety of booth's will only increase.  

April 15, 2014 Theater Production

It has been a good and productive day.


Both Glen and I picked up new eyeglasses this morning.  We each had Lasix surgery about 9-10 years ago.  In the past year our eyesight has deteriorated to the point where "readers" were not enough correction.


Wow, we both are bragging on our eyesight,,,with the new glasses.


Our daughter has been on a hunt for ancestors.  There has been family-lore for as long as I can remember that there is Native American ancestry, particularly on my father's side of the family.  No written record has been found in my father's lineage.


But...I found a letter from my great aunt on my mother's side, her dad, that indicated three great-grandmothers back was a member of the Blackfoot tribe in North Carolina.


If this can be proven, and our daughter is attempting, then there is monetary stipends available for college fees.    


Finding the letter from my great-aunt meant that we searched through the stored containers in our son's basement.  During the search we found several items that could be thrown away.  What was important eight years ago is not now important or needed. 


Tonight Glen and I attended a traveling production of "West Side Story" at the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University.  It was awesome.  The music was familiar. The performers/dancers were so-o-o talented.  We enjoyed it very much.  It was a one-night performance.  We only saw it listed in the paper a few days ago and appreciate that we could get tickets. 

April 14, 2014 Where, oh where, is this month going?

It is hard to fathom that this month is half over.  The days are going by so quickly.


It has been a windy--up to 32 mph, rainy--all night and day, with temps falling--61 degrees this morning, and currently 39 degrees.  But the western and central part of the state had snow today.  My sister reported the ground was white and snowing fiercely this afternoon in the Lake of the Ozarks area.


We ran a few errands mid-day; otherwise, we have spent the day indoors.


Ashlynn called about 6:15 to ask if we could come up to their house for a while.  Of course, the answer was "yes".  We stayed until time for them to go to bed.


Darin brought a friend by to see our motor home after lunch.  The friend is nearing retirement, and is interested in the full-timing lifestyle.  He has done a lot of research and is educating himself about rigs, floor plans, colors, etc. 


Surely this is the LAST cold spell this spring!

April 12 and 13, 2014 Slow and Lazy Week end

We last shared that Ashlynn and Zade had spent the night with us.  They both had a good sleep.

Saturday we delivered them back to their parents.  

"Sport's Clips" was very busy with a long waiting line.  Glen decided to wait for a haircut until Monday when hopefully it won't be so busy.

We played with Ashlynn and Zade this afternoon while Darin and Sarah went to the gym.  

As said many times before, Zade will play ball every daylight minute.  He played catch with Glen and Darin after gym time.

Just a normal, family-time week end.  We are soaking up all these precious minutes to carry through this summer when we are traveling to and from Alaska.  

April 10-11, 2014 Quiet, Uneventful, thankfully

Glen awakened Thursday with an upset stomach.  I think grandson Zade had shared the germ he has been fighting for a week.

Glen had a quiet, sleepy day.  Thankfully, Glen was stronger than the stomach bug and nothing developed.  A day of rest took care of the unease.

It was Darin vs. the stomach bug today.  Much of the day Darin was on the losing end of the battle.  

We are looking for new outdoor gravity chairs.  Stops at Menard's and Lowe's and Academy didn't yield what we are looking for.  

Ashlynn and Zade are talking silly and I can't type properly.

They are spending the night--maybe. They might have to go home if they don't straighten up or leave the keyboard along.  Oh, now they are saying "don't send it!"  

Seriously, they are spending the night.  So, say "good night, Ashlynn!" "Goodnight, Zade!"  

See you in the morning.  

P.S.  Zade says to type this:  I am being good.  Ashlynn says :" I am amazing!"  

April 9, 2014 A Beautiful Afternoon

The afternoon was beautiful, maybe a tad cool, but beautiful.  Blue skies, blooming trees, jonquils, sunshine, did I mention blue skies?

After a few errands, we drove across the beautiful bridge over the Mississippi River going into Illinois.  We drove north 15 miles to Union County (Illinois) Wildlife Refuge.

The low-lying woodlands/forests was filled with water, just right for wood ducks and other water fowl.  Open fields held pockets of recent rainwater, just right for waterfowl.  Sense a theme here?

Of course, nearly all birds were too far for photography, but this one was just above the parked truck.

A red-headed wooddpecker decked out in his courting colors.

Also seen was this old man of the water holes, a snapping turtle.  It was the size of a dishpan.  He looked old, leathery legs and neck, and turned around and looked at us as if to say "no sneaking around me!"

We saw two different eagle nests,  with an adult keeping guard at each nest.  With winter sticking around later than usual I don't know if eaglets have been hatched.

We saw 20-25 species of birds, plus some LBBJ's.  Only the elite birders ever see these...LBBJ's---"little bitty brown jobbies!".

The day ended with baseball practice for Coach Hickey and player Zade.
The sun went down, it cooled off, and I sat in the truck the last few minutes.

If you are interested in a list of different species seen, leave a message.

April 8, 2014 Shopping 'Til I Drop

Glen drove the motor home to a battery shop/store here in Cape Girardeau this morning.  Two of the four "house" batteries were original, and the other two (four total) were weak equals a purchase of four new batteries.

These batteries provide power to the rig when not plugged into electricity.

Another item marked off the list to do before leaving for Alaska.

While Glen was busy with that project I went shopping.

I must say I haven't shopped by myself, going from store to store in quite a while.  My feet hurt!

I shopped in Tuesday Morning, TJ Maxx, Kohl's and Walmart.  And....didn't buy anything except at Walmart.

I was looking for everyday silverware.  Several of the forks to our current set have gone into a trash can somewhere, as in when throwing away paper plates.  Evidently I haven't shopped in several years for silverware as I was taken aback at the prices.

I probably will go back to Kohl's tomorrow as there is a "senior citizen's" discount on Wednesdays on all items in addition to sale prices.

April 7, 2014 A Rainy Day in the Ozarks

Growing up the local radio station would always report "it's a rainy ole day in the Ozarks!"  A perfect description for today.

The creeks are running again, and the ditches are full.  The Diversion Channel from the Mississippi River is bank-full.

We braved the rain drops to meet friends at Red Lobster for lunch.

It was great to see Jim and Sandy Freedman, Tom and Donna Yeakley, and Shirley Yeakley, all from Poplar Bluff.  We visited for a couple of hours, catching up on all the news.  At our age(s) it is about health,children, grand-children, mutual friends, medicine, and trips!

Speaking of grandchildren, here are our two youngest:

Zade is 5, in kindergarten; Ashlynn is 7, in first grade.  Zade is a sports' fanatic, but especially baseball.  

Have a great week!

April 6, 2014 We Need a New Clock

I awoke this morning, looked at the room clock, and immediately wondered why my phone alarm did not go off this morning.  The phone clock is set for 7:15 a.m. (don't laugh) every morning for me to take medicine.

I went to the kitchen, took the medicine, and sat at the computer.  I did my morning reading.  An hour later my phone alarm went off.  Yes.  It was now 7:15.

The room clock is from Glen's mom's home; obviously several years old.  The Daylight Savings Time schedule is an old one, automatically set for the first Sunday in April.  It is only off-schedule twice a year! LOL.

This afternoon Darin and Sarah had an appointment.  We picked up Ashlynn and Zade, went to a park.  Glen and Zade immediately began playing pitch and bat.  Ashlynn and I went to the playground.   90 minutes later Sarah dropped Darin at the park with us.  Darin replaced Glen in the pitch/bat game for 30-45 minutes.  Be patient.  I am making a point.

We went back to Darin's house where Zade said "Dad, will you play pitch/catch with me?"  That boy could play ball every minute of every day!

There's a few errands to run this week which will have to be accomplished in between rainy days.  

April 4-5, 2014 Grandchildren with Benefits

There was "early out" at school Friday afternoon.  Ashlynn had requested to be a "car rider".  We picked them up at 1:43--to the minute, and went to their home.

Zade wanted to play games.  He won every game of "Go Fish!"  We played two games of "Sorry".  He didn't win either of those so he didn't want to play anymore!  Ashlynn played quietly in her room with Barbie, not interested in games.

Later Ashlynn got out the coloring books, crayolas, markers, colored pencils.  She chose a picture for me to color!  What fun.  

Ashlynn and Zade both came home with us for overnight.  
We had barely gotten in the motor home when Zade announced his stomach hurt.  Are you thinking what happened next?  Yes...throw-up time.  Thankfully the trash can was in reach.  

It has been many years since I dealt with that situation.  

He felt like staying, not wanting to call Dad.  

We finished the movie "Frozen", a very good movie by the way.  The music is great, the storyline has a "happy ending", the "bad guy" gets whats due, and the princess gets the good guy.  

Zade slept with me in the big bed, Ashlynn had the couch, and Glen slept on an air mattress.  Zade is like a heat-seeker missile....as close as possible to me.  

Zade had a good night, and was ready for breakfast.  After breakfast we took the kids back to their house where they both had special days planned.

Ashlynn went with her mother for a Spa Day session...mani/pedicure.  Zade and his dad went to St. Louis to watch the St. Louis Blues hockey team.  The game was a first for both Zade and Dad.  The Blues lost, which made Zade sad!

The benefits of five-and-seven year old grandchildren...beside unlimited hugs and kisses and gappy smiles....
games--Sorry, Go Fish
coloring books and crayolas
hours of playing pitch and catch---for Glen
Disney movies which leads to Ashlynn singing all the songs

April 3, 2014 Spring Storms

"Tornados reported by public."
"Severe thunderstorm warning from now until 11:00 pm
Thursday."
6.20 inches of rain since midnight Thursday.

"Hail reported just north of here."


Obviously we are watching local tv coverage of these storms.  The storm systems are rolling in from west/southwest about every hour.  I will be glad when it is all over.

We have been watching lightning and hearing thunder with heavy rain since about 6:30 p.m.

More tomorrow.  Likely there is going to be some flash flooding in the area with this much rain.

April 1, 2014 No Tricks Allowed

Our granddaughter Ashlynn, grade 1, told us that "no tricks on the teachers allowed."  However her teacher told her that "there would be no more recesses for the rest of the year!"  April Fool's!  

Today started the beginning of "things to do" before leaving for Alaska. 

*check....haircut for me.  Of course there will be at least one more; but today's cut was almost on emergency basis.  It was shaggy time.

*check....made various appointments with doctors and mobile rv technician.

*check....watch at least one of Zade's soccer's game.  Watched tonight's.  There is no score keeping but Zade's team won 2-0.  Believe me, Zade and his team know who scores!

Tomorrow night is baseball practice, unless it is raining!  Darin and friend are the coaches for Zade's team.  

There was a high of 76 today.  The natives are rejoicing!