Raining cats and dogs...not



Hey, I can't believe I remembered my password so I could get on here and pretend to have something to blog about! One thing to chat about is we are FINALLY getting a few sprinkles today. It's not quite raining cats and dogs, but we are happy to get anything at this point!

Summer has flown by, as usual. TM and I took "Jazzy" to Florida for 3 weeks in June. We stayed at Williston Crossings RV Resort  http://www.willistoncrossingrv.com/ so we could be close to Gainesville as our oldest son and family live there. We loved the resort and have it on our 'visit again' list! I have taken several professional development days this summer as I will take on a new role when school starts. Also, I have crossed from west-central IL to east-central IL several times to visit with my mother and family. Mom is 87 and time with her is precious to us all.

On our way back from FL our truck broke down just north of Hopkinsville, KY on The Pennyrile Parkway {might I add those 18 wheelers really can "rock" a fiver and truck like Credence Clearwater Revival rocked back in my day, heehee}. We waited 5 hours for a tow for both the truck and the 5th wheel - no one wanted to tow "Jazzy" -  and we weren't leaving her sitting there. TM finally nursed the truck 3 or 4 miles to get off The Pennyrile, and we waited another 3 hours before we were towed. Our truck went one direction, we spent the night in the driveway of the tow operator's home in "Jazzy", and my brother drove down the next morning from Horseshoe Lakes Campground in St. Bernice, IN to pull "Jazzy" there for us. He and my SIL summer there, and it's only around 25 miles from my hometown in east-central IL. So, we wound up with our truck in KY, "Jazzy" in IN, and rented a car in Terre Haute, IN to get us home {tri-states area of IL, MO, and IA about 30 miles from the Mighty Mississippi}. Keystone Cops couldn't have done it better. However, it all ended well a few thousand dollars later.... ahemmmmmm...

Hope your summer has been a good one. I'm back to school Monday morning. I am looking forward to it but counting down to 2015 even more than ever!





Take care and scatter kindness!

First ride of the year!

TM and I finally took off on our bikes last Saturday. I had suggested just going for breakfast and a short ride. However, the weather was gorgeous and I was really enjoying being out and about - so I just kept on 'scooting' down our back roads with TM following me on his bike. We stopped at a favorite eatery along the Illinois River [which we rode a ferry across the river to reach the restaurant], and several hours later we pulled back into the garage. What a day!

School is out but I have several professional development days throughout the summer. Tomorrow is the first one. I'll be trained in 'positive restraint' of aggressive students. Really? Things have definitely changed since I began teaching. The brochure said to wear comfy clothes as the training will be quite physical. I'll fill you in if I make it through the day!!!!!!!!

Take care, on Memorial Day remember all who have gone before us, and scatter kindness!

TM is off to work & I AM NOT!!!!!

Oh, I like my Spring Break! TM was off to work this morning while I get one more day off. So, I took photos of him as he 'saddled up' in his leathers. It is a brisk 45 degrees but will warm up to 65 degrees, hopefully, for his ride home this afternoon.

TM putting on his leathers

He's my tall 'drink of water' - so cute with his lunch tote!

Saddled up & ready to ride!

After TM left, I poured another cup of coffee and Goggled 'pallet gardening'. I am lining up yet another honey do for TM. I think it's a great way to recycle plus utilize space. We have plenty of space, but I don't want to tear up our lawn for  garden. I have 'container' gardened the past few summers and it works for us. However, TM can get pallets from work - so we're going to give it a try.

Doesn't this look cool?

It is time to put an end to this Monday AM blog and get some laundry going. Enjoy the week and remember to scatter kindnesss!



A wee bit o' road bowling!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all those with Irish blood running through your veins [that includes both TM & I albeit 'watered-down' a few generations!]. We spent a few hours in the one and only St. Patrick in the United States -- St. Patrick, Missouri. We live about 60 miles from there and had never ventured over for their yearly St. Patrick's Day celebration. Well, we are having gorgeous summer-like weather (close to 80 degrees today) so we drove over. As we neared the small town on Northeast Missouri's hilly and windy backroads, we came to a young gentleman standing next to an orange traffic cone flagging us down. As he was wearing a bright green t-shirt with the message 'You can't drink all day unless you start in the morning' and a funky green hat with a shamrock on it, we deemed him harmless and rolled our window down for the following friendly warning: "Go ahead into town, but drive slowly please so the road bowlers can get out of the way." Say what...?  Yep, they were having a wee bit o' road bowling and were the participants3ever having fun. I've included our local news coverage of this event that does indeed come from Ireland. We had a fun time and enjoyed eating our corned beef and cabbage with a fun group of people from the tri-state area [IL, MO, and IA] that come for the fun and the history. Enjoy the video!

Roosters, motorcycles, and Nascar

As TM and I discuss 'downsizing' in anticipation of retiring by 2015 [mine may be sooner, but that is another blog topic], I look around our home and get overwhelmed before we start! How on earth did we accumulate so much 'stuff', and to be more specific... why? Most of the 'stuff' will not be hard to part with. However, both of us have our collections that are very special to us [plus super 'dust collectors'].

I have an obsession with roosters [they are 'sneaking' their way into "Jazzy's" kitchen already]. Both TM and I love motorcycles [and both ride, as  you may know]. We also have a passion for NASCAR [not so prevalent since the death of No. 3, however]. Our kitchen and rec room reflect these passions as you can tell in the following photos.

I forsee a super-sized rummage or estate sale in our future in order to declutter our 3 story [including an overpacked attic] home. (The garage is jam-packed with TM's manly 'man stuff', too!) Our plan is to sell everything and buy a small home in FL to be closer to TM's sons and grandchildren. We will then travel as we wish in  "Jazzy" and visit with family from time to time in east-central IL. As I say, that is the plan.... any helpful advice from those that have already 'been there done that' is most welcome!

To all we wish safety in your travels and remember to scatter kindness!

Ode to Erma Bombeck & Donna of "Cave Dwellings"!

"Sometimes I can't figure designers out. It's as if they flunked human anatomy." [Erma Bombeck]

    Now tell me "Cave Dwellings" stalkers blog readers, doesn't the above Erma Bombeck quote bring to mind those glorious photos of Donna in her 'ensembles' as she enjoys life?  Does anyone else see similar writing styles and wit between Erma & Donna? How cool is that? Bless your soul, Erma - and Donna, keep on keepin' on...

{Oh, how I totally agree with the above Bombeck quote!}

TM and I are counting the days until we pull the cover off "Jazzy the Jayco" and head out for an extended vacation [not until June]. We must admit, our Illinois winter has been very warm and mild -- plus sunny most days! This time last year I had missed a week of school due to a snowstorm.

Have a great 'Super Bowl' day and remember to scatter kindness!





Merry Christmas!

This Christmas Eve is a melancholy one. We will be traveling to my hometown in east-central Illinois today to be with my 86 year old mother who is in the hospital. Tuesday we move her to a nursing home as she is just too weak to care for herself any longer. Mom is of tough 'grew up in the Depression' stock, and she has raised her 7 children to 'take whatever comes' with a prayer and a smile. Therefore, we look on the bright side of this 'different' family Christmas and are thankful we're all blessed with all we have in life.
TM is taking vacation time next week and I am off from school for Christmas Break. We both look forward to being away from work for a few days. It looks as if we'll have no snow for Christmas; as a matter of fact, we'll have 45 degree weather and sunshine!
To all of you, we wish you a Merry and blessed Christmas, safe travels, and the love of each other!

Merry Christmas!