End of July Already - into August

I've been trying to update the blog now for several days. So, if I get this posted, yea. I downloaded IE 9, then found out the blog wasn't compatible, backed out IE9 and now periodically have problems.

Can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted. The weather is still hot and humid. Can't say that we're overly excited about this summer's workamping. But, at least we get to volunteer at the fair. Seems like we're always working or on-call for something. We decided we won't be working here next summer. The bright spot with the experience we gained this summer, we're hoping it will get us better positions for the winter and next summer. We've sent our resume down to a couple of campgrounds in Texas and a campground in Mesa, AZ is also interested. So, it's getting positive.

We're getting stuff ready for the fair. We help get some of the information ready for the volunteer program. Should be wrapping up this weekend so the coordinator can get it sent to the printer.

Nothing more on Sharon's house. Hope it sells soon.

Last weekend we had a girls day out with my sisters and my nieces. Had a great time. We had lunch at the Ox Yoke Inn:
My sister Marcia, her daughter Michelle; Sydney and Jodi (my brother's daughter and wife)

Teresa (Pam's oldest), my sister Pam, Mykie (Pam's middle child) and Samantha (Pam's youngest). Can't see Sam very well so I'll add another picture of her and Mykie.




We did a little shopping and tried to see a few museums. Found this small lake full of lily pads


Remember I mentioned ending up at some places - then moving on. Here's a picture of the group moving on. :)


Most of the museums were closed or would take too much time. Did stop at the barn museum, though. Miniature farms, etc. Pretty cool



State Fair starts next Thursday - so hopefully I'll be able to update again real soon. It seems to be working again. And, with any luck we may be heading to Springfield, Mo for the winter beginning September 15th. And, we're talking to the owners at the campground in Onawa, Ia for next summer. Some things are looking up for us.

June, already

Can you believe it we're in June. The heat & humidity make it seem like July or August. Well, right before Memorial Day weekend the other workamping couple, Carol & Jesse or as Sharon liked to call them Tweedledum & Tweedledee, left. It did come as a surprise but a welcome one. We're still finding out stuff that they did or didn't do. Right now, the bathrooms are clogged up. Carol refused to clean hair out of the drains so she just swept everything down the shower drain. There is a weekly treatment that is to be added but she didn't do that either. Apparently, they asked her about it - answer - I don't do that. And, I guess, she didn't bother to tell anyone either.

The campground is starting to take shape with the flowers. We just love watching the birds. Today, a hummingbird was feeding from our feeder. Here are a few pictures.
Our campsite.

KOA sign when tulips blooming


Our goldfinches


Rosebreasted grossbeak. Haven't seen them the last few days.


Harris Sparrow. Not supposed to be in this region. Has very interesting markings.


Have the usual robins, sparrows (house, chipping, and song) and a couple of house finches.

We're so proud that the Baltimore Orioles are still hanging around. They like the grape jelly.



We also have 3 types of woodpeckers: hairy, downy and the red-bellied.

Haven't had the chance to take their pictures yet. Flowers are blooming in the pots nicely so maybe you'll have some more pictures later.

Buddy & Maria, workamping & friends, from Louisiana showed up on Thursday to work this summer. We're very excited about this. They are a truly awesome couple.

Well, that's it for now. Who knows when the next blog will be but we have a few more days off this year together so maybe doing a little more site seeing.

Catching up

I know it's been a month since I last posted. So for all of you whiners, here it goes. Let's see, we finished inventoring(?) the store. Here's a couple of pictures of what it looked like when we were done. Groceries & RV supplies have been added since this picture.




We have to admit that this summer hasn't gone as well as last. Let's just say that the other work kamping couple and us have a different attitude about what it means to work in the campground. And, let's just say, it doesn't mean sitting and staring at a computer or watching other people work. O.k. maybe later we'll have more stories but don't get Sharon started. She may not stop. :)

We attended two high school graduation parties this month. So, made two trips up to northwest Iowa - back to back weekends. The first weekend we were able to stay by Sharon's sister Ruth.

Sharon & Ruth bonding over pictures on the computer.


We attended Sharon's nephew, Dan, graduation party. You would think that we would have taken better pictures but apparently not. Sorry, Dan.




Now, on to the next weekend. First, we were able to see Sharon's great nephew, Jack. He is one year old today.

Just saying: doesn't it look like Aunt Sharon is picking on Jack. Aren't you surprised she could even hold him (even for a minute) after this. :)




Then on to Sharon's nephew, Adam, graduation party. I think we noticed how badly we took pictures at Dan's so tried to do a better job. Not sure if you could say much better though. I think our talking got in the way of picture taking. ha ha




On Sunday afternoon we were able to visit Sharon's mom in the nursing home. Had a very nice visit. Took a picture of her Mom with her roommate, Flossie.





And, we made a couple of trips over to the house during this time period. Didn't think to take pictures after we (o.k. Patricia & Dave) tore the carpeting off of the steps and hallway. We did a little spring cleaning. The real estate agent thought it would be helpful. Must say, it was very very dusty.

I guess that just about covers the last month. Except we have been doing a little bird watching from our windows. Maybe the next month, will include some pictures of the flowers we planted around the campground, also.

Iowa - first two weeks

Wow! Have we been busy. We arrived at the KOA on Thursday, April 7th. We were in the office working on Friday, April 8th. The new owner is nice but really young. He's traveled in a motor home for a couple of years for his prior job. He hasn't owned a campground before so this should be very interesting.

He decided to change the inventory system. He's putting everything into quikbooks. So we've been scanning and counting every item in the store since we arrived. We finished today. Yeah! This will be a lot easier in the future but was a headache the past few days. We put in a lot of hours.

Cydney, one of our office workers, graduates at the end of May. She's easy to work with. There's another couple that we work with but let's just say that it's interesting right now. None of these people have worked in a campground before or so it appears. At least everyone is nice and that helps.

The owners are hanging around for a few months to help in the transition. They bought a house and land down in southern Mississippi - not far from the Gulf but not in hurricane or flood territory. Looking forward to visiting them later.

The birds are starting to appear. We just can't believe how cold and rainy it is. We left 90+ degree heat in Texas - thinking maybe it wasn't so bad after all. Furnace hasn't run so much in a very long time. In fact, we're not sure the last time it has ran every night for a couple of weeks.

We have a pair of Canada geese that are very interesting to watch. The other day we found them sitting on top of a Kabin. Yesterday they were in the yard of the house next door. Sharon managed to take a couple of pictures of them sitting on top of the woodpecker tree (dead tree) and the shed in the back.



Hopefully, it will dry up enough so we can prune a few shrubs. Needs to get warm so we can get some flowers planted. Looking forward to a couple of weekends off. Have a couple of graduations to attend in May.

For right now, we're just adjusting to a new area and routine.

Leaving Texas behind

Well, we're on our way up to Iowa. Stopped tonight at Red River Ranch RV Resort in Thackerville, OK. Arrived safely and in good time. A couple of slow downs in Austin and Fort Worth but only delayed arrival by about 1/2 hour. Blew a fuse for the front jacks so will take a look at them in Iowa. Decided not to manually crank them down tonight. No need - left attached to truck.

Sharon's watching the Women's Final 4. Love our satellite dish and DirecTV.

We're looking forward to heading north to cooler weather. It was so very very hot the last few days in SA. Kind of strange to be leaving, though. But excited about the next job. It will be a little the same and a little different.

The spring flowers are in bloom in Texas. Took some pictures last year but didn't get the oleander so took a couple of pictures of them before we left.





This past weekend went out to eat with the friends we made at BLRV. We went to the Longhorn Cafe. Ordered some fried pickles. They were great. Hamburger dills - deep fat fried. Couldn't believe how good they tasted.

Lynn & Edith

Darlene & Bob

Ray & Yoli


After dinner went back to Creekside for dessert and a game of Jokers.




Tomorrow, we're heading for Topeka.

March

I think we're just bypassing Spring. We've had the ac on for the past couple of days and looks like it's going to stay on for quite some time.

This past week has been a busy week for us. We celebrated Sharon's birthday with some people here in the campground. The following pictures is all we have to say on this subject. (strict orders from you know who :)) Yoli thought she might be getting board with me spending so much time on the computer. Guess she forgot it was basketball tournament time. ha ha



We'll be heading to Iowa and the KOA campground on April 5th. We'll be talking with the new owner tomorrow afternoon about our jobs. Hoping for the best.

On Thursday, there was a potluck at the campground. Sharon wanted a white chocolate raspberry bread pudding. Since she doesn't like red raspberries, we substituted blackberries. It was a hit. Just had a couple of servings left. Hopefully, we'll finish it up today.

Been trying to get all of the slides scanned in before we leave. Still have at least 10 boxes left. 140 slides per box. Just hate thinking about it. We did take a couple of pictures of our dinner at the Longhorn Steak House. Finally got them downloaded so can show a few here.

Lazy Afternoon

What can I say, it's been a few weeks since I wrote. Just haven't been in the mood. :) A few weeks ago I came down with a cold. In case you don't know it, I'm not a very good sick person. Just don't want to do much of anything unless I have to. Couldn't work one day due to fever, etc. But now feeling much better but with the extremely warm weather - allergies are back.

Let's see what's been happening over the last few weeks. Can't say much of anything.

1. We've been enjoying game playing at Creekside with new friends about 3, sometimes 4 days a week. It's usually only a couple of hours.

2. Sharon need some RV maintenance - checking the batteries (filling with water) and replacing the washer/screen for the hose connection.

3. Read a few books. Not sure how many Sharon completed but I managed 5.

4. The park had a Valentines Day brunch on Sunday, the 13th. The same weekend as 27 rig rally. We served 65 on Friday night and 57 on Saturday morning just from the rally. Guess you could say, we were all exhausted. Forgot to take the camera so no pictures.

5. Had a potluck this last Wednesday. Since a little bit of food was left from the brunch, Sharon and I didn't need to bring anything. Just went and ate. Helped clean up afterwards though. The potluck started at 6. We got home about 8. Not too bad.

Heard about all of the storms and snow up north and out east. The cold front even hit here. One day, it never did get above freezing. Hovered around 29 all day. Furnace is working awesome. They're not used to snow or ice down here so everything sort of shuts down until the afternoon when it melts. They even closed the interstates in San Antonio. It wasn't so much the snow as the ice. Had some freezing drizzle. Took a couple of pictures to prove we did get some snow.

Snow on the patio outside our door.

Ice on our side window

Snow on the roadway


We're now back in the high 70s and low 80s with lows in the high 50s and low 60s. Cold weather doesn't last very long. Now that the weather is nice, we're hoping to get out a little more.

This afternoon, Sharon watched the Ohio State/Purdue game. She's now reading the paper. I'm getting ready to finish dinner (crockpot) and then maybe a little reading or nap taking again.