Labor Day, Kids, Kids and more Kids

Obviously, here at Hart Ranch in South Dakota, Labor Day weekend is the last hurrah for weekend warriors and their kids.  The place has been over taken with kids (and bicycles).  The speed limit for vehicles is 10 mph but it would be safer to walk anywhere. (Kids have no fear or shame when they ride out in front of you.) There are grills going, games being played, bicycle races, razor (scooters) races, strollers loaded with kids and dogs, tents up, tents blown down from a nasty wind storm, one little girl sitting in a big, tonka toy type truck, being pulled by her brother on his bike on a long rope weaving all over the road.  Picnic tables are pushed together with Moms and Grandmas getting the food ready.  There are games of hide and seek with lots of shrieks and laughter.  Occasionally, there's a baby crying.  The couple parked next to us had several car loads of family show up yesterday.  Young, old, teenagers and a new baby.  Lots of oohs and aahs.  The watermelon was bought out after the chicken and corn had been devoured.  Grandpa had what looked like a hacksaw to cut into the melon.  It took him awhile but everyone eventually got their slice of watermelon.

Today, Monday, they'll start packing up to head home.  Tomorrow all will once again be quiet.   Too quiet.  I like hearing the laughter of little kids.  Lucy, however, will be glad to see a couple of dogs leave.

Wore myself out.

Spent almost 3 hours redesigning the blog.  Don't have any energy left to post anything. 

Not sure…

Not sure I want to blog any more.  Obviously, it hasn’t been high on my list the last few months.  Few usually means more than two less than four.  I guess it’s been three months…give or take a month.  Not sure why I lost my desire to write.  It’s not like I don’t have something to say.  I definitely have opinions about stuff.  I get fed up with the news.  Everything is a “Fox News Alert”.  I get fed up with politicians…they all lie.  Who cares what Lindsey Lohan is up to now?  God, what a shallow world we live in.  I’ve become cynical over the last few years.  I guess I need to just learn to tune it all out. 

One thing hard to tune out is the wind.  We have had so much wind the last few weeks.  I thought Chicago was the windy city.  We were suppose to leave today for the Northwest but with high wind warnings for today we decided to stay put.  We are heading to La Pine, Or where I just found out they have flood warnings!!  And, the temperature last night was 26!  Next will be locusts.  I’ve got to figure out how to get floaties on the motorhome.  Which brings me to another topic we were discussing a few nights ago with fellow rv’ers.  What do friends and family call your motorhome?  We had a few chuckles on what others call our motorhomes.  Campers or trailers is the most common.  I usually refer to ours as the “rig” or “moho”.  We’re not a bus and “coach” seems too ritzy.  (However, sometime coach does slip out usually after we’ve been referred to as a camper.)

I think I had about a total of four people who read this blog.  Will be interesting to see if anyone notices that I added a post.  Don’t blame them for not checking or commenting on a new post.  I know I get turned off when there’s nothing new on the blogs I follow.  Maybe the difficulty I’ve had with blogging is who is it for?  Me or them?  Not sure.

Who are these people?

Lucy and I went for a walk around the park last night.  The park was pretty empty when we got here on New Year’s Eve.  They’ve been coming in like flys the last couple of days.  Where did they come from?

Tim has always accused me of being a voyeuer..don’t think I spelled that right but you know what I mean.  I like to walk at night because I can look in the windows and see what’s going on.  That’s what I did last night.  There are RVs of all type.  We have Class A’s…gas (engine’s in the front); diesel (engine’s in the back); there’s Class C’s, B’s, B+, 5th wheels, trailers and a few I don’t recognize.  I see some people who are making dinner, watching TV, on the computer, by themselves, talking on the phone, reading or just puttering.  I wonder who they are, where did they come from, are they snowbirds just here for the winter or are they fulltimers?  Retired?  Recovering from health issues?  Dealing with health issues and not letting it stop them from travelling?  Is this their last hurrah?  Will we see any of them at our booth at the FMCA Rally next week?  Where will they go from here?  What are their stories?  Are they famous?  In disguise? 

We finished our walk and headed back to our motorhome where the blinds are down and drapes pulled…buttoned down tighter than a drum.  I know there’s people like me out there.  I don’t want them watching while I dance the fandango! 

Another year bites the dust...

I don't like looking back so this won't be a rehash of 2010.  Those of you who know us know what 2010 was like...those of you who don't, you didn't miss anything I want to replay.  I try to stay in the moment.  Most are good...no, great moments.  Some suck.  We are blessed with great kids, grandkids and friends and, of course, one special dog...Lucy.  Tim and I both think she's a compliation of our previous dogs, Tootsie and Buffy.  She's a Yorkie, like Buffy.  Buffy was a 5lb princess type of Yorkie.  She wore a pink bow in her hair.  Lucy pulls plow.  No bows for her.  She's a 12 pound, bring it on, pulls no punches (just plows), I'm not wearing that $28.00 sweater - I'll just stand here and hold it (piddle) until it's back in the 70's, type of Yorkie.  She has the personality of Tootsie.  Tootsie was the sweetist dog we ever had.  Lucy has her heart.  She loves everybody.  As far as she's concerned, everyone is on the planet to pet her.  She manages to get us to do exactly what she wants us to do when she wants it.  She stares into your eyes.  She can communicate with you with those eyes. 

We're in Indio, CA for the next few months.  New Year's Eve was quiet except for the machine gun being fired at Midnight.  Did I say we were in CA?  My New Year's resolution is to take my vitamins on a daily basis (maybe I'll do it this year) and to be the human Lucy expects me to be.

Tick Tock

Tick tock, tick tock, it’s 2 o’clock, tick tock, tick tock, I’ve got blogger’s block, tick tock, tick tock.  Now you know what I do at 2 o’clock (am).  There are times where 2 am brings ideas (or weird dreams) to blog about…but there are other times where all I get is tick tock, tick tock.  Maybe I should take the batteries out of the stupid clock.

Men are from Mars

Just an observation on some of the differences between Tim and me.  Tim opens up the refrig (mind you the one in the moho is NOT that big) and asks where the mustard is.  “It’s on the shelf in front of you.” “No, it’s not.”  “Yes, it is.”  “Well, you come and find it then.”  I get up, walk over to the refrig and move the mayo jar to the side and hand him the mustard.  I’m afraid that if I took a trip back to the Midwest to see grandkids leaving him here…he would starve.  He wouldn’t find anything in the refrigerator let alone the pantry.  If he had to take anything out from the bottom bays…he wouldn’t be able to get it all back in.  You see, I’m a packer.  I should have worked for a moving company.  Nobody packs like I can.  I’ve moved 2 kids, an old English sheepdog, my grandmother’s rocking chair and an ironing board in a VW bug…all at the same time.  One of my better packs. 

Neon lights better be flashing for whatever he’s looking for.  He’s not about to move things aside to look for something.  He asked me where a certain book was the other day and I told him where.  He said it wasn’t where I told him.  I (once again) got up, went to where the book was, retrieved it and handed it to him.  You see, there was a stack of books and the one he wanted was on the bottom…without neon lights.  I rest my case. 

I’m Not a Pancake Fan…but

Coach’s Oats Pancake Mix is to die for.  These are the BEST pancakes I’ve ever had.  There’s every grain (including flaxseed) that you can think of in the mix.  Full of fiber and high in protein.  Mix, water and egg is all you need to mix up a batch.  As far as I know Costco is the only place you can find Coach’s Oats.  There’s also regular Coach’s Oats – steel cut oatmeal and is simple to make.  You would think I’m a spoke person for Coach’s Oats (I’m not)…they’re just that good.

Lucy and I had a scary moment early this morning.  It was about 5:30 am and pitch black.  I give her more leash than normal so she can find just the “right” spot to do her business.  All of a sudden (just as she had found the spot) she starts barking.  Lucy is not a barker.  I turned to look in the direction she was looking and two coyotes were passing in front of us.  They looked at us and went the other way.  Lucy’s version is her barking scared them away.  Lesson(s) learned this morning…no more long leash to find her “spot”, carry flood light, position truck so head lights shine on us, turn motorhome headlights on and carry an AK47.

Chip off the “auld Grandma Susie block”

There’s Donald, Daffy and Daisy Duck.  However, the best duck of all is AUDREY DUCK!!!  Of all my grandchildren Audrey most takes after me.  You can see it in her eyes…she’s daring you to comment on her choice of Halloween costume.  Personally, I think it brings out the blue in her eyes.

Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted on this blog.  Not that I haven’t had anything to say…I have.  But believe me, it would have been disjointed, unintelligible, and spacey (blame Prozac – lots of birds flying overhead…and not in formation…you had to be there to understand what I just wrote).  For those of you who have known what the last 6+ months has been like for Tim and I…I’m sure you understand the lapse in posting.  If you don’t know…sorry…I’m not going to relive the past.  Prozac is history, Tim is doing great and Lucy has a new winter jacket.  Life is good. The blog is back!

This and That

Sometimes – more often than not – I find it difficult to post anything.  I’m not one who’s going to give you a run down on my day.  My best posting (as I’ve mentioned before) is about 2am.  I have all sort of ideas.  Usually they are commentaries on ads on TV – especially the drug ones.  Tim and I have determined we would rather have the condition the drug is prescribed for than face all the side effects.  I also have these posts in my head (which I would send an email link for this blog to FOX NEWS) commenting on all the STUPID FOX NEWS ALERTS they do in any given 24 hour period.  Excuse me, it’s a Fox News Alert because the President is in his car going to some conference??? Or, how about the Fox News Alert that an elevator is stuck?  I don’t even pay attention to the alerts anymore.  They cried “wolf” too many times and, unfortunately, there may be a real news alert we the public should know and we aren’t tuning in. 

I’m afraid the older I become the more of a cynic I’ve turned into.  I don’t trust the media, I don’t like politics…they should all be fired with a Fox News Alert, I can’t understand the stupid politician who hasn’t learned from the stupid politicians (and President) before him that you don’t mess around with the help.  Yep, another Fox News Alert. 

Now you know why I don’t post more often.  I forget all I was going to write about when I wake up in the morning.

Lemons

You know the saying..."When life gives you lemons...make lemonade." Well, these are reallllly big lemons, and we've got some really big lemons in our life right now. Anyone got a really good lemonade recipe? I could use one.

Anticipation

When are they going to get here? I've been waiting for over an hour. I don't see anyone yet but I know someone is coming because the table is set for four (and you thought I couldn't count). Lots of chopping and dicing going on. I wish they would hurry up and get here...my legs are getting tired!

Last Waltz

There’s a video on Yahoo about a 94 year old woman who has been told by her doctor she has congestive heart failure and maybe 6 months to live. She lives in a nursing home and one of the caregivers asked her what her final wish was. Here’s the link...

What would be on your bucket list? As for me, I’m still looking for the damn bucket.

Covered in Ash?

One could think the picture had been taken somewhere in Europe depicting how bad the Iceland volcano eruption has been. However, this is not the case. I took this picture in Shanghai a number of years ago. The life size figures were on a corner across from the hotel where we were staying and were erie looking. Don't know the story behind the statues or the artist. Did, however, make a great picture.

Old #7 Flank Steak was more like a #3. Didn't really care for the marinade. Made lemon chicken in the crockpot yesterday using frozen lemonade and it turned out pretty good.

Giving Jack Daniels another try. Bread pudding is in the oven and I will be making JD Whiskey Sauce to go with it.

I'm not a baker

I've probably ruined my cast iron dutch oven. It will have to soak for days. I wonder if Oxiclean would help?

This was my attempt at making "one pot bread".

Tim says I should have used Pam.

We're not talking.

What would you make?

The Jack Daniel’s cookbook offers up these tasty morsels:  Catfish Cocktail, Frisky Whiskey, Wash Day Casserole, Soused Onions, Dog Bread, Baked Dove, Possum and Sweet ‘Taters (will take 12 hours or more to soak your possum), Hen Fruit Casserole, Snockerdoodles and Tennessee Holler-Puff.  I won’t be making any of the aforementioned.  Just don’t have any doves or possum in my pantry. Dang!  Had I had doves on hand I would have removed the wings, put them in a freezer bag and served them up in the crockpot with a little Jack Daniel’s sauce for appetizers next time we have a get together.  Oh well. 

I did find a recipe I will be making this weekend…Old No. 7 Flank Steak.  Marinate (overnight) the flank steak in garlic, dry mustard, and Jack.  Bread Pudding with Tennessee Whiskey Sauce looks promising, too.  I know Tim’s going to hide his Jack from me.  Anyone have a coupon for Jack Daniels?  I’m going to need it.

I’m not Julia Child or Julie Powell

Not even close.  Not even somewhere in-between.  I have no desire to make every recipe in Julia’s book – “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” - http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/authors/child/making.html

No de-boning a duck for me.  I don’t like duck.  The only good duck(s) are the ones I can keep in a straight line and lately there seems to be only bad ducks.  And, I don’t care for lobster so I don’t have to worry about hearing its’ squeal as it’s plunged into boiling water.  I found this site:  http://juliachildrecipes.tumblr.com/ and there are a couple of recipes that have interested me...her “Boeuf Bourguignon” and “Mashed Potatoes”.  Did you know meat (as in steaks, chops, etc) won’t brown (properly) unless they are dry of any moisture? 

I’m not Julie Powell (who blogged her way into a book which became the movie “Julia/Julie”) either.  Her tenacity to make all the recipes and blog about it every day for a year isn’t in my genes.  I consider myself on a roll if I post on this blog 3 days in a row!  But I can identify with her when she posted “Hello?  Anybody out there?  Does anyone read this?  Hello??”  I found her last post on her blog the day after Julia Child died -  

http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/

I’m not sure what but watching Julie/Julia had an effect on me.  In the meantime, while I’m figuring out what the effect is, Tim wants me to fix all the recipes in this book:

Red Pepper

I bought this red pepper at the IGA in Snowflake, AZ. Red peppers were $1.99 each. They were piled on top of one another so I went digging toward the bottom to find the largest. I wanted my money's worth. The checkout gal was even shocked to see such a large pepper. The picture doesn't really do it justice. I thought by putting it on the dashboard of the truck one could see how large it was. You'll just have to take my word for it...this puppy was huge.

I've thought for some time I should include a recipe now and then in this blog since I do like to cook. I don't think I would call my cooking a hobby...rather it's a means to eat decent food rather than living on fast food, processed food or eating out. You can't go out to a restaurant for under $50 for 2 meals and wine (Jack for Tim) and I swear I could have made it better. Too many times it's just mediocre. I actually get giddy when I make something for us that ended up costing $5-10 including wine! I made my first trip to the 99 cent store last week. Do you know they have fresh produce as in organic packaged lettuces for 99 cents? It was fresher than what I paid $3.00 for at a local chain! I also got a package of romaine hearts for 99 cents. Yesterday, I bought a 5 lb bag of russet potatoes for 99 cents. We don't eat a lot of potatoes but I will bake 5 or 6 and then put them in the refer to take out later and make potato skins or fried potatoes for Sunday breakfast. I watched Julie and Julia yesterday and it must be the reason for this post. If you haven't seen the movie, rent the DVD. Tim even liked it. I like Sandra Bullock but Meryl Streep should have gotten the Academy Award for her portrayal of Julia Child. Forgot to add a recipe...maybe next time...something with a red pepper in it.

Cabin Fever

Cabin fever in a 2200 square foot house is one thing.  Cabin fever in less than 300 square feet is quite different.  The weather has kept all three of us inside.  It’s either raining, snowing or blowing.  Feels like it’s been this way for months.  I can only read so much, surf so much, cook so much, clean, dust and vacuum, had my fill of Wal-Mart and Tim’s never had so much clean laundry at one time. Tim can be buried in a book for days without looking up.  Lucy goes from her bed, to our bed to the sofa to her food bowl and then starts over.  I, on the other hand, am starting to climb the walls.  The weather needs to shape up.  Anybody seen Al Gore?  I could use some global warming right now.  

Who you lookin' at?

We had a breakout this morning. Cattle found a hole in the BLM fence and made a run for it...well, more like a slow walk. They ended up behind a tree behind us and this one decided he was going to stare me down. It was more like a dare. He wanted to see how brave I was. How close would I get to take his picture? Well, I fooled him. I opened the screen on the motorhome and stuck my head out and took his picture with the zoom lense.

Beautiful sunrise before the cattle stampede.

Oh, by the way, once again we're having 60 mph wind gusts. And, it's suppose to snow tonight...couple of inches. And, still windy tomorrow.