Rest and Relaxation, Jimmy Rodgers, Travelling to Covington, LA

Sunday and Monday were days we just sat around and read books all day. I can't remember the last time I read a book. Was very relaxing!!!

Tuesday was the day to visit the Jimmy Rodgers Museum (only open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that's why we stayed 2 extra days).

This is a picture of the outside of the building--no pictures allowed inside.


Nolan standing by the historical marker sign outside the building (he tried to get me to let him take my picture but I didn't let him have the camera, sorry, Carla).

This is the lady that works here. She followed us outside to tell us something else about another historical marker sign downtown.

The museum is in a beautiful city park.

We had plenty of time so we took a drive out to where the cemetery he is buried in.

The lady at the museum recommended we eat at Crescent City Grill. It was excellent!

Wednesday was our travel day. Took our time about getting things ready to go but we were still pulling out of the campground around 9:30 am. Very uneventful trip. We've paid for a week at the Land O Pines Family Campground, Covington, LA. Hopefully, I can get Nolan to take me into New Orleans, maybe a little east to Mobile, AL, and Gulfport, MS; and maybe over to Baton Rouge. Lots to see and do that's not too far to drive. However, if he doesn't want.....I like this campground alot!

See a couple of pictures below.

That's us.

Hitch Installed, Worked, Final Prep and We're Off

Friday, Nolan finally put in the last bolt to the hitch. It's in and we're ready to go! I was busy all day getting ready for a Longaberger Home Show at 7:00 p.m. All went well and it was a decent show of $371 in guest sales.

Saturday, Lazed around until we needed to get ready for my nephew's step daughter's birthday party. Spent about an hour at the birthday party and then we were off to dinner at friend's of ours who wanted to make sure we got together before we left MO. We had a great time and a great meal! We'll miss those kind of things for sure.

Sunday, I worked my last time for a while at the local convenience store....if you ever travel through MO on Highway 17 and go through Roby, you should stop for a soda! After I got through working, we made a quick trip to Competition to deliver some Longaberger to my friend, Gena. Didn't call first and she was not home but we talked a few minutes with her husband Steve. Then we needed to go to Nolan's niece's to pick up some of Nolan's long sleeve shirts that he originally didn't think he would need to take with us. Back to the trailer to finish some things before we pull out of the back yard.

Monday, Nolan said we needed this ring thing for the hitch so we made a trip to Lebanon to the RV Sales and Repair place there. Got the license renewed on the old truck since we will be gone a while and found out that we could renew the license on the new truck early. Ate a quick lunch at a mexican restaurant and then headed back to the trailer to get the paperwork we needed to renew the license on the new truck and pick up the propane tank to get it refilled. Then we were off again this time to Houston since it was a lot closer. Got the license for the new truck, filled the propane tank, went to Wal Mart for printer ink. Hurried back home so I could wash some more clothes and deliver more Longaberger. Around 7:00 p.m. my niece and her girls came to visit my sister so of course we had to take a break from getting ready and visit/play with them for a while.

Tuesday, Boy, I sure did not sleep well.....so, I was up at 7:00 a.m. Started washing a couple of loads of clothes cause I wasn't sure where we would be staying tonight. For the first time, I got things ready to go.....slide the slides in and put stuff where I thought it would be OK for the ride. Nolan went to put air in the tires, grab a bag of ice for the black tank, and back to hook the truck up to the trailer for the first time. All this took lots longer than we thought but we finally managed to pull out of my sister's around 11:30 a.m.

Here we are, ready to leave:

We drove until around 4:00 p.m. and decided to stay in Sikeston, MO, for the night at the Town and Country Camping and RV Park. I'll show you a picture tomorrow. Well......things didn't travel as well as I thought they would. All major things were OK but there was a mess to clean up. I forgot a bowl of potpouri on the dining room table, a small bowl of change on the computer desk and pretty much everything else on the desk, two baskets on the dresser in the bedroom....all fell somewhere and spilled their contents everywhere. Nolan walked in the door first and that was a mistake.....I heard about the mess for a while. Got that all cleaned up and everything running and the dogs settled. We took off to eat at Lamberts where they throw the rolls......very good but way too much to eat!!! Long day, hope tomorrow is a little better!

Work, Tool Box

Well, thought I was through with my part time job, but I was wrong. Opened the convenience store today and worked until noon. Was good to get to see everyone and catch up on the local gossip.

Nolan managed to get the tool box bolted in but work on the hitch has to wait until his brother returns....maybe we'll make some progress on Tuesday.

Tool Box, Apple Butter Festival

One step closer....we made a trip to Springfield to purchase the much needed tool box for the bed of the truck. Finally made a decision on the one we want and got it....yeah!!!! We bought a Delta Pro that fits down in the bed of the truck.

Carla was making a second trip to Mt Vernon, MO, for the Apple Butter Festival and wanted us to go also. We met her there and enjoyed a couple of hours of crafts and fun things to eat. It's a really good festival if you are ever in the area during the event. Town square and side streets are full of booths of crafts and stuff. They also had a huge car show which is always fun to browse through and the day was a beautiful fall day.....not too warm and not too cold, no rain!

Hitch

Today they actually worked on installing the hitch. It is in the truck but only one bolt is holding it in.....not secure yet. Nolan's brother left that evening to visit his step daughter for the weekend. No work on the hitch til Tuesday and maybe not then....we'll see. Dinner was pizza at Walt's again.....that's becoming a habit!

Hitch

Nolan and his brother decided they need some stuff for the hitch installation. So, we made another trip to West Plains, got it, and ate lunch at a fish place. Found some stronger magnets for the washing machine lid. They work better.

Went to my TOPS meeting. We then went to the local convenience store for pizza and talk......I love spending time with friends and talking. Hoping this new adventure leads me to new friends and lots of talking.

Truck, Shopping

Made an appointment to get the truck serviced and check on the installation kit for the hitch in West Plains. Got all that done.....the installation kit was not in stock and we did not order one. Got the brake controller and Nolan will install that. Guess he will also talk to his brother tomorrow about the installation kit. Don't know when we'll get going!!!

Made a stop at Wal Mart and got a few groceries. Also got a couple of other things for the RV. Need to wash the outside tomorrow so I got a few things to do that. More 3M picture hangars, a over the door hanger for Nolan's jacket, magnet strips for the washing machine lid (didn't work, magnet was not strong enough), and 3M hooks for the bathroom sink area. 3M hanging products are great!!!

Back to Working on Getting Ready to Travel

Well, got back to my new home on Friday night.....what a good feeling to be back in your own bed! Mom is doing well and I felt comfortable leaving her to get better on her own. She was getting around by herself and gettin stronger every day. Here is a picture of Brenna and my uncle (my Mom's brother) at the hospital....isn't she so cute. She was so good! We all spent the night at the hospital that night and she was no trouble at all.....I think her and Nolan and a pretty good time actually!

Took a couple of pictures of our 5th Wheel sitting in my sister's yard. Sure wish we were ready to move on.

Here's our new to us truck to pull it with!

I think I mentioned that the recliners in the trailer were not comfortable at all. Mine actually made my legs go to sleep when I sat in it....they were terrible. Here's our new ones!

We're getting there.....things are coming together. This week we get the hitch installed and look for a brake controller.

9/11, Birthday, New Phone, New Chairs

I think I now know what it's like to have a birthday on a holiday.....although 9/11 is not a holiday, it is a very sad day, I don't want to take away from the importance of all those who lost their lives on that day......it sure makes it hard to have a happy birthday! Fifty some years ago I was born on my mother's birthday, 9/11! Well, today I drove to Springfield to have lunch with my daughter and get my hair cut and colored....it always helps to get a "new do" when you're getting older....one that makes you look younger!

Also today was the day I wanted to buy an air card for my computer. Well.......bought myself, for my birthday, from me, the new iPhone. It sure is cool, but probably way more gadget than I needed. I love it! The air card is good also.

On the way home the new recliners I bought for the trailer were in so I stopped and picked them up...of course it started to rain. Luckily, it did not get the chairs wet. They were in boxes and covered inside the box with plastic. So, when I got home I quickly opened the boxes and took them inside. I was so thankful that they came in two pieces. That meant that I could carry them myself (Nolan is still not back from Maryland yet). I absolutely love the chairs!

So, I did have a good birthday!

5th Wheel Hitch, LP Gas, Sick Girl

We have been so lucky! Over the weekend I was talking to a co-worker at the local convenience store and she mentioned that her parents might have a 5th wheel hitch that they would sell. Nolan went to look at it today and decided it would work for us. Has only been used once and we got it for $400. Nolan's brother will install it for us and we should be pretty much ready to go.

Speaking of going......we're leaving Roby, MO, on September 28, for Rosine, KY. We'll probably make a stop for a night or two before we get there. We will be going there for the Bluegrass Festival they have there every year. Here's information on the festival http://www.jerusalemridgefestival.org/jr2007home.html.

After picking up the hitch we decided it was about time to fill up the LP gas tanks. So, Nolan loaded them up and we took off for town. While we were in town, we stopped at the farm and equipment store to check out the tool boxes. I think they had one we should have gotten, but Nolan wants to look around some more.

My great niece who is 5 years old was not feeling up to par so she got to stay with us today. You could tell she was not her usual talkative self and she only took one bite of her pizza (her favorite food). She still was a lot of fun and maybe she will get to stay another day with us!