Oh, to be thirty again–or forty, or fifty!! Weed-wacking can be (**is**) a big job!! My bare foot got too close to the line and I was “wacked.” The manager of maintenance reminded me this morning that my yard needed attention. “I know, I know. I’ll start it shortly.” It took most of the morning; it’s 12:35 and I just came in moments ago. (Time for some iced sun tea.) Eight-four degrees outside; eighty-one degrees inside. I’m relying on the oscillating fan right now; I don’t think I need the air-conditioner. ~~ I’m heading for the shower, and then “doctor” my wound. ~~ FYI: The ants were an overnight unexpected unwanted addition to the yard. Thankfully I knew where the Ant-B-Gone was stored (a purchase in North Carolina).

Postscript, 5:45 PM: Took a nap; did very little all afternoon. Tonight, I’m revisiting an old activity: Square Dancing. I’ve been waiting for a new class to begin. After thirty-five years… I need to ease into this.

The Ant-B-Gone seems to have killed the pests!!

If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know I spend a lot of my time and energy in my yard. Today, I tackled cleaning the “big” trailer. Last night I had an unexpected guest and she said “May I come in?” I was so embarrassed by the clutter!! Hence: Clean!!!! The “down side” is the fact that a lot of things are piled on the table in the yard and I’ll need to find a place for them. I’m delighted with my gift to myself; my living quarters look very attractive. Guests welcome!! ~~ I needed to succumb to using the air-conditioner. It is ninety-one degrees outside (3:00 PM) and, frankly, even warmer inside without the A/C.

My day isn’t over: Next I’ll go to the CARE Center and water the indoor plants. I like to do it where there are a minimum of people around. ~~ FYI: Yesterday–all day–I was a volunteer at the local Habitat for Humanity. They twisted my arm (LOL) because now I’m scheduled for every Saturday. Yesterday, I moved dozens (hundreds?) of VHS tapes from one place to another and neatly arranged them. We have them priced at ten cents each. I brought home eight… and have watched two. I’ve promised myself I will watch a DVD or VHS and then donate it to CARE or Habitat. Likewise, read a book and then donate it. Eventually, one-by-one, I’ll downsize!!

Nine-thirty PM and I’ve just watched (on VHS tape) Pay It Forward with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment. What a great movie (2000); I never saw it previously (I rarely go to movie theaters). Repeat: What a great movie!! What a great concept. A kin to Random Acts of kindness.

This next week is Teacher Appreciation Week so that’s a place to start paying it forward.  We have to wait for February 2015 to celebrate… but read my earlier blog regarding Random Acts of Kindness Week. Oops, we just missed Pay it Forward Day.

We will have no more tears, no more death,

no more sadness, no more crying, no more disease,

no more temptations, no more deformity or struggle with Satan.

No more paralysis or crippling diseases. None of that!

All those things are passed away as eternity dawns.

~~~~~ Growing Deep in the Christian Life, p. 305 ~~~~~~~~~

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4 NIV

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A CARE friend passed away last night. I have been crying… and then read today’s message on the flip-chart devotional titled The Grace of Encouragement by Charles R. Swindoll.

Yoyo weather!! Winter clothes and bedding were (are) stored under the bed. Last night I slept cold in bed!! Last week I was too warm sleeping under a sheet!! Earlier this week I “tested” the air-conditioner (and it seems to work fine). I had to turn on the furnace this morning!! (Notice all the exclamation marks? It’s that serious!!) It is 68 degrees inside, and 65 degrees outside, as I type this at 9:00 AM.

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

This adoring Grandmother has pictures of her backyard “grandchildren” (lots of pictures, LOL). The Carolina Chickadees look less like Bluebirds (notice the black cap). Papa Bluebird is feeding a recently fledged baby. So far I’ve only seen the parents with two babies. Perhaps the other three were nearby; maybe only two survived??

~~~~~~~~~~~

Twelve-thirty PM and I am still cold!! I dug out a sweater and have been enjoying it every minute this morning. Read the next two blogs and see what Marge, and Meg, has been experiencing. I can’t complain, can I?? Repeat: I can’t complain, can I??

Back Again!

4/28

I’m not going to Sioux Falls.  If I go west the wind will be behind me, for a while.  The awning over my slide out seems to be OK.  The basement compartment door will have to be fixed but is staying closed with the lock on.

I talked to John G. on the phone since I wasn’t going his way and will probably see him along the way in AZ next winter.

I left Salem, SD with a tail wind.  At Mitchell the wind and rain changed direction and the temps started to drop.  I watched the thermometer on the window.  When it got down to 40, I started looking for a RV park.  When I turned off I 90 at Murdo, SD, I found a good park connected with a motel.  So I stayed in a safe place and it looked like a blizzard outside. The roads got icy and there was not much traffic moving after 4pm.  Glad to be in my RV and be nice and warm.

Tue 4/29

Tuesday morning it was still snowing and blowing so I stayed.  I went out once to pay my nights rent ($18).  It was a winter hat, coat and mittens day.

Wed 4/30

This day looks better.  The sun is out part of the time but the wind is fierce.  I finally got ready to leave at 11:30am.  About 130 miles to Rapid City, SD.  It was the hardest 130 miles I have driven in a long time.  The wind was strong and gusty from the north and I was traveling west.  Sometimes it was difficult to keep the RV going in a straight line!

I called a few campgrounds and they either had no large spots or was told that they had a lot of mud from the recent rains.  So I finally found one in Hermosa which is about 16 miles off I 90.  It is a Passport America Pk. so I am in at 1/2 price.

 I took the car back to Rapid City for groceries at Walmart.  There was some great Jazz on the car radio.  Did you know that this is International Jazz Day?

5/1

I may be in this park again today since the wind is blowing and I have heard wind advisories on the radio.

Marge

Thanks Lorraine. Been a bit busy ourselves! Looks like my photo may have disappeared from my profile, sorry. We meet one Sunday in the laundry room of Rainbow’s End. I was trying to hunt up information about the Natchez Trace Parkway.

We’re still headed North on the Trace. Right now we’re at Trace State Park in Mississippi near Tupelo. Yes, we narrowly missed the tornado! We were headed west out-of-town from WalMart, back to the park; running late; there was shelter at the park. The tornado touched down on the northeast side of town, about 5-7 miles from our truck, traveling the opposite direction. We stopped at a church parking lot to wait out what must have been the outer, outer layers of VERY strong wind which shook the truck, dark (like early evening) sky and tons of rain. An experience!!

We’re seeing the sights as we go. Heavy on the Civil War sights, Festivals, Museums, and Rail road stuff.

Thanks again. Hope you’re doing well.

Meg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My earlier e-mail message to them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~