A New Chapter Begins...

Our little cabin in the woods was finally delivered on the 24th.  Dennis and our good friend Neil have been working tirelessly since then getting the place levelled, removing the wheels and hitch, hooking up the plumbing system, etc.  Neil's wife, Corlene, and I have been busy keeping the menfolk encouraged and well fed; we all have our jobs to do! 

This is our baby as she came down the hill of the campground; Dennis and Neil are ready to guide the driver.

You can see our RV, on the right, regarding the newest member of the family.  A hint of jealousy, perhaps?

The driver got the cabin in position perfectly on the first try...not an easy thing to do!

Here is the first look at the interior;

like a newborn, it was pretty messy upon delivery,

but we thought it looked wonderful.  =]

Our living room furniture was delivered yesterday.  I cleaned the interior and set the furniture in place.  Today, Denny and I will be moving cupboard, drawer, and closet contents from the RV to the cabin.  Tomorrow the deck furniture, washer/dryer, and propane tank arrive.  Beyond that, we (as in Dennis and Neil!) will begin building the deck and then our 'home base' will be complete! 

As we mentioned in an earlier posting, we will retain our RV and continue to travel from time to time.  Our family and friends dotting the landscape are never too far away to be visited frequently by us.  However, since we are not technically 'Full-Time RV'ers' any longer, I guess this is the official swan song for our blog.  We have appreciated your tuning in to check on us every now and then.   Ah, the changes and chances of life, eh?   What an adventure it can be!  We will continue to keep you in our prayers; God's peace!

The Featherstones 

Nesting

We so enjoy our time in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico.  The last several summers have found us nestled in here at around 7000 feet above sea level.  Denny and I both grew up surviving the cold North Dakota/Minnesota winters, and withered for years in the hot central Texas summers.  Whenever we speak of settling down somewhere now, we always factor in the 4 distinct, yet mild seasons one finds right here in Lincoln County.  The friends we've made in our favorite campground in town; the little church just up the road that has welcomed us, even into its choir family; the golf course that favors our level of play...we always feel quite at home when we are in this area.  The fact that we are only about 500 miles from our loved ones in Texas is a big bonus, as well.

And so, while we will still hold on to our RV, and travel whenever and wherever the whim takes us; we've decided to make a little permanent nest here.  Just about the time my dear Denny celebrates his next birthday (in late September), our cabin should be completed.

This is very similar to ours, except that we'll have a covered roof over the deck, and the deck will be 'skirted' so you won't see underneath.  We will have a lovely wooded view out the back and off the deck...with all the critters that come with it!

I always maintain that Denny is the happiest when he has a project to work on; well, he is as happy as a clam right now overseeing all the details of our new venture!  I've been busy selecting furniture, etc. to make our little nest a home.  We'll keep you posted on the progress...and we'll see you soon!!   Lori & Dennis

Life = Change

A little while ago, I was sitting outside knitting a colorful dishcloth and enjoying the mid-70's temperature here in Ruidoso.  I glanced up and noticed a dark cloud off to my left and the next thing I knew, a crisp gust of wind and several rain drops nudged me indoors.  As I sit here writing to you now, the temperature is a cool 58 degrees and the Good Lord is generously watering our little piece of heaven!

Life is all about change, isn't it?  The other day, several friends notified me of some 'strange' messages they'd received from my email address.  Apparently, some kind of bug had attached itself to my email account and so I had to create a new one.  It was a bit of a hassle, but a necessary one.  [Oh, if you had my old address and didn't get a message from me about the change, let me know and I'll update you...I can still check my old account's inbox.] 

One thing I've learned over the years is that you must be able to roll with the tide; bend like a willow in the wind; be flexible with whatever changes come your way.  One cannot overcome the inevitable shifting sands of time.  Adaptability and finding peace in the midst of it all is the key to successfully navigating life's path.

I wrote a poem years ago which speaks to that lesson learned.  I'd found a peaceful little spot in the shaded bend of a creek near my office.  When I was stressed by forces beyond my control, I would go there and find solace. The poem is a bit cheesy, perhaps, but I'd like to share it with you. 

This Quiet Place

Crisp leaves drift down to swirling waters;

and my tension is eased.

An autumn breeze torments the trees to nakedness

but calms the anxiety in my mind.

Submerged rocks and decaying branches

catch and keep discarded treasures;

a faded bandana, a child's lost sock,

silently synchronized with the current forever.

There is a peace in this quiet place

which belies the struggle beneath the water's surface.

Nature models an accepting grace of the cycles of life

and teaches me to relinquish my hold

on monumental troubles I choose to own.

To grasp instead the lesson of peace in this quiet place.

Well, the rain outside has stopped, the temperature is now a balmy 80 degrees, and I believe that I'll head back to the porch and my knitting.

Blessings and peace be with you until next time!

Lori

The Bears are Back!

Yikes!  As we sat out on our porch yesterday (it must have been about 7 p.m.),  this little fella came trotting up the road toward us...(you can see our baseball capped neighbor, Kristin, sitting just left of his head)

He must either be a young'un or he is mighty hungry, to come sauntering into a very populated area that way.  He looks thin to me, but check out those pads on his feet - they are huge!  Rita, another neighbor of ours here in the campground, was coming up behind this guy with her camera.  She shared this picture (and the next) with us and we are so glad she did!  If she hadn't, you may have thought that this whole blog entry was just a tall tale...

We've heard that a woman above the campground had been setting out food for a mama bear and her 2 cubs last year. The mama bear reportedly got a bit pushy and had to be put down. We don't know if there is food being set out for bears again this year, but the area has been visited by several bears this summer - both at night and during broad daylight! One climbed up on our campground hosts' porch railing at about 10:30 one night last month and was drinking the hummingbird feeder dry when he was discovered.  Corlene (our host) happened to be awake and saw him; she chased him away by slapping a flyswatter on the cushion of her porch furniture.  You don't mess with Corlene! 

At about 4 a.m. several days ago, Rita (our resident photog) spied this guy checking out the dumpsters in the campground.  It is a grainy shot; she was out of range, but you can definitely tell that it is a pretty massive bear zoning in on our refuse!  Thanks, Rita, for your keen eye and quick reflexes!!

Well, that's about all I have for this entry, but it was mighty exciting stuff, eh?!?!?! 

Sometimes just a little bit goes a long way.  Take care, all!!

Just Hangin'

So, what have you all been up too?  We have just been hanging around here in our sweet, little escape-the-summer-heat, mountain home of Ruidoso, New Mexico - and we're loving every minute!  The gold finches and hummingbirds are busy feeding, the golf balls are flying straight and long, and life is grand!  =]

We had a wonderful visit earlier this month with Dennis' daughter and her family.  Amy and Rick, Anna and Ellie, and Balou and Boomer (the dogs) brought their RV up and we all had a grand time.  We enjoyed hiking and a picnic lunch by Lake Bonito on the 4th.  It was great fun; however, most of the other visitors to the area had the same idea, and it was a pretty crowded place to be... but a pleasant day was had by all.

While the gang was here we also shopped, played cards, and enjoyed many tasty meals together.  We had one very fun (but very soggy) round of putt putt golf, as well.  I imagine that the 6 of us huddled in a cave on the 15th hole while the rain pelted the other patrons must have been quite a sight! 

It was a bitter-sweet camping run for Amy and her bunch as they were taking their last turn in their camper.  With the kids' busy schedules, they find that there is precious little time left for family camping trips right now.  They had listed their RV on the market a few months ago and, just before coming out to visit us, learned that they had received a viable offer.  No worries, though; for in life one must never say 'Never!'  Camping is in their blood, and I predict that Amy and her lovely family will camp again another day!

Oh!  Denny and I want to introduce you all to our new dog, Rusty.  I found him while I was out shopping one day with Amy and the girls.  Denny and I like the fact that Rusty doesn't need to be walked in the wee hours, require a special diet, or chew on our sandals.  This little metal fellow is just the ticket for us right now!

Yes, that is a knit sweater about his shoulders, and yes, I did make it for him.  I know, I know... I have really gone 'round the bend!!  And I am so new to the '50's!!!!  Pray for me - or, more importantly, for Denny!

Until next time... Be good, y'all!!

Fun with Family & Friends

As Dorothy Gale once said, "There's no place like home."  Home is where the heart is, and our hearts are bound together with loving family and friends.  My son, Alex, and his girlfriend, Jaime, had some time off from work and wanted to visit the family in Austin.  So, as we planned our next move, there was no doubt where we wanted to be!  We hadn't met Jaime before and we were won over by her poise, self-confidence, and sweet nature.  (Unfortunately, the picture isn't great...it's from my phone.)

We had fun getting together with most of the family in the Austin area one afternoon and evening at our campground.  My daughter, Megan, and Dennis's daughter, Amy, and her girls Anna and Ellie enjoyed the pool.

There were 15 of us at our campsite that day.  Just about the time we brought all the food outside for dinner, a quick downpour freshened the air...and us... while the sun was still shining!  It didn't bother us much; we just wiped down the tables and chairs after it stopped, and enjoyed the meal as if nothing had happened.  I noticed that we had a neighbor nearby who was also enjoying the day...

I snapped this picture of my mom as she was enjoying a lovely evening in her backyard.  Note the hibiscus to her right and the way it complements her dress...how feng shui!

 

One day we had nice visit and lunch at Megan's apartment.  This is Beowulf, my grandcat; isn't he handsome in his tunnel?  He is such a smart cat; and very friendly!

The visit with everyone was wonderful, but now that the first day of summer has arrived and the thermometer is beginning to do its central Texas thing, we're off to New Mexico and that cool, mountain air.

Adios, amigos!

Honest Abe, Bonnie & Clyde, and the Choctaw Nation

I've always admired Abraham Lincoln, so I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Springfield, Illinois.  The home in which he and his family lived was lovely.  We were impressed that several blocks of the immediate neighborhood were restored along with the Lincoln home; one could really get a sense of what life was like in the mid 1800's.

Mr. Lincoln left on his trip to Washington, D.C. from this train depot when he became this country's 16th President in 1860.

Abraham didn't return to Springfield until 5 years later, when his funeral train made its way back.  His tomb is a peaceful, beautiful place.  His wife, Mary, and 3 of their 4 sons are also buried here. 

The Lincoln's oldest son, Robert, lived well into his 80's...I hadn't remembered that. He died in 1926 and is buried in Arlington Memorial Cemetery in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Mary.

On a lighter note, and with no disrespect, I thought that this tomb for a long-ago governor of the state of Illinois looked as if it could have been built for Fred Flintstone...whaddya think?!

After Illinois, we tarried awhile in Joplin, Missouri - folks do that, you know.  Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow stayed in a garage apartment in Joplin for several weeks in the 1930's before leaving town in a hurry...amid a flurry of bullets, I believe.  Joplin was quite memorable for us, as well.  We fed the catfish at the campground - and we clearly hadn't been the first to do so; they were big!

Later that evening, we had quite a bit of excitement as we stood in the storm shelter/laundry room with a tornado touching down a few miles away.  We had buckets of rain and a bit of hail (I think...Dennis wasn't as sure as I), but it was those sudden moments of absolute stillness that most grabbed my attention.  We met a nice, single father with his 2 young sons that night.  His boys were sound asleep the whole time we talked; I think they missed the whole storm!  We are very thankful (as is the virtually-undamaged Joplin) that they weren't hit as hard as Ohio and Michigan were just yesterday - our prayers are with all of those folks.

The morning after our Joplin tornado was also quite dramatic.  Dennis was outside busy doing some such thing under our camper's slide outs when he stood up, too soon, and really bonked his head.  Long story short, my dear sweet one popped his head clean open and now has 8 staples for a crown!  He is fine; none the worse for wear, which is amazing in and of itself.  I swear, I married one tough fella!  ...and no, I am not going to post pictures on this topic; you'll just have to use your imagination.

Finally, a little braggin' about me, a Dean Martin-themed one-cent slot machine, and the Choctaw Casino that paid me $31 and some change after a brief stop in Durant, Oklahoma. 

Hey, that's the kind of big news I like!

See you later, everyone...and (to coin a phrase from 'Hill Street Blues,' "Let's be careful out there!"  =]

Indiana

Denny and I are feeling ever so smug.  We have deftly side-stepped major traffic-causing events these last few months.  It has all been quite coincidental, but we feel very clever, nonetheless.  We passed by Augusta, Georgia a few days after the playing of the The Masters' Golf Tournament (she says a bit wistfully); zipped through Louisville, Kentucky shortly after the muddy Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs; and will be heading out of Indiana tomorrow in advance of this weekend's Indianapolis 500 race.  Some people might enjoy being in the midst of highly populated showings such as these, but we find that we can see all the action better on the TV screen.  That may sound odd to some, but it's true for us!  The more we've been on the road spending time in smaller communities, the less we miss big-city life.  We are just small town folks at heart, I guess.

We tend to enjoy life at a slower pace.  Our time here in Indiana has been lovely.  While in Columbus, a bustling metropolis of about 40,000 kind hearts, we came across a wonderful old fashioned ice cream parlour.  Three brothers from Greece opened Zaharakos Brothers in October of 1900; and they've been serving 'sodas, sundaes, and smiles' ever since from this gorgeous soda fountain.  After tasting a couple of their specialties, we understood how the establishment has lasted so long!

Columbus is a beautiful city known for its amazing architecture.  According to the American Institute of Architects, Columbus ranks 6th in the country after Chicago, Washington, New York, Boston and San Francisco for innovation and quality of design in over 60 public and private buildings.  We saw lush gardens and creative pieces of sculpture at every turn; it was quite impressive, really!

Here is a beautiful covered bridge and a sweet little family gathering that appealed to me in Mill Race Park. 

I love this shot of downtown; now that is my idea of manageable traffic!

Of all that was to be found in Columbus, I believe Dennis most enjoyed the Cummins Corporate Offices and Museum.  He was very excited about seeing all the various diesel engine modifications since the company's inception in 1919.  I thought the 'Exploded Engine' display by Rudolph de Harak was pretty cool...

After we left Columbus, we hustled right up to Crown Point, where Dennis' eldest grandchildren live with their mother.  This is one amazing little family unit; it is not easy to successfully manage a home and a job while rearing 2 teenagers, but Julie is doing it with a smile on her face!  She can take pride in her children; Emily and Robby are exceptionally well-rounded young people who will make a difference in this world, mark my words!  =]

I took this shot of the group on an afternoon run to Warren Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan.

One day, while the kids were in school and Julie was at work, Denny and I went to check out Fair Oaks Farms, a dairy a few miles away from our campground.  The dairy is comprised of 10 separate sites (we toured one of them), and there are approximately 3000 cows at each site.  The dairy produces about 28,125 gallons of milk each day, along with a variety of cheeses and ice cream - it's a busy place! 

 

We visited the 'Birthing Barn' and found 2 young bulls that had been born just moments before we arrived.  I couldn't get over how big they were - these guys weigh between 70 and 90 pounds at birth!   The one in the pen furthest from the camera hadn't been able to stand up completely yet...his legs were still too wobbly!

  

An average of 90 calves are born here every day.  The bulls are sold immediately; the heifers are shipped to growers, then returned after 2 years to become milk cows.  The cows take in 90 pounds of food and 25-50 gallons of water each day, and it takes the cow's body 2 days to process her food into milk. 

They tell us the cows enjoy the milking carousel - it didn't look like fun to me.  

Denny later tried his hand at milking on a cow display...

The next stop on our journey will be Springfield, Illinois as we begin our descent back down toward Texas.  We hope all is well with you and yours.  Keep your eyes on the road and we'll catch up with you soon!

Goodbye to Kentucky

We finished our short visit to Kentucky by exploring Frankfort, the state capitol.  The capitol grounds were beautiful!  I snapped this shot of Denny by the gigantic floral clock, which actually keeps time!

...here is a side view of the clock...so cool!

Driving out of downtown, we stopped at a very old, very interesting cemetery sitting on a hill overlooking the capitol building.  I've always loved exploring cemeteries; there is something quite surreal about them.  Timeless, really.  We discovered that Daniel Boone was buried in this one, along with his wife, Rebecca.  I was surprised to learn that Mr. Boone lived to the ripe old age of 86 - that was quite a feat in the early 1800's!  [He actually died in Missouri in 1820 and was reinterred here in 1845...interesting, eh?]

Check out the tree growing around the wrought iron fence for the Boone's gravesite...

...isn't that wild?!?

The last thing we did in Frankfort was go to Gibby's Deli and try their Hot Browns.  My sister, Lisa, has become enamored with the Food Channel.  She told me all about a segment she saw on this dish, so we decided to taste one on her behalf.  I had never heard of them before; it was quite a taste sensation!!

The Hot Brown - a lovely, light little snack (not!) consisting of turkey slices, tomato, bacon and a heavy cheese sauce over toast.  I ate this monster a week ago and I am still full!!  I found this online history about it:

"Chef Fred K. Schmidt at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, created the Hot Brown sandwich in 1926. In the 1920s, the Brown Hotel drew over 1,200 guests each evening for its dinner dance. The band would play until late, and when the band took a break, around midnight; people would retire to the restaurant for a bite to eat. Bored with the traditional ham and eggs, Chef Schmidt, delighted his guests by creating the Hot Brown."

I cannot imagine getting out on the dance floor after consuming one of these!  On second thought, maybe this was just the ticket to get the '20's Roaring; do you suppose dances like The Charleston were invented so folks could work off their Hot Brown?  =]

Footnote:  1820's and Daniel Boone
1920's and the Hot Brown
I wonder what will be in vogue in 2020?

...Until next time!

 

Just Horsing Around

Since we last touched based with you, I've logged another natal anniversary - uh!  They just keep coming; you can't hide from them, no matter where you go!  This year I blew out a candle set in jello.  =]

With the recent flooding of western Tennessee, we altered our plans a bit and went north from Knoxville into Kentucky (instead of west into Nashville).  We were delighted to discover the small town of Corbin around lunchtime; for this was the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken.  Yes, Colonel Harlan Sanders began his chicken empire right here!  This little spot had been on the main route to Florida from the north before the federal interstate highway system was established in the 1950's.  During the Depression, Sanders supplemented his income by selling meals to folks passing through.  In 1932 he set up 'Sanders Cafe and Courts' - a restaurant, gas station and motel on this site (the original is now gone, but this working replica of the restaurant is also a museum which details the history of the Colonel's rise to 'finger lickin' good' fame).  We had a delightful lunch here!

Later that day, we arrived in Lexington, where we found that our campground was on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park - billed as 'The National Horse Center.' 

We nestled our camper right in among the trees and we were 'home' once more!

Every four years in Europe there is held something called The World Equestrian Games (I liken them to be similar to the Olympics, but with horses).  The Games have never taken place in the United States, until now.  For 16 days this coming September, the Games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.  It is quite a coup, apparently - and this is just the facility to host such a spectacular; it is amazing!  The grounds are manicured beautifully... I loved the flowers - just look at these peonies!

While touring the Horse Park, we saw riding and reining demonstrations...

 ...and there was leaping and jumping and carrying on...

...and there was much rejoicing!

Denny got up close and personal with the draft horses - this one is a Percheron named Dan.  This breed of horse runs reeeeeeeally big; Dan is over 17 hands high and weighs more than 2000 pounds!

I guess that's all for now.  Until next time...Tally ho, y'all!

Up and Over

The 1st of May, we climbed up and over the Appalachian Mountains on I-40 from Asheville, North Carolina and found ourselves in Tennessee.  The interstate had just reopened a few days prior; it had been shut down since October 25th of last year because a major rock slide had so damaged the roadway.  We were lucky that our schedule melded so well with that of the highway department, or we'd have had quite a detour.
   

Denny had been in this area about 16 years ago.  He said that this rest stop really depicted the way he'd remembered Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg... folksy and rural with a slow, easy pace about it (more on that later).  We turned south about 20 miles shy of Knoxville to reach our destination:  Sevierville, the hometown of Dolly Parton.  After setting up camp, we drove into town and found Dolly on the grounds of the County Courthouse.

Oh, now, did you think we really saw Dolly in person?  Well, we didn't that day, but we may this coming Friday; she'll be in town for her annual homecoming parade.  She'll also be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the opening of Dollywood, her theme park in neighboring Pigeon Forge.  Hometown girl makes good, I guess!  We commemorated our visit to her fair city by watching "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" the first night we were here.  It's a good movie to see, if you haven't already; and a good one to see again, if you have!

We took a drive down into Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg; you know, to soak in that laid back, folksy atmosphere of small town life in the Great Smoky Mountains that Dennis had remembered.  We saw the Old Mill that he'd seen out in the country off by its lonesome...

...the only trouble is, it isn't off by its lonesome anymore.  This was the view across the street:
 

Pigeon Forge has gone commercial!! 

In the place shown below, you will find lazer tag, old-time picture takin', camel rides and weddings being performed - why, it has everything you need in one handy location!

Do you notice the Great Smokies behind all the glitz below?

Poor Denny's face just fell when he saw this place!  I was surprised by the number of pancake restaurants  and 'dinner-theater' establishments.  And I swear there were at least 5 putt-putt golf parks within a 6-mile stretch.  Well, that's 'progress,' I reckon!

This is called 'Wonderworks' - it has over 120 interactive adventures...and the funniest dinner show in town (or so they say)!  I thought the exterior was the coolest thing about it.  = /

And then the rains came to Tennessee.  Nashville (about 200 miles from Sevierville) received 13 inches of rain over the weekend and the Cumberland River flooded the city.  The Little Pigeon River flows through our campground backyard.  We didn't receive much rain, but we could see a change in our river on Monday and Tuesday.  Here is a shot of our view before the rain:

These are shots of a little inlet just below the bench...

one at the flooding peak and the other just after it receded:

We were looking forward to seeing the Nashville area before heading north into western Kentucky next week.  However, after learning that the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame have been flooded and are closed for what may be months, we've regretfully changed our plans. 

(Sorry, Nancy & Phil, there'll be no pictures of Murfreesboro from us this time around!) 

Our prayers go out to all the folks in western Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky that lost loved ones in the flooding and tornados over the weekend. 

Well, May is here and the thermometer is beginning to creep upward.  May you revel in this year's spring-to-summer transition.  Time does march on; join in the parade!  

Love and peace,

Lori & Denny