Back in the Nest

Three busy days on the road and we are back at 124. Funny thing but we drove one more mile the second day than the first, something that we could never plan or execute. It just happened. We stayed last night in Portland ME and did the early departure as per usual. It was raining when we left, began to snow between Bangor and Houlton and eventually in Northern NB, the snow stopped and we had a fair day of driving. I got to stop in Bangor and picked up the Rotel tomatoes, some chocolate and a few spices I can't find here. Thirty seconds at the border, and we were back. Pretty seamless. We were OK anyway; we never use our full entitlement and I had receipts for everything but there is always some apprehension when someone puts your feet to the fire. Home by four-thirty or five. We never end up checking the clock exactly. There is lots of snow, which we expected, but the car is unloaded, most of the 'things' are dealt with in one way or another,  and the next step is a bit of laundry. We are watching some curling tonight. It doesn't look good for the Canadian team. A miracle may be on order.

We have been in quite a few states in the past two weeks and in every one of them, road construction is going on. Holy Crow!! High speed travel between barriers is unnerving. The economy must be on the upswing because the road work is in full bloom. Huge projects. Unbelievable how they can squeeze the workers and equipment into tight spaces and achieve a great project but they are doing it. I hope it's done for next year but some of the projects are just too big for a quick finish.

Easter.

Mike is probably going to be retired by this time next week.

Bridge games to get played to finish the Marathon.

Quilt show in two months. Projects to get finished for then.

Big workshop coming up the end of the month.

Time on the road gave me the opportunity to make some plans for 124. Lots of projects to get underway,

The list goes on. We had a fabulous vacation. WEather was outstanding and we had a great visit in St Louis. That is a busy household. Laura is 35 weeks along in this pregnancy, they are packing up the house to move, and life goes on around those two important significant events. Good thing they are young.

HOpe everyone is well. Thanks for taking time to check in now and then. One more post in a few days and that will be it for this season. Back in a bit.

Trucks trucks and more trucks

An early departure from 2014 and off we went. No problems getting avross the Miss and into Illinois. Moderate traffic in the early morning and into Indiana and around Indianapolis. A bit hairy now and then and into Ohio. Thats where the trucks showed up in droves.Who knew that America ran on trucks and all of them were where we were going. Made it yhrough a tiny bit of West Virginia and here we are in Somerset PA. Pennsylvnia is one of those giant states that includes parts of two mountain ranges plus the Lairel Higlands.. Road construction appears to be the major activity of the last three states mentioned and its scary roaring throug these narrowed lanes sandwiched between five foot high cement dividers with massive trucks on all sides. for miles and miles. But we are here safely and thats what matters.

We are planning another early start in the morning and probably another eleven hour day. I find it tiring. I will try to check in tomorrow nigjt to five a brief account of thw day.  Hope everyone is well, be good to each other, till then.

One More Teabag

One more teabag and its time to go home. I brought  a  box of KingCole tea with me and since theres only one left, I had better get going. It's like spring here in O'Fallon so tinking abour an imminent return to winter is not that exciting but we wre ready to be home. Not ready to leave tis sweet family but they are busy and their routine is a bit disrupted by two more asults in the house. We are going out for supper and after that, I will put away my shorts and put out a pait of long pants to wear in the morning.

Monday morning we dtove north to Hannibal MO to visit a wonderful quilt shop. The Hickory Stick is in the historic section of Hannibal and is probably one of the two most beautiful shops I have visited. We were in a store called The Enchanted Garden in Glendive Montana and it was amazing and of course Rainbows End in Dunedin FL is not to be missed but the HS is really something. Occupying tree storefronts, its a series of rooms each filled with stunningly beautiful fabrics and samples and patterns and finished pieces to buy.  My purpose was to buy fabric in a kit or to complete a project I saw on display in tje fabric they used. Ended up with a pattern and fabric to make, of all things, an apron, and then two fabrics for my stash and another pattern for a purse.:I would have bought a quilt kit had there been one that I couldn't resist but there wasn't a sample that particularly appealed to me for our house. Lots of lovely items though.

Wednesday we started packing the house, or parts of the house that Chris and Laura can do without for six months. I did the china cabinet, then we did pictures and wall decor, continuing today with more kitchen shelves  and  items and bedroom things and Chris worked on his office. Moving is a huge job. The realtor wants the house depersonalized so all of those family items have to be packed away. Their new house won't be ready for almost six months but this house has to be ready for the market next week. Laura is 35 weeks into this pregnancy so her energy is finite and the tasks are gigantic. Timing is terrible on this one but it is what it is. Moving on.

So tomorrow we head out on Hwy 70 and will be on that straight line till Carlyle PA, close to Harrisberg for those of you who know the standard drive to Florida from NS. We should or could be home on Sunday. Easter. I don't know how far we will get tomorrow and will have to check my book for the exaxt location but knowing my driving buddy, it will be a long,day to start. We lose an hour the first day, moving from Central into Eastern and will be good for anoter day before losing another when we move into Atlantic. It's fun to GAIN that hour but not so great to lose it.

Time to make a few breakfast sandwiches for the road. I should be back tomorrow evening to locate us on the map. Have a lovely day or evening, till ten.

Two days on The Road

Two days on the road would get us from Davenport to O'Fallon. The plan was a long first day and then a shorter one to complete the drive. Day one brings us to Atlanta afte about seven hours and that is a mile stone to be sure. If you have driven through Atlanta I need not offer an explanation and if you have not done that trip, nothing I say will sufficiently paint a picture for you. It is UNBELIEVABLE. Fast and eight or ten lanes going each way and knowing where you are going is  distinct asvantage. We made it through, heaved a aigh of relief and off we went. We had left the house ar five thirty. It's  bit of a go to depart because you have a lot more than when you arrived and we try to bring the booze and cheese to Chris so there is sorting in the fridge and into the cooler. Anyway we got out and got throug day one witout any serious incident. We saved the latter for day two.


Made a note to myself never to stay at The Country Inn And Suites in Manchester TN because it is just too close to the interstate and too noisy. We were in bed by seven thirty. In a new time zone. Out the door by fife tirt and off to Nashville.

Where are these people going so early in the morning.?! and why are they driving so fast?! Nashville was a very busy city in the dark of morning and we were happy to have it in our rear view mirriw. On to Paducah. FABRIC HEAVEN, More fabric than one person could imagine. When I ca,e out of the store, a few dollar on the light side, a flat tire.,One of the last things Mike chose to bring was the little air compressor and then off to Goodyear. New tires and on the road again. Yikes! That could have been a whole lot worse. Dodged a bullet.

Heading for StLouis. Sparing the details of THE TRAFFIC, we got here by three and were met by the welcoming committee. Worth the drive, worth the traffic. So good to be here. Will check my notes and add a little more. Time for a break. Doing this on my tablet which is a typing challenge. Back soon, enjoy your day.

Tick Tock

We have been entertained by an osprey on the hunt. Almost every afternoon between four and five, it soars over the pond behind the house and watches watches watches for a fish or some tasty bit in the water. He drops like a stone, turns his wings back and plunges into the water like an arrow head. He must be successful because he returns each day. There are fish in the pond, and some cormorants appear to be regulars. Assorted ducks and the tall cranes are all part of the local population. Two nights ago when we were visiting the MacDonalds, an owl perched on the top of their lanai but didn't stay long. It's the first time I have seen an owl that close.

Monday was a bit rainy but the rain doesn't last in this state. By afternoon the sun was back and then a good day on Tuesday. Much cooler. We played golf and it was a great day for that activity. We went out at about 7:20am and at that time, it's a challenge to find the ball. By the second hole we were OK and also going out that early, we got to go by ourselves.  A leisurely game, keeping up with a twosome ahead of us and one behind. We were through by ten thirty. Mike thought his watch had stopped.

The Murrays left this morning for the airport and we are sorting and organizing for an early morning departure on Friday. I am poring over the maps to see if I can find a good route around Atlanta. The MacDonalds and the other MacDonalds were here last night to say adios as they are leaving on Saturday. Several groupings are heading to Myrtle Beach for a couple of weeks or a month. The golfers. The GrandParents are going to StLouis. We are so looking forward to that visit.

I didn't think I had bought very much until I began the sorting this morning. What Was I Thinking??!! The fabric shopping will take place in Missouri at a lovely shop in Hannibal and perhaps at Hancocks of Paducah as we drive through a little bit of Kentucky. What good fortune that the route goes that way!!

It's time to leave. We are down to our last roll of bathroom tissue. We have two pods for the dishwasher and the Tide will be rinsed out to get the last of it. I have some miraculous sheets of detergent that dissolve in the water. Who knew? JoLynn brought that package with her. Convenience at it's best: detergent that come is a sheet and then disappears in the water. Something like sliced peanut butter. Why can't we buy that, like sliced cheese?

The house is being shown this morning so we will be out from eleven till two. We cannot get this residence next year as someone has booked it for three months. Our plans are uncertain but we have something in the works for the last two weeks of March and we will find an alternative for the earlier weeks. Or not. Lots of time.

Hope the snow is melting. Sharon sent pics of our house and it's piles of snow. Hard to believe it's still winter in NS.

Enjoy the day. I haven't been doing a great job with this blog. We have been enjoying our company and by evening, we are often pretty tired. Tomorrow will be an early day and I will be back when we get off the road, points unknown. Happy trails, I'll be back.

Sunday in the Sunshine STAte

Another beautiful day. Is that getting monotonous? Just  a little for me. I like some variety in weather, at home and here. Just a day now and then that speaks to you and says 'do some of those things that need to be done" and there are such things here as well as at home.  You can make a mess in three weeks and you can lost track of things. I need a morning to do some chores. It's supposed to rain tomorrow or at least there is a POSSIBILITY of rain. That could change within the next hour but for now, we are undecided as to what we will be undertaking in the morning. This is our last week, and only a partial week at that. I think we will head for The Littles and their parents on Friday. That will put us on Saint Madeleine by Saturday afternoon. I called Chris this afternoon and am waiting for him to get back to me to see if we are still invited for a visit.

We ate at the Olive Garden last night. I love Italian food and we brought some home, which we finished this afternoon. Even better the second day. Also did a bit of shopping at Joann. I haven't done well with my shopping. Nothing terribly interesting in a pretty bag. I may end up with the bulk of my list being checked off at Mardens on the way home and believe me that won't be in a pretty bag. I have to do the grocery shopping in Maine too. That list is thin too. Rotel tomatoes; poblano peppers; some spices. I got some interesting ones at Penzy's during the art show, when we took a break and sauntered into a shop to cool off. Nothing exotic, just a couple of mixtures that I had not seen before. I have to buy backing for three quilts at Mardens.

Chris just called; publishing!!

Can it be Saturday already?

We just got back from dinner at The Olive Garden this evening. I love Italian food and obviously hundreds of others do too. Lots of people eating out tonight We had a great meal and got back just before dark and by luck, I find that I can watch the last games of the womens worlds curling, at least at the moment I am listening to the Bronze medal game and just hoping that the championship game hasn't been played. Perhaps I will get to see it. I'll have to check the web page, which I find most unfriendly.

Today we went to the Lakeridge Winery Wine and Food Show. A spectacular day for that kind of event. Sitting out under a shade tree, drinking crisp white wine and listening to really fine live music makes for a great event. There was food to be had an eaten and wine to be tasted and bought if the spirit moved you. It's a lovely location, up on a hill in the Claremont area. Yesterday was the sidewalk art show in Winter Park which is in the north east corner of Orlando. Close to where Chris worked in Maitland. That also was a great outdoor event. Both days were hot. As the weather man keeps saying, unseasonably warm. They still call these high 80's 'warm'. I call it hot. Pool days when we are back here at 621.

I cannot believe the snow in Nova Scotia. The more I hear of it the more I realize there will be snow still on the ground, not just in the woods, when we get home. UGH!

Last night was the Pictou County party, here at our digs. I am guessing there were about twenty people here, a few whom I didn't know but most were familiar faces. Always an enjoyable get together. Plenty to eat and drink. Good company. Successful gathering.

We may try to get a golf game in next week. Still some shopping to do but we are going to St Louis so there is still lots of time for ticking off items from the list.

I am a bit distracted this evening, feeling there are things I need to write but just can't form the ideas. This house is now for sale; it was shown today, while we were out. Apparently the person who buys it will most likely want to use it as a rental and we will be informed as to that situation. In that case we will try to get the house again next year for the same time. Our plans for next winter are quite up in the air at this point. Booking the house will just assure us of having a place if we decide to come back.

Hope all is well where you are. We are doing fine, enjoying our company and this wonderful weather. It seems that things are well at The Ranch, the driveway is cleared and that's the main thing. Gloria can get in to take care of the cats without being lost in a snow bank. Take care all, be good to each other, and I will be back sooner rather than later!! It was a busy week!!