Elkmont, Alabama
Weather: low 55 degrees, high 64 degrees, mostly cloudy skies
It's been a while since I was tired after a good night's sleep, but I was when I got up this morning. I guess the last three days of work are starting to get to us.
We went back to the new home base this morning, and Carolyn exercised the new washing machine and dryer for most of the day. It has been about eight years since she has had access to her own laundry equipment, and I think she scratched that itch a little today. Sure, we've used laundromats while traveling, but Carolyn says there's nothing like using her own equipment to wash and dry clothes with. She was in Laundry Heaven today!
When our new bed was delivered to the home base last night, the delivery man messed up the assembly of the bed frame. I got so tired of watching him prove he didn't know what he was doing that I finally told him to leave and I would finish the assembly. That little job was finished today, after I had to basically take the frame and head board apart and start over. I know everyone needs a job (or at least that used to be the case), but this guy was supposed to be experienced. Hah!!
While Carolyn was having a good time washing clothes, I took the truck into Athens and had it serviced in preparation for leaving here on Saturday morning for our trip to Texas. While I was walking around in the WalMart Mall waiting on the truck, I checked out the new televisions. Wow, there are a lot of choices! We haven't bought a new television in about ten years, so I need to educate myself soon. We are going to wait until we get back from Texas to buy a television, but right now, I have no idea of what to buy. I wonder how big a television I can buy and not have Carolyn say "get that thing out of here and buy something a little smaller"?
With everything happening with the new home base this week, we've been too busy to get a Thanksgiving dinner together. As we were in Athens earlier this week, we saw that some of the restaurants were going to have Thanksgiving dinner. We'll pick one of those for our meal, but we intend to have Christmas dinner at the home base. I'm looking forward to Carolyn being in Cook Heaven!
Carolyn and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Buda, Texas: It’s Better In Buda!
Not all who wander are lost.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Partial Furniture Deliveries
Elkmont, Alabama
Weather: low 60 degrees, high 68 degrees, rain until 1100 hours, then partly to mostly cloudy skies
We were at the new home base by 0900 hours this morning, as we wanted to make sure we were there when furniture deliveries were made. Well, we could have saved ourselves some time, as the first one didn't show up until about 1400 hours. The next one was at 1700 hours, and the last one for the day was at 1800 hours. One delivery was deferred until Friday because the delivery truck was in the shop for repairs.
I was responsible for picking up some items from one store, and went to get them while we were waiting on other deliveries. When I got to the store, the owner was concerned that the furniture might get rained on, even though the clouds were clearing up and it was not raining. He insisted that he would deliver if for me in his enclosed truck, so off we went. Once we had the furniture off-loaded, I tried to pay him for the delivery, but he wouldn't take any pay. Aren't small towns great?
The wait for deliveries was not spent idly, as we finished the detail cleaning that we started yesterday. I thought I would be tired yesterday, but today is worse. I hope I can sleep like a log tonight. I'm wore out.
Please excuse the short post. I'll try to do better tomorrow.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee: We Have Long Songs
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 60 degrees, high 68 degrees, rain until 1100 hours, then partly to mostly cloudy skies
We were at the new home base by 0900 hours this morning, as we wanted to make sure we were there when furniture deliveries were made. Well, we could have saved ourselves some time, as the first one didn't show up until about 1400 hours. The next one was at 1700 hours, and the last one for the day was at 1800 hours. One delivery was deferred until Friday because the delivery truck was in the shop for repairs.
I was responsible for picking up some items from one store, and went to get them while we were waiting on other deliveries. When I got to the store, the owner was concerned that the furniture might get rained on, even though the clouds were clearing up and it was not raining. He insisted that he would deliver if for me in his enclosed truck, so off we went. Once we had the furniture off-loaded, I tried to pay him for the delivery, but he wouldn't take any pay. Aren't small towns great?
The wait for deliveries was not spent idly, as we finished the detail cleaning that we started yesterday. I thought I would be tired yesterday, but today is worse. I hope I can sleep like a log tonight. I'm wore out.
Please excuse the short post. I'll try to do better tomorrow.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee: We Have Long Songs
Not all who wander are lost.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Home Base Closing
Elkmont, Alabama
Weather: low 55 degrees, high 70 degrees, partly cloudy skies
The big news for us today was closing the purchase of a new home base. It is located about six miles north of Athens, Alabama, and about three miles south of the Tennessee state line.
Before the closing, I had several little chores to do away from the RV. I had to get a cashier's check from the bank, and make some phone calls to verify that our furniture deliveries scheduled for tomorrow are still being done. The four stores that we bought from said they will be there, so we will probably spend a good part of the day waiting on deliveries while we finish our clean up of the home base.
We met the Realtor at the base at 1330 hours to perform a last walk through to make sure everything that was supposed to be finished was. The closing was at 1500 hours, and took about 30 minutes. Then, we went back to the base and began our cleaning activities. The previous owner had done a cleaning, but it certainly wasn't up to Carolyn's standards. We didn't finish cleaning today, but we'll have most of it done before the furniture is delivered.
So, how do we feel about having a home base again? Carolyn is happily planning how she will decorate, and I'm trying to figure out what size of television to buy, plus the options for it. This is an exciting time for us, but we still plan to travel in the RV. In fact, we'll be leaving here this upcoming weekend for a trip to Texas to see our daughter Lori and her family, as well as take care of our physicals and dental checkups. We'll probably find doctors and dentists here for next year, but we don't have the time to research who we want to use here at this time. We expect to be gone about ten days, just in time to get ready for the holidays. It looks like both our daughters and their families will be here.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Pine Bluffs, Wyoming: Frontier Crossroads
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 55 degrees, high 70 degrees, partly cloudy skies
The big news for us today was closing the purchase of a new home base. It is located about six miles north of Athens, Alabama, and about three miles south of the Tennessee state line.
Before the closing, I had several little chores to do away from the RV. I had to get a cashier's check from the bank, and make some phone calls to verify that our furniture deliveries scheduled for tomorrow are still being done. The four stores that we bought from said they will be there, so we will probably spend a good part of the day waiting on deliveries while we finish our clean up of the home base.
We met the Realtor at the base at 1330 hours to perform a last walk through to make sure everything that was supposed to be finished was. The closing was at 1500 hours, and took about 30 minutes. Then, we went back to the base and began our cleaning activities. The previous owner had done a cleaning, but it certainly wasn't up to Carolyn's standards. We didn't finish cleaning today, but we'll have most of it done before the furniture is delivered.
So, how do we feel about having a home base again? Carolyn is happily planning how she will decorate, and I'm trying to figure out what size of television to buy, plus the options for it. This is an exciting time for us, but we still plan to travel in the RV. In fact, we'll be leaving here this upcoming weekend for a trip to Texas to see our daughter Lori and her family, as well as take care of our physicals and dental checkups. We'll probably find doctors and dentists here for next year, but we don't have the time to research who we want to use here at this time. We expect to be gone about ten days, just in time to get ready for the holidays. It looks like both our daughters and their families will be here.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Pine Bluffs, Wyoming: Frontier Crossroads
Not all who wander are lost.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Velvet Elvis
Elkmont, Alabama
Weather: low 50 degrees, high 70 degrees, partly cloudy skies
One of the things we like to do in a new area is check out the flea markets. The closest one to where we are parked is about 15 miles away, about halfway between Athens and Madison. We went over there this morning to check it out.
Remember in yesterday's post that Carolyn stayed home all day? She felt better today after the last bout with vertigo, but we took care of that in a hurry.
The flea market is an indoor market, and it appeared most of the stalls are rented by people who make their livings doing this kind of work. That's not really our favorite kind of flea market, but we still went through the different vendors to see if there was anything we wanted or needed. In one work, no. Except for a picture that I thought would be an excellent addition to the home base we're buying. Carolyn had moved on up an aisle as I was looking at some pictures, so I asked her to come back and let me know if this particular piece of art would work in the living room. For some reason, she became indignant, and said under no circumstances was I to buy any pictures for the house unless she was there to give the okay. Now, what brought that on? Doesn't everyone have a velvet Elvis in their house?
I wonder if she would notice if I put it in the work shop?
I said that Carolyn felt better today. Well, she did, until we were about halfway through our walk in the market. Then, the sounds, motions, and colors seemed to catch up with her. Or could it be seeing the picture that I want to buy that made her sick?
By the time we got back to Athens, Carolyn had recovered enough from her sickness with the vertigo that she was able to go into the WalMart Mall. We needed to buy a larger vacuum cleaner for the new home base, as well as some cleaning supplies. Keeping in mind that we're still trying to keep everything lean and mean in the RV as well as the home base, it took us close to an hour to find what we were looking for. Some of the time was spent looking at kitchen gadgets.
The home base closing is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Once we have the keys in our hands, we'll take stuff to the home base that we won't need to go to Texas with us. We expect the base to be cleaned when we take it over, but we will still go through it with a fine tooth comb as Carolyn cleans it to her standards. I think tomorrow is going to be a tiring one.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Hoquiam, Washington: Bridging Our Past With A Promising Future
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 50 degrees, high 70 degrees, partly cloudy skies
One of the things we like to do in a new area is check out the flea markets. The closest one to where we are parked is about 15 miles away, about halfway between Athens and Madison. We went over there this morning to check it out.
Remember in yesterday's post that Carolyn stayed home all day? She felt better today after the last bout with vertigo, but we took care of that in a hurry.
The flea market is an indoor market, and it appeared most of the stalls are rented by people who make their livings doing this kind of work. That's not really our favorite kind of flea market, but we still went through the different vendors to see if there was anything we wanted or needed. In one work, no. Except for a picture that I thought would be an excellent addition to the home base we're buying. Carolyn had moved on up an aisle as I was looking at some pictures, so I asked her to come back and let me know if this particular piece of art would work in the living room. For some reason, she became indignant, and said under no circumstances was I to buy any pictures for the house unless she was there to give the okay. Now, what brought that on? Doesn't everyone have a velvet Elvis in their house?
I wonder if she would notice if I put it in the work shop?
I said that Carolyn felt better today. Well, she did, until we were about halfway through our walk in the market. Then, the sounds, motions, and colors seemed to catch up with her. Or could it be seeing the picture that I want to buy that made her sick?
By the time we got back to Athens, Carolyn had recovered enough from her sickness with the vertigo that she was able to go into the WalMart Mall. We needed to buy a larger vacuum cleaner for the new home base, as well as some cleaning supplies. Keeping in mind that we're still trying to keep everything lean and mean in the RV as well as the home base, it took us close to an hour to find what we were looking for. Some of the time was spent looking at kitchen gadgets.
The home base closing is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Once we have the keys in our hands, we'll take stuff to the home base that we won't need to go to Texas with us. We expect the base to be cleaned when we take it over, but we will still go through it with a fine tooth comb as Carolyn cleans it to her standards. I think tomorrow is going to be a tiring one.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Hoquiam, Washington: Bridging Our Past With A Promising Future
Not all who wander are lost.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Limestone County, Alabama Courthouse
Elkmont, Alabama
Weather: low 43 degrees, high 65 degrees, mostly clear skies
The past week and our busy days took it's toll on Carolyn. She had a bad vertigo day, so she stayed at home resting in preparation for another busy week. However, I had some things to do, including going back to Decatur to verify that a piece of furniture we bought this week was the color and style that we remembered. Well, guess what? Our memory was good, and we didn't have to make any changes of the furniture. Whew!
On my way home, I stopped at the WalMart Mall to pick up a few groceries. Then, I drove to the courthouse square to take some pictures of the courthouse and surrounding square. Here's what the courthouse looks like.
Just about every courthouse square in the south has a statue dedicated to the Confederate soldiers that fought in the War of Northern Aggression. Here's the one in Athens.
The square around the courthouse is vital and alive, with all the stores open and busy. Here's a typical picture of the square.
On the opposite side of the square is the Presbyterian Church, built over 100 years ago.
Yesterday, I took a picture of a restaurant located next to U G White's hardware store. In fact, it is part of the same building and can be entered from the hardware store. The restaurant specializes in southern dishes, but get this: the name of the restaurant is Lu Vici's. That sounds like an Italian name to me. We were told that the food is very good, so we'll let you know. Here's what the inside of the restaurant looks like.
College football was stating by the time I arrived back at home, so I watched Florida win a fairly easy game against Appalachian State, 48 to 10. It's too bad the Gators didn't play that well in four losses this season. Oh, well. There's always next year.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Boston, Massachusetts: The Athens Of America
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 43 degrees, high 65 degrees, mostly clear skies
The past week and our busy days took it's toll on Carolyn. She had a bad vertigo day, so she stayed at home resting in preparation for another busy week. However, I had some things to do, including going back to Decatur to verify that a piece of furniture we bought this week was the color and style that we remembered. Well, guess what? Our memory was good, and we didn't have to make any changes of the furniture. Whew!
On my way home, I stopped at the WalMart Mall to pick up a few groceries. Then, I drove to the courthouse square to take some pictures of the courthouse and surrounding square. Here's what the courthouse looks like.
Just about every courthouse square in the south has a statue dedicated to the Confederate soldiers that fought in the War of Northern Aggression. Here's the one in Athens.
The square around the courthouse is vital and alive, with all the stores open and busy. Here's a typical picture of the square.
On the opposite side of the square is the Presbyterian Church, built over 100 years ago.
Yesterday, I took a picture of a restaurant located next to U G White's hardware store. In fact, it is part of the same building and can be entered from the hardware store. The restaurant specializes in southern dishes, but get this: the name of the restaurant is Lu Vici's. That sounds like an Italian name to me. We were told that the food is very good, so we'll let you know. Here's what the inside of the restaurant looks like.
College football was stating by the time I arrived back at home, so I watched Florida win a fairly easy game against Appalachian State, 48 to 10. It's too bad the Gators didn't play that well in four losses this season. Oh, well. There's always next year.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Boston, Massachusetts: The Athens Of America
Not all who wander are lost.
Friday, November 19, 2010
U G White Hardware
Elkmont, Alabama
Weather: low 42 degrees, high 65 degrees, clear skies
We made it out of the RV bright and early for the second day in a row. At least it was early for us, since we were out by 0830 hours. Looks like a sleep in day tomorrow! Or at least a lazy day.
The major furniture purchases were finished yesterday, leaving us with relatively small things to buy for the new home base. Like lamps, pictures, etc. Since the furniture buying went so well this past week, we hoped the good shopping would continue. Unfortunately, we didn't find the items we were looking for at the first two places we stopped, but the third one became a gold mine. We found the lamps we wanted, along with a wide selection of shades. We're not sure yet what height of lamps we need, so we'll wait until the furniture is delivered and set up so measurements can be taken.
The store we found the lamps in was Lowe's. While we were there, we decided to check out their washing machines and dryers. As we were about to leave that department because we thought they didn't have what we wanted, a sales lady started talking to us. When she heard what we were looking for, she immediately guided us to a Whirlpool washing machine and dryer that fit the bill perfectly. To make things even better, the pair was selling for $300 off the regular price. Now that's a deal I can handle. The two pieces will be delivered (free) and set up (free) on Tuesday. Double Yahoo!
While we were at Lowe's, we also found the blinds that Carolyn wants. Now, I wonder if we can get a deal on those.....
One of the stores we checked before going to Lowe's was an old time hardware store in downtown Athens, U G White Hardware. The store is located on the courthouse square, and has been there many years. It is one of those old style hardware stores that I remember from my childhood. Unique products, glass front display cases, wooden floors, signs from long ago, old time candy. The list goes on and on.
Here's a few pictures of the inside of the store.
Carolyn loves to go in these old stores as much as I do, and she found some blackberry jam and pepper relish to buy. She seems to feel she can't go in a store like this unless she buys something to help them stay in business. We talked to the current owner, and he said he bought the store from the original owner's family about three years ago. When he heard the family was about to close the store, he made an offer and bought a store that had so many good childhood memories for him. He understands he can't compete with the big box stores, but is making a living by offering quality products that the other stores don't sell. We hope he stays in business for a long time. This kind of store is gradually disappearing from America, and we'll miss them when they are gone.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Alpine, Texas: A Texas Main Street Town
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 42 degrees, high 65 degrees, clear skies
We made it out of the RV bright and early for the second day in a row. At least it was early for us, since we were out by 0830 hours. Looks like a sleep in day tomorrow! Or at least a lazy day.
The major furniture purchases were finished yesterday, leaving us with relatively small things to buy for the new home base. Like lamps, pictures, etc. Since the furniture buying went so well this past week, we hoped the good shopping would continue. Unfortunately, we didn't find the items we were looking for at the first two places we stopped, but the third one became a gold mine. We found the lamps we wanted, along with a wide selection of shades. We're not sure yet what height of lamps we need, so we'll wait until the furniture is delivered and set up so measurements can be taken.
The store we found the lamps in was Lowe's. While we were there, we decided to check out their washing machines and dryers. As we were about to leave that department because we thought they didn't have what we wanted, a sales lady started talking to us. When she heard what we were looking for, she immediately guided us to a Whirlpool washing machine and dryer that fit the bill perfectly. To make things even better, the pair was selling for $300 off the regular price. Now that's a deal I can handle. The two pieces will be delivered (free) and set up (free) on Tuesday. Double Yahoo!
While we were at Lowe's, we also found the blinds that Carolyn wants. Now, I wonder if we can get a deal on those.....
One of the stores we checked before going to Lowe's was an old time hardware store in downtown Athens, U G White Hardware. The store is located on the courthouse square, and has been there many years. It is one of those old style hardware stores that I remember from my childhood. Unique products, glass front display cases, wooden floors, signs from long ago, old time candy. The list goes on and on.
Here's a few pictures of the inside of the store.
Carolyn loves to go in these old stores as much as I do, and she found some blackberry jam and pepper relish to buy. She seems to feel she can't go in a store like this unless she buys something to help them stay in business. We talked to the current owner, and he said he bought the store from the original owner's family about three years ago. When he heard the family was about to close the store, he made an offer and bought a store that had so many good childhood memories for him. He understands he can't compete with the big box stores, but is making a living by offering quality products that the other stores don't sell. We hope he stays in business for a long time. This kind of store is gradually disappearing from America, and we'll miss them when they are gone.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Alpine, Texas: A Texas Main Street Town
Not all who wander are lost.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Carolyn's Having Fun
Elkmont, Alabama
Weather: low 43 degrees, high 60 degrees, fog early, then mostly clear skies
We got out even earlier today. Try 0800 hours, and Carolyn was ready to go. What's going on?
Our first stop was to find an insurance agent for State Farm, which is the company we have used for many years. We wanted to make sure the house is covered as soon as the closing on the house is completed, which is scheduled for Monday afternoon. Imagine our surprise to find that the cost is approximately half what we paid for our last house, which we sold almost six years ago. Then, to cap things off, we went ahead and changed the insurance coverage for the truck to Alabama, and found that the cost for that was about $300.00 less per year. We can stand those kinds of surprises. I know that Alabama has a state income tax, but it's beginning to look as though overall, we will pay less for everything here in Alabama. We expect electricity costs to be about 40% less than in Texas, so hopefully the nice discoveries will continue.
I didn't know it when we left home, but there was a price for Carolyn getting ready to go early. When I got back in the truck, she said she was hungry, and what was I going to buy her for breakfast. Even thickheaded me can read that kind of hint, so I asked her if she would like some Hardee's biscuits. Well, of course. So, we went down the block to Hardee's and had sausage egg biscuits for a late breakfast, early lunch.
After the late breakfast, we drove back to Decatur, looking for a dining table and chairs, as well as some end tables for the living room. The first store we went to became the last one, as they were very helpful and had exactly what we were looking for. In thirty minutes, we had bought the table and chairs in the style and color we were looking for, as well as a television stand and end tables. The major furniture buying is completed. Yahoo!!
We still need lamps, pictures, etc., but those things can wait until we get back from our trip to Texas, scheduled to begin next week after the house closing.
Did I mention Carolyn is having a ball? She's building another nest. I'm enjoying her enthusiasm.
On another note, my sister Judy's husband Roger is in the hospital in Birmingham as he fights pneumonia complicated by cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Memphis, Tennessee: The River City
Not all who wander are lost.
More later, be safe.
Weather: low 43 degrees, high 60 degrees, fog early, then mostly clear skies
We got out even earlier today. Try 0800 hours, and Carolyn was ready to go. What's going on?
Our first stop was to find an insurance agent for State Farm, which is the company we have used for many years. We wanted to make sure the house is covered as soon as the closing on the house is completed, which is scheduled for Monday afternoon. Imagine our surprise to find that the cost is approximately half what we paid for our last house, which we sold almost six years ago. Then, to cap things off, we went ahead and changed the insurance coverage for the truck to Alabama, and found that the cost for that was about $300.00 less per year. We can stand those kinds of surprises. I know that Alabama has a state income tax, but it's beginning to look as though overall, we will pay less for everything here in Alabama. We expect electricity costs to be about 40% less than in Texas, so hopefully the nice discoveries will continue.
I didn't know it when we left home, but there was a price for Carolyn getting ready to go early. When I got back in the truck, she said she was hungry, and what was I going to buy her for breakfast. Even thickheaded me can read that kind of hint, so I asked her if she would like some Hardee's biscuits. Well, of course. So, we went down the block to Hardee's and had sausage egg biscuits for a late breakfast, early lunch.
After the late breakfast, we drove back to Decatur, looking for a dining table and chairs, as well as some end tables for the living room. The first store we went to became the last one, as they were very helpful and had exactly what we were looking for. In thirty minutes, we had bought the table and chairs in the style and color we were looking for, as well as a television stand and end tables. The major furniture buying is completed. Yahoo!!
We still need lamps, pictures, etc., but those things can wait until we get back from our trip to Texas, scheduled to begin next week after the house closing.
Did I mention Carolyn is having a ball? She's building another nest. I'm enjoying her enthusiasm.
On another note, my sister Judy's husband Roger is in the hospital in Birmingham as he fights pneumonia complicated by cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Memphis, Tennessee: The River City
Not all who wander are lost.
More later, be safe.
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