Sunday with family

Brenda and Rebecca came for a visit this afternoon.  they brought Managoets (non alcoholic) and Rebecca's great brownies.  We got to see the video from her stunt plane ride, looked like she had a fabulous time!

Yesterday Sheila and Brianna came for a visit bearing fresh vegetables.  We have been enjoying them much.

We went out for breakfast as usual today and then the grocery store and Menards home store.

Moving day

We made the big move today from Dakotah Meadows RV Park to Lebanon Hills County Park.  It is about a 30 drive B U T took a couple hours to get ready and a couple more to get set up again.  We will be here for two weeks and then back to Dakotah Meadows.  We couldn't get a site for the Labor Day Weekend there.

We ate dinner at the always good -and right now close- Hong Wong's.

High School friend Carolyn's birthday today!!!

And the cleaning continues---

The bathroom has so many storage places that it took a long time, glad that job is done.  Today the bedroom got my cleaning touch, not too bad but still needed some arranging.  The closet is next but will wait until next week and then we have some stuff in the MH "basement" to go through.

Today it has rained on and off, a cool and humid day.  We went to a farmers market to get some fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.  They were delicious.

Giant hibiscus by RV park.

Nice day to ----

Nice day to clean windows and screens inside and out.  There is never a nice day for this job but as long as it had to be done today was the day!  We also cleaned the inside of the car windows.  Now my arms hurt.  We thought about stopping for a beer and pretzel break about 11 AM, but just had Coke.  One more job done.

It is great to have the windows open and the AC off!

Sunday and more birthday celebrations

We all got together for dinner to celebrate my birthday.  Then we went to daughter Sheila's house for cupcakes and more visiting.  We ate at Bella's Pizza where Josh works and he was working!  It was great to get together with everyone.  The kids were more than generous with their gifts to me, they know just what I like!!!

Slow Friday

Slow day, has been dark and cloudy with high humidity all day.  We made a trip to get printer ink and some sweet corn for dinner.  We had the corn and the left over prime rib.  We cut the meat in half horizontally and put it on the grill for a few minutes - tasted good.

Brenda took this picture of the RV park where we are staying.  Our motorhome is diagonal from the building with the pointed roof - looks like a white line leading to us.

Happy Birthday to ME

My day started with breakfast at Little Six Casino, they have great French Toast.  We had a couple errands to do then came home.  I started a load of wash and once again the machine broke, Don went to the hardware store to get some parts to try some new fix.  He got it working again.

He also brought home lunch from McDons.  I had been busy getting stuff put back where it belongs while he was gone.

Sheila and Brianna joined us for dinner at Little Six (again), was their prime rib night.  Then they came over for cake and ice cream.  And excellent gifts from them.

A full and fun day!!!

17 steps to a clean carpet

Cleaning the Carpet Day!  It takes a whole day, First - sit and drink coffee to get the motivation.  Second - move furniture and all the little stuff off the carpeted areas and jam the stuff into our little kitchen area.  Third - figure out how to use the carpet cleaner machine again.  Forth - clean the carpet.  Fifth - empty the dirty water and wash out the rented machine.  Fifth - make ourselves presentable for public.  Sixth - crank down air conditioners to remove humidity and leave.  Seventh - lunch at Olive Garden.  Eight - a movie in an actual theater (more on that to follow).  Ninth - Sam's club to use up more time.  Tenth - get stopped for speeding (Don, just a warning).  Eleventh - return carpet machine.  Twelfth - grab a hamburger for dinner.  Thirteenth - go home to check status of carpet (almost dry).  Fourteenth - move things around enough to find a couple places to sit.  Fifteenth - do what must be done and go to bed.  Sixteenth - Tomorrow, put stuff back in place as carpet should be dry.  Seventeenth - clean up house, dishes, mop tile, etc.  DONE in 17 easy steps.

We went to the shoe "The Expendables 3".  Not rated too high, so we enjoyed it - not the best and sure not the worst movie we have ever seen.  Good to see in a real theater rather than DVD as the sound was super.

Tuesday in the humidity

Monday it rained on and off, just making it more humid.  We grilled some steak and got it done just before a shower.

Today I continued my cleaning and got the kitchen drawers and cupboards done and drawers under the television.  These are the next to the worse areas to clean, the bathroom is the worst and it's still waiting for me.  We took out two bags of garbage so hopefully the MH is a bit lighter on it's tires!

It continues to be humid, had some fog this morning.  Daughter Sheila's air conditioner is broken so feel sorry for them.  Told them they could stay with us - two on the sofa, one in the hall floor and two on the kitchen floor!  They are toughing it out----

We had it right way back in the 1960's:

Sunday in the park

We went to daughter Sheila's band concert in a park.  It looked like rain but we hoped it would dissipate like it has been doing.  Her band was the third of four to be playing.  During the first band a announcement was made that storms were pending and everyone should leave.  We had two umbrellas between the 5 of us yet we all ended up wet to the skin.  I hope they reschedule the concert!

A scare

We had just turned on the TV to watch the 10 PM news when BOOM BOOM and the motorhome shook.  It seemed to come from overhead so my first thought was a airplane had blown up.  We just started to get up when it happened again.  Then Don realized it was fireworks.  The Indians had a Powwow weekend and as usual end it with fireworks.  It is just a short distance away.

We put up the front blinds and watched the fireworks from inside.  No crowds, traffic, bugs!!!  They had a good show.

Working Friday

Don put up the new "visor" today.  It is really a black out screen for the front window but he manufacture calls it an electric visor.  Not a hard job but hard to get around the steering wheel and dash.

Meanwhile I cleaned and polished with leather furniture AND cleaned the refrigerator/freezer.  Not a hard job either just takes time.  Don then used my cloth full of Armor All and did the car seats and dash.  Just a start on all the jobs we need to get done and thanks to procrastinating they have pilled up.

We ate at Panda Express this evening and I went to Kohls to spent the $15 they have given me.

These two seem to go together----

Appointment with the surgeon

We went to Abbot Northwestern Hospital campus today to talk to the back surgeon about having surgery to regain the feeling in my feet.  I have four vertebrate that need to be fused and the area around the nerves needs to be decompressed.  Two surgerys in one. It will be a slow and painful recovery BUT if I don't get it don I will get worse.  I am waiting for my insurance approval to sat the surgery date.

It is a 45 minute drive to that hospital in traffic all the way!

We ate dinner at the Pizza Ranch, their pizza not so great - their salad bar and chicken are super.

Lassen National Park in California
A little know park but worth the trip, which we have made twice.

Sunday and Monday and visiting our family

Sunday we started the day as usual with breakfast out and then came home to read the Sunday paper.  Sheila and Ken invited us to dinner, Ken's parents were also there.  We had good food and a good visit.

Today while I cleaned the house Don repaired the washer/dryer AGAIN.  Darn thing goes crazy about every two months, good thing Don can do the fix or we would be paying $$$$$ to repair people.  After dinner we went to Brenda, Dan and Rebecca's house for ice cream and visiting.

We finally got a little rain, very little but it made the grass a bit greener.

I always thought there would be yet another Robin Williams film, another crazy interview, etc.
RIP Robin

Eating out and enjoying the nice weather

Two nights ago we ate at Panera, no Panera where we were in the Black Hills so it had been a long time.  Food was good as always.  Then last night we ate at Hong Wong, again a long time.  Again food was good. Tonight we ate at TGI Fridays, not a long time, again food was good.

The weather has been so nice, mid 80's and no rain.  The grass is starting to get brown so some rain would be nice but only when we don't want to be outside.  Don had cleaned up the motorhome from the travels and also washed and waxed the car.

Sheila and Brianna were visited this afternoon.  Sheila had been gone to Chicago so we hadn't seen her sense we got back.  Good to see them both!

Flowers by our campground

Doctor day

Today I went to the spine doctor.  Even with my untrained eye I could see the problem on my MRI - bones pinching nerves mixed in with some arthritis.   The doctor told me my options are:  1.  Do nothing, will not get better may get worse.  Walker or wheel chair in my future.  2.  Try other things like physical therapy, injections, etc.  Probably will not work at least in the long term.  3.  Surgery.  I am meeting with the surgeon next Tuesday to further explore this option which seems like the only real and lasting thing to do.

Miss our day at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Breakfast, MH stuff and Lunch

We started the day with breakfast at Little Six Casino.  Their French Toast is the best!  Then we went to Imperial Campers (other side if the metro area) where we purchased our MH to see if we could finally locate a new front shade.  Sure enough, their parts man pulled out the Fleetwood book and found one.  We ordered it, should be in in a couple weeks AND it will be under warranty.  Then Don renewed the extended warranty for a year.

From there we went to Apple Valley Clinic to get a copy of my May MRI of my back to take to the Spine Clinic on Thursday.  Thinking that would be a hassle but was not at all.  By that time it was lunch at McDon's and home.

The campground is full.  Where are all the people coming from - a good year for campgrounds.

Snake spotted recently at our Florida campground.  It can stay away from our site!

Weekend

We have been relaxing, getting groceries and the general stuff we have to do the first few days in a new area.  It has been hot and the AC's have been running a lot.  We went to breakfast at Cracker Barrow, first time sense May and Rapid City does not have one.

Might make this?

Best Beer Bread

Yields 1

An easy, tasty beer bread made from scratch in minutes. It's baked to perfection with a golden buttery top and lots of volume thanks to the beer.

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Prep Time

3 min

Cook Time

45 min

Ingredients

1. 3 cups self-rising flour
2. 1/4 cup sugar
3. 1 12 ounces bottle of beer
4. 1/2 stick butter, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Butter a 9x3x5 inch loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and beer and mix until combined. The mixture should be thick. Pour into the loaf pan and top with melted butter.
3. Place a cookie sheet under the loaf pan on the bottom rack. The melted butter may spill over.
4. Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean and is firm to the touch. Cool slightly and serve warm or room temperature.

Notes

1. Add cheddar cheese, fresh herbs or minced garlic to bread according to desired taste.

By Buttercream Bakehouse

Arrived at Dakotah Medows

We got a fairly early start, had to stop for diesel at Flying J in Sioux Falls.  That was as busy as we've seen the station.  Lots of RV's heading west to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  (There have been many, many big motorhomes on the road pulling trailers, many painted to match the motorhomes.)  Just before we stopped at Flying J, I got an email that 100 Flying J's now have freshly made in the store Cinnabons.   Sure enough this store had them so we had a treat.

We got to Prior Lake about 2 PM, our site was empty - thank goodness - so we were able to park right away.  It was good to get the air conditioners going.  We got all set up for a month including the satellite TV.

In the evening Brenda and Rebecca came over for a visit.  Great to see them again!

Cinnabon