San Antonio Can Count on Rain

Well, San Antonio is definitely going to get some rain.  How do I know that?  No, I didn't wash the car.  I scheduled carpet cleaning today.  Usually I rent a machine and do it myself but, my shoulder is still sore from that hiking trip back in July.  So I called in a pro.  Everything looked fine this morning before they arrived with their equipment.  They did a thorough job which took about an hour and a half.

Mom.....Mommm........Mommmmm.

Are you serious, we are locked out?????

I say we hit the doggy door all at once and break it open.  Gretchen...you go first, Harley....you're second.....if you guys screw up, Big Willy will get it.

An hour after the carpets were finished......

Hey, we've had days like that before and haven't gotten any rain.  So I decided to take the Traveling Longdogs for a ride to keep them off the carpet while it dried.

Hmmmm......

Well, that was the middle of the afternoon and those droplets were about all we got.  Those big black clouds skidded from east to west without dropping much around here.  Ha!

However.............I just listened to the news and they have flood warnings out for downtown San Antonio right now.  This time it's coming from the southwest!  And it is headed right for us.

Now, the Longdogs won't be eager to head out in the rain.  Gretchen will go out first.  Then the boys.  That won't be a problem.  They'll "hold it" and then they will run out so we are okay there.

The problem will come when the rain ends and the mud in the flower beds begins.........ahhhhhhhhh!  Remember muddy paws????

Two Wheels On the Road to Ruidoso, NM

A trip to the Aspen Motocycle Rally in Ruidoso NM used to be a more regular occurrance for my DH back in the days I worked as a branch chief in the Sheppard AFB Contracting Squadron.  September meant 60 to 80 hour weeks for me as my branch manhandled the huge end of year contracting workload.  His trip made life easier for both of us as he enjoyed it and I didn't have the additional stress of a DH annoyed due to my workhours.  Well that was about 8 years ago.  DH decided that this would be a good year to make the trek back.

He spent most of the weekend getting ready to go.  Saturday he pulled a muscle and thought that the two wheel trip might have to turn into a four wheel trip.

He already had a hotel reservation in Ft Stockton as well as nights booked in Ruidoso.  In the old days, he took a tent and it usually rained and was a lot colder than it was in Wichita Falls.

 Monday morning his back was feeling better and he was off.  

I'm betting he will still get to use his rain suit while he is there.  But at least I will know he is warm and dry in a hotel room and he is still "on the road" again.  Have fun, be safe.

A Day with Another RV Blogger

The RV was unloaded and back in the RV storage lot and my son Steve was headed off back to Florida.  And I was off to.....Camping World....to meet my friend Susan from What's Up with Susan and Company.

After following each other's blogs, Susan and I met last spring when she came to Texas to take on her first camphost job at Garner State Park.  She had just recently become a full-time RVer.  This summer she took on a Gate Guard job in south central Texas.  It was hot and not easy since she travels solo but she stuck it out all summer.

Susan and Angel (the little furry bundle on her lap) are at Camping World to get a new awning installed as well as having a few other minor booboos fixed up.

I picked her up and we headed out for breakfast at Denny's.  Then we were off to do a few errands.

Once the errands were done, we headed out to Canyon Lake for a little tour.  We spent the whole day together and had a nice time.  Angel tagged along while Susan's 5th wheel was being worked on.  As soon as it is done, she is off to a new workcamping gig in West, Tx.  That would the town of West not the part of the state.  It's up by Waco.

Hope you enjoy the new job Susan and hope we can get together again soon.  It's fun to meet other bloggers and get to know them.

Some Simple RV RV Updates At Last

I've had this 5th wheel for a couple of years now and have used it many times but it still needs a few things to make it mine as well as to make it more functional.  I have been looking for a spice rack for quite a while but couldn't find exactly what I wanted.  I have lots of storage and cupboard space but counter space is not huge.  So, I wanted a spice rack that I could hang on the inside of the cupboard door.  Since the cupboard doors are paneled but the center panel is not solid, I needed one just the right size to mount on the frame of the door.  I know the rack looks crooked but it isn't; the angle of the open door is what makes it crooked.

I got this installed just before my trip to Canyon Lake and it was really nice to have the spices corralled instead of  tipping over in the big cabinet.  It fits perfectly between the top and bottom shelves.  I never claimed that I was reinventing the wheel, just making my RV better for me.  My second mod was also very simple.  I wanted to get the paper towel roll off the counter but hanging it under the cabinet looked cluttered and took space I didn't want to give up.  So I planned on putting it inside the cupboard again, on the door opposite the spice rack.  Finding a rack with the screw brackets in the right place was a difficult task.  I had one but the screw brackets were in the wrong place.  Finally found one at the ACE Hardward Store in Sattler out by Canyon Lake and, it was the cheapest one I've seen.  These are deep cupboards so the space the two mods take up is not missed at all.

On to some picture hanging.  I didn't have a single picture on the walls but I do now.  I used some of the Command Velcro Picture Hanging strips.

I put up several other frames but they don't have pictures in them yet.  I think I may have to make one small change though.  I wanted the frames on each side of the living room slideout to match so I hung the clock over the door.  It looks fine but.....I can't easily see it from the recliner so I may have to switch it out with the frame at the end of the slide by the dining table.  Good thing they are attached with velcro.

The spice rack came with two other racks but so far I haven't found a good place to use them yet.  Something to ponder until I get back on the road again......

Let the Fun Times Continue

The kids really enjoyed the playground at the park.

They even had a little log cabin which led to all kinds of imaginative playing.

You can almost see the ideas bouncing around.  Just in case you are wondering, Steve has a camera with a fish eye that is also water resistant.  The log cabin is not bulging.

And we have to show off all our muscles.

There was also fun to be had at the horse shoe pits.

Of course, the rules had to occasionally be modified for small players.  I think the shoes belonged to a clydesdale.

And then there was more swimming......this is an activity that never grows old.  Morgan is the belly flop champion!

She does it on purpose and she can really make a splash.

There were a lot of games of Marco Polo.  Steve got caught here.

And lots of physical activity leads to snacks.

And occasionally even leads to unplanned naps.

Fun Escalates at Lake Pointe RV Resort

Quiet times came to an end on Friday evening.  The day started quiet and then picked up when my son Steve arrived at the park in the morning.  We walked around the park and checked out all the facilities.  Then, of course, my computer was put to good use while we relaxed outside.  Later in the afternoon, we drove up to Marble Falls to pick up the Grandkids.  The Traveling Longdogs were thrilled because they got to head out in the car too.  Of course, they were already excited just because Steve arrived and they were delirious when the kids arrived.

This looks kind of serious but the kids were looking at pictures of their Dad riding his motorcycle from Florida to Texas to visit.

And Grandma smartly brought along some of the smaller toys out of the toy box at Grandma'as house for those times when it was too hot or too late to be outside.

Of course, most of our time was spent outside.  As much time at the pool as possible.

Yes, all of us were at the pool.  And it was not crowded either.

Now, of course, the pool was not the only activity.  More on that tomorrow.

A Relaxing Day at Lake Pointe RV Resort, Canyon Lake TX

This morning the Traveling Longdogs and I went for a walk around the park while it was still cool. The head housekeeper was busy in the recreation hall cleaning.  They have a TV viewing room, a library, and restrooms with showers.  There is also a room with a coded lock on it for over 18 year -olds which has a couple of pool tables and some other things.  At the other end of the building is a room with a pool table and ping pong table for the 17 and under crowd.

Next was the playground which has a cute little fort and another little play building all for the under 12 year old crowd.  The doxies complained loudly when they saw the "No Pets Allowed" sign at the front of the park.

They pointed out that it was hardly fair when you take a close look at who was using the playground when we walked by.

This is the laundry room.  There's quite a porch around it so it isn't quite as large as it appears.

We walked back to the RV so Willy, Harley, and Gretchen could get a nap in while I went up to the office to see what kind of equipment they might have to check out.  This is the family pool which is a junior olympic size and quite nice.  You can see the lake out in the background.

The fenced area up in the trees is the adult pool which you will see in a minute.

This is the adult pool up by the office.  It is right next to a huge deck around the office and lounge area.

 I think these deer were on their way down to the lake.  Or they may have been planning to get in a little shuffleboard.

This is the office and lounge area.  There is a fireplace which may get used much later in the year.

The lower deck is very pretty with another deck beyond that looks over the open area down to the lake.

Nice way of warning people not to hit their heads on the "Headache Tree".

I got another cup of coffee in the office and sat out on a porch swing enjoying the day.

There is a small fountain in front of the office parking lot.  A lot of people have golf carts around here but it really isn't far to walk.

Someone also built a small "Memorial Garden" up near the gate.  As you can see, there is a high fence so this is one place the deer are not welcome.

On the way back to the RV, I walked past another building which is available for large parties.  You can see a volleyball court in front and there are also horseshoe pits.

After my coffee, I went back and hung some pictures in the RV, did a little cleanup and then went for a swim in that lovely pool.  95 degrees didn't seem like much when swimming in a nice pool.