Monday 3-6 Windy Day

Hold on tight

What a windy day!!! The wind blew all day, at times it blew super hard. After a weekend of square dancing we decided to stay home and relax. 

Seasoned chicken from HEB

I worked on my puzzle all day. While working on the puzzle I did a few loads of laundry. I worked out with my Wii Fit for forty-five minutes and with Just Dance for thirty minutes. For dinner I barbecued seasoned chicken for HEB.

Reading is fun

Larry did some research on a new mattress for our RV. Due to the design of the sleeping area you can not physically get a traditional mattress in. The only mattresses that will fit are either foam or air. We used to use an air mattress but every time the temperature changes or you change altitude the pressure in the mattress changes. When you go to bed you can have it adjusted correctly and if by the time you get up it is really cold the pressure will have gone down and you wake up sleeping on the board below the mattress, when it warms back up it expands back out, not good. So we switched to foam but Larry has pretty severe chemical sensitivities and foam mattresses can be impossible for him to sleep on. We purchase ones that are advertised as having fewer chemicals but they always give him problems. We try to purchase them a bit in advance to let them air out but they seem to off gas chemicals forever. The first one we purchased we let air out for six months and he still could not sleep on it, we did discover we could put it inside a sealed up mattress bag and he could then sleep on it. Unfortunately these foam mattresses don't last all that long, the one we are currently using has become soft where Larry sleeps and his hip is hitting the bottom. Today he ordered a new mattress and it should be here in a couple of days. We will let it air out but I am sure we will need to bag it. After ordering the mattress he read a book on his Kindle.

Watching television

We usually go square dancing on Mondays with the Sundancers but this week we decided to take it off. Instead we got caught up with our YouTube videos we follow. By not going square dancing it gave us the opportunity to watch some shows on KLRU Q. We had a very nice relaxing day.  

Sunday 3-5 We’re Home

 

We started out the day having breakfast in Promenade Hall in Tool, Texas. When the Log Cabin Swingers put on a weekend event the club members make breakfast on Sunday morning, pancakes and sausages are served. While eating breakfast we visited with other square dancers. After breakfast we stayed and attended the morning dance. There were enough people to have exactly three squares. We had a great time.

We had a fabulous weekend of plus square dancing thanks to Wade Driver and Mike Bramlett. By the end of these types of weekends we’re exhausted but we always have fun.

After the dance we straightened up the Minnie and headed to the house. The rain came in yesterday and hung around. We drove in rain most of the way home, Larry was thankful that it wasn’t raining hard. Guess this means we will have to wash the Minnie again. We got back to the house around 2:30 and unloaded the Minnie. I put things away and Larry set up the computer. Then we relaxed.

A couple weeks ago when we went grocery shopping HEB had a coupon on Boomerang’s Handheld Aussie Pies, if you bought one package you got a second one free, we decided to try them out. Today for dinner I baked the Southwest Chicken Pies, they were delicious. After dinner I baked some sugar cookies for dessert.

In the evening we watched YouTube videos and a documentary on Amazon called The Man & Le Mans. The documentary was about Steve McQueen and his life during the time he was making the movie Le Mans, which was about car racing. It was a great documentary. Then I worked on my jig saw puzzle.     

Saturday 3-4 Mardi Gras Dance and Workshop

 

Wade Drive and Mike Bramlett calling during the Funshop

Saturday March 4, 2017

We had a very busy day of dancing with Wade Driver and Mike Bramlett. We started the day out by having a High Energy Dance from 10:00 to 11:30. We had five squares and no extra people so I couldn’t take pictures. High energy dancing is fast and fun but normally not overly complicated, we had a great time.

Then there was a two hour break for lunch. We went back to the Minnie and had tacos for lunch. Larry and I were glad there was a couple of hours break that way we could rest.

Dancers waiting for the next call                             Friends having fun dancing

More friends enjoying the funshop with Wade and Mike calling          

The afternoon session was suppose to be an hour plus funshop and a hour and half dance but ended up being a two and a half hour funshop. Mike and Wade walked us through a few moves in different positions. We had a great time dancing the different moves. Some of the positions and the moves we have done before so they were a little easier. There were enough people for six squares. Larry and I sat out a couple of tips.

Round dancing to Mike Bramlett cuing

Friends square dancing to Wade Driver and Mike Bramlett calling

Having fun weaving the ring

In the evening the dance was from 7:00 to 9:30. We had a three hours break before the evening dance. Larry took Flo for a walk considering I was busy doing something and he got tired of me saying just a minute. While they were walking it started to rain. When they got back I made smoked pork sandwiches for dinner. By the time it was time to go to the dance the rain was coming down pretty steady but it didn’t stop people from going to the dance. There were five squares and a few extra dancers. In between some of the tips Mike Bramlett cued for people that wanted to round dance. He got about five couples up to round dance. He put on one song where a few of us ladies got up and did a line dance. The singer actually told you what to do. Larry and I sat out a couple of tips considering we were tired. We had an outstanding night of dancing.

We’re tired from all the dancing but we had an outstanding day.     

Friday 3-3 Mardi Gras Madness Begins

 

Friday March 3, 2017

This morning I loaded a few things into the Minnie. We weren’t in any hurry to get to Tool and it’s only a three hour drive from the house. We were ready at 9:00 so we decided to get on the road. Before leaving Larry emptied the tanks, he likes to start our trips with empty tanks and plenty of fresh water. We stopped by Walmart and filled the Minnie with gas then we were back on the road. When were got to Corsicana we stopped and I made ham and salami sandwiches for lunch.

We arrived at Tool a little after noon and there were plenty of RV spots for us to choose from. We parked the Minnie and set it up for the weekend. Once we were setup Larry setup the ramp for Flo. She wanted to get out before he was finished so I helped her out of the Minnie. Larry got the ramp setup and then I took Flo for a walk around the RV area. When we got back to the Minnie she wanted to stay outside so I put her on her chain. She stayed outside most of the afternoon considering the weather was very nice.

For dinner I made tacos and then I took Flo for another walk. The opening square dance was at 7:00, which is early for a dance considering most dances start at 7:30 or 8:00. This weekend Wade Driver and Mike Bramlett will be calling the dances and workshop. Mike showed up a few minutes late, he and his wife both work and getting out of Dallas on a Friday night can be a challenge. Wade filled in for him very nicely. Wade and Mike did an excellent job of calling the dance. There were enough people for five squares and a few people sitting out. We had fun time. 

Thursday 3-2 Busy, Busy, Busy

Busy, Busy, Busy

We had a busy, busy, busy day, but fun. We started the out by going grocery shopping. We did our weekly grocery shopping and then we swung by the UPS Store to get our mail, afterwards homeward bound we went.

Grocery Shopping

Larry and I took the groceries into the house and then Larry got Flo out of the car. While he was doing this I put the groceries away. When I finished it was time for lunch so I heated up some of the smoked pork and made sandwiches. They came out delicious. 

Doing chores

After lunch the fun began. We're going to Tool this weekend for a square dancing event so I got the Minnie ready. I swept it out and wiped it down inside. Then I loaded it up with clothes and food for the weekend. While I was doing this Larry mowed the front yard, blew out the garage, driveway and front porch, then he filled up the water tank in the Minnie. He also installed the vent extensions. After I finished loading the Minnie I cleaned the house, I did dishes, cleaned the bathrooms, laundry and vacuumed.

While Larry was working outside the mailman came and delivered our new phone. We're planning on going to Canada during our Spring trip and we need a cell phone/hot spot that will work in Canada. Larry did a bunch of research on phone providers outside the states. He eventually found that if you have an unlocked smart phone a couple of US companies will allow you to purchase a monthly plan that will work in both the US and Canada, not only as a cell phone but also as a hot spot. He was able to find a reasonably priced phone with great reviews that he was able to order via Amazon. When he finished working outside he started setting up the phone. He got it to work and now he is getting to know the features the phone has to offer. He tried to get it setup to work as a hot spot and eventually had to call the provider, they said they were having problems with that option and hoped to have it corrected tomorrow, any bets on that happening? 

In the evening our friends Larry and Patrica came to the house to go with us to the Sundancers weekly A dance. We had two squares and three people sitting out. We had a great time dancing with friends. 

    

Wednesday 3-1 Happy March

March is here

We had a very laid back day. Yesterday I took a pork roast out of the freezer to thaw and this morning we fired up the grill to smoke it. It took five and half hours and we had to monitor the temperature the entire time. Keeping the temperature in control was a challenge because the wind was really blowing. The roast came out perfect. Larry sliced it up for dinner, while he was slicing it Flo kept him company, he gave her a little bit of the roast for a snack, she gave her approval.

Smoking a pork roast on the grill

Preparing the roast

The finished pork roast

Before smoking the roast Larry finished up sealing the ducts in the attic. While smoking the roast Larry finished up his vent extensions for the Minnie. I worked on my jig saw puzzle and I worked out for a half hour on my Wii Fit.

In the evening we watched a couple of documentaries on Amazon. The first one was What Remains, which was about the live and work of Sally Mann. Sally is a award winning professional photographer, it was a good documentary. The second one was Trapper Jake which was about a trapper and his life, it was also interesting, however some of it was difficult to watch as it would show Jake killing animals he caught in his traps. Jake lived a long interesting life and much of the time he was a trapper. We also watched our daily YouTube videos.

Tuesday 2-28 Allergies

I woke up with a headache and my stomach was a bit upset. I woke up the same time as Larry did but my headache was so bad I decided to stay in bed, I thought if I stayed in bed a little longer I would feel better. I crawled out of bed about a half hour later and took a shower, I was feeling a little better. I made breakfast and than went back to bed for a couple of hours.

When I woke up it was time for lunch.. After lunch we went to get the Minnie, this weekend we're going on another square dance trip to Tool Texas. This is going to be a Mardi Gras celebration. On the way to get the Minnie we stopped by the Goodwill in Belton to see if they had anything Mardi Gras related, they really didn't have anything but we didn't leave empty handed, we bought Handkerchiefs.

The finished project on the left and the project with one solar panel

Building the plate to hold the solar panels

Soldiering wires on the solar panels

Testing out the solar panels and the fan

After picking up the Minnie we went back to the house. I worked out for a half hour with my Wii Fit, a half hour with Gold's Gym and a half hour with Just Dance. After my workout I started to feel a lot better. While I was working out Larry worked on a Minnie project. A couple of weeks ago he built an extension for one of the Minnie's vents, it has a small fan and a solar panel to power it, today he built a second vent extension, this one has two solar panels, it should work even better than the first one. The extension came out perfect. 

For dinner I barbecued a cheese burger for Larry and a salmon burger for me. I made a Jell-O No Bake Cherry Cheesecake earlier in the afternoon that we had for dessert.

In the evening we watched our YouTube videos and a movie on Amazon. The movie was called The Trail, not a very good movie. On PBS we watched the first episode of Spy in the Wild. This episode was about how mothers in the wild take care of their young. Then I worked on my puzzle and did my daily challenges. We had a good day.