In Chehalis preparing for Thanksgiving

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've updated this blog.  I meant to keep it updated monthly, but when there isn't anything real news worthy, it's hard to come up with things to write that would be interesting.

So, we've spent the last month in Chehalis for a couple of weeks, back to Yelm and then just returned to Chehalis again last night.  Over the last month, we spent Halloween here in Chehalis at the leased campsite, had our good friends here the weekend before Halloween and participated in the trick or treating event in the campground.  We had about 40ish trick or treaters, handing out candy from around our campfire.  We didn't hand out that much candy while in our home.

We then went to the Veteran's Memorial Museum in Chehalis.  We've been meaning to stop and see what they had, but when the four of us got there, we were quite surprised how extensive it was.  We spent about 2-3 hours there and would definitely encourage others to attend.


We spent the last 3 weeks capturing a wild cat from our campsite, getting it neutered, and then helping the recovery process.  We kept him in the motor home a couple of days prior to having his surgery to see how wild he really was, and then we kept it for a week and 1/2 after the surgery for the healing process.  Craig released him today.

  

We've fixed a couple of meals on the new pellet barbque while at the campsite.  We decided to try a turkey and it turned out wonderful - very flavorful and juicy.  Probably the best we have ever done to include those we've cooked in the oven.  Of course as you can tell, Craig's new hobby, didn't stay just Craig's for very long.  I'm the one researching the brine or rubbing process, how to prepare and then what needs to be put on the meat once it's on the grill to help the grilling process.  We fixed stuffing at the same time on the grill.

We also enjoyed the visit from my Nephew and his family.  Since there was six of them, they rented a cabin in the campground for the night.  We did dinner together and the kids enjoyed running in the field behind our spot prior to it getting dark.  We then went to the cabin for bedtime and they almost had room for all four kids - one had to (or begged to) sleep in the closet.  The next morning they want onto celebrate their summer birthdays after all working together to earn a night at Great Wolf Lodge.

We've also enjoyed dinner with those we've worked with and have had lots more time connecting with friends and family.  Looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with Craig's parents and both of his brothers and wives will be their to celebrate their Mother's birthday.  We are all helping to fix the dinner.  All of us haven't been together for a holiday in many, many years.

We are continuing to keep Lexie as still as possible, luckily she's an older dog and it hasn't been too difficult, as we've had her on new medication over the last month.  She's on two different pain pills and an anti-inflammatory med. Unfortunately she really hasn't improved considering all the medication so we are reaching back out to the specialist again to see what's next.

Craig and I wish all of you a very wonderful Thanksgiving Day and hope that you can keep the Thanksgiving spirit all year long!!!

Back in Yelm

We returned back in Yelm on October 7.  Mom and Dad were getting a new propane tank and stove installed so we came to help out with the coordination.  We also had a few appointments to do in Tacoma and Puyallup so it makes it quite convenient to drive back and forth from Yelm rather than Chehalis.  We plan on being here into next week, with no definite plans but taking it day by day.












You would think there would not be any yardwork to do living in an RV.  Not true.  Our leased campsite gets plenty of falling leaves so we need to continue to keep the site cleaned up by blowing off the leaves.  While here at Mom and Dad's, we have been helping trim bushes/trees which I enjoy - the weather has been great and of course I do enjoy being outside.

Lexie did not improve from the steroid shot, so we took her back in a couple of times to the specialty vets and this time they had her looked over by a neurologist.  They did an MRI of her neck, shoulder and leg.  At first they thought she had a slow growing tumor, but the radiologist ruled that out, or at least for now.  So, the surgery doctor got a second opinion from another radiologist and they would like to do another MRI next week, taking it at different angles.  In the meantime, she is taking it all in stride and we just keep her in pain pills and as quiet as possible.  I think it's harder on us watching her limp than it probably is on her.

The week of October 7th, I enjoyed going into the office in DuPont and Tacoma.  First visit since I retired.  It was great to see everyone that I had a chance to visit with.  The Tacoma office and views are wonderful.  It was great catching up on all the people movements and new announcements.

Nothing else new.  We are getting the time to visit friends and family more than we did while working. We hope to start planning our trip agenda soon for when we head south in mid-January, but first we have to get Lexie taken care of.

Seahawks - 6 and 1 - Great Season!!!!!  We did enjoy attending the last home game against the Titans - not a wonderful game to watch - but great outcome!!!!

Back in Chehalis

We left Yelm and came back to our leased campsite in Chehalis.  We needed to get a few things out of our storage unit in Chehalis - warmer clothes, Seahawk jerseys and sweatshirts, fall decorations, etc.  We also thought if we were in camp, we could keep Lexie very contained so she could hopefully get better - she's doing OK, but still limping.

We went down to Salem last week for a funeral - my first boss at State Farm in Sept. 1974.  It was great to see everyone there, some I had not seen since moving to Puyallup in 1998.  We then bought Craig a "new toy" and visited a dear friend.

We had one good weather day since being here and we spent that day setting up Craig's new Barbecue.    He would like to start smoking and cooking meats with this new pellet stove, and this unit can also serve as a convection oven since our's in the coach can be a little small - baking cakes, pizza, cookies, etc.  I'm sure I'll be learning to make meat rubs and sauces for "his" new hobby:)

We had quite a wind storm yesterday with lots of rain - didn't seem to mind too much since it was a great day for football - Seahawks are now 4 and 0 - with the fantastic win in Houston.  Can't wait to go to our game in Seattle against the Titans.  We had to use the generator last night as we lost power a couple of times, but the generator gives us everything we need; lights, heat and TV.

We are looking forward to mid-January when we plan on heading for warmer and dryer weather.

Garage Sale in Yelm

So we arrived in Yelm on September 4th.  We had a couple of appointments throughout the week and  the next week, but all four of us started sorting, pricing and arranging garage sale items.  We got everything marked by Wednesday and then had a full day on Thursday getting everything arranged in the garage and the driveway for Craig's parents garage sale.  Wow, what a long day and so much to arrange.  The garage sale started on Sept. 13 and over the two days we sold lots and lots and lots.

We have spent the last week cleaning up, hauling off all the donations, recycling, etc.  Everything looks great.  

For those of you who knew what our Mt. Rainier view looked like, this is our view at Mom and Dad's out our motorhome windshield - a little different view than at our Puyallup home, but we enjoyed it all the same.

We've also been doing a couple of appointments - wouldn't you know once we don't have dental insurance that I would break a crown - oh well - I got that all taken care of over the last couple of weeks.

Also, Lexie has been having some limping problems over the last few months and so we took her into a new vet that is closer to Chehalis and got a second opinion and new drugs.  He immediately referred us to a Tacoma specialty doctor and so we spent about 12 hours in Tacoma on Wednesday having her checked out, Xrays, ultrasound, etc. and they gave her a steroid shot in the shoulder.  We'll take her back at three weeks and again at eight weeks to make sure the shot is working and that she won't need surgery.  They said her injury was like a rotator cuff issue on a human along with some bursitis.  She is doing better and now we need to keep her very confined for the next 2-3 months so that the tendons can heal.

It's so great to have the time to do all of these things - Craig and I just looked at each other and said how strange it was that we could both just sit around and run errands all day on Wednesday when we only expected to do a consultations in the morning.   But now that our schedule is so flexible it worked out well.  But, as the nights are getting cooler, we can't believe that summer is already gone and autumn is here - the time goes by just as fast if not faster than when we were both working.

Arrived in Estacada, Oregon

We arrived Tuesday at our friend's campground of three spaces.  We got all set up in time to attend a get together of present and past workers of Stanley Hydraulics in Portland.  Craig worked there about 9 years before we moved to Washington in 1998.  He really enjoyed catching up with all the guys.  We then went into Portland for a great Tex Mex dinner.

Craig has been spending his days here going on motorcycle rides with John, doing ride alongs while John is making dump truck deliveries and the two of them are working on the trailer - adding a pulley system to help with lifting the kayaks.

Lynn and I, along with two of her daughters and granddaughters, made a trip to Costco and I have been taking the time to make phone calls, send emails and update the blog.  Last night I really enjoyed watching the last pre-season game for the Seahawks - they are really looking good.  Go Seahawks!!!

Tonight we'll attend their grandson's high school football game in Estacada.

Off to Pacific City

We both love the Oregon Coast and so we were able to stay on plan and be at the Oregon Coast, the park that we bought into the Thousand Trails system back in 1979 - Pacific City.  We were at Oregon MotorCoach getting items finished on the RV until Thursday afternoon and then we drove to the beach.    They still didn't have all the info for the security system, so we'll pursue that later.

We left August 15th and were able to stay til the 27th.  Overall the weather was great, only one day of a little wind and the day before we left it felt like winter - wind and heavy rain.

We did have quite a time finding a place large enough with good power - so we ended up moving twice while there, but on Tuesday the 20th, we found a great site that also had 50 amp service.  It's amazing the things you have to be concerned about - power, water, no sewer at this place, limited satellite service, length, somewhat flat so the motorhome will level up correctly and then lastly a strong enough phone/wifi connection.  The entire time we had very limited service and if we wanted to send emails or make phone calls, we would go into town.  Therefore, I'm a little behind in updating the blog.

We again just relaxed - Craig got the motorcycle out a few times, we spent time on the beach, if there was enough wind, he would fly his kite.  The "girls" would just sit wherever there was shade (Kyna in the grass trying to stay cool below).  We went on lots of walks, played miniature golf, etc.  It's amazing how fast the day goes bye doing whatever you want to do - and probably not really accomplishing a thing. It really is so much fun. We tried out a few of our favorite eating spots and a new barbecue place, went to the Air Museum in Tillamook, went to the Pacific City and Lincoln City Farmers Market, buying fresh salmon, flowers, berries, vegetables, etc. and then spent the last day in Canon Beach.

I've also spent time learning to do baking in the motorhome.  I didn't do much real baking when we went out for just a week or so.  So I baked a carrot cake for the picnic while in Salem and while in Pacific City I baked a blackberry cobbler.  The carrot cake turned out great (good recipe) but didn't quite get done in the very middle but still edible.  The cobbler cooked great and I'm ready for the next baking project.

Wish we could have spent longer - but that will hopefully be next time.

Off to Oregon

We came to Oregon on Friday, August 9th.  Took a little bit to get the motorhome, trailer and Explorer onto the road.  Our first stop was just west of Salem to a RV Premier Resorts.  They thought they had a site long enough for us so we would not have to unhook but unfortunately their sites were only 55 feet long and with the trailer we are 60.  So we had to unhook trailer from motorhome, park motorhome, take bikes off the Explorer, hook trailer to Explorer, maneuver trailer and then unhook from Explorer so we could have vehicle at site.  The joys of taking all the toys!!!

The RV Park that we stayed at did allow washing of vehicles, no charge.  For those of you who do not travel via RV, that's a big plus.  So as I was off having lunch Craig washed his bike and the Explorer.  I was going to help him wash the motorhome, but when he was ready it was pouring down raining, thundering and lightening - so I stayed inside and he washed by himself.  He was totally drenched.  Once it quit raining, I did go out and helped him finish and clean - up.

We saw family and friends to include a yearly picnic with the Larson's and then on Monday we went onto Eugene.  We stopped first at RV Glass to get a window which had broken a seal replaced and then today we came to Oregon Motorcoach to get a few maintenance items done and we are looking at having a security system put on coach and trailer.  We met a fun couple in the "sites" that we stayed at in the parking lot who had two 7 month old puppies - very well behaved.  Got lots of visiting in during the evening once they brought our coaches back to the sites.

Yesterday we took the "girls" to their first self-dog wash in Eugene.  In 1 1/2 hours, "girls" were bathed, blow dried (which they never had been blow dried before) and then brushed out.  They took it really well and the best part of it was that we had no wet towels to deal with (as we used all of their supplies) and no mess to clean up.