December 2009 1st Monday Canton

Our Thanksgiving dinner at Sandy’s sister Pam and Mike’s home was goooood. Like most we eat to much and felt stuffed all day. Mike and Pam were excellent host and they had all the trimmings. I might add the dressing Sandy made was wonderful. It passed her Mom’s approval and that was saying a lot since all of Mom Alice siblings say she makes the best. Outside of watching football, visiting and talking with other family members over the cell phone we didn’t do a whole lot. We headed for the MH around 4pm as we had to get her ready for going to Canton for 1st Monday. 
We were up at 6am and the outside temperature was 35 degrees. This made it a little difficult in getting the chores done for traveling.
We pulled out for Canton by 7am and arrived without incident around 9am.  While on I-20 there must have been four-five Highway Patrol units either on the shoulder or traveling the highway. We suspect they were out in force because of the holidays.

As we pulled into the grounds I happen to notice the LED lights on the inverter where not working . We had no power at the usual receptacles. I pushed the reset button and a single LED started blinking and the menu screen started flashing Absorption Stage. After about two hours the screen then displayed Float Voltage and the house batteries voltage showed 12.4 to 12.7 volts. This is still the stage on the inverter as I write this post. Don’t quite understand what all this means but I don’t know how old the house batteries might be since we purchased the unit used. If any of you out there have any ideas I would welcome them.

We have a good Verizon signal here. I am excited to be able to get on the web and read other blogs as well as keep up with all the emails we get while away from base.

Oh my windshield cleaning I mentioned in a prior post where I said passed well guess what when we got out in the sun it wasn’t good. The mixture of peroxide/water is 50/50  but I don’t believe this was the problem. I probably should have followed up with a microfiber rag.

Heard from VA and the results of the biopsies were both negative. My blood work though showed a high possibility of lupus. Go back Monday for more blood work.

Until next time….MtnAire Travlers.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all. As for the Mountain Aires home we have so many things to be thankful for this year. We are blessed in so many ways our health, family and friends. Every day of our lives should be one of thanks giving. We won’t be having Thanksgiving dinner with my family this year. Instead we will pick up Mom Alice and travel to Sandy’s sisters (Pam) home in  Longview TX. Sandy’s brother James and his wife and mother-in-law will be in Arkansas for Thanksgiving.
Our two sons (Tim & Tony) will be doing their individual Thanksgiving meals in Austin and Denver. My mom will be traveling over to my sisters home in Porter TX for Thanksgiving. Even though Sis will not be doing the fixing this year due to her still recovering from major surgery. Frank her husband and his daughter Suzie along with my nephews wife Dixie will be preparing the big meal. While we are not physically there these members of our family are in our thoughts and prayers.

We are also very thankful for our service men and women and ask God to comfort and protect them. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be in some remote country fighting a war on Thanksgiving day. Yes, we are so blessed.

So, for each of you out there have a great time this Thanksgiving with friends and family as you sit down at your table to feast on many goodies and reflect on the blessings God has bestowed on you and yours in 2009. When giving thanks thank Him for our liberty, our blessings, our family, our soldiers, and our country. 


  
       Texas 49 - Texas A&M 39   

What a game! The Aggies gave Texas all they could handle. 

Until next time….MtnAire Travlers.

Happy Birthday Sis

Today is my sister Dren’s $%# Birthday (there must be something wrong with the old keyboard it want let me put numbers in). Soooo Happy Birthday Sis. Normally, I would pre-post prior to going to Canton because the lack of Wi-Fi, but now with my Verizon Air Card and CradlePoint router I have Wi-Fi when ever I am in a Verizon coverage area.
Dren a.k.a. “Sis” is a sister that every brother needs. When we were growing up I can remember playing nurse and patient, protecting her from boys that I didn’t like, and she like most little girls always playing with dolls. She will kill me for this but at 13 she thought she was old enough to get married. Let me tell you my Dad and I did run that guy off. I am so thankful the Lord blessed our family with her. She has always been there for me and my brother, Ward anytime we needed her. Right now she is still recovering from her major surgery a few weeks back. Sis, being a typical guy we don’t always say or do the things we should and when we do the words just don’t come out right. I love you and wish you a HBD and continued recovery. By the way Sis has been the primary care giver for our Mom who is in assisted living near her home. She hasn’t been able to get out to do anything much because of her major surgery. Our cousins Wadene and Barbara have been filling in for her and we certainly appreciate all they do and have done for our Mom. Mom calls them her Girl’s.

Love Ya Sis!

until next time….MtnAire Travlers.

What A difference Two Hours Can Make In The Weather

Sandy and I were up early this morning 5:30 am. We could hear the pitter patter of rain drops on the roof. Boy, has the weatherman blew it . This was suppose to happen several days back not now. Within two hours however, the wind picked up out of the north and the sun popped out. Looks like its going to be a beautiful day. And… Beautiful it was. The wind had a bite to it but it was a great day for outside chores.
I first detailed the inside of the Jeep (boy… it really needed this) with carpet and vinyl cleaner. Cleaned the windows with a mix of peroxide/water using the new windshield wonder handle and microfiber bonnet. Not bad….it passed Sandy’s inspection. Afterwards I drove the Jeep over to the local do-it-yourself car wash where I gave it a good washing. I also washed and cleaned the engine compartment. Started to start the Klasse wax treatment but I will save this perhaps for tomorrow
Went upon the roof of the MH and found the cable from the Batwing antenna was a little loose from its plug. Pushed it in and now we get digital TV from Tyler and  Shreveport. I might add they are much clear and sharper than the analog signal we use to get from these same channels. Mike at Hayes RV said the Wingman attachment I mentioned in a previous post might improve the signal more. We will think about this before purchasing as right now the pictures are not that bad..

Sandy’s brother James invited us to lunch with him and his associate Wendell. We all piled into his truck and drove to the Wildflower Restaurant in Hugh Springs about 8 miles east of us. On our way we drove by a large lake that we could see 30-40 ducks on it. They were on the opposite side of the highway and we could not make out what kind they were. They had a buffet for $6.99 at the Wildflower with the choice of chicken strips, chicken fried steak, chicken pot pie, black eyed peas, mash potatoes, fresh carrots and all the salad trimmings. Way to much for a noon meal. But, I managed to put it down anyway. Fresh homemade peach cobbler for dessert topped our meal off. On the way back we drove by the lake with the ducks and for the most part they were mallards. Didn’t have the camera…. bummer.

I set in the old blue chair a little this evening could hear and at times see jets flying overhead  but on contrails this time. The sky while being crystal blue the air just wasn’t cold enough to allow the forming of contrails.

Until next time….MtnAire Travlers.

Nothing Going On New

Up at our usual time this morning . Met BIL James at Arnold’s. Had our usual one egg, bacon and toast $1.75 ea. I don’t fell this price is all that  bad as I don’t believe we could eat this meal any cheaper at the MH.  Besides we get to enjoy morning conversations with her brother.
Since Thursday is Thanksgiving we decided to make our trip to Longview today for our supplies. You know the kind of stuff need for a Thanksgiving meal. With school being already out for the holidays the crowd was heavy everywhere we went. 
It was still early as most of the stores hadn’t opened so our first stop to kill some time was Target who opens at 8am. Afterwards, we checked with Mike at Hayes RV regarding out old Batwing antenna being capable of receiving digital signals. He advised it should receive digital signals and all we needed to do was make sure our TV booster was on and we had digital TVs. Will give this a try in the morning as I need to get up on the roof and make sure the cable from the antenna is in place.

Afterwards we made trips to two different Wally Worlds looking for the ingredients for a chicken dressing. You know the corn bread mix, poultry seasoning, sage etc. Guess what both stores where out of these key ingredients. Looks like there will be a lot of dressing missing from the tables. It could be they were out because of the weekend. Go figurer one would think they would be stocked to the brim at this time of the year. She did manage to find some of the ingredients and will make a trip to Brookshire's tomorrow for the rest.

On our way back to Lone Star we received a call from CPU a local computer repair place saying they had my HP laptop repaired. So, we turned around and went back to pick up the HP. Sandy is going to use  this to search out and download her food shows, recipes  etc. She will also be able to print things with the HP where she presently can not with her Apple Iphone. This will also give her the opportunity to learn the computer a little more than her Iphone. I hope she can keep them both straight in her mind the HP you click and the Iphone you touch.

When we  got back I begin to delete several programs that I felt she didn’t need. She is now surfing the web. Can’t believe it but, I’m keeping  my cool with all the questions she is now asking.

Until next time….MtnAire Travlers.

Some Wonderful Cookies

For those of you who love chewy oatmeal cookies – do I have a recipe for you. My cousin Wadene made these cookies for my Mom’s 90th Birthday. She was kind enough to share with us back then and I just fell in love with them. She emailed Sandy the recipe about a year ago and yes Sandy finally got around to making them today. Let me tell you they still are the best I've ever eaten. With Thanksgiving right around the corner you might just want to make a batch of these. Yummy

Here is the recipe:
Source: “Colorado Cache” Cookbook
The Best Oatmeal Cookies
Yield: 72 servings
1 cup Raisins
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 cup Butter
1 cup Brown sugar
1 cup White sugar
2-1/2 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
2 teaspoons Baking soda
2 cups Oatmeal
3/4 cup Chopped pecans ( roast them in
a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes)
3 Eggs (well beaten)

Combine eggs, raisins and vanilla and let stand for one hour, covered  with plastic wrap. Cream together butter and sugars. Add flour, salt, cinnamon and soda to sugar mixture.  Mix well.
Blend in egg-raisin mixture, oatmeal, and chopped nuts. Dough will be stiff. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet or roll into small balls and flatten slightly on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to12 minutes or until lightly browned. Note: Delicious! Secret is soaking of raisins.

Al with the Bayfield Bunch mentioned a Cowboy Cookie Shoot Out contest with Jerry of Our Life on Wheels in one of his recent journals. I don’t know what kind of cookies these were but if we ever get to Arizona I would be willing to add these to that shoot.

Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Nationwide Championship today at Homestead, FL. All he had to do to win the championship  was take the green flag at the start of the race. That wasn’t good enough….. I be darn if he didn’t go out and win the final race of 2009.

Texas 51 – Kansas 20

Until next time….MtnAire Travlers.

Happy Birthday Mike

Mike our BIL is married to Pam, Sandy’s sister, and he celebrates his 55th birthday today. Mike served our country for 24 years. He retired from the Navy in 2008 where he was a Navy Chaplin. Mike had some very interesting tours of duty while in the Navy. Among these were Marine  Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, USS Jouett, Naval Air Station Jacksonville FL, Camp David Presidential Retreat, Naval Medical  Center at Bethesda, USS Nassau, Naval Air Station Kingsville TX, USS Kitty Hawk, and US Pacific Submarine fleet in Hawaii. This guy is a bundle of energy. His truck and car are always spotless clean. He currently is an Associate Pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Longview, TX. We are real proud of Mike not only for his service to our country but to our family.

Mountain Warfare Training Center – Pickle Meadow, CA

 USS Jouett (CG-29) San Diego, CA

Naval Air Station - Jacksonville, FL

Camp David Presidential Retreat –Fredericksburg, MD 
To Mikes' right are his wife Pam and Son Jeff

Naval Medical Center – Bethesda, MD

Naval Air Station – Kingsville, TX

  USS Nassau (LHA-4) Norfolk, VA

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) – Japan

US Pacific Submarine Fleet - Hawaii 

 
First United Methodist Church – Longview, TX

Happy Birthday Mike!

and thanks again for your service

to our great country

Until next time….MtnAire Travlers.