Another Dull Day, Lazy Start, Errand Day, Bill Gets Home Early

The Ridge

On Wednesday, Sept. 9^th I lounged in bed until 7 and then joined Bill downstairs. He’d had his shower and was eating his breakfast. I sat for a bit before deciding I was too lazy to go for a walk. 9 o’clock comes soon enough so I made my tea and sat across from my sweetie until he left around 7:30. There were a few blog posts I wanted to read so did that and then went online and paid for my Avon order.

My first picture is of the old cash register in the Service Ontario/Men's Clothing store
I don't know if it works, I didn't buy any pants for Bill here

When 8:30 rolled around, I pushed myself to get washed and dressed for work at Graceland 2. The dull, rainy looking day didn’t do anything towards my motivation but I knew I’d be fine once I got out the door. It should be warmer today, by about 10 degrees compared to yesterday’s high so that will be nice. Maybe I can get out to the Bunky to pack up my paints. They are definitely something I’ll be moving with us to our winter ‘home’.

A blogger and commenter inadvertently put the bug in my ear about getting the old sheets out of the storage shed, ready to cover my garden plants. She’s already had frost in her neck of the Saskatchewan woods. Yikes! I know it will happen soon so best to be prepared. As soon as I arrived at Mitch’s we discussed a couple of things and because I needed to go to Service Ontario in Durham to get our license stickers renewed, Mitch sent me almost right away with an errands list for him too.

And Mitch got ready to pull the Ram out of the shop bay

He suggested doing the license stuff so I could get in there before a line up starts. It seems to be a popular place and you never know when others are deciding to get the same thing done. After waiting in line about 10 minutes behind someone with obvious issues, I left and went across and then down the street to get a couple of things on my boss’s list. Then I went back and was all set up with a 2-year sticker within 5 minutes.

I finished the errands, one being interesting and out of the normal. At the second hand store, Rethreads, I bought a bag of rags (usually old t-shirts) for cutting up and a couple of flat sheets for covering cars to protect them from spatter. These are things you never think about unless you are in the business, I guess. Back at the shop, we called Mike to tell him his truck was ready and then moved it outside for pick up.

All ready for Mike to pick it up

The old 1994 Silverado was brought in and we concentrated on taping and papering the windows, mirrors etc. so it can be painted. The owner wants it two-toned so that means a longer time than if it was just one. After talking about the 1928 Plymouth (did I tell you that it belongs to our winter hosts?) Mitch said I can get back to work on it tomorrow. Fingers crossed! It would be a nice phone call to make, telling Wes and Susan that their car is ready too. Soon, I hope.

Mitch paid me again, bringing me closer to date on the calendar so I walked out with more cash in my wallet. Back home, I made a coffee and heated up the beef soup I made the other night. I was surprised that it tasted so good. Mainly liquid, some onions and carrots and lots of beef chunks. The bonus is that there is enough for another couple of bowls. I cleaned up dishes and then went to the Bunky.

I was happy that I kept the soup
A great lunch for a cool day

Putting my paints in their containers, sorting crafts for the winter and digging out our winter boots and jackets took me the better of the next 2 hours. I swept it clean too and while I was moving things around found a set of sheets that are old and will replace a ripped one I’d used for the garden. Rather than throwing that one out, I brought it inside and cut it into appropriate size rags for Mitch. They will come in handy.

In the meantime, Bill and Billy went to Graceland 2 and picked up Mike’s truck for him. That meant Bill was home early. It was only 3:30 so that was nice. We caught up and then he went upstairs for a snooze in front of the tv. Downstairs, I worked on my blog and watched the National Geographic channel. A show about helping Zoo animals and then one about a vet looking after dogs. Yup, that one had me enthralled.

I got paints put away in their cases and stacked craft items on the futon
Boots and other items pulled out for packing

Bill and I had leftover chicken thighs and sausage for supper. I reheated them in Madame IP with a large cut up potato and carrots on top. It took the vegetables longer to cook but that was fine as it gave me time to put a salad together. It isn’t really a day for salad but we need to eat up some of the fresh stuff in the fridge. For dessert we each had some creamy raspberry Jell-o and then did dishes right away.

My original plan was to share the chicken and the sausage
but Bill had a different idea and chose the pork
Two thighs were too much for me but I ate what I could

ill decided to go down to the Hangar for a while. I turned the heater on inside as I was feeling the chilly air that was circling around us outside. Too soon, definitely too soon! I’m sure we’ll have better days to come and perhaps see the sunshine again. This was a good day. I enjoyed work this morning and also the puttering around in the Bunky. I didn’t, however get out for pictures so I apologize for all the narrative without interruptions.

Of course, I saved room for dessert
Good night!

Thank you for your visit!

The Cold Snap Broke, Laundry, Chillin’ on our Last Day

Richards RV Park, St. Bernard, LA

On Thursday, Nov. 14^th we were awake around 6:30 and up before 7. No timed plans today, on our last day here in St. Bernard. I was up through the night and turned our fireplace way down since it only dropped to 48F/8C overnight. It was a pleasant 67F inside the Suite which proved that there was none of the bone-chilling winds that we had a couple of days ago. From the get-go, the day was wet with a light rain falling.

You won't see this in Durham - if you do, call me!

 We had our tea and coffee and I sorted laundry. We didn’t have much at all. Other than undies, I don’t tend to wear the same thing over and over so my clothes don’t get dirty like Bill’s do. He’s a ‘I can wear this another day’ kind of guy. 😊 So, I walked the 50’ to the small laundromat (Jamie, they could use my help!). There are 4 washers and 6 dryers and although the wood floor has been swept, the washers don’t get wiped down – ever.

So, I washed all of them down for the next people to use

Let’s face it. This is a park where 95% of the residents are refinery workers so I wasn’t expecting too much. Jo-Anne had informed me, earlier this week, that the washers were dirty around the top edges so I took some paper towels and wiped them down before loading one with our clothes. It took 5 minutes for the wipe down so I’m not sure why the host can’t walk across and take care of it on a daily basis but…hey, who am I to judge?

I didn't get a lot of stuff out this week, but a few special things
sat on our coffee table

I had 25 minutes so walked back to the Suite. I can see the building from here. A couple more times back and forth and Bill joined me to finish folding. I was getting close to needing drinking water but we hadn’t found a refill station yet. Bill drove to the CVS Pharmacy just down the road and picked up a case of 24 bottles. I kept 4 for refilling and emptied 20 bottles into our 3-gallon container. It sounds silly but I like drinking out of plastic more than my refillable ‘thermos’. I don’t know what it is.

Ready for baking

Anyway, while he was gone, I cleaned the hallway, kitchen and living room floors and then hopped in the shower. Bill and I have been keeping an eye on our weight because of the foods we’re eating when we dine out. We aren’t imbibing too much alcohol, which is a big factor, and are pretty content with what we are seeing on the scales. We hover between a couple of pounds up and down. The rest of the day is a quiet one, maybe I’ll follow the lead of our friend, Nancy, and make some custard.

Stacked in Madame IP

At 9 am, I wasn’t in the mood for eggs and bacon so suggested to Bill that either we eat up the 2 remaining beignets from last night’s supper or he gets some toast or something. I could make eggs closer to lunchtime. We decided to reheat the beignets as they are not something you want to go stale. The icing sugar doesn’t take to heating well, so on our microwave, I did the reheat for 2 muffins/rolls and that was enough to take the chill off. They were still tasty but I’m so glad we had the full experience at Café du Monde and glad that Bob did too. He wasn’t going to ‘dine in’ originally.

9 minutes baking and 5 minutes NR

Then Bill went outside and added water to our fresh water tank. He also dumped and flushed our black and grey tanks. Maybe not in that order but you get the drift. He checked the trailer tires for pressure and everything is on the up and up so that is always good news. I chatted with Donna and Rob/Pat back home and they were happy to have some milder (-3) temperatures and no snow this morning. I tease about their weather but secretly hate to see what they have to drive in.

I watched Bob washing Big Red next door
He thought it was supposed to stop raining - but it didn't
but he has a clean trailer  and truck - for now

Inside, I put together the custard recipe and it takes no time at all. They baked in Madame IP for 9 minutes with a 5-minute NR. Perfect! When Bill came in for his shower, I had finished and dishes were done up. My coffee was done so I sat in my recliner to read. It is another different kind of story but not one I’m displeased with so will continue to turn the pages, for now. That lasted about 2 chapters and I had to close my eyes.

Just after 12, I was ready for a healthy snack
so tried my best
I didn't need or eat the Satsuma orange though

Bill dozed upstairs with the tv on and I  remembered to mix the last 6 hard boiled eggs into egg salad for our travel buns. I would make them up after supper tonight. Yes, tomorrow, we move on to Texas and a few nights ‘on the road’.  Jo-Anne texted around 2:30 inviting us over for Happy Hour and to discuss travel plans. So, we made a cup of tea and walked over. Higgins was happy to see us and once we were seated, he joined Bill and I on the couch for some attention.

Supper was good
that big ball on the right of the plate is my stuffed shrimp
It was yummy even as a leftover

Jo-Anne and Bob have family near Frisco, Texas and since we are planning on a stopover near Houston, we will be together one more night before they head in that direction for a visit. We will meet back up in Elephant Butte, NM again. It will give them an opportunity to travel with Big Red on their own, navigating the interstates and state highways. A break is good for everyone and we’ll be able to keep in touch so we can meet them at the gate of the state park early in the week.

Tsk tsk, dessert - it was very good

With that settled, and our departure time in the morning, we came back home around 4:30. NCIS reruns were on, ones we haven’t seen a lot of. For supper, I’d planned chicken thigh chunks and fries. The chicken is cooked with a coating so can be baked in the convection oven while the fries will be done in the air fryer. Same time for each. I also needed to eat up the last leftover stuffed shrimp so will warm that up while we have hookups. We were eating by 6 and it tasted good. It was a nice change on the menu.

I don't know how I missed this from Monday afternoon
in New Orleans
It is a great picture of all of us

Before doing the dishes, we had the last pieces of strawberry pie and emptied the Cool Whip container too. Nice to clean things up in the freezer as well. After dishes, I sat and worked on my post. 

It's obvious that Patsy & Jo-Anne have opened an oyster house
in New Orleans, no?

Not much happening today so no interesting pictures. I have a few pictures from New Orleans that I missed posting over the previous days so will add those as well. I don’t want you falling asleep, now do I? A quiet day but a good one.

                                          Last night, Bill and I heard this

                                            small band play a few songs

                                             Good night from St. Bernard, LA

Thank you for your visit today.