Our Home Away from Home!

Our Home Away from Home!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

We're Here.....Really!!!!!

We're here!!  Still have to pinch myself. Was so nervous last night I couldn't sleep. I felt like a kid at Christmas waiting for Santa.  I have no idea what time I fell asleep but was awake early. Didn't stay in bed this morning and enjoy that bed, oh no up and ready to go in record time.  Now that was for many reasons, one we wanted to get on the road, and the biggest reason I couldn't stand it knowing saying good bye to Hannah was inevitable. Yep, I was doing pretty good until Art came into the bathroom to brush his hair with big tears in his eyes. I said, "Art, I was doing good, suppressing emotions until you started." Sorry Tam! Oh well I didn't want him to feel alone so I stuffed my pocket with 6 tissues and headed out to give Hannah that dreaded hug good bye. It was hard, hard, hard! I will see her in 2 weeks but still 2 weeks, seems like forever to my "Mama's heart."

We made it, got into our individual vehicles, Art the truck, me in the Mini Cooper and did the walkie talkie check. That is how we communicate while driving.  OK, right turn signal, check, left signal, check, brakes, check....go!

We left home right at 10:00 on the dot and pulled into Hardin Ridge at around noon. We made really good time but we went around Indy at a good time. No morning traffic, no lunch hour, no after work traffic. I listened to my music and talked to Cooper. Effie was in the truck with Art. That way we each had a dog to keep us company.

The welcome wagon was here when we pulled in. That is why it takes hours to set up, we talk, do some things. Then in pulls more hosts, talk some more, set up, talk. But we love it they always make you  feel so welcome.  OK here is our site......

Can you imagine how beautiful this is going to be when the trees are green and lush with new leaves.

As soon as we arrived Art put up the dog fence so we would all be fenced in and safe.  This photo turned out weird, the lighting was bad, and the only one I took so sorry, I'll get a better one in the days to come.


Cooper of course had to claim one of our chairs. See his bed is on the ground, but since he is not a dog he doesn't have to lay in one. :)


"Mom, I'm in Dad's chair not yours. So it's ok right?"
It was such a gorgeous day outside. The sun, yes, the sun was out and warm and no snow. We decided to go for a walk. Mostly this is all we saw, downed trees everywhere. The Forest Service has cut down many of them. Some had fallen over the road and they cut them up. Isn't very pretty is it?  


See those little dots way up ahead? That is Cooper and Effie. They love it that the park isn't open to the public yet (April 15th), so they can run loose without a leash.

We were walking and walking and walking, thanks Art. We were pooped when we got back to the trailer. I wanted to turn back half way and let us get broken in but he said, "oh we can make it." Sure making it to one end isn't the issue, but you have to turn around and come back! 

"Come on Mom you can make it."

Well I cannot say I was at all disappointed that we walked and walked because I got this picture. Sorry Louis, this is one beautiful bird. Al, it wasn't in flight but I was kind of proud of it anyway. I worked on the color like you said what do you think?


Red Headed Woodpecker...right Judy?  I used my bird book to identify.  He is one fancy bird, all decked out in that black and white suit and that bright red head. I was kind of proud of myself for seeing him and being patient enough for him to light on a tree I could get.  

Before I say good night I want to say thank you many many times over for all the wonderfully, sweet, kind, comments on the blog last night. I can honestly say I feel like a load of bricks is off my shoulders this evening. And boy does that feel good!!!  You have all become great blogging friends to us and we cannot tell you what that is like for us. 
Cannot wait to meet some of you one day.  And can't wait to continue to share this great adventure we are now on. For those of you who are waiting and wanting to do this is so worth it. Looking forward to reading your blogs one day too hearing all about your excitement. I sure enjoy reading the blogs I do where many of you are already full timers.

  So for the first time this year.....Best Wishes and take care everyone from Hardin Ridge.

34 comments:

  1. Yeah! The adventure begins. Have a great time meeting everyone and getting settled in to your new routine.

    Sweet dreams!

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    1. Thanks so much. Sweet dreams ah yes, the stress is over with!!! It was so good to see everyone today. We have such great friends here. We have an Easter pitch in tomorrow. Happy Easter to you both.

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  2. oh, Tammy! so very happy for your ... what a beautiful site! yes it will be gorgeouser with the Spring growth... what fun.

    Can't wait to read all about your daily new life... ;)

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    1. Thank you Carolyn, it is a beautiful site and so large. The one we had last year was smaller we couldn't park both vehicles on it. I can't wait to see what it looks like when all the leaves are out. And....I can't wait to share it.

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  3. Replies
    1. Yes, it was, great trip no problems. No problems setting up, and the weather cooperated. How about that for Indiana?

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  4. Enjoy your blog and your comments to others ?.... Thrilled you are on your way to your new adventure ..... Your spot looks great..... Can't wait to hear all about it.... I'm with you good byes are always tough ...... Especially after such a giant leap like this.....looking forward to sharing all this with both of you .....

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    1. Hi Sally, Welcome to the blog. I am happy to hear your enjoy the blog that is sweet. Thank you we love our new home and site. Oh the good bye this morning just ripped out my heart. Now we have her wedding in June, oh boy can't wait for that! Not really.
      I'm glad you are here sharing it with us too. Take care, and Happy Easter.

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  5. Incredible picture of the bird. The colors are wonderful. We have a fence for our girls but it's only big enough for them and that doesn't go over very well. Lots of crying and barking goes on. You've got a great idea of the big fence.

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    1. Why thank you I was kind of proud of it can't you tell? :) Well it may be bigger than yours but the crying and the barking were still there. If we were not "in" there with them they were not happy. Effie will lay in there fine but Cooper wants to be right by my side. Just like he is right now. :)

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  6. What a fancy dancy bird you captured there! I'm just beginning to learn a little about birds and I am fascinated by the variety and the beautiful colors. thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you Donna. I was so excited, I have never gotten a wood pecker like that one before. He looks like he has on a fancy suit. He is sure pretty.

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  7. The campsite looks lovely right now as well. Love the picture of the woodpecker. Glad to see you made it!

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    1. Thank you Karen. I love it in the woods no matter what it looks like. Spring and Fall just bring on such great colors. Thank you I was kind of proud of it :)
      Us too!

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  8. I'm glad the first leg of this journey you are now on went off without a hitch!

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    1. Wait until you read tonight's post ha ha....
      but the trip here and the set up went off great.

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  9. Nice campsite, all set up and ready to begin enjoying your new lifestyle.
    Have too much fun there.

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    1. Thank you George, it is definitely roomy and level. And the sites around us are not that close. We are already having fun!

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  10. Heard about you from The Bayfield Bunch's blog. How exciting that you're setting sail in this wonderful lifestyle. We've been full-timers since 2010 with no regrets. As one-full timer said to us on our first day out, "Welcome to Life!"

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    1. Welcome to the blog and thanks for reading and for commenting. Al, has been really good to me and supporting me on this blogging adventure. That is wonderful to hear you have been on the road for 3 yrs? That is a wonderful great saying. I'll have to remember that and pass it on.

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  11. Replies
    1. Thanks so much. On the road and now stopped at our new home for 2 months. Then we move for one month.

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  12. Waking up in new home must be so dreamy. What a wonderful summer you have ahead of you...the sweet towns of Nashville and Bloomington at your footsteps and that gorgeous lake. Once in high school, some of my friends and I got fogged in on that lake until morning...boy was I in trouble. Looking for yarn...visit the sheep street fibers by Martinsville and Arni's junior salads aren't too far away in Columbus :O) I can't wait until I wake up at our fist resting spot!

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  13. Great to see you on the road and all setup in a nice looking site! Congrats!

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    1. Thank you Rick. It is so nice to be on the road too. The site is so nice I posted some pictures tonight on the blog of our site. Thank you!

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  14. You two are living MY dream....McGyver and I will be riding with you all the way...Hope you don't mind but we loaded a case of wine and beer in your truck ;-)

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    1. Hi Dennis and Donna, welcome to the blog and thank you for your comment. We are happy to be living this dream and happy to share it. I know you would much rather be living it yourself though. Any plans for doing so?
      You just hitch a ride with us and welcome aboard.

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  15. Got yourself a mighty fine looking Red Headed Woodpecker there. Isn't it rewarding to take a poorly lit subject such as a colorful bird & bring it's natural colors out so well. Only things I would have done different was to play around with your cropping tool & take that large branch out at the bottom. Remember, if your subject (bird, person, animal) is looking into a picture, give them room to look into the picture. In other words crop up closer behind your bird & leave more room in front of him than behind him. Because of doing this you will be able to re-locate your bird on the left side of your photo & away from center......... Good stuff, keep up the good work.

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    1. Thanks Al. It could have been a little more in focused. I was so excited to get him and didn't do as good a job as I could have. I loved doing all the editing to it that was fun, like you said. I'm not sure I understand but I guess with more practice I will get better. Thanks for the encouragement.

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  16. YAY!!!! Ya'll made it! Whoopeeee~~ I'm so happy for ya'll. Wish I could do a dog yard like that, but my guys would knock it down, so they get long kennel runs instead. B-u-t I think it was awfully kind of Cooper to leave his bed for "Dad"! ;-) Isn't the smell of the campgrounds wonderful? I'm due for a camping trip to the woods! Love the sights, sounds & smells.

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    1. Cyn, your enthusiasm is so neat. Thank you!!! We couldn't do this kind of yard if they weren't dachshund, they would be out and long gone I'm sure.
      Cooper is just that kind of dog so thoughtful :)
      I love the smell of campgrounds the smoke, the leaves, the trees. Can't wait to see where you camp.

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  17. Great job, on yout blog. But I can barely see your text. The background color males it hard.
    Sorryj

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    1. Thank you and welcome. I am sorry about the problem you are having. I have not had anyone else say they are having problems. Have you tried adjusting the light on your computer to a darker setting maybe that would help?

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    2. The text issue might be them reading from a cell phone or tablet? If they scroll down to the bottom of your blog page, then click "view web version", then they can read your page better. I've ran into that on reading with the cell phone. It doesn't always give the whited out background, so you are trying to read text on the photographic background wallpaper instead of the whited out background.

      The tablet & cell phone versions don't white it out on some formats, so clicking on the web version takes care of that.

      Hope this makes sense. This happens when I read on my cell phone with some folks blogs too.

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