I'm Sick, the RV is Sick, but the Wildlife is Still Beautiful.....

Sorry it has been so long since my last blog...I've been sick.  I have the flu.  Art came down with a sore throat Friday night. It was really red and swollen but he drank some hot tea and that seemed to take care of it.  Then I started to feel bad on Monday. My head was hurting and was feeling congested then...the worst~ I came down with a fever. Now fevers and me just don't get along. I have seen Art have a fever of over a hundred and still work, me, 99.5 and I'm down and out. I hurt so bad I felt like a Mac truck had run over my body.  I am feeling a little better, I spiked a fever again last night and today I am still very weak and congested. When I get something like this it takes me days to get over it.  I am so mad I wasn't sick all winter at the house, not even a tiny little cold and then we get here and I get this flu. Urr.... but I will get better soon from such wonderful and thoughtful care.  Art went to town and got me some good medicine which has helped with the congestion and body aches. And Nancy, another host just brought over some delicious chicken soup, thank you Nancy. See now who wouldn't want a life style like this?  Such wonderful friends and lovely scenery to look at even if you feel terrible. I am just happy I feel up to doing this blog before you all forgot me :)  Just kidding......    Now if only we had some medication for the RV.  Yep, we already have  problems.  Remember when we had to move it last week so they could cut down some trees that were too close to us?  Even though at the time it seemed like a lot of work thank goodness we needed to move because we have a major water leak under the tanks. Water was pouring out from under the trailer as Art was moving it. He took the panel off the bottom and the insulation was dripping wet. So we have to tear down 'again' and take it back to the dealership on the 30th.  Art has been on the phone with a service tech and they are hoping for an easy fix of just a leak in the tank vent.  But they will still have to replace all the insulation under there. Now if the tanks are leaking then we may be gone for a while. Isn't this just ridiculous?? We have only been here a few weeks and already a major problem. I want to call Keystone and tell them they need to at least pay for our diesel to take it back to the dealership.  I don't know what is wrong with these companies but the workmanship is really really crappy. I could understand if this unit was a few years old but a new one you expect a little different experience. Thank goodness it is still under warranty. Will keep you up to date on the findings.    Ok now on to good things.  I have wildlife YA!!!!   The first picture I cannot take credit for though ~~  Kay one of our host was able to snag a picture of this little guy while they were putting up new clips on our posts for reservation slips.  And you all know how I love turtles so I am starting with him. Thank you Kay for sharing this with me so I can share with readers of the blog.

"Hey, what cha doin? I'm just coming out to get some sunshine, so please move a side." 

Isn't he just the cutest thing?  I know I know not furry and cuddly like a bunny but you have to admire these little guys who carry their home on their backs through the rain, the mud, the wet leaves, the branches....hey they could carry mail.  :)

This little guy was sunning himself on one of our logs. I have no idea what this is. I looked up Salamanders of Indiana and couldn't find anything that looked like him. Then I looked up Newts and he looked even less like one of them. Anyone know??

OK speaking of our log pile. We were starting to get a bit concerned that our logs were attracting mice, as Cooper lets us know they are in there. So Art decided to clean up the mess some and Abbie and Bill gave us a tarp to cover up the wood to keep it dry.  Of course with Art moving the wood he stirred up a mouse, and Cooper was on the war path. He was a tad bit angry.  See...

He was barking at Art to get him to move a little faster. I believe what he was trying to say was, "move that log for me he went under there."

"OK, fine I'll move it myself!" 

Poor little guy he wore himself our trying to catch that mouse. The mouse I am sorry to say was a little to quick for him. He would scurry around the other side faster than Cooper could so he escaped many times. As I watched him he seemed to be laughing as he would run by Cooper. :)

Cooper tried another approach, pounce from the top.  It didn't work either.

What was Effie doing while all this commotion was going on. Funny you should ask because I took this picture of her while Cooper was barking....

She wasn't one bit fazed by all the commotion. She was smart and stayed in her chair and the warm sunshine. 

Cooper finally admitted defeat and went after this green bug, that appeared injured, that was crawling on our patio mat.  This was as close as he got to it though, I guess the mouse was safer than he thought.

If you read the blog regularly you remember I said our daughters and their families were coming over this past weekend and to expect granddaughter pictures. Well here they are. Meredith had a blast sliding on the slides. She had the adults right where she wanted them. Aunt Hannah would lift her up to Daddy, Daddy would let go Uncle Dan would catch her, she would run to Aunt Hannah and it would start all over again. What a system, she didn't have to climb anything. And me, you guessed it I was on camera duty......

"Ready, set, go!" 

Right into Uncle Dan's arm. 

See her Elmo doll? She would let him go first and then she would go. So cute!!!

After a while Aunt Hannah's arms hurt so she and Meredith raced. It was so cute.

I'm not sure who was having more fun Meredith or Aunt Hannah!

She is giving kisses now. Meredith that is.... So sweet :)

Wanted to show you my new hanger for the hummingbird feeder. I had one that suctioned on the window last year but it was tiny and had to be refilled everyday. I found this hanger at Walmart and love it.  Effie loves to hang out in her bed by the window so she can look out.

Before I came down with the flu I decided to go on the hunt for wildlife. I found some!

Now if he doesn't make you smile nothing will. Is he cute or what???  Chubby little cheeks, and he just sat there and posed wasn't one bit afraid of me. 

And then look what I saw.......

"I hear you have been looking for me?"

"Well here I am all proud and beautiful. Just like last year."

I was giddy with excitement. My first deer photo of the year. She was so sweet just stood there and let me take pictures of her. And when I drove away she just started eating again, like well my deed is done for the day hoe hum! 

I don't know what was on the ground but these two butterflies were sitting side by side enjoying something.

I am thrilled with my plant I bought. Every day there are butterflies all around it.  Isn't this guy pretty. I am not going to try and identify it, as I have looked and it takes forever to find their picture. I am just enjoying their beauty. I need to find a book on them. 

I did some engagement pictures for our daughter while they were here as they had their first date walking a trail in a state park. I thought I would post 2 of my favorites.

I love the bark on the Pine Tree here in the park so they stood in front of  this large one.

And since they love walking trails we wanted to do one of those too.  So here they are walking the trail here at Hardin Ridge.....

Hope you enjoyed all the nature pictures. Next time I do a post I hope our home and myself are both back to 100%.  So from Hardin Ridge in Hoosier National Forest....
Best Wishes and take care everyone.