Our Home Away from Home!

Our Home Away from Home!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

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.

42 comments:

  1. Hope you get over the flu soon, it made the rounds here at the Weeb Ranch. Are you guys going to be work camping at Hardin Ranch all summer? If you are I may talk Donna into spending a long weekend at the campground there. Hope there's water for me and Rigg's to get into.Be safe out there. Sam & Donna....

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    1. Thanks Sam, I am feeling better just awful weak. Yes, we will be here all summer except for the month of June. We will be going to a state park to camp host in closer to where our daughter's wedding will be. Then we will be back here by the first of July. There is one gorgeous lake here. Lake Monroe. Some guys camped on our loop caught a lot of fish the past few days. It is beautiful here. Love to have you!!!!

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  2. Hope you are rid of the flu quickly, our colds and flu have seemed to hold on forever. Great pictures, I think Effie has the right idea!

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    1. I am feeling better, but the sniffles don't want to leave. I am running out of tissues :) Yes, she sure does, warm sunshine.

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  3. Oh I'm so sorry you are sick! I got sick last week due to an infection & it took days for me to really feel right again. Unfortunately, the appetite returned too.
    Hope the RV won't be a big laborous fix. That does suck.

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    1. Thanks Cyn, Unfortunately the appetite never left. I needed the stomach flu for that....never mind I'd rather have the appetite. I do too.

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  4. Effie is so dang cute to me! She and I would be big buddies...I think we have lots in common!
    Meredith is a doll...she is at a really sweet age! Enjoy!
    Your park is full of nature to see and be amazed by!
    Hope you feel lots better soon and the RV has an easy fix!

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    1. Thank you she is a doll and not many dogs have the personally she does. She would love you too I'm sure of it. Meredith is learning so many different things and is a doll I agree. Yes, we have lots of nature here, one of the reasons I love it.

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  5. Must be something about those black and tan low riders. Scooter would have been right there helping Cooper corner that mouse. Skitz would be with Effie ignoring all the noise. There is absolutely no craftsmanship or quality control on new RV's. Everyone who buys one ends up back in the shop several times getting everything fixed. It is so frustrating. Hope the repair doesn't take too long. Also, hoping you feel better soon. Enough with the being sick. Thanks for sharing the grandbaby pictures. Gorgeous picture of the engaged couple. You done good.

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    1. And I thought it was a boy thing not the coloring ha ha.....
      I hope it doesn't either I can't wait to get back here. I am feeling better just
      weak and the runny nose, gee when will that end? You are welcome, I love sharing them with anyone who will look! Thanks, I appreciate that.

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  6. So sorry to hear you are sick. Hope you recover quickly. Unfortunately, it seems even new rigs have problems. Hope your fix is easy and quick.

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    1. Yes, it is unfortunate but everyone goes through it seems like. I hope they don't have to order a part that takes forever to get in.

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  7. Oh, yes, we've had our issues with the tank. We found out (the hard way) about a black tank leak our first fall at Amazon. That's Nov/Dec 2011 in my blog if you have time to read it! Then it was the galley gray tank this past fall...Al fixed that himself. It's always something. Hang in there.

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    1. Thanks Karen, we are as I know you guys are too. Your RV problems have been so big wow. I just hope Keystone is good to deal with.

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  8. Sure hope things start to look up for you guys..

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    1. Thanks I believe it will, we all have our problems don't we?

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  9. You must be quite a trooper to post such a nice post even though you are still under the weather. I hope that you'll get your strength back. Sorry that you both caught the flu bug.

    You find all kind of wildlife. I believe that the turtle is a painted turtle.We found one crossing the road and we stopped to pick it up and we brought to a wild life park for free admission for a whole car load of kid s when they were small.

    Nice photos of the deer and the dear daughters and love ones too. Your daughters are pretty and looks like you. The granddaughter looks adorable. She's having a ball with auntie. The wedding is getting closer and closer. Time flies when you're having fun...

    I'm not sure what kind of newt or salamander it is but it has stripes on the back. You took such a great photo of it. Maybe it's a new species.

    I looked up your black butterfly with the blue tail and it's male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly I believe. Wow, that flower plant is gorgeous...

    Your dog report is so entertaining. Take care and get better real soon.
    Hugs,
    JB

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    1. Thanks Julia, I figured I was just sitting around I might as well post a blog. I just look and look and try to find it. The dear daughters that is cute. She was sure having fun on that slide, Meredith too. ha ha.
      Thanks for naming the butterfly, I just didn't feel like searching the name out. The lizard? what ever he is was sure enjoying the sun.
      Thanks the dogs are so easy to report on they keep us entertained.

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  10. I love that last picture best of all..You have a beautiful daughter...FYI, our first fiver was a Keystone Cougar...SOOOOOO many problems..We had it 2 1/2 years and traded it for our Hiker..Best move we made. I find that workmanship on any RV isn't the best..slap 'em together and get your money...sad, but true! Get well soon! (your family is fabulous!)

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    1. Thank you, it was my idea to get one on the trail since their first date was on a trail. Thank you she has a really sweet personality. I think all the rv companies have their problems, but I sure don't enjoy going through it.
      Your are right just after our money. Thank you I appreciate that so much.

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  11. Sure hope you all better soon. Great wildlife pics.

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    1. Thanks Judy. We are feeling better, just weak and I know it takes time.
      I appreciate that coming from you. I am trying to be as good as you :)

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  12. Well, I hope that flu moves on real quick!! Love the photo of Cooper, he looks like he'd bite anything that moved!! Lucky you that you had such wonderful family time. Good looking bunch!!!

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    1. Thanks Muffy, real quick for sure. Thanks he was so mad. It was funny watching him. Yes, we are very lucky to have such a wonderful family.

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  13. If I was going to be under the weather I would sure love your view and a friends chix soup...this weather is going to break and the warm summer nights will arrive. Lovely family...good save with Elmo!

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    1. Yes, this view does help. Nice good oxygenated air too with all these trees. The warm weather will help I just hope it doesn't get too hot too fast. Oh the soup was great!

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  14. Hope you are feeling better. So many great pictures tonight. Little Meredith is such a doll and the engagement pictures turned out great! And the wildlife!!! LOVE IT!

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    1. Thank you Donna, I appreciate that. I got lucky with the wildlife didn't I? Meredith is such a fun little thing, and at a fun age. I love doing photography wish I had discovered it earlier in life.

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  15. I hope you are close to healthy again. I've been fighting a sore throat. I'm not sure who's winning yet. At least I don't feel like I have a bad cold.

    Your lizard-like creature may be a striped skink.

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    1. Thank you Susan. These flu bugs just seem to hang on for so long. I hate sore throats, and this one hurt so bad, just didn't want to swallow. I hope you win! I wish all this wildlife would just name itself after you take their photos ha ha

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  16. Nice post and beautiful photos. My Mom & I kept box turtles as pets in the back yard. We event supplied 2 feet of leaves for them to hibernate. Great experience as a kid.

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    1. Thank you, I would love to have a turtle for a pet. But I guess now that we are fulltimers we wouldn't have the room. Sounds like you and your Mom had a lot of good times with the turtles you had. You are still remembering it even now.

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  17. I'm so sorry to hear you and Art are sick with the flu. I have been so out of the loop lately and just didn't know. I thought flu season was over! Not a great time to have to worry about RV troubles, and I hope it will be fixed quickly.

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    1. That is understandable Gypsy you have had a lot on your plate lately. I just hope you get to feeling better soon! I thought it was over too guess not.
      No but I guess no time is. Me too, thanks.

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  18. Well get well soon, and keep taking pictures.
    Of all the people I know who have bought new rigs, they all have many warranty issues and have to return them for repairs. The repairs are free but the inconvenience and your costs are not.
    Our coach was seven years old when we bought it and have been completely trouble free until last year, when we just had a few things wear out, not bad 14 a 14 year old rv.
    Good luck with getting things done.

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    1. Ok I will do that. :) And I am, got some great ones for the next blog (tease)
      We would have bought used if we could have found something we liked, but unfortunately there was not much to pick from, I don't think people are trading like they were. It would have been nice to have all the bugs worked out though. Thanks.

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  19. Sorry you are sick and I'm also sorry your new rig it sick too! What wonderful pictures on this post. I don't know what the purple flower is but I've seen them before. Meredith is such a cutie. That was my maiden name.

    Hope you're feeling better soon. Echinacea with goldenseal works for me, but you have to take 3/4 pills several times a day for it to be effective.

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    1. Thanks Karen, me too but like everyone says at least it is under warranty. I'm glad you liked them. That is neat, I love her name not very common and it fits her. A friend of mine takes Echinacea all the time. I need to get some to have on had in case this happens again.

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  20. So sorry you've been sick. Let your RV know that I hope she feels better soon too!

    Thanks for the lovely pictures and commentary. You're a good writer and photographer.

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    1. Hi Hazel, thanks but I feel alot better, thank goodness. I will tell her LOL

      You are welcome, I'm glad you liked them. I appreciate that, I sure enjoy doing it take care.

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  21. Bummer that you are sick. Your RV, too. I'm glad you are still under warranty - I know it's still a pain, but at least the work will be covered. Your photos are great - I love the fat cheeks on the squirrel.

    Your granddaughter is so cute, I love her little face. Pure fun on the slide.

    I always think God lets us get sick when we're overdoing and need some rest. My son does that - goes a mile a minute, super busy for a while, then finally gets sick and has to rest. So... this is a good time for you to take it really easy and get better. Enjoy your beautiful surroundings and get some good "out the window" pictures. Take care... :)

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    1. I am so glad too, I hope whatever is going to go wrong with it hurries up before the warranty goes out. You are right. Thanks I love his cheeks too.

      Meredith is cute, I know I am prejudice :)

      You are right I agree when we don't take the needed rest we get sick. I believe God came through loud and clear and said slow down, and I am. I have gotten a really good picture out the window (next blog) I am excited to share.

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like I get to know each of you personally. Please keep them coming.......