The 2nd largest state ,,,,

On a small farm outside Winnsboro, Texas, is where my Mom lives.

I have been here about a week doing what I do best. "Chores" LOL

The equipment shed, or it was back when this was a working farm.

I haven't updated the blog because I have been working, yeah that. 8)

I found this coke machine (if you cant read the price it is 15 cents) in the garage.

This mirror display was an interesting find.

as was this original Red Ryder BB gun that still shoots. It was even loaded 8)

My 80 year old Mom decided I had worked hard enough last week cleaning, de-brushing, etc. taht we went to a local swap meet. Ashleigh's husband would have loved it there, I sure did. He loves John Wayne so these next pics are dedicated to him.

John Wayne, lifesize. $50

Movie poster mounted $20

$ 25

$ 20

and last but not least to satisfy Dan's cowboy boot obsession a nice bright yellow one.

Add LOOK magazines from 1960's as well as POST, a lot of history amongst the dust, dirt dobbers nest, and spider webs, but I shall dig it all out. Found out Jimmy doesnt like dust, nor dirt dobbers.

Jimmy and I are having a good time but as I said we are taking of delayed (10 + years) maintenance issues. A lot of cleaning, throwing away stuff that has accumalated but was neer discarded because I may need it some day, or it belonged to ,,,,, years ago. I told my mom that sometimes it best to have an unattached person come clean because they can do it without all the baggage so to speak.

The Jeep is in the shop and hopefully I can afford to fix it before I move on to Arizona.

This is short but but very late. The only reason is heat, work, heat, work, and simply tired when I decide to stop.

Adios to Tammy and family, headed South to Texas

After a good nights sleep, some coffee and g-byes to Tammy, Haley, and Cody (said goodbye to Duane last evening) we jumped in the box and hit the road South.

After reaching I-55 at Dwight Il we stopped to do chores like laundry etc. Had breakfast with

music was provided by

and of course the waitress was,

who else ,,,,,,

The food was very good, and prices were better. Got chores done and drove south where we now sit for the evening. MP 64 I-55 SB in Illinois south of Springfield. Be in Texas in a couple days for our next visit with Mom.

While visiting Tammy and her family we did a lot of things. She is a very busy person between football for her son Austin, and husband Duane to shopping, friends, family etc. had a fun time at a Punkin patch and a Halloween Party, and a trip to Wisconson to the Bass Pro Shop and so I could get a Wisconsin magnet which I couldnt find while visiting the Webers.

The last weekend Jimmy stayed at home with the girls, (him and Haley it it off pretty good) and Austin, I and Duane went to Marsailles to watch Duane participate in a Spartan Race (http://www.spartanrace.com/) it is an obstacle laden race over hill and dale through the mud with challenges along the way. An endurance race that was well attended. I saw entry numbers (written on foreheads) upwards of 3,000 and the parking lot was full and close to 20 acres in size.

only about 1/4 of the cars. Notice they go to the treeline. Going to the left there were 3 - 4 more frames this size of the Sea of Cars

I was standing in row 8 when I took this and the one before of the cars.

Venders were well represented from the National Guard (thats a raceing boat up on its side, to the beer tent and souvenir tent.

Even the Porta-potties were well represented. In front of them were about 50 hoses for showers. (you'll see why in a bit)

This is Duane before the race, (note the soon-to-be-no-longer-white-shorts)

There were a lot of obstacles and it was very muddy. We could only actually see 4 or 5 but Duane said there were many. One he mentioned was having to carry a car tire down a steep hill then up the next and down and up. The thing is they were so muddy and slippery you (and everyone else) was sliding down and knocking each other over. For every obstacle you failed you had to do 30 burpies (I called them squat-thrusts in the service). Another was barbed wire strecthed over a mud pit that you had to dive under to proceed.

Heres the spear throw. If you didnt stick it in the bales you did 30 burpies as you can see these guys are doing.

The back of the slant board which was a slanted wall ( 45 degrees) about 12 feet high you had to climb and these were your team mates that had already made it leaning back over to help you up. Problem was you were covered in mud as was the board and they regularly tossed dish soap on it to help out. The other side was smooth. LOL

In that hole were puddles (waist deep) of mud and you had to climb those ropes 12 feet (they were covered in mud) and ring the bell to proceed up the hill to this point which was the front of the slant wall. (This is where team mates came in very handy to help lift you up since the ropes were so slippery)

The horizontal wall, notice Duanes (2nd person) use to be white shorts Key word throughout this was MUD.

Then there was the fire pit that you must run through, then through the "Enemy" soldiers who had pugil sticks to try and fight you back and prevent you from entering the arch indicating the end of the course.

Then the end.

The pink ribbons on the medals and lots of pink in costumes were in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, in fact the organizers were donating half of the proceeds to this great organization

This was a fun day for the spectators, and a grueling race for the participants. Took Duane as his team 2 1/2 hours to complete the three mile course. I saw people from young and athletic to old, to very heavy participating and kudos to all those that made the finish line whether barefoot (like three I saw three, thier shoes sucked off by the mud pits), almost crawling with pain and exhaustion (I saw everyone of them stand, rest a min. and sprint the last bit to reach the finish line), then those young whipper snappers that were bouncing and full of vigor at the end as at the beginning.

Check the website for schedules through next year. Next weekends event is in the UK.





A day of surprises and ,,,

This morning I was dragging so in need of lots of Java and some motivation.

Got up (sort of) and got ready for my day.

I went for a walk around the block leaving the door open to the RV. When I returned and came in a cat came charging out past me. I dont know who was more shocked LOL

Tammy and family had some surprises planned for moi today so we got in the car for a drive to return to the punkin patch since we had to leave early last night.

Jimmy and I  were are enjoying the scenery when he whispered that mile marker said 5 miles to Wisconsin. Seems they wanted me to get the Wisconsin magnet I had not been able to find over by Cuba City and drove up here just for that. How extremely thoughtful and sweet.

After getting both a Wisconsin and Illinois magnets they took everyne to lunch at Jimmy and my new favorite eatery. "The Steak-N-Shake" and a great lunch we did have.. Then it was off to ,,,,

The Pro Bass Shop, Jimmy and I were estatic. Fishing, hunting, boating, and everything in between.

They even had a fish bench, Jimmy thought it was real at first then Cody and Haley got on it so he figured it was ok then Austin joined them and he knew it was okey dokey.

He was all excited about all the animals, a bit disappointed when he found out some weren't real so we went to the aquarium so he could see the fish.

Imagine his surprise when the first fish he saw looked like him and it waved at him too.

Then Haley found the aquarium and Jimmy ran over there. And was awed by the fish, they had some Gar, Catfish, Pike, and a lot more. He saw the biggest catfish ever.

After this picture he whispered to me "Why dont they meow? All cats meow, right?"

I explained that they lived under water and it's hard to meow under water. I'd show him when he took a bath tonight in the box.

Jimmy came running over with Haley yelling he found me one, he found me one. Haley kept saying I found it too. So I went to see the Wisconsin magnet they had found me.

So, between the two little guys finding me a Wisconsin Magnet at The Pro Bass Shop, a great lunch, good convesation, and the all special drive to Wisconsin just so I could get a magnet it was a pretty special and wonderful day. A dinner of homemade enchiladas, some memory pics from my dvd's, a nostagic and reminencing talk on the phone with Tammy's Mom. A very nice day. Duane heads for work in Michigan tomorrow, Austin returns to school and another week begins.

Right now I'm joining Jimmy in being tuckered out and finding some zzzzz's.

We went to the punkin patch, to get ourselves a punkin.

As some may already know from reading the movers and shakers magazine People Jimmy and I went to a costume party the other evening.

Jimmy had decided we should go as The Unknown Comic from The Gong Show era and made the costumes himself. Here we are in the limo moving out.

Then yesterday we went to Johansens Farm (The Pumkin Patch)

Here we are heading in. It was a really cool place.

Jimmy and Cody played hide-n-seek behind a big punkin. He still doesnt know how we found them LOL

He met some friends

Jimmy was so excited to see Pooh Bear, They hadn't seen each other since Storybook Land in South Dakota and wow Piglet was here. He wasnt in Storybook Land when we visited so that made it so mucho bettero.

We looked at some punkins

They said they were closing so Jimmy ran around saying bye to his new friends

We all piled into the bus and headed home. The end to another great day.

Oh yeah, Jimmy wanted me to say he is now 1 1/2 feet tall. And his foot is all better

Illinois days 1 - 3

Meet Tammy, she is my oldest daughter from my first marriage to Edrie (Skip) she's also the older sister of Carrie of Marysville Washington fame. Tammy is married to Duane Olsson (who is a great guy and has three kiddos. A 15 year old named Austin, a 3 year old named Haley, and Cody, who just turned 1.

I gave a tour of the Big Box to Tammy, Cody, and Haley.  Duane works construction and was in Michigan but due in tomorrow for Austins 15th birthday and the weekend.

Haley immediately fell in love with Jimmy and took him on a tour.

Duane has the front yard and house Halloween-ized. Here is the graveyard

A walk before we needed to head over to Oswego East High School for Austins football game.

Jimmy chose to stay home and work on his halloween costume.

Saturday was Duane's football game. He is # 33 and plays for a national flag football team in fact a couple years ago his team (Sudden Impact) won the National Championship in New Orleans. Today was 3 games plus other teams playing since it was a regional tournement. Teams traveled from Michigan. Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin to play. Duane had 3 games then a halloween party.

A busy family I am finding out.

Jimmy had decided we would go as the unknown comic from The Gong Show days.

On the way to the party a lady rear ended Tammy's Exibition. No real damage but Tammy's neck got whiplash as she was in the back with no head rest and since she had a rear ender at 17 that broke her neck and another accident a couple years ago there was concern about a re-injury so she was checked out. Jimmy was sad Tammy was hurt but happy to see the Police, Firetruck, Ambulance and all the lights. Tammy was ok as was everyone else so on to the party we go with a story to tell.

The husband at he party we went to is in an ongoing "compitition" with Duane on front yard decoration so his looked awesome as well.

Jimmy made friends and met people as did I. Even ran into a friend of Tammy's I had met years ago when we lived in Patagonia. Angie Geneoni. It was a fun night, a lot of interesting but good food, music, chatting, and tall tales. 1 a.m. seemed a good time to head home since 4 Police Cruisers pulled up with a noise complaint, and some very tired kiddo's including the Jimster.

Sunday is a beautiful day, I am doing this, Jimmy is zzzz as are the others except Austin who was seen walking around the front yard and getting something from the truck earlier.

More to come so stay tuned. 8)