Snapshot of life as it is...

It's just been a myriad of goings on and comings in our world and without a doubt we are staying busy. It's been running the gamut on activities...from more plumbing, weed removal and tree trimming, lawn mowing, getting poison ivy, oh yes, that's been awesome, NOT! To enjoying eating yummy cake, to fun family dinners in and out, cleaning for a soon to be new homeowner, hanging out with the Littles, more fresh veggies, football games, steri-stiches (oh yes, yes indeed), sanding and staining our BBQ table as well as going to the races again and having .50 corndogs at Sonic. Yes, yes, it's been good in our world, very, very good!

 Yummy good foods!!!

 The NOT SO FUN poison ivy I am battling...

Boogity, Boogity

Seriously, it's not all that terribly exciting or extremely difficult, it's just life for us right now. We are certainly enjoying being with the family and just doing life along side them.

I will say without a doubt some days are better than others depending on what we do and who we are trying to please, LOL, it's not always easy trying to do for someone else, their vision is not always clear and our skills are NOT professional. We just have the willing, somewhat capable bodies to do what they cannot. Let me state that again...we aren't professionals...sometimes we are hilarious to watch I suspect but we are having a good time so that's what counts and we are sleeping well at night!

And just an FYI Internet access is still a challenge,sometimes it's so maddening, most of the time it's down right scarce and very slow, hence the low posting activity, sorry! I want to try to post more directly from my phone but it's just not that easy (at least for me).

#poisonivysucks
#LucasOilSpeedwayWheatland
#Sonic

Wednesday Words - Frost

 In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: it goes on.

Robert Frost

No mincing words on that thought is there? It really rings true, no matter what you do or say life and time marches on around you.

Wednesday Words - Hinckley

In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.

Gordon B. Hinckley

I truly believe we have all had those days where we just endure life, but I think the goal is to enjoy it. Not everyday will be enjoyable however if you are not enjoying life, you aren't living you are existing and really how is that working for you?

Nail Pop Fixer

Nail pops are not inherently bad, they are just unsightly, or so some of us think. When we had our home in the Big O I repaired them before we sold. I think it just looked better not to have them. At my folks place there have been a few nail pops over the years and today was the fix it day for them.

We started in the kitchen, moved to the living room, on to the hall, the bath and bedrooms and finished with the closet. I think we repaired 9 all together. Some holes were easier than others...MiRV was working hard for sure. We replaced the nails with screws and we filled the hole, a few holes took more to fill than others, some we will fill some more tomorrow. But for today the job is done!

 Nail pop fixer!
 

MiRV is a handy man! I think our folks are thankful for these few weeks we have been able to help out around their homesteads, in fact, I think the soon to be homeowner niece is too! We have enjoyed working like homeowners and are still glad we are not. Though I think we are certain we will need a "little place" at some point. The BIG discussion is where would that "little place" be? Food for thought for us for sure!

#nailpops
#agingparents

OUCH

Well yesterday I thought we were in for an ER visit...thankfully that didn't pan out and we used steri-strips to close the cut.

MiRV and I were trying to get a stripped screw out of the bus door to replace the rubber gasket seal. I was holding the door while he used a grinder. Things went south when the sparks were flying at me and he ended up with a good cut on his knuckle.

Again, very thankful we were able to close it up with steri-strips and hopefully it heals with no issues. Little swollen today and somewhat throbbing but he is still able to use it.

#nostitchesplease

Tractor Boy Extraordinaire

We have spent several hours this past several days trying to get tractors, lawn mowers and four wheelers running. Makes it easier when trying to accomplish the desired requested task.

Once the tractor repairman had been here there was still some routine maintenance that needed to be done, MiRV did it and smelled like oil, gas and diesel fuel in the process! But once done then it was on to the real needed work. MiRV is a military man with just enough county boy in him to try and tackle anything (and honestly, most of the time be successful!) He bladed the pasture and made it look one thousand times better. Brush hogging will be next so stay tuned!

 Tractor Boy~

   

There's just something about playing working on a tractor! It's work but fun and I think he enjoyed this day quite a lot! It's been quite mild weather wise for August and we have done much outside work. We are very thankful for the cooler temps and nice breezes! Of course, the diet orange and root beer pop make it nice too!

Having the four wheelers helps do so many things and now that both are up and running again (well, sort of...oldie but goodie is in need of tires)! Recovering the seat wasn't a necessity but will make it nicer. Not professional, but I think it is a major improvement!!!

New Seating!!

 

We do not claim to be professionals but we can often accomplish the given task!

 

#hardworkingAmericans

Wednesday Words - Mitchell

Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect.

Margaret Mitchell

Ouch! That sounds so harsh.

Burn baby burn

Notice there is never a lack of supervision!!!

 

After all the tree trimming we've been doing the brush pile was growing so after a nice bit of rain this week it was time to burn baby burn!

With wet leave and branches getting it started was a chore. The second pile took lots of cajoling! There isn't much left but a pile of ashes. From the looks of the hedge there will be another pile...we aren't done yet!

It's all good in MO!

#burnbabyburn

Wednesday Words - Saunders

Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans. 

Allen Saunders

Often times when people find out we are full time RVing and traveling around the USA they share they plan to do the same someday. Or they say that would be my dream come true to do that. It is the same thought we shared with others before we decided to do it ourselves. It is NOT as easy and glamorous as it sounds. I am not saying that I don't enjoy it, I do. However, it was not an easy decision for us to make. We are still relatively young. We decided to go ahead and make it happen now while we could. While we are still in good health, while we can. We knew that we didn't want to wait. 

It was a sacrifice and it still is in many respects. Even though most think it's not and that we are "loaded". LOL that is certainly not the case. We saved our money, we still save as we can, we live quite simply, we always have. I don't look for that to ever change. It IS our choice for this life. Certainly, MiRV did and still does explore the job market. Should the right opportunity present itself he would re-enter the workforce. So far nothing has appeared to make him want to do that.

I will say I personally think you can let yourself be so "busy" in life that you are not "living" life. Balance is key don't you think? I mean, really, when you have no balance then you find yourself stressed, tired, frazzled. Take time to live right now in the life you are in, no matter the circumstances. Don't dwell on the what ifs and whens, live now, live abundantly, don't get bogged down in when this happens, we will (fill in the blank), or when this is over I will (fill in the blank). It's easy to do, I know I fell into this mindset while MiRV was active duty because there was so much that was out of our control. But then I came to realize you still have to live life. Hard, you bet, nothing comes easy.

Stairs

Who knew we would be stair builders?

This was the highest priority but kept getting pushed for other little jobs around the homestead. So when the folks were going to be out of town MiRV stated he would like to get this task accomplished. It was definitely going to be a multi-day job. We received word they were off the property and since we were already in the country we stopped by on our way back into town and "set" the foundation on day one.

Day two we would need access to tools and electricity so we obtained entry for those since we were not key carrying members. We did our final layout and dry fitting the next day with since we had the tools and electric to work with. It was HOT by the way since we had other tasks going on and did not get down till late in the day.

That board against the back was a great help in the layout but we did not leave it up there. Dry fitting helps you figure these things out!

 

We pre-drilled EVERYTHING. That took awhile but it was extremely helpful when we finally put it all together! Which was so much easier and quicker since we had done the prep work!

Bonus: When we returned the key we were given home grown tomatoes and zucchini! Can't wait to grill up the zucchini with some peppers and polenta!

On day three it was completed. Not sure what's next but we are taking the rest of the day off! Sooooooo see ya!

#stairbuilding
#100AcreWood

Sorta MIA :(

I know, I know I have been MIA. It's not like I am sitting around doing nothing! Seriously, we've really been busy...and it's not even the travel kind of busy, it's been real work busy! So the trouble is that I have have not had availability of internet. Therefore, I am a little behind and it's not looking like that will change anytime too soon, sorry!That's the way it goes when you are where there is no convenient internet or small town America or as I like to say, IN THE STICKS!


However, you can rest assured that life IS rolling along as we spend some time in MO with family. Lots to do and right now we have plenty of time to do it. Seems as though as our parents have aged they have fallen a wee bit behind on some routine home maintenance. Then there are also those jobs that just never got done or they can no longer do. That's where we come in, we are ready, willing and able. We have been knocking out lists on both ends not to mention for a soon to be homeowner niece. We have had some plumbing fun, okay a lot of plumbing fun...with a kitchen faucet, two outside spigots, pipe and toilet repairs, that's a lot of plumbing and I don't think we are done yet! Then there is yard work with much tree trimming at two homes along with a few chiggers, (okay more than a few for some) hauling off unneeded/unwanted things, burning brush piles and trash, patching and painting walls and siding as well as deck washing and sealing; not to mention fence mending, wiring and door building along with general move it here, move it there and let's not forget wall washing.
 

 PLENTY of supervision on our jobs keeps us out of trouble and on track!!!

Full, fun days. Still to come tractor wiring, more yard work, stair building, more hauling off of unwanted items as well as loads of visiting. It's all dandy here! 

We've even made a trip to the City where we had cheesecake on the way home cause after all it was National Cheesecake Day! Then while passing through another (Golden) City we stopped for pie at Cooky's. Not to mention the home grown veggies, yes, sooooo good, the tomatoes have been delish, so have the zucchini, peppers, onions, cucumbers, green beans; it's been a feast. The tomatoes sure make our BLTs!

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!

We will just NOT talk about the way my clothes fit right now, cause it's NOT pretty and something better give soon or it's gonna be ugly...geesh!

Oh and while we aren't exactly boondocking we don't have full hooks ups and aren't in a campground either so it's a bit disjointed but we are making it work and making the best of it with the resources we have! Best part, it's working!

#Missouri
#BoondockingSortOf
#Cooky's