The HANDFUL

The house got awfully quiet on Tuesday around lunch time as daughter and family headed north. Now to get the year end chores wrapped up. UGH paying taxes was tops on my to do list this week. Then it was a quick spontaneous girls trip for an 80th birthday celebration that just brought me back home this afternoon. I'm ready for a quiet evening in to ring out 2021 and usher in 2022. Just know I am headed to bed in about an hour. I'm beat. It's been a year. Some days have been joyous, others sad, some good, most great, a few challenging. Ready for 2022 and new adventures and milestones. Our family is relatively healthy and we are very thankful for that. There are things we hope to do better but we continue to try and live to the fullest with purpose and being intentional in our choices. 

The blog will likely be a bit quiet in the coming weeks as I complete the year end tasks and wrap up projects that need to be completed. We will have a 6 year old granddaughter soon. I will try to decide what the posts will look like in 2022. Until then be safe and live well, you only get one life; choose wisely! 

The HANDFUL

What a week...shingles off when we returned and because we got in late they were not noticed until two days later! We were a plus one though and we will have her til her folks come for Christmas!

It looks like we might be good but we will be keeping on eye on things!

And Merry Christmas eve...we are winding down for the evening after a lovely full day of houseguests popping in and out. It's the season. We have had a revolving door today and now we have settled in after our traditional pizza dinner, Christmas book reading and donning new PJs. The anticipation of opening that snowman tomorrow was off the charts!

So from our house to yours MERRY CHRISTMAS! We wish you happiness and good health this season.

The HANDFUL

No Littles this week allowed us to go up North. However, there was a slight delay...when one needs to set their water heater on the patio at 10:30 p.m. chances are it's not your best day. After a load of laundry, I hopped in the shower and that is when there was quite a puddle in our laundry. Stepped in by MiRV. Water was quickly shut off and the assessment was made that the water heater has failed...

A quick phone call the next morning confirmed the unit was still under warranty. Armed with instructions of getting a replacement it's off to the local home improvement store we go. Mission accomplished, new unit installed and working. MiRV got a shower and off North we went. Quite a bold move considering we just installed the new unit. But, thankfully, we had checkers checking in to make sure we weren't leaking. All was/is good PTL. I'm just really thankful it happened before we left. Because finding 40 gallons of water on the floor would not be fun in anyone's book!

In Northern news much visible progress was made as the bathtub was set in place and the toilet was brought in along with the vanity to check spacing/placement. WooHoo this is exciting progress since it is so visible! Got smaller quick with all the hardware though! And some of the workers are nearly unable to move their bodies today. It's all MiRV can do to get out of bed the next morning after helping with this remodel. The drive home will leave him stiff and aching for days.

The plan is to head home tomorrow or Sunday and it appears we will be a plus one. The Bee has already ask if she can come back with us to the Meadow. Of course we said yes! Hard to believe Christmas is just a mere week away. Looking forward to our Christmas Eve tradition of pizza this year. Made possible since as our crew is gathering on Christmas Day for our family celebration this season.

The HANDFUL

Oh, my, since last week things have slid down a hill of drainage for everyone in MO. All the famdamily seems to be suffering a case of the crud from runny noses, coughs, drainage, goopy eyes and just overall not feeling up to doing much of anything. We still had the little girls this week and the younger one was just not feeling well at all and yet she didn't fuss and still smiled frequently though not as bright as when feels good. She hopefully will be over it soon. 

We spoke with the Northen crew and they seem to be doing well. Tooth has not yet been lost should you be wondering. It is extremely loose but not out. Stay tuned! We did not go up as planned this week to work on the bathroom reno; just not feeling recouperated enough yet. Hopefully, next week. In other news a few weeks ago we opened one of our favorite treats and they were NOT all our favorite treats, there were some surprises in the bag. Hot Tamales are supposed to taste of cinnamon NOT cherry. We had a bag that was not all cinnamon...someone most have spilled the cherry in with the cinnamon. They ARE both red! Bee did enjoy the cherry ones though. I called the company just to let them know and this week a box of treats arrived. Well done Just Born, well done!

I am nearly ALL DONE with the Christmas shopping. I am sooooo close but probably need a big City trip to completely finish and with the way we are feeling that just didn't happen this week. Maybe next week. We have layed low, not left the house except for one quick bread run I made on Tuesday until today and we ate a lot of noodle soup. It's the go to comfort food when you feel under the weather. As I said today we did get out of the house! We actually have just returned and I feel like I could go to bed for the night I'm worn out. Guess I'm not 100% yet but definitely feeling better and it was good to get some fresh air and have a little car ride.

The HANDFUL

It's been quite a week. We took in a movie, the first since this whole Covid debacle started. We also participated in a cookie decorating party the same day...

Her masterpieces!

Enjoying Clifford the Big Red Dog with cousins.

We've had little girls again this week. MiRV got our lights on the house despite a gnarly sinus infection. I was able to get our little tree up and we made a quite productive City run yesterday. All in all a decent week even with sinus setbacks.

Such a sweet, sweet girl!

Operation hang lights...we got new LED C9s this year. The jury is still out if I like them or not...and a big THANK YOU goes out to MiRV for making this happen (even if he will be sore for days)!

Our little tree!

Bee's tree...we chatted on the phone and she was working on Christmas decor so when we hung up we said we would share pictures of our trees before bedtime. This is the one in her room in which she was in charge of the decor!

In other updates we are on the "losing our first tooth journey". She had complained about her lower tooth hurting while she was with us and this past Monday she bit into a Subway sandwich and it was VERY evident the tooth was in fact loose. It was a bit emotional for her. Sooooo there is a pending lost tooth in the somewhat near future for our Bee and we are anxiously awaiting the phone call proclaiming the deed is done.

The HANDFUL

We are extremely thankful that we had a really nice Thanksgiving Day this year.  With no gathering last year it felt extra special this year to be able to gather. While there is no turkey coma happening (cause I didn't eat any turkey; ham all the way!) we are all taking it easy today in our PJs. Lots of game playing. We've even learned a new one, Qwirkle. I'm still thinking about how yummy the gravy was as well as the stuffing, sweet potatoes and pie, oh my!. I had peach pie...and maybe a pumpkin cupcake...and maybe a piece of banana bread...

Someone got to have mashed potatoes!

It's our favorite crew...

We plan on a low key recovery this weekend. Hoping to get ahead of the holiday madness and finish the little bit of shopping I need to do and then just enjoy the season and pray for good weather. We don't have a solid gathering plan yet but there is a bit of a plan in the works. I'm excited for it already. 

The HANDFUL

We are back in the North. Started the week with the girls and then headed on to the continuing bathroom remodel project. Progress IS being made, woohoo, albeit slow, there is progress. Heading back to the Meadow and preparing for Thanksgiving If all continues to go well we will be gathering in our usual locale with all the family. Hopeful anticipation for that to work out.

While there is plenty of work happening don't even think that is is ALL work and no play...because that just would NOT be true. There is plenty of play and downtime taking place no matter what the others are saying! We've had several breaks and tea parties!

The work happening is not as evident with just a looksy into the space. But trust me there is A LOT of work taking place inthe walls and ceiling and floor. There are working lights and fans in both spaces and the plumbing and sanitary are well on their way to being complete in the hall bath space. There is a bunch of progress going on even if it is not seen. 

And lest you think all the work happened indoors you would be quite wrong. Leaves were raked before our arrival but we were in on the loading and haul away. New LED Christmas lights were also put up (though they will remain unplugged until after Thanksgiving; because in our world that is how it works)!

 

We head back South tomorrow and hoping for a plus one or two then for sure we will all be together for the Big Feast. Hope your day of thankfulness is good

The HANDFUL

Is it really Friday? 

This week there were kids and more kids as well as retrieving ROADA from her annual service, marking a 91st birthday, little bit of bathroom work along with meetings and shopping oh my. May not seem like much but it was. As MiRV said, "I think we are busier now then when I was working". Think he could be right. I'm ready for a few days at home then let the gravy boat ride begin. I don't much like turkey but I love the gravy, noodles, mashed and sweet taters along with the dressing and I'm looking forward to that meal already.

I guess it was such a busy week that I didn't do too well in getting many photos...this one works though! Sweet, sweet girls!

The HANDFUL

What a week, we were up North, returned to the Meadow for a mere 36ish hours and returned to the North. More bathroom work to accomplish so our work clothes are staying pretty dirty...yet I'm certinly not the one in the thick of this job. It's all MiRV.  Running new sanitary and water lines, hanging drywall and putting in fans and lights, it's all getting done this week!

The HANDFUL

We had a little houseguest this week and while it was just a short visit we had lots of fun. We are already back North with her where lots of bathroom remodel work is happening. We did a bit of visiting and had lots of visitors while she was here. Always fun to have her stay. I think the highlight of her visit if she were telling it would be having a weinee roast and smore night in the backyard!

She is growing up...

Having the cousins visit was also lots of fun...

Putting up the ceiling drywall is just one of the several task on the todo list for this weekend!

Total bathroom remodel of not one but two bathrooms iswhat Stumble and Bumble are currently knee deep involved in. It's not a quick paced job but progress is being made. Stay tuned.

The HANDFUL

Got the Northern Crew here for a few days and ain't nobody mad about that! Lots going on with a birthday celebration tomorrow.

She got a great 25c buy at a yard sale this morning!

The HANDFUL

The best thought out plans change! So on Sunday we were rested and ready and decided to head on into Great Smoky Mountain National Park... Yeah, I'm not gonna say it was m.i.s.t.a.k.e. but it WAS super duper busy and crowded.  The drive up to Clingman's Dome was long and bumper to bumper traffic. People were doing pull off parking about for the last half mile up. When we left they were even farther back on both sides of the road. But the mini donuts on the way there were scrumptious!

Walking up the .5 mile path to the Dome was a worlout. Gracious! It was straight up, ooh-kay, okay, maybe NOT straight up but up at a huge angle. I made it. Views were good, some haze but still overall a spectacular view. Took the time to stop (wait in line) at the little ranger store on the way down in hopes of scoring a T-shirt but no joy. Not only are they VERY proud of their T-shirts at GSMNP ($34.99) they didn't have a size M in hardly any styles I liked. I'm just disappointed that the last few NPs we have visited are so stinkin' expensive with their T-shirts. Why?

We started our trek home this week. There were several routes to take and we pretty much had decided to just wing it but when we hit Kentucky we were sooooo close to Mammoth Cave National Park we decided to stop. And stop is all we did. While I had been here and got to take a cave tour in my childhood MiRVB had not so we were plannig to do the self guided tour like we did at Carlsbad. Nope, that didn't work out, they had no tickets for this type tour until October 18th. So we got the T-shirts (which were much cheaper than any other Park we visited and just as cool) and motored on.

As we motored we passed a very large GM factory... and as we pass MiRV realizes it is the corvette factory. Next thing I know we are crossing three lanes of traffic to make that exit and find ourselves in the parking lot of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Now I'm quickly googling and find out there are factory tours. We head inside to get the scoop. Unfortunately, no tours, you know COVID and all. So since we are here and all we just decide to tour the museum instead and $28.00 later we are in the museum theater learning all things corvette. While it was a cool stop, the venue has a big focus on the sinkhole that occurred a few years back. By far the Harley Davidson musuem in Wisconson is way better. But it you're a 'vette enthusiast I'm sure you'll enjoy a visit. MiRV certainly did. AND we go the T-shirts though MiRV would have preferred to pick up an actual corvette there!

Thankfully, we are back at the Meadow, have ROADA tucked away (although she needs to get in for a looksy at the water tank issue and service) and now we are catching up on home chores. I have sadly only really scratched the surface on our trip. There were so many more things we were able to see and do and I have just not captured them, this makes my crazy but also I know I cannot put everything here so I have attempted the highlights. 

The HANDFUL

So we did make it onto the Blue Ridge Parkway via Skyline Drive which was just beginning to pop with fall colors and another National Park. Ohio has a national park...who knew? Well, MiRV did, so we planned a stop. Stopping was not easy. This is NOT an RV friendly National Park. We were, thankfully, able to snag a spot to park at the Ledges area (though truth be told we took up three spaces and just prayed for the best). We hiked the 2.5 mile trail and enjoyed the scenery. We tried to get to some of the Falls in the park but there was NO parking to be had for an oversized vehicle. We even drove waaaaay out of way and still no joy; I call that a BIG party foul. We were able to get into the visitor center and see one of the neat bridges but it was a no go for most other areas.

Oh, and the update on our water tank is that we believe it is still leaking. Spoke with the dealership and we will just be without onboard water and address it with the RV repair shop when we return to MO. So there is that to contend with upon our return.

Alright, well today we are heading on to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park via Tsali Campground in the Cherokee National Forest. We have been in Tennessee the last couple days. 

So fun to get together with these people!

So driving Skyline Drive was neat in a lot of ways. Had some beuatiful views and swirly, curvy roads, though I feel like the Blue Ridge Parkway was even more swirlier, curvier, twisty turny. So the ride was at times notsomuch fun for me...but again, scenery was very pretty to look at with so many shades of yellow and green it was amazing to see. If you can take a look at the many beautiful landscapes and scenery without being able to belive in creation perhaps you need your eyes checked. God created such a beautiful world for us, it saddens me to think about how we are not being good stewards of all that He has so freely given to us.

We have decided to take a couple down days and wait out the weekend before moving on. It is fall break in this area and we have definitely noticed an increase in the crowds. Our plan is to just chillax until Monday before we head into GSMNP. I haven't been here since childhood and remember virtually nothing. MiRV was last here while on his AT ThruHike.