The HANDFUL

We are back in Nebraska after a quick return to the Meadow. And I do mean quick...we were bascially home long enough to snuggle a couple little girls and pack up ROADA before hitting the road again to return to duaghter's bathroom reno. We will leave in just a couple days to head out on a fall getaway.

Progress was made once again with electrical and plumbing. And with lots of hopes and prayers even more progress will be made in the next 48 hours.

Stay tuned!

The HANDFUL

We've been busy...especially this week as we joined in on the bathroom renovation with the Northern Crew. Daughter ambitiously started a bathroom reno. What she knew was that she didn't like what was there. Unsure of where to go with updating she just went for a total gut job; as in down to the studs! It's been this way for awhile...and ain't nobody happy about going all the way downstairs for an in the night bathroom run especially me! LOL So we are giving a hand to make progress on getting the job done. To really make a start they needed to remove the VERY heavy bathtub...

It certainly was NOT all work...there was play, too.  And boy is MiRV sold on that hot tub business. Made his aches and pains a bit less and anything that does that is a good thing.

In addition, we got to see some of the Monarch migration. What a super duper treat. We always love it when we are there for that. One year they covered the roadways, this year they rested in the trees at night in the yard. It was so incredible. Other years we have just seen them flying, like hundreds and hundreds of them. 

Look very closely at the trees they are hanging up there.

Stay tuned...more reno updates will come.

The HANDFUL

These two little people have been filling some of our less and less spare time...

There is another one that comes, too but I don't have a picture of her. Next time! 3 mos, 15 mos and 2 1/2 definitely keep one hopping not to mention the 5 1/2 year old up North.

Keeping busy it's what makes life.

The HANDFUL

We have been in Colorado this week. It's been too long since we have been footloose and fancy free. It feels good. It's all gone too quickly, in fact we are actually making our way back East today. It's been a good trip. The Blue River was a great place for a getaway. No hustle and bustle but if you are looking for that sort of thing you are just a short drive away. We did take a day trip into Breckenridge. Rode the gondola up the mountain, strolled the town, got the T-shirts, had lunch and then returned to our quiet little riverside spot. And yesterday we made our way through Hoosier Pass so we could make a stop by Bailey, CO. Found some neat things in this cute little town. IYKYK...

Campsite view night #1.

Campsite view nights#2 & #3

Night #4 was another awesome view but I failed to snap a picture. The real picture would have been the road getting there...yes, yes it was quite a ride! But we made it in and out unscathed. Though I do not wish to repeat such trip.

Here's hoping to be able to get out and do this again soon as when the weather cools. Chose our destination specifically to escape the Midwest heat. It worked as there was snow in the higher elevations while we were there and the overnights were quite chilly. It was a welcome change and made morning coffee taste that much better! While we might have had bigger plans like paddleboarding and hiking, We mainly enjoyed the scenery, good food and bourbon.  Cheers to our last night in the mountains.

The HANDFUL

What a week. We started with an unwelcome guest Sunday a.m. that we did not know about until Mondsay p.m. Security cameras are a plus but they don't do it all. We are still on the lookout for this scumbag...

The newest Tribe member is getting chunky and we love it!

THOSE cheeks! 

And today made everything else seem less...water therapy was a welcome respite from all the life we've been doing lately. We enjoyed several paddles and then had lunch before making a drive ALLLLLLL the way around the lake checking out the day use areas and campgrounds and boatdocks and marinas and picnic areas. Yep, we did them all! A nice day of getting wet, we really need to do this more...

The new pump is great but it is still a workout pumping up both boards!

Such a welcome day on the water...we definitely need to plan to do this more often. Getting wet felt so good even if I didn't intend to fall off the board it happened (my first time falling off BTW) and I was thankful for the cooling off it gave me. 

The HANDFUL

It's fair week. We are proud supporters of our local youth fair. This week we've been both volunteers and goers. This morning we've enjoyed the rabbit show and then tonight the steer show. It's always a good time. And we love a slice or two of pie and the pork burgers. They are the best! Cash the Cow did a great job in the ring and so did Little #2 handling him. Tomorrow is the big sale; unfortunately Cash the Cow weighed in above selling weight but one of the rabbits will be auctioned off.

Lots of tired Little Littles, thank goodness for a wagon to rest in! They have both been troopers.

In other news ROADA got new house batteries. Quite a job to get the old ones out and the news ones in but MiRV did it! Now we are back in business. Just thrilled to have had them last as long as they did.

So if things get back to some semblence of a new normal we are ready. However between family needs and a new outbreak along with a new variant we aren't too hopeful for potential travel. But we are ready, well, sort of...

The HANDFUL

The theme this week was to rest up. Hahahaha hahahaha, well, at least we tried. Lots went ahead and happened after the departure of daughter and family and so much more needs to be done. We are knee deep in summer projects and have a looooong list still on our "to-do" list. It would help if we stopped acquiring new projects. 

Had a very nice 4th of July celebrating with friends and family...

Family Celebration #1

Family Celebration #2

Annual Stonegate Parade...

Impromptu swimming party with the cousins on 4th of July!

Our new flagpole!

That's just the highlights folks...it's been a challenging week and yet a good news week. Though the challenges seem to be coming fast and furious. We've popped up some BIG bucks for new RV batteries, yes, plural as there are F.O.U.R. and those little puppies aren't cheap. Hope we get at least as long out of the new ones as we did the old ones. They were the originals and we have had ROADA an unbelievable 7 years now! It's all good in the big scheme of things and hoping to be out driving and seeing the our country soon.