Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Day 67

Day 67

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

On Thursday, after packing up all needed supplies in the camper, my brother, sister-in-law, and I (and their 4 month old Adorable puppy) headed up into the mountains.  We stayed at a very nice National Park.  After getting set up, DB took me riding around … on the Parkway, to several overlooks, and miles and miles on back roads.  We stoppe frequently, and I got to see rhodendron, flame azalea, and mountain laurel all blooming.  We also visited a little store with some clever and nice novelty items and art pieces.
DB cooked hamburgers for supper.
On Friday we rode a bit in the morning.  In the afternoon we sat in lawn chairs and “held” a site for DN(iece) and her DH, because it was located better than the one they had reserved.  Minuts after they got there, DSis and family got here. 
The camp sites were very nice, with cement picnic tables and we had lots of room for setting up canopies and a circle of lawn chairs.  On Friday night it was DB’s turn to cook, and we had steaks, baked potatoes, toss salad.
On Saturday, after a Huge breakfast, several of the group took off for a short hike.  It turned out shorter than they thought … 2 elderly dogs tired out!  So they called DB for a “rescue”! LOL!  Otherwise, we spent a lot of time sitting around talking.  I had brought a big box of old pictures for everyone to go through and pull out any they wanted.  Funny, the box is till more than half full!! 
One night .. but I don’t remember which (Friday?) .. it poured rain all night.  It cleared by morning, although stayed foggy a long time.  Made for very wet puppy feet!!
Saturday night it was nephew’s turn to cook.  They did ribs on a smoker .. totally yummy!  We also had a camp fire going, and one of nieces made s’mores .. made over a campfire, sticky and gooey, just how they are supposed to be!!
On Sunday morning we again gathered for a big breakfast; and then some took off for another hike.  DB, SIL, and I (and puppy) rode, and we all met at a very old cabin that has been preserved.  A lady inside was spinning wool, and telling the history of the family that livd there, and a lot of information about the way of life in the time period.  It was extraordinarily rustic, at least by our standards!
That afternoon niece and newphew headed home.  Later in the evening the rest of us went to an overlook to watch the sunset.  Unfortunately, clouds moved in too quickly; but the 3 year old and the puppy had a grand time romping in a grassy area.
Monday morning we had one last grand breakfast, and then “broke camp” (note, I keep saying “we” .. but mostly I just sat around and tried to stay out of the way! LOL!).  DS and family left first, and later DB was all packed up nad ready to roll.  Oddly enough, we all got to one McD at nearly the same time!.  We got there first, and SIL called DS .. they were only minutes away, so we had lunch together again.
They ride home was surprisingly short (and no, it couldn’t possibly be becaue I dozed for any of it!).  They got what was needed out, and we all pretty much collapsed!

Tuesday morning I had all my gear packed early, and by mid morning we left to take me home.  We went by DS’s house first, since we had been invited for lunch.  She made a Wonderful asta salad! (and sent me home with some salad for supper and some sliced ham!!).  After leaving DS’s house, DB took me over to the pharmacy to pick up eye drops (had run out!).  Then we came on back home.

Coming home was very much a let down.  It will always be a little bit sad to come home after such a lovely trip.  But to come home to things that weren’t right was very disappointing.  A bag of trash, that TGF was going to take to the dump, was still by the door; but she did get all the piles of old magazines off the table.  I went to take 8 days worth of laundry to the laundry room, only to discover things in both the washer and dryer.  But the worst was that both hall doors were closed .. which meant the cats (Maggie and Butter) could not get to their litter boxes!!!  I found later she had not even been there since Sunday afternoon.  Oh my poor itties.  And, their food bowls were completely empty. 
As soon as I walked into the den, I knew there was something unpleasant there.  Sadly, my nose works better than my eyes.  DB and SIL found and removed several “deposits” .. including the kitchen sink!!!  Gross!!!!  (the sink strainer and a few utinsels .. that I did NOT leave there .. were soaked for several hours in hot soapy bleach water!).  Later I scrubbed the utilnels, and the sink.  I put the strainer in a saucepan and boiled it.  I stil think I’m going to just replace it!!!!
Once school is out, TGF won’t even ben coming out this way every day .. so I am relatively sure that if I were to go off again, it would be an even bigger problem getting her to take decent care of anyting.  She, of course, never scoops litter boxes or waters plants.  I’m thinking I won’t take any longer than a weekend for the next few months at least.

One very promising thing has come of the weekend.  I’m now very seriously considering a move.  I’m not going to write about it now (don’t want to jinx myself!) … there are too many variables right now.  But my options are being eplored.  Also, several family members are working on finding out what sorts of services are available for “legally blind” senior citizens.  It would be great if my “first choice” moving option would cut me some slack on rent … but I suspect that’s a bit too much to hope for
I’ll just have to wait and see.  And .. I may have mentioned … I don’t *wait* very well!


Well, laundry is all done and waiting to be put up.  Suitcase is mostly empty.  Many emails have been exchanged this morning. I have started the process of emptying out piggy banks … to see how much is there that can go towards deposits if/when needed.  I’m gong to rest a bit; answer a few more emails; finish with the banks (coins will go into baggies for now, actual counting to be done later), get all the laundry put away, and fill at least one trash bag with VHS tapes that no one wants.  Then I will allow myself to consider the day done. J

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