April 29th thru May 5th 2013

Elkhart, IN    --     HOC  Rally

April 29th   Monday
Up early,  at least we thought that it was early.  Made arrangements to go out for breakfast this morning, only to realize that we were late, due to the fact all the clocks were set wrong last night.  We went to a great breakfast place.  After breakfast we went our separate ways as Jay and Stella and us had errands to run. We went to Shipshawana, and as we drove through Amish country, Monday is wash day.  Everyone had their laundry hanging out. The day was sunny and a bit chilly, but we sat out for Happy Hour.
Hot Dogs for dinner

April 30th   Tuesday
Dan and I took off to Mishawaka this morning for Harbor Freight.  Tuesday Morning was next store and I walked through it and picked up a few items.  Went to Martins and I picked up Chicken for dinner
We ate in this evening and then we sat out visiting for awhile.    

May 1st       Wednesday

Jay, Stella, Bernie and Judy and Dan and I took off and we went to Shipshawana to the flea maket.  

Huh we got there and it was not open yet.  Next Weds. The Auction house was open and auctioning going on.  Well we were not really interested in that so we went to Yoders Cheese and Meat Market, and there were alot of samples of their good cheese and sausage. I did purchase some of it. Then we went and walked to The market place, which is a bunch of speciality stores.  The furniture was  really nice, but everything was quite high $$$.  We then went to the Auction House Restaurant for lunch.. I had a delicious bowl of cheeseburger soup.  Yummy..  Afterwards we headed for Topeka Indiana to a furniture store that is owned by the Amish. What wonderful furniture.  Afterwards we headed back home after a very busy day.  Hoyt and Mary Arrived...

Texas Roadhouse


May 2nd      Thursday
The weather is just wonderful, we have some errands to run and then just hang out around the RV today.
We had a pot luck for dinner tonight.

Stella made Gumbo.....We had a campfire and enjoyed the evening.

May  3rd      Friday

This morning we had a beautiful sunrise. I woke up and turned over and seen this sunrise and I jumped out of bed and grabbed my camera and I-pad and opened the door to capture the beautiful way to start the day.  

We had to be at Great Lakes for a tour of their facility and check out some new 5th wheel rigs that he has on the lot.  Afterwards they furnished a nice lunch for us.  We went to Heartland to make an appointment to have some repairs done on our rig.  

Later in the afternoon we had a tour at Heartland factory. See how the Heartlands are made and we had a tour of some completed models off the line and a 5th wheel with 2 bathrooms.   After that we had reservations for us at a Mexican restaurant for a wonderful meal, then back to the campground for a fire and popcorn.  Another great end to a day. 

May 4th       Saturday  
Today would of been my Dad's birthday and parents 66th wedding anniversary.

Dan left this morning with some guys to go out to breakfast and then to some man stores.  Mary Maisack took 3 ladies to Mishawaka Amish Country shopping, and lunch. I stayed home today and tried to set up a wireless printer for my computer.  Which did not work. Some went out Munzee's hunting..  Wondering what Munzee is , Google it and see what it is about.  Hoyt made some Chicago Style Hot Dogs and shared with us.  Oh it was so good.. I put a apple pie in the oven and Lasagna for the pot luck tonight.  After dinner another wonderful fire was made for the group to gather around.  The furry friends were out enjoying the fellowship of everyone. 


Around 9:30 I took Herbie and went in for the night.  It is was getting chilly out.  Everyone was having a grand ole time...

May 5th       Sunday

Today is the last full day that we will have before we head for home.   Dan and I took off to Sam's Club so we could get a few last items. Stopped and had some lunch.  Came back home and started packing stuff away. Now, after being gone for over 6 months, I am running out of space to pack stuff.    We had hot dogs roasting over the wood fire for dinner, and everyone brought something that they had left over to share.  Roasted Marshmallows and some more's for dessert.  

Another end to a great week........  Homeward bound.. tomorrow..!!!

April 22nd thru April 28th 2013 Cookeville, Tennessee

Cookeville, Tennessee 

April  22nd   Monday

Woke up this morning with the sun shining in my eyes.  It is so peaceful here at Twin Lakes Catfish Farm and RV Park.  

The restaurant

 One of many catfish ponds

We stayed here last Spring and it is a nice place for a short stay. We left around 11AM went to my mothers and picked her up and took her to run some errands.  Then went to CiCi's pizza for lunch. She asked if we could do just one thing for her and help her clean out her shed.  So, away we went. Dan hauled out the stuff and she went through the stuff, and Herbie and I sat and supervised  I swept up the area.  It looks good..  We made supper and then afterwards we came back to the 5th wheel and relaxed.  

April 23rd   Tuesday

I was up at 5:30 AM and the sun was coming up.  

We went to mothers and picked her up and went out for lunch. Then took a ride to Crossville to see the campground where the rally is going to be ..
We came back to Twin Lakes RV and went to restaurant for dinner.  Showed mother how I made the wind socks and I gave her ribbon and plastic template to make her own. 

April  24th   Wednesday

There was light rain this morning. Got ready to go with mother to her Book Club get together.  With me there were 7 of us.  Had a wonderful time listening to these ladies about their week and there were lots of laughs, also the hostess had 3 different kinds of wine, and a huge platter of fresh vegetables and dip and snack mix.  Then she had coffee and individual pineapple upside down cakes and a coconut custard pie.   It is nice to know that mother has alot of lovely lady friends that do alot for her and with her.  We came back and called Dan to come over for dinner.  I made Ham and Noodles with homemade cream sauce.  It was good.  

April 25th    Thursday

We were up early and got our stuff together and had breakfast, we were going to drop Herbie off at mothers and she is taking care of Mr. Herbie overnight as we were invited to our friends in Riceville for a visit and overnight stay.  We took our laundry and she would do that for us.  Herbie was all excited knowing that he was going for a ride in the truck, but he was not to happy knowing that we were leaving him with grandma..He did just fine and kept mother company and he made sure that she took him for his walks and visited with other other dogs in the neighborhood. 
We arrived at our friends home in time for lunch. They told us that they have a steep drive, but they did not say that they were on the top of a hill.  LOL  

We spent the afternoon visiting and sitting out on their deck and John built a nice campfire.  Which after dinner we went out and sat around.  When the sun went down it got chilly, but Dan and John sat there until about 10 PM..  time for bed...

April 26th   Friday

Woke up around 7:30 at the Zurn's in Riceville, TN.  Had a delicious breakfast. We sat and talked and laughed and had a couple pots of coffee.  It was time to think about heading back to Cookeville.  Went and took a few pictures of their yard, said Good byes and hugs.  

We took the back roads, which was a wonderful ride. We seen Watts Bare dam and Nuclear plant and the drive through the hills was awesome, imagining what it looks like in the fall with all the color.  Hopefully when we come back in Sept, we might see some color in the hills.  

We arrived at my mothers and picked up Herbie and our laundry which she had done and headed back to the Trailer and put our stuff away and kicked back for a couple of hours and then went and picked up my mother and took her out for dinner.. Came back and it wasn't long that Dan and I were snoozing in our chairs.

April 27th   Saturday

Woke up again this morning with the pitter and patter of rain on the roof..  Oh my rain again I thought.. We had our coffee this morning and discussed our time of departure tomorrow, and a few other items..  
We are going to get things ready and put away so we can close up tomorrow.  Later this morning we are going to go and pick up mother and bring her out here and then we are going to take her out for dinner tonight and say our good byes.    I am so looking forward to getting home and seeing our house.  

April 28th   Sunday

Nothing happening today except being on the road for 9 hours heading to Elkhart IN,  We will be there for a week as there is a Heartland Rally and after the rally we are heading home...  YIP-P-P-P-EE