YOOPER YARNS

ARE WE LOSING OUR MINDS???

2012-02-15T19:27:00.002-05:00

HEY!!! I'm going to surprise you tonight. This post isn't going to be one of a complaint against a company, or talking about smoke, fire, scraping bark (or maybe I haven't told you about that yet???). This post is going to be about how I think OUR MINDS are getting old...

Example; I decided to make 3 loaves of my favorite pumpkin bread in our Easy Bake Oven (AKA RV oven). I mixed my wet ingredients and sugar together and then in a different bowl mixed up the dry ingredients. You know; the flour, the spices, the baking soda..BAKING SODA...BAKING SODA.

I already had everything in the dry bowl except for the BAKING SODA so I got it out, measured out my two tsps and put the BAKING SODA away....only to realize I'd gotten out the darn corn starch!! ARRGGHHH!!!

I knew which side of the bowl I put it, so then I tried to dig out what I hoped contained two tsp of corn starch (along with some flour I am sure.). I managed to get the correct BAKING SODA put in the dry ingredients and proceeded.

The pumpkin bread turned out quite moist and tasty, so must be I got the starch out or it just didn't matter.

Then there is Dan...

We had to make a mad dash to Gray to the Post Office on our lunch hour. We normally only take 15 minutes instead of an hour, but not the case today.

Gray is about 15 miles (or a bit more) from us. When you come into town you come to a very weird intersection and to top it off railroad tracks run through part of this intersection. Lots of signs and signals.

Dan came up to the intersection in the right hand lane. We had a red light but since we needed to make a right hand turn, and traffic was clear I asked him "Why don't you have your turn signal on?" I figured he was going to turn SOON.

His reply was "I KNOW what I'm doing and I know where I am going. Trust me."

Words he has been eating for a while today.

I knew he had not been to Gray to the Post Office without me at any time, so I couldn't figure out WHAT he was doing.

I ventured another suggestion about putting on his signal so he could turn (by now the light was green).

Dan calmly replied "I've been to the dump 4 times today. I KNOW how to get there!"

"OK, great. You went to the dump 4 times today on behalf of the refuge, but WE need to go to the Post Office."

Then the light above HIS head came on and he realized what I had been trying to get him to do. Poor Dan...he thought he was still at work and heading to the dump again...even though we had OUR truck.

Yep, we are losing it.

About the scraping and painting trees....

Dan is using a draw knife, which looks very similar to a tiny two man cross cut type saw (it might be 15" in length and has handles at each end). This is used to scrape the bark, ever so lightly, off from boundary trees on the refuge. When he gets done scraping, then I come along with some of the smelliest paint, BRIGHT YELLOW paint and a 6" wide paint brush and paint a stripe about 1/3 of the way around the tree. Many of the trees we are doing are ones that have been used over the years and have been painted in the past, but it fades after time and then it is hard to tell whether that paint is yellow or orange.

Orange paint is used on the refuge to help identify grounds that are NOT available for hunting. It is important to make sure hunters and others can differentiate between the two colors.

This is a very messy job but it gets us outside so that's what counts. AND now that the spring plants are popping up, it is allowing us to see where there are a lot of old homesteads. You may not be able to see the foundations or fences (unless you want to tramp thru bramble and damn grape vines that usually put me on my face), but you can tell they are there due to the plant life that must have been a part of the yard...daffodils, jonquils, yucca plants. It is SO interesting to now see all of these homesteads that we didn't realize was there. I will try to get some photos of "yards" so you can see what I mean.

We THINK we will finally be able to head to Orlando, leaving on Sunday and probably coming back on Wednesday if not Thursday. Dan thinks he might like to go to NASA, so we may take an extra day to do that.

Well, I guess that is about it for now! Please keep checking!!!

THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES

2012-02-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

Another week that we won’t be heading to Orlando.

This week the weather is cooperating on Monday and Tuesday inOrlando, the days we’d be at Universal. But it is expected to get down to 22 HERE on Sunday night and we won’tleave the RV unattended if the weather is expected to be below freezing. I’m beginning to think we aren’t supposed togo to Universal.

But after watching the helicopter doing its aerial “stunts”this week, MORE THAN EVER I NEED TO GET ON A ROLLER COASTER!!! It was killing me to not be able to be inthat helicopter!!!! Darn, that lookedlike a lot of fun. I would have given upmy 2 cups of morning coffee and my occasional bag of Brach’s chocolate stars(no not eaten in one setting!) for 2 years in exchange for that ride!!

I will try to explain how these prescribed burns go whenusing a helicopter.

First, as they normally do, the guys set off a fire on the perimeterof where they want to burn. But it is abit more detailed than that. They alsohave to make sure they’ve got good, visible “black lines” (where it has burned)so the ship’s (easier than spelling helicopter, ok??) pilot and the person whois with him can see where they need to fly to GPS THEIR position in order toset up the flight pattern….and even that can change should the wind directionchange.

After the black fire lines have been established, then theship flies over, and over, and over to GPS the pattern of where to fire the “pingpong” balls….then the fun begins.

Because the objects that they fire ARE the size of ping pongballs, you can’t really get a photo of the actual firing or the ‘landing’ ofthese flammable balls. I can’t rememberwhat the main component is that is IN the ball, but as I recall from having itexplained to me, when they are fired, a “needle” injects some other componentthat makes them explode with fire when they hit the ground. They don’t set off a BIG fire, but the objectIS to have a controlled burn. It wasamazing to watch the two burns that were set off a couple of days ago. I’m not sure how many ping pong balls areused per acre, but it has to be quite a few.

Time was important too because the ship/pilot is not allowedto fly after dark, so instead of heading back to Okeefanokee (spelling??) the end of the day, he ended up spending thenight.

Dan and I were asked to go back out to check the last fire(since it was along a main road) about 8:30 that evening. What we were mainly checking for was to makesure visibility was good along that stretch of road and that we didn’t see anyfire that looked like it was out of control. I think this was a 2000 acre fire(seems someone said that).

I WISH I HAD TAKEN MY CAMERA AND TRIPOD!!!

I had NO clue what to expect; I just figured we’d see andsmell smoke, with maybe a few stumps with a bit of fire. I was SOOOO wrong.

With the bright full moon, the smoke hanging in the trees ,many OF DEAD TREES ON FIRE, lots oflittle fires on the ground, embers shooting off from the trees…it would havemade for some awesome photos. Next burnthat we have, with a full moon, no clouds, perfect weather, I will get thoseshots!!!

They had planned a couple of small burns today, but the weatherchanged quite a bit since they set things up. One of the areas to be burned is right behind where we are staying. Nathan bulldozed a line around the woodswhere the fire is to be contained, but it won’t happen today.

If my internet connection cooperates, I hope to post a fewphotos with this post.

(I have been trying to post this off and on all day...beginning to wonder if it'll happen! Must be the wind....)

IT TOOK ME 10 MINUTES TO GET ONE PHOTO UPLOADED! AT&T...YOU WIN!!! I WILL NOT ATTEMPT ANY MORE PHOTOS TODAY!! ARRGGHH!!!!!!

COULD BE AN INTERESTING DAY AT PIEDMONT

2012-02-08T06:42:00.001-05:00

Carolyn, our "boss", let us know a couple days ago that the helicopter is supposed to be here today to help with the prescribed burning process. She was busy yesterday so we didn't get to confirm that with her. We will find out this morning.

We received MORE bad news about our Dodge! And THIS is not covered under warranty. THE FUEL LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED! So, we didn't get our truck back yesterday and hopefully will get it back today. I haven't had a chance to look into this, but a truck with a bit over 40k miles that has only spent one winter in "da U.P"...should this have happened??!! Maybe it was the salt air when we were at Nags Head?? I think I will take this one up with Chrysler, not the local dealer back home.

Here is a photo of what the "old" pipe (less than 6 months old) looks like compared to the new one...see the big "crinkle"???? No wonder it wasn't even touching the header!

HERE WE ARE...IN A FOG

2012-02-07T08:38:00.001-05:00

CAN YOU SEE US???? It is so foggy this morning I can't even see the shop and other buildings from our "home". Glad we don't have to work today!

However, later this afternoon we SHOULD be able to go to Macon and pick up Bubba. We dropped him off last night and got a "loaner". Now, back home, in da U.P., when you get a loaner from the shop, it usually is an extra vehicle they have on hand for such purposes.

Not here...we were picked up at the dealership in a 2012 Dodge Ram and then was (were?) driven about 3 miles down the road (by now we didn't know what was going on) to a car rental agency. We spent about another 15 minutes there going over the forms, etc and I finally asked "Are WE paying for this?" Nope.

The lady finally had everything she needed and we went out to the lot, assuming we were going to get a little car or something. But she stopped at the truck we just arrived in and we checked it all over, she handed us the keys and said "We'll see you tomorrow!"

I realize it is "only" $20.99 per day to rent the truck, but I am amazed at how well this car dealership treats it's customers. So a big hats off to FIVE STAR CHRYSLER, DODGE, MAZDA AND JEEP OF MACON, GA. If I had a web address I would put it here, but I don't find one for them.

Tomorrow the helicopter is scheduled to come for a prescribed burn. Every one is hoping the weather cooperates. Spring is really arriving early here and many plants are greening up ( I may have mentioned that before??? Magnolias in bloom, jonquils, daffodils??)

Not much going on, so I guess that is it for now!

NOT THE WAY TO SPEND THE DAY

2012-02-05T08:23:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, we took Bubba, our truck, to Macon to the Dodge Jeep dealer for an oil change, tire rotation, and to have them thoroughly inspect the exhaust system. We thought we'd be there about 2 hours; it was more like 5.

Seems like we have spent MANY hours there since coming to this area.

You may recall that we have had this awful smell in the cab of the truck and you could smell it outside as well. One of the first things that we had to have done was replace the water pump. Then it was the EGR valve. All of these things "went wrong" since the last oil change and another new turbo that was put on back home in Newberry prior to us leaving. This was turbo # 3 on this truck.

When we got the truck back from the dealership in Newberry in October, we thought the reason we had that smell was because they had just worked on it and the fumes would eventually wear off. Then on the way down here, we thought the strong fumes we were getting were from OTHER diesel trucks pulling in a long side us when we'd park someplace.

Once we arrived here and got our new home set up, we weren't on the road that much with our truck, but we were on the road enough to know something was wrong and it WAS us. So THAT started the search for where this smell was coming from.

The first time, as I said, we needed a new water pump because of the dripping antifreeze...THAT was the smell (combined with diesel...getting to that in a moment) We felt that might take care of the issue...nope. Next time we went in and the smell was stronger, it was the EGR (or is it ERG??) valve that had to be replaced.

Thankfully everything was covered under warranty, but one would think it would have been found when it was in for service in October.

We've still had the smell of diesel fumes; over powering make you sick to your stomach, give you a headache smell. And it was getting worse.

Yesterday the problem was found after asking them to thoroughly check the exhaust system. There were two major things wrong; one is a piece of the system which from what we can gather is something that lets the oil pass thru the system (truthfully, I'm just going by memory and my memory isn't too good) and this thing was totally closed! It was crimped shut!!! THEN the exhaust system where it fastens on to the header wasn't even clamped shut! The diesel mechanic yesterday had to put more than 40 turns on that thing to even get it closed! It's a wonder something didn't fall off from that $11,000 exhaust system!

All of this was documented and will be sent to Chrysler and from there supposedly to the other dealer that did the original work.

For you people out there that know diesel engines, I'll include a photo of that clamped totally shut piece....

So, tomorrow afternoon, we have to take our truck back, they will give us a loaner so we can come back "home" and then Tuesday they will put on the part. We will go back Tuesday evening and pick it up...and HOPEFULLY, FINALLY, IT WILL BE FIXED AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE WORRIES OF PASSING OUT WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD!!!!

BIG BIRD

2012-02-03T17:53:00.000-05:00

I thought maybe if I deleted the owl, hit the choice button of "shrink to fit" that possibly that would do the trick. Still had a big owl. So I deleted the owl again and put this hawks shot in also using "shrink to fit". And HE is huge too! Can't even see the complete top of his head (IT IS a head shot, but good Lord?!)

Any-hoo...I digress....

The "work" at the schools the past two days didn't start out feeling like work. Yesterday we had pre-K through 2nd graders...none of them wanted to touch the dirt let alone pot their own tree. One little boy that I had was so darn cute. I said "Do you want to put the dirt in your cup?" He shook his head no. So I did that. Then I asked "Do you want to put the little pine tree in the cup and cover it with dirt?" NOPE again. So I did that, and then I wrapped the potted short leaf pine in a bag so he could take it home and plant it (Hmmmm...I wonder who WILL plant is since he doesn't do dirt??).

As soon as I handed it to him he held on so carefully to the bottom of the bag and said 'I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST MADE A TREE!!" HOW cute is that??!!

I think we ended up doing about 300 trees yesterday and today it was a bit over 500...and grades 3-5th...and none of them wanted to touch the potting soil either....which was a good thing today. We were so far behind with ALL of these kids coming to our station (we were Station 1 out of 5). I never knew you could work 10 hours between 8 a.m. till noon...but we did! Yep, we did. So, we did get some extra help and had quite an assembly line going potting tree

Station # 2 was a government official from the forestry division and he had all kinds of info for the kids. Station 3 was the fire department of the F&W division and they would let the kids run a fireman's hose and sound the siren (which usually gave Dan, Bev and me a heart attack). I can't remember what Station 4 was, but 5 was the Law Enforcement Agency of the F&W. They brought along one of the remote controlled deer that they use to catch poachers and had a lot of info to share with the little kids.

Yesterday's special speaker was an Olympian winner from the 90's. I cannot remember his name but he broke the worlds record for running/jumping the hurdles in 37.8 seconds (or something like that). And that record still stands. Today's speaker was an Olympian wrestler, which we didn't hear him speak.

But the BIGGEST attraction to the kids was Woodsy Owl and of course Smokey Bear! Poor Smokey must have lost some weight because he was having a hard time keeping his jeans up...or maybe he was going for a new look??? THAT WOULD give new meaning to a bare/bear butt!!!

NUTTIN' MUCH

2012-02-01T18:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't intend for that owl to stick out like a sore thumb! I can't get the darn thing sized so it isn't spread across the top. Put that on the to do list.

Tomorrow, Dan and I and Bev and Tom will be taking the HHR (kind of like a PT Cruiser) govt vehicle to a school doings in Montecello...we will be assisting kids plant 500 seedlings to take home with them. The kids are also going to plant several good size dogwood trees in the school yard. The refuge already has the holes dug for that, so at least we don't have to do that. And then we go back again the next day to do the same thing for an older age group. Rain or shine. They will move it inside if the weather doesn't cooperate.

I can't remember in my previous post if I mentioned we'd both been really sick with a cold...only Dan was/is sicker than me. THAT surprised both of us due to my lack of an immune system. I truly think the reason that I didn't have it as bad (badly??) as he is that I have been trying to eat an orange per day. (Boy, if there are any Grammar teachers out there reading this, I bet this paragraph set the hairs on their neck on end!). The other day, Dan didn't get out of bed and stay out of bed till about 3 in the afternoon. He didn't miss any work because we work Wed, Thurs and Friday.

Although, we've been trying to bank up some more hours because he HOPE, weather permitting, to head for Universal Studios in Orlando. We plan on leaving Sunday and then having two days to spend at the two parks and be back here Wednesday. I haven't made reservations yet due to waiting on the weather reports. NOW, I wish we had a SMALL camera to take with us! We left the old small digital one at home; should have brought it.

Ladies, does your husband listen to you and actually understand/comprehend what you just said??? My case; as we were driving around the refuge today in one of the areas on the prescribed burn list (cleaning around plastic signs and various kinds of gates), we pulled off onto a drive to one of the gates to hop out and clean it. I informed Dan as he drove up and stopped that he had stopped over a dead animal. "uh huh" was his response.

As we sat there, looking at the refuge burn map, engine of truck running running, the smell of decayed something or other became over whelming. I mean I COULD have hurled my cookies. IT WAS BAD. I wished I'd have some Vicks to put under my nose.

"What the hell is that?" Dan asked. I said "I TOLD you that you parked over a dead animal!" Him "Well, I didn't see it." Me, "So just because YOU didn't see it means it doesn't exist? NOW you know it DOES. Back the hell up will ya???!!!" Now all I can taste is the smell of that dead coyote. YUCK....

And again in the conversation later, he remarked he didn't see it. This happens all too often; he either doesn't see it or didn't hear it...so therefore it doesn't exist or didn't happen.

Anyone else have that happen??!!!

A DAY IN THE LIFE.....

2012-01-29T09:11:00.003-05:00

We have been so fortunate in our travels to stay/work where people are more than willing to educate you about their jobs and what they do. We never realized till working here at Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge how much work goes into just getting ready to have a prescribed burn...and it isn't just cleaning around the cockaded woodpecker trees that happen to be in the prescribed burn area. It is also cleaning around gates, signs that might burn, utility boxes and guide wires, etc.

There have only been two burns so far since we've been here. The weather hasn't cooperated as far as humidity, wind, rain, moisture content of the area to be burned, etc.

About 10 days ago, the plan was to burn about 200 acres that had been prepped. There was still just enough moisture in the undergrowth that it didn't take off as planned. I did get some photos to give you an idea of a small, prescribed burn.

A HARD HATTED WOMAN

2012-01-26T06:58:00.000-05:00

While I take photos of the firemen, Dan takes photos of me. What a pair we make, eh??

It took a while to get use to wearing a hard hat..and a few adjustments. Every time I'd move my head I thought the hat was going to come off. Dan finally got the strap adjusted properly.

More later!!!!

NUTTIN' MUCH

2012-01-23T18:28:00.001-05:00

We're about 90 minutes away from our destination of Alligator River NWR. We worked there 3 (??) years ago and are going back to visit some of the guys at the shop. We figured since we were at Santee NWR for an interview this morning, we'd drive on up and see the crew at Alligator River. Santee is in S. Carolina so we actually have a total drive of a bit over 6 hours. Tomorrow afternoon, we will head back towards Piedmont where we've been staying since October. It will take us two days to get back...only because we get road weary (try saying that 3 times fast) after about 5 hours of travel...and we don't want to be on the road after dark. Boy are we getting to be old duffers or what??!!!

Neither one of us sleeps well in motels but surprisingly enough we both slept well last night; hopefully we will tonight too. Usually I'm kept awake by thoughts of Did I check everything for bedbugs?? Or I wonder whatever happened to Norvil?? And his wife??? I wonder if Paula Dean will change her restaurant menu now that she has come public with her diabetes. I wonder if SHE wondered how long she'd be able to eat all those fatty foods before it caught up with her?

Now, that I've told you about that, I'm sure that will be what keeps me awake tonight! Time will tell. It is only 6:30p.m. but the sandman is beating on both of us. It has been a long day.

Catch you again another time!

This is most of the guys at Piedmont. This was a fire prep meeting prior to heading out to start a prescribed burn (story and photos about that soon). It was an interesting meeting for Dan and I; you have no idea what goes into setting a fire on purpose and getting it where you want it to go and when you want it to go there. A lot of words and acronyms that were over our heads, but they were more than happy to try to explain to us.

MYSTIC SKY

2012-01-21T13:59:00.006-05:00

Currently I am sitting in Toby's house (one of the firefighters and also a Veteran of Iraq) doing laundry and listening to the hail hitting the roof and windows.

I drove the truck over here today so I could bring both computers (he has DSL) and try to get some things caught up a bit...besides the laundry.

This morning, I woke up about 5:30 and thought to myself, "oh, good...I don't have to hear the alarm clock at 6:00 a.m. because it is Saturday." and promptly went back to sleep.

Then about 5:56 a.m. the freaking weather radio started blaring about tornadoes, winds up to 60 mph, hail, thunder...etc. So, I guess we're getting it here now. It was supposed to be all over with an hour ago! Hopefully it is done before I am done otherwise I could be here a while. I've got two loads to do and don't even have one in the dryer yet, so there is still time.

Tomorrow we are headed to Santee, S. Carolina to visit the refuge there to see about working there January-April 2013. This fall, we can come back here but only for about 3 months. Santee is about 4 hours from here, so we hope to drive on up to Alligator River NWR where we worked 3 years ago and visit the "guys at the shop"...their fire crew. If all goes as planned, we will be back here sometime before dark on Wednesday.

(IT IS REALLY COMING DOWN!!! ALLISON LAKE SHOULD BE FILLED UP BY THE TIME THIS IS OVER WITH! It is about a 30 acre lake and had about 20 more inches before it would be at full pool. They shut the dam about a week ago and I've been taking photos once or twice a day to track the progression).

Speaking of photos, I have a couple to share with you that I'm pretty pleased with.

PEEK A BOOO!!!

2012-01-20T06:38:00.000-05:00

WHO ARE YOU? WHO, WHO, WHO WHO

2012-01-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

This is an example of some of the things I've been doing for the refuge. I made a DVD for them to use for educational purposes...or possibly to just scare someone? BWAHHHHHHH HAAAA HAAAA

How many skulls can you count??

This is the backside of a deer skull.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW...FLOWERS ARE IN BLOSSOM IN THE WOODS!!!!

A BIT OF THIS N THAT

2012-01-15T11:27:00.000-05:00

It is great to be a part of the technical worldagain!!! I wonder how long it will lastthis time?

We’ve been doing a variety of work on the refuge, but thehardest work is the cleaning around the red cockaded woodpecker trees. (RCW for short.) This is a LOT of work for an endangeredbird. I still think this bird must belaying golden eggs someplace and the government knows where the gold is.

Dan and I worked (or watched??) with 3 of the firemen theother day cleaning around the RCW trees. These 3 YOUNG men could go thru the woods like they were walking onpavement. We, especially ME, picked ourway slowly and cautiously through the undergrowth and those damn grape vinesthat each out and trip you. By the timewe would catch up with them at the next tree, they were about ½ done with it…whichwas fine by me!

Nathan, Toby and Matt make short work of getting a treeready, but they DO have a secret weapon that Dan and I don’t have and wouldn’ttry to use anyway….even though it has been offered to us. Itis like a mini-buzz saw crossed with a weed whacker. It makes real short work of what Dan and Ihave been doing with loppers and firemen rakes. If I can keep connection long enough I will try to remember to put in aphoto or two of this thing in action.

Dan and I came upon an awesome stand-off. You’ve heard of “talking turkey”? How about STALKING turkey?? We’re not sure WHO was stalking WHOM. And again, hopefully I can get a photo inhere! Turkey season opens next month andDan is putting in for the draw. I’ve neverseen so many large flocks of turkeys; sometimes we see about 50 in a flock!

I tried to highlight the bobcats so you could see them better. We weren't sure who was stalking whom! This was taken towards evening, so it isn't very light.

Yesterday, we took off for High Falls State Park. It was a beautiful sunny, but cold and windyday. I haven’t gotten those shots offthe camera yet. The “trail” along thefalls was not for anyone suffering from any bone conditions. The “handrail” was rickety at best, but theview was worth it.

One of the other reasons we went there was so we could havea catfish dinner with all the southern trimmings at the High FallsRestaurant. After our hike, we droveover to the place only to find that the restaurant didn’t open till 4:30p.m.!!! It was only a bit after noon!

So, we decided we’d go back to Juliette and head to theWhistle Stop Café. We will haven’t hadany fried green tomatoes. Then we got totalking about a really good pizza. We headedthe 25 miles to Macon in search of a New York pizza place I’d read about…butwasn’t sure where it was. I thought it wason Zebulon Rd.

We never did find that place, but found a Mexican grill…whichwasn’t too bad, but we’re still after a really good pizza.

ANYWAY….

Since we were finally able to get finished with the dock andthe boy scouts have finished up their projects around the RCW trail (whichincluded a new photo blind on the lake), the refuge has closed the gate on thedam and Allison Lake is slowly filling back up. I have been asked to document the daily progress of the fill up thru’photos. When the refuge “got permission”from whatever arm of the government they have to get permission from, that armtold the refuge to fill it slowly. Hmmmm…it IS a lake that gets run off from about 7000 acres….and rain. (But then, why should we be surprised atthat??? A safety inspector for the Stateof Georgia, the state famous for clay ground, told the manager at the firebarnthat the “red mud” around the building was a safety hazard….)

The refuge has set off one fire so far, and that was justabout 100 acres so it didn’t take too long. We weren’t a part of that, but there are a lot of acres left to burn andplans as to what photos they want are being discussed.

Guess that is about it for now; hope to get the photos upfor ya!

IT IS MEEEEE!!!!!! WHEEE, WHEEE, WHEEE!!

2012-01-13T06:44:00.002-05:00

I FEEL LIKE THE GEICO PIG ON THAT ZIP LINE! I AM ONLINE, ON THE COMFORTS OF MY OWN COUCH!!!

A lot has been going on as far as work goes, but I don't have time this a.m. to go into it. We are due at work in about 90 minutes.

So, until later.....

REDNECK SNOWMOBILE

2012-01-10T10:44:00.000-05:00

You may remember a post I had a while ago that showed us having some fun with that mechanics scooter seat or whatever it really is. We decided to go a bit further with our fun!!

I still don't have my OWN internet access back and I am sitting in the living room of one of the fire rangers using his DSL while doing laundry. I did receive an email confirmation that my unit was finally sent and should be here by 1/17!!!! That is NOT next day service!!! Not even close!!!

So, I'll be back when I can!!

READY TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE...WITH A PUNCH!

2012-01-08T13:21:00.001-05:00

We are sitting in the AT&T store again in Macon. We were here yesterday and we are here again. The young may has been on the phone the past 30 minutes trying to get us a warranty replacement. Not sure how this is going to go, but thinking I'm going to leave here with NO INTERNET access...because it is Sunday and the other depts. are closed.

Hurray for AT&T, yeah, right!

I'M STILL HERE!!!

2012-01-06T08:11:00.003-05:00

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH AT&T AND MY MOBILE "HOT" SPOT (MORE LIKE A COLD SPOT IF YOU ASK ME).

I WILL TRY TO CALL THEM AT LUNCH TIME TODAY AND SEE WHAT IS UP. I AM ON THE OFFICE COMPUTER RIGHT NOW TRYING TO CATCH UP ON EMAILS AND THOUGHT I BETTER LET YA KNOW, WE'RE STILL HERE!!!

THE START OF A NEW YEAR...IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE??

2011-12-31T13:18:00.000-05:00

Honestly, we didn't really ride to the bottom of the hill on this mechanic's seat. But after a LONG day of painting white stripes on parking areas at painting blue boxes on other parking areas in order to come back and pain the white handicap symbol...we'll, we decided to look like we were having some fun!!

That mechanics seat or whatever it is really called, REALLY helped save my back while painting those stripes! Dan and I have decided that I've gotten good enough at it, that if we are ever asked to paint the yellow lines down the middle of the road, we've got the method down. In that case, he would hook that seat up to the front of the truck, put me and all my painting supplies up front and push us down the middle of the road. Now that sounds like something to do AFTER we celebrate New Years!!!

Have a good one, yall!!

TIMBERRRRRRRLAND

2011-12-28T06:59:00.001-05:00

I’VE GOT SOME NEW SHOES!!!! Actually they are very nice work boots…and I hope they work!

Since we’ve been here, I have tripped and fallen 5 times inthe woods and fell once getting into our 5^th wheel (that time the screendoor caught me on the back of the ankle and down I went…managed to avoidhitting the fridge with my head).

4 of the other times were from checking nature trails inthe woods. The grapevines are like tripwires (which might explain why they didn’t take Dan down; he walked point inNam…but you’d think we’d have warned me about them!). SEVERAL times I ALMOST fell down and wouldyell at Dan to “get out of the way!”…which he didn’t and fortunately stopped myfall.

But I did manage to fall down and did manage to NOT hurtmyself too badly. AND I didn’t hurt mycamera either….only had it on once when I took a fall.

The last time I fell, we were headed out of the woods fromcleaning around those woodpecker trees. Dan had the fire rakes and I was following him with the loppers in myleft hand. AND I WAS PURPOSELY WALKINGVERY SLOWLY AND MAKING SURE TO PICK MY FEET UP. But I’ll be damned if I didn’t catch my right foot on something and downI went. I managed to throw the loppersclear of me and this time it DID hurt. Ihurt my wrists and I was very fortunatethat I hadn’t stabbed myself with a small tree that had been cut off (prior tous )and was dead and sharp…and just waiting for someone like me.

THAT last fall did it! I told Dan I HAD to get different shoes or boots or something. I love my NB walking shoes, but since I lostthat weight last year, they’ve been kind of sloppy on me. Which would be OK if I wasn’t walkingsideways on hills and trying to avoid trip wires.

I tried my true and trusted www.onlineshoes.com and looked forwomen’s work boots, in a wide that would accommodate orthotics. Pretty big order for a work shoe. BUT I FOUND THEM!! I LOVE THEM!!! THEY FIT PERFECTLY. As soon as I put them on they felt comfy; nobreaking in required. And I got a 6”height to hopefully help stabilize my weak ankles. AND I CAN WALK OVER THE GRAVEL WITHOUTTWISTING MY ANKLE!!

I bought the Timberland brand boot. I even got a 25% discount on them and asalways the shipping and handling is free. I like mine so much that Dan has ordered a pair of men’s work boots, buthe got the 8”. And we got a 25% discounton his too.

They aren’t as expensive as a lot of work boots, and as Isaid, mine is very comfy. I hope Danlikes his too!! They should be here thisweek.

So, when it comes to the New Year, are you an optimist or apessimist?? In case you aren’t sure, maybe this will help; Anoptimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays upto make sure the old year leaves...so which is it for you???

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE THE PIEDMONT NWR AREA!

2011-12-25T09:13:00.001-05:00

These photos are just a few that I took of a woman's yard.

The way she has been described to me, I am sure she looks like and has the temperament of Granny Clampett.

She is known as Miss Sarah (at least I think that is what I was told). All women here, including me, are addressed as Miss Cathy or whatever your first name is. Even the men here at the refuge refer to the gals as Miss whomever.

This Miss Sarah lives down a county road which could pass for a graveled cowpath. It is barely wide enough for two vehicles to meet without pulling the mirrors in. But in order to get to another part of the refuge, you go down this road.

Her yard is extremely interesting and I probably would have taken more photos had I not been warned about her.

She's a great old gal and loves kids and most people, but if you tary to long near her property, she's going to either 1. call the police or 2. pull out her shotgun and aim it in your direction...or maybe both.

But as I said, she loves kids!!! If you take photos, take them quickly!!

THE UGLY DUCKLING???

2011-12-24T08:42:00.001-05:00

Dan and I enjoyed our time with the two Christmas bird counters that we took around the refuge on Monday. The older man was very knowledgeable in a LOT of things, so much so, that I truly believe he must be a genius. Very smart man and extremely personable...and funny. He sure was a jokester.

It turned out to be a nice day for bird counting on Monday and Dan and I saw a lot of birds that we otherwise probably would never have paid any attention to had we not had these two people with us.

The man is also into the refuge butterfly count in the spring so he was extremely excited when Dan pointed out a butterfly on the hood of the truck. The old fella hopped out and identified the butterfly before it flew off. I can't remember the name of it because I didn't know there were that many letters in the alphabet, but it is rare to be seen here, especially this time of year.

One of the birds that this man was very excited about is the one that I HOPE to post a photo of (really having connection problems this a.m.). It is a black vulture. We have seen plenty of turkey vultures, but I guess this is a rarity to see just sitting in a tree.

YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE REFUGE AFTER DARK, SO I ENHANCED THE TOP ONE...I REALLY WASN'T ON THE REFUGE AFTER DARK!

The bottom photo is of the same fella only NOT retouched.

So, tomorrow is Christmas...it sure doesn't seem like it. I think Dan and I are going to the Golden Corral for Christmas dinner, although I'd really rather go have a big, deep dish, lotsacheese, pizza!!

Hope all is well for you and that you have a Merry Christmas.

(I am reading others blogs, but again, with my connection, I just don't post comments)

CHRISTMAS IN ROUND OAK, GEORGIA

2011-12-20T12:32:00.001-05:00

THIS IS ONE OF THE BUILDINGS ALONG THE ROAD AS YOU PASS THRU' ROUND OAK, WHICH ISN'T TOO FAR FROM US. I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE SIDE YARD, WHICH IS ALSO DECORATED AS WELL.

ROUND OAK IS ONE OF THOSE TOWNS THAT IF YOU BLINK YOU MISS IT....

SUH-PRIZE, SUH-PRIZE, SUH-PRIZE!!!

2011-12-17T09:45:00.001-05:00

Please believe me when I say that I am NOT poking fun at thesouthern accent, but sometimes the way people talk or express themselves inthis neck of da woods (yah…dat’s Yooper talking), I have to chuckle or outrightlaugh (later when they aren’t around).

There is a local corner store that everyone seems tocongregate at. It is the one that Iposted photos of a while back of a “hoe-down” in progress inside thestore. The locals that congregate theresometimes actually just spend the whole day drinking and watching the world goby, or commenting on why THEIR gun is “ better’n yourn”.

This is the place that we normally get our diesel fuel andit IS the place where we fill up propane tanks. Our 5^th wheel ha two 30 pound tanks and then we have a smalltank for our grill.

The one for the grill needed filling up, so we went to datcorner store to get da tank filled up (yep, poking fun a Yoopers dialect again…justso you know I’m not prejudiced. I’m acreated equal kind of person).

So, the guy comes out of the store and Dan walks over withour little tank…which holds about 5 pounds of propane. There isn’t any way possible for me totranslate all that was said with that southern drawl about that little tank,but it went something like this;

“Ah’ve nevah seen nothing like this! Ah don’t reckon I can rightly fill it up foryouins. Gotta check the big tank and seewhat it saz.” (No the big tank doesn’ttalk, but it has a chart on it).

“Yep, lookie right thar! Yep, I can fill it! See theselittle ol numbers on your itty bitty tank? They go along with the numbers on the BIG tank, so by gosh I can fill it”…andso the conversation went.

While Dan went inside to pay for the fill up, the man was kindenough to put the tank in the pickup bed. I got out of the truck and said “Have you been making fun of our littletank?”. He once again expressed how he’d“neva seen such a little tank”. And heproceeded to take it back OUT of the truck and said “I gotta show the guys inthe store this little thang.” NO ONE INTHE STORE HAD SEEN SUCH A LITTLE TANK AND THEY WERE ALL OVER THAT “THANG”LOOKING AND COMMENTING. I bet ifJuliette had 6 o’clock news, we would have been on it.

Then Dan really blew their minds when he told them that weoriginally wanted to get a fiberglass tank but they cost too much. They’d never seen or heard of anything likethat either.

Oh, it was just an interesting exchange of language. We all wish yall could have been thar!!

Man shoots mistletoe out of mall tree with shotgun, gets arrested | mistletoe, robinson, mall - WPEC 12 West Palm Beach

2011-12-13T12:20:00.000-05:00

Man shoots mistletoe out of mall tree with shotgun, gets arrested | mistletoe, robinson, mall - WPEC 12 West Palm Beach

A LITTLE LATE

2011-12-13T09:05:00.001-05:00

I have pretty reliable instincts. Sometimes I think Dan believes it is more like ESP.

I just hope those instincts didn't fail me Saturday. The instinct feeling didn't arrive till after the fact.

See, we had stopped at the Post Office in Juliette to mail a Priority Mail package to our daughter for her Christmas present. It was one of those if it fits it ships for one low price.

When we walked into the PO, a young man was working in the side area behind the counter. He was busy taping up a box...which we didn't think anything about.

When he got to the counter to wait on us, he acted like he was a newbie and this was his first day working alone. He proceeded to explain he was taping up that box so the contents wouldn't fall out. That was nice of him. How many postal workers would do that??

I pushed my package to him under the bullet proof glass and he acted like he didn't quite know how to charge for it....it ended up costing $14.95. I still didn't think anything about even THAT.

But I did think it was odd he didn't ask the normal questions that one gets asked in their own PO; are you shipping any hazardous materials, breakable or something that will leak. Nope, I told him, it was just our daughters present (since she MIGHT read this I'm not putting in this post what I really told him, what the contents really were).

Still figuring it was his first day by himself, I didn't feel uncomfortable in saying no to the insurance or proof of delivery.

ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. Maybe he was actually acting guilty about us seeing him tape up that box. And WHY did it cost me $14.95 for what should have been a $7.95 shipment. AND WHY DIDN'T I PAY EXTRA TO HAVE A DELIVERY CONFIRMATION??!!!!

I sure hope THE ENTIRE PACKAGE of things arrives at its destination. If not, I have NO proof because I paid cash. I guess we'll know in a couple of days....

Tomorrow is the Christmas party for the refuge employees and volunteers. It actually is just a lunch where everyone brings a dish to pass. So far the menu looks to be shaping up nicely!!! At least there isn't any fried okra on the list yet!!!

I hope I can get a photo of at least one of the squirrels here. They are so cute! They have little black faces and kind of a brownish/grey body. Busy little things and all over; don't hold still for long!!

Have you heard about some one or some ones putting syringes in clothing at Wal-Mart at Cartersville?? A couple of people have been pricked by these things! WHAT AILS PEOPLE FOR DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS??!!

So what is new with you? And have there been any times when YOUR instincts kicked in a bit too late???

SAVANNAH SHOTS

2011-12-11T09:54:00.001-05:00

THIS FOUNTAIN WAS A MAIL ORDER FROM SEARS WAY BACK WHEN!!! Can you imagine something like that being delivered by mail????

WORK MAKES ME TIRED!!

2011-12-09T18:34:00.001-05:00

Today, we managed to clean around 5 trees in preparation for the controlled burn that will happen hopefully by end of January.

I know that doesn't sound like much work, but hopefully the photos will help explain a bit more.

The trees we are to clean around are the nesting trees of the endangered cockaded woodpecker. I have explained before how these woodpeckers peck at the tree and make the resin/sap run...which is HIGHLY flammable. So, ALL of these particular trees on the area of the refuge that is in the controlled burn area for this season have to have all the debris cleaned out away from them at least 6' away from the base of the tree.

The debris can include other small trees that have come up since the last burn, lots and lots of damn grapevines and pine needles, dead grasses, leaves, etc. Anything that could fuel the fire has to be removed....even the bark of the tree from where it was burned before!! We use a large leaf blower on the bark and boy does that work. You don't remove all the bark, just what will blow off.

The photo above is a before shot of one of the trees.

This is what the area looked like when we were almost finished with this tree. Lot of work for a bird!!! AND there are a LOT of trees to do this to!!

If you look carefully, you can see a ring of debris that we hacked, pulled and raked away from this tree. And we did 5 today...and we were very tired....but I had one more job I wanted to get done today.

It should be a very easy job as it just involved painting the handicap stencil on 5 parking spots. But we were pooped and tired and sore (our backs were really screaming)

But, we got that done by Dan standing on the stencil and me bent over with a 3" paint roller with handicap blue paint. I almost dreaded standing up to move to the next spot.

Then we had to wait for the paint to dry on the stencil so we could put it back in the truck bed...I decided to take a bit of a break...or maybe I should say cat nap???

Notice the dirty neck??? THAT was from all the dust and debris from that big leaf blower!!

This photo is going to be my entry photo for the SEXIEST VOLUNTEER FOR THE FEDERAL FISH AND WILDLIFE DIVISION OF THE U.S. GOVT. Think I stand a chance??!!!

That cute jump suit I have on is actually a flight suit, but I'M using it when I have to paint!

JUST A LITTLE CHURCH

2011-12-09T06:21:00.001-05:00

This Catholic church was a beautiful sight to see. It dates back from the 1800's. Mass started about 30 minutes from the time we stepped off the trolley, so we had limited time to explore the whole interior. And to tell the truth, when we stepped inside and I asked the receptionist if photos were allowed either with or without flash, I felt guilty even asking. But yes, it was allowed, so here are a few of the inside shots....

RUBBER BUGGY BABY BUMPERS, or something like that!

2011-12-08T06:51:00.001-05:00

That was a tongue twister that my Mom taught me at an early age so I'm never sure if I say it correctly. Does anyone know if that is the sequence of the words??

Any-hoo, while taking the trolley tour of Savannah, we noticed a lot of health nuts either walking, runners, joggers (and of course at least one blogger, me!). They all had the perfect places for their activity.

We saw lots of dog walkers and dogs being walked.

And then we saw this;

We had noticed these women Power Walking around this particular park, and then we'd seen them jogging. What a wonderful way to spend time with your friends, your babies and get some good exercise.

Then a bit later we saw them again;

WOW!!! These gals are totally commited to exercise!! Wish I had that drive. And the babies are SOOO good, never heard a peep out of them.

The reason for the quiet babies is there were no babies!!! Just some weights in the strollers!!!

CRAB SHACK PART 2

2011-12-07T06:30:00.001-05:00

It is a rainy morning so hard telling how long it will take to upload any photos!!

This is the deck that they use when the weather is nice. On either side of the deck are more areas pretty much like it except they are enclosed with heavy plastic "windows". Notice the trash cans under the center of the table; there is a big, round hole cut out of the center of each table so you can throw your trash away easily. Obviously they do not use China plates!! The upside down 1/2 bushel baskets serve as lamp shades.

This is their "open bar". Notice it is called the sand gnat bar. I bet the bugs can be really bad certain times of the season!!

There are several cats that roam the Crab Shack; all are spayed or neutered and have their shots, but I'm still surprised the health dept allows this. They do not bother the guests as they are very well fed by the owners. They even have a "cat house" to live in!! We both love these live oak trees and how they built the deck around them.

This is their Christmas crew out on the boat.

Well, THIS only took 40 minutes!~!

THE CRAB SHACK

2011-12-06T07:52:00.001-05:00

I've got a decent signal, so thought I'd upload a few photos from our adventure to Savannah and Tybe Island.

This is where we ate a very late lunch yesterday. It wasn't that the food was anything special but the Crab Shack is unique!!

inside shots tomorrow!!!

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

2011-12-02T19:04:00.001-05:00

From my previous post you know we had big plans for today. Little did we know that the powers in the universe had other ideas for us.

Ever since we had the turbo replaced on the truck, we've noticed OFF AND ON an odor that we thought was diesel fumes.

When we first started noticing we were traveling on our way down here. We would notice it at rest areas or at gas stations. We just figured that it was passing traffic and wasn't us.

But, we've been noticing it more and more lately and it is sickening to run either the heater or the a/c. We were both getting light headed this a.m. even with our windows part way down (and it was 37 degrees).

After breakfast at Shoneys (which was a disappointment; you'd think they'd all be the same and we normally like their breakfast buffet), we took off for Macon in search of a Dodge dealer. Long story short, IT WAS THE FREAKING WATER PUMP!!!! 40,052 MILES AND THE WATER PUMP GOES OUT???? The smell was burning anti-freeze.

The bill was over $560 which was covered under warranty...but even thought it didn't come out of OUR pocket, it still is pretty maddening and unusual, wouldn't you think????

So, from about 10 a.m. this morning till about 4:30 p.m. this afternoon, we sat in a waiting room, in front of a large screen TV with all kinds of various people also sitting and waiting. Not everyone had to wait as long as we did, but we are not complaining about the wait. We were fortunate they didn't say, make an appointment and come back. They were very helpful and offered us a shuttle to anyplace in Macon we might want to go...even offered to order take out for us.

There was a lot of mind numbing TV shows on and the only one that caught my attention was THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, oh, and the Ellen show at 4 p.m.

We realized about 1 p.m. that we were not going to Popeye's for chicken nor to Red Wing Shoe store, and I had till 6 p.m. to get to the AT&T store.

We got to AT&T about 4:45 and waited our turn till 5:30! Do you want to know what you are getting for Christmas??? It must be an AT&T device of some sort. I swear everyone was Christmas shopping there.

Yes, they would replace it, just needed my driver's license and the receipt from the original purchase. I had the receipt but realized my DL was in a billfold in the back pocket of the jeans I wore to work yesterday. GREAT! And they won't do anything without photo ID. So, we have to go back tomorrow and yes they will honor it thru' tomorrow.

At least we SHOULD be able to get to the Red Wing shoe store. I don't know about Popeye's though since tonight we ate the most delicious subs we ever had at a sub place called the Firehouse...it WAS started by firemen (you can look it up online if you are interested). Neither one of us has ever had such a good sub!!

We finally made it home about 6:45 and I went in search of my DL. IT WAS NOT IN THE BILLFOLD IN THE POCKET OF THE JEANS I WORE YESTERDAY! IT WAS NOT ON THE TABLE!!! WHERE IN THE HELL WAS IT????THINK, CATHY, THINK!!!

Before we go any further, I want to explain why I carry it in my back pocket when we are working. I never know when I'm going to need to drive one of the govt vehicles and putting it in a man's billfold and sticking it in my back pocket is a lot easier than hauling a purse around.

CATHY IS THINKING, AND THINKING....and then the light comes on....DUH, DUH, DUH. I HAD put the damn thing IN MY PURSE last night, so yes, I had had it with me today!!!

So, we'll go back again tomorrow and hopefully finish up the other things we didn't get to do. Then we hope to do some painting on the refuge tomorrow. It is easier for us to do those type of things when everyone else is off from work.

AND NOW, WE HOPE TO GO TO SAVANNAH NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY!!!

OFF TO MACON...AGAIN!

2011-12-02T08:05:00.001-05:00

We're taking my little AT&T gizmo back to Macon...again. My 30 days are up tomorrow. When this thing connects, it IS fast, but something just is not right with the one they sold me.

So, we're going to make a day of it...or at least a 1/2 day. Dan wants to go to Shoney's for the breakfast buffet. It is about 18 miles from here in Forsythe. Then he hopes to find Popeyes chicken place for lunch. We've never eaten there, but everyone says it is really good. Sometime during the day, we'll be looking for Red Wing Shoe store and then to the AT&T store.

It is going to be a beautiful sunny day so we're going to enjoy it!

SEE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE LATEST SUPREME COURT DECISION:

The Supreme Court has ruledthat there cannot be a Nativity Scene in the United States' Capitol thisChristmas season.

This isn’t for any religious reason. They simply have not been able tofind Three Wise Men in the Nation's Capitol.

A search for a Virgin continues.

There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.

COCKADED WOODPECKER NESTS

2011-12-01T06:45:00.001-05:00

THE TOP PHOTO SHOWS HOW MUCH THESE WOODPECKERS PECK AT THEIR NEST CAVITY TO GET THE SAP/RESIN TO FLOW FROM THE PINE TREE. THEY DO THIS TO PROTECT THE NEST. CRITTERS WHO WOULD TRY TO CLIMB THE TREE (SNAKES IN PARTICULAR) COME UP AGAINST THAT RESIN AND THEN GIVE UP BECAUSE OF THE STICKINESS OF IT.

THE PHOTO ABOVE SHOWS HOW THE NWR TRY TO ASSIST IN BUILDING THE CAVITY BACK IN IN ORDER TO KEEP THE ENDANGERED BIRDS SAVE FROM FLYING SQUIRRELS OR POSSIBLY HAWKS(?). ONCE THE BIRD HAS MADE THE HOLE TOO BIG THEN IT HAS LOST ITS PROTECTION FROM PREDATORS.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE IN ANY OF THESE PHOTOS THE COLLECTION OF SAP/RESIN BUT I THINK YOU CAN TELL IT IS THERE.

THIS IS ONE AREA THESE ENDANGERED BIRDS LIVE. I HOPE EVENTUALLY TO GET A SHOT OF ONE!!

CRAZY LAWS!!

2011-11-30T17:07:00.001-05:00

CHECK THIS OUT!

http://www.nbc.com/harrys-law/photos/crazy-legal-rules-of-the-road/9059#item=208553

NUTTIN' MUCH

2011-11-29T17:19:00.001-05:00

We're not MIA, just having a very hard time getting online!!! As far as I'm concerned this AT&T mobile hot spot is NOT what it is cracked up to be! I mean, if we can get 2-3 bars with our AT&T go phone, you'd think I'd get that with this thing! HA! I will be going back to that AT&T store in Macon on Friday and see if they will at least exchange this one for a different one...I think this one is a lemon.

Someone asked in a comment what it was that Dan and I did to that dock. All we did was cut boards to fit the outside of the spindles and screw them in place. I know that sounds very easy, but due to Dan's back/hip/knees/neck problem, it was a bit difficult for him ( to say the least) and with my weak shoulders and my knee bothering me, I had my own "difficulties". Dan likes to feel like he can still accomplish things, even if it is volunteer work.

We are enjoying ourselves and it is always good to be away from the stress of other things. As long as Dan keeps taking his pain meds we'll be fine. If you are a guy, you know how guys are...work through the pain regardless. He has finally realized though that there are a LOT of things that he just cannot do anymore, but at least he can volunteer to help where he can and know he won't lose a job because he can't do it (if that makes sense!).

Hope all is well with you! Keep checking back. I'm trying to get to visiting the blogs I follow but I get frustrated just trying to check email!!!

2011-11-24T17:00:00.001-05:00

I WROTE THIS WEDNESDAY WITH THE INTENTION OF BEING ABLE TOPOST IT AT THAT TIME. SO IT IS IN PASTTENSE.

We’ve had a busy week so far and are looking forward totomorrow being our day off (and doing laundry before we gorge ourselves atGolden Corral).

As soon as we are out of the public eye and just before we“hop” into the truck, we will unzip our jeans, drive home and go take anap. Sounds like a good plan to me!

Dan and I have been working on the dock (that I hope to beable to upload photos of) in the dry lake bed. It has been an interesting couple of days and I’m thinking maybe theguys at the shop are muttering under their breaths “Yankee go home!”

This is a hard enough job to do with Dan’s back and kneeissues and with the fact that both of my shoulders are very weak. And that the lake bed is clay. And in some places very “sticky”. I can’t carry very much weight (except thatof my own!) up and down the sides of the drained lake, and Dan shouldn’t becarrying much weight. I guess actuallythe heaviest thing we’ve had to carry was a couple of ladders but even that isawkward for us.

We had hoped to have it all done before it started raininglast night, but we kept having “equipment malfunctions”. It is a long story so won’t bother with thedetails. Dan has been taking his heavyduty pain meds to try to keep in shape in order to finish up. But since it did rain last night and a goodpossibility yet today, I doubt we’ll be working there till that clay dries up abit. We may decide to go into work onSaturday.( Friday Dan hopes to install the heating element in our waterheater.) It is supposed to cool offstarting today.

This week has been above normal temps for the area. Yesterday was up to 78 and the normal isabout 65. Working in the sun and theheat took a toll on both of us, but it felt good to be doing something physicaland not be tethered to an office. We’dboth get so hot and sweaty that we had a hard time getting our t-shirts off inorder to get in a COOL shower. That coolwater felt good!! (We didn’t have totake a cool shower, the hot water does work, but the cool water felt great!!)

So today will be pretty much putzing around the shop;probably cleaning up the shop and anything else we can find to do.

THURSDAY

I KNEW we should have gotten our little bit of groceries before heading out to have dinner at Golden Corral! I don't think we really made exceptional gluttons of ourselves and I KNOW neither one of us ate $11.99 worth of food, but boy was it good (well except the corn bread stuffing). It made me wonder, watching these extremely obese people go after plate after plate of food...when someone is that large, do they get to a point where they finally feel totally stuffed and miserable? I'm not being facetious, but I DO wonder. I don't like that feeling.

I have finally found and ordered what is supposed to be the correct attachment for my new AT&T mobile wifi spot to connect to the outdoor antenna. It should be here by Monday. I sure hope so!

I am going to try to upload a couple of photos now; fingers crossed.

If successful, the photos are of the dock that we are finishing up the work on. We hope to be done before the rainy season comes. Since it is all clay bottom, there is only certain times we can work...WHEN IT IS DRY!

THIS IS FOR THE BIRDS

2011-11-21T06:35:00.001-05:00

Hopefully I can get these two photos to post before I have to leave for work!

These beautiful weeds are actually where the "duck pond" will be once they fill it again. Interesting process....

THE LAST DAY OF THE HUNT

2011-11-19T10:27:00.001-05:00

Today is the last day of deer hunting on the refuge. I think everyone who works here is happy tosee it over. Who knew running a checkstation could be so time consuming?

It isn’t so much the TIME because it is only Thursday,Friday and Saturday. We work inshifts. First shift starts at 7:30 a.m.and works till 5:30 p.m., 2^nd shift comes in at 11:30 a.m. and workstill closing at 9:00 p.m. And it can geta little mind numbing if there aren’t any hunters coming in to check in theirdeer. OR it can get extremely busy,running both scales at once and two people letting you know the weight, theage, the condition and how many points or if it is a doe, etc. All of this info is hand written on agraph. While the others are doing the “physical”of the deer, the person doing the entering of info also has to talk to theperson who took the deer and get their permit, the hunting license, theirdriver’s license and find out which compartment (section) they took the deerfrom.

One man came in yesterday with a 14 point. That is the largest, as far as points go,taken this year. The deer here are small. A lot of the points on this buck were verytiny, but they count if they are over 1”long. The buck dressed out at only 120pounds…and that was minus one of the antlers! For whatever reason, while pulling the buck out of the woods, that antlercame off in the guy’s hand.

BUT, the good thing about all of this is, the guys taketurns cooking! Whoever has the morningshift fixes breakfast for those working the morning shift. And then another guy fixes the lunch. We are eating fine southern cooking! Yesterday for breakfast, Glen made eggcasserole (lots of cheese!) and for lunch Toby made jambalaya and cheesycornbread in a cast iron skillet.

When there are nodeer to check in, we sit around and talk (and listen REAL carefully becausesome of the fella’s have such a southern accent that we two northerners have ahard time deciphering.)

For example, the guys were all talking about food andvarious ways to fix wild game. Then theygot on the subject of pigs head and snout. It appears from that conversation that none of them would considereating it, but the point being made is that some people do not let any part ofthe animal go to waste.

Glen then started talking about mountain hosses (not atypo..just trying to spell it the way it was pronounced). I kept listening to the conversation figuringI’d eventually be able to understand what a mountain horse is. About 5 minutes later I had to ask what amountain horse was (could have been an edible weed for all I know).

Glen got this comical look on his face and said it again,and I still thought he was saying mountain horses. FINALLY THE LIGHT CAME ON!!! MOUNTAIN OYSTERS!!!! DUH!!! He was talking about pig testicles!

Next week, most everyone that works here will be off forvacation time. So, we are kind of on ourown. I’m not sure what the other coupleis doing next week (there are another couple camping here volunteering too),but we have a list of things that we have been asked to do. I HOPE to have some photos of one of theprojects because it involves finishing off a very large fishing pier while thelake is drained…and it is all clay, so Dan and I hope it remains dry. Otherwise we’ll be taking our shoes to thepressure washer before we can even come in our 5^th wheel.

Another project will be mowing a bit around the helipad andthen painting the yellow markers on the pad. And of course more weed whacking to be done which will also be at thedrained lake. This is the section thatthey will be doing the controlled burn on so we need to get as much fuel(meaning weeds, branches, etc) out of the way so they CAN control it.

So, we’re off to work in a bit. Catch up with ya later!!!

I'LL BE BAACCCHHHH

2011-11-17T18:30:00.001-05:00

Just thought I'd let ya know that we were not affected by the bad storms in Ga yesterday, however a school not too far from here was hit with an f2 tornado.

We worked today, tomorrow and Saturday so I might not be online for a while. And even with this new AT&T thing I am still connecting very slowly. Hard to update posts let alone sharing photos.

Dan and I are really enjoying the people we work with.

Later!!!

GO AHEAD, MAKE MY DAY

2011-11-15T16:58:00.001-05:00

Do you ever have days you felt you should have just stayedin bed?

Both of us felt that way this morning. Me because once again I’ve had to swear offcoffee (hopefully not for long!) and Dan because he is still waiting to hearfrom the VA (only been a year and 2 months). He knewhe was supposed to call the DAV today to try to find out what was going on (ifanything) and going thru’ all of that always puts him in a bad mood.

So, this morning we decided to take a drive up to Monticellojust to see what there was to see…there was a lot of pecan farms, a lot ofrailroad track and one very interesting cemetery which I could not get a photoof, but let me describe it.

Imagine an old run down cemetery and a mail box at thedrive. Yep, not sure who was expecting adelivery or even who that deliver-er was. But it struck me funny.

Dan tried to make his phone call only to be told to callback again after 1:30 p.m. So that upsethim.

From Monticello we decided to go back to Gray to pick upsome chili beans for supper tonight. Itwas quicker to go that way than it was to back track and go to Forsythe. On the way back from Gray, the alarm chimedand the check engine light came on. REALLY MADE OUR DAY.

We headed to the office to pick up our mail before returninghome. Our part for the water heater hadarrived from General RV so figured that was good news. Only we were sent the wrong part so again weare playing phone tag trying to get in touch with the correct person to get thecorrect part. He IS trying atleast. He has returned one call, but notwhile we were in an area we could get it. So we called and left another message. Hopefully he will respond yet today.

Both of us dreadedthinking what the check engine light could mean. If you remember, before we left we had toreplace the turbo on the truck as well as having the steering fixed. While I came in to try to locate a Dodgedealer, Dan was looking at the truck trying to see what he could figureout. The only thing he came up with wasthat the coolant was low (which it should not have been considering it had justbeen serviced, etc).

SO OFF TO FORSYTHE WE WENT ANYWAY.

He managed to find the correct coolant after only 2stops. From there we parked at Wal-Martso he could once again try to call the DAV. He even was able to make contact there…after getting disconnected 3times. And being told to call back atthe end of the month.

On the way back home, he stopped at the “corner” store. It is about 9 miles from us. It is a little grocery store, meat market,gas and diesel station, beer and wine, bait store, deer processing and propanerefills. I'm not too sure but what there might be a room in the back for the drive thru preacher.

He (Dan, not the drive thru preacher) got his lottery ticket and a couple of ice creamsandwiches. He told me I should havegone in; that there was a band playing inside and some guy with cotton stickingout of one ear was attempting to clog. Ifigured he was pulling my leg. So, I smiledinto my mirror to see if I had my teeth covered in the “cake” part of the icecream sandwich…yep, I did, so figured, the way Dan was describing the scene,that I would fit right in.

I could hear the foot stomping and pickin’ before I openedthe door. I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED AND MYDAY GOT MUCH BETTER AT THAT POINT!

Yep, there was a group of men pickin’ and grinnin’ and onefella trying to dance. AND I DID NOTHAVE MY CAMERA WITH ME…DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!!!

I asked how often they got together at the store and wastold about once a year. Fortunately theywould be there for about an hour yet.

WE MADE A MAD DASH BACK HOME SO I COULD GET MYCAMERA!!! I wished I could have gottenthe video when they were playing Orange Blossom Special and the guy with cottonin his ear was dancing. I've tried to upload the video I did take but it won't upload.

How can you have a bad day when you are able to take in thelocal culture??!!

Notice the guy holding the beer?? Notice the "spittoon cups" See the guy "dancing"?? He was having a ball!!

Check out the collection of deer antlers in the background. Groceries too...

Notice the guy in the background in the "greenish blue" sweatshirt? Yep that's Dan. Not sure if he was trying to do the two step or was just plain getting DOWN with it. But the cotton ball guy was really enjoying it. WE ALL WERE!!

A HUNTING WE DID GO

2011-11-13T10:47:00.001-05:00

Saturday was the last day of our deer hunt. We didn’t have any luck either with getting adeer or getting any photos. There is onemore hunt to go which starts next Thursday and ends next Saturday. We are scheduled to work the check stationthose days.

I can’t say we didn’t have fun trying. Up one hill and down another. All the time walking on a 90 degreeslant. My ankles are killing me. Dan’s calves are on fire. We are old. Too old to be mountain goats…we can qualify for just plain old goats.

Saturday morning, we headed to the festivities at theJarrell Plantation. I made sure Dan hadmy spare camera battery in his pocket. We stood in line forever to purchase our tickets to get in. It wasn’t that there was that many in line tobuy tickets, but at the end of the ticket line were 3 spinners with their wooland other people were blocking the exit while watching them. I guess they felt it was too cold to beoutside spinning (it was 53 degrees…wimps)

So, off we set to tour the plantation, the old buildings andwatch (and smell!) sugar cane syrup being made. I was already framing a photo in my mind and figured I knew what Iwanted and positioned myself on a hill side (seems that is all there ishere…hill SIDES), got the camera out, turned it on, took aim and a message onthe camera said “BACK UP MEMORY CARD IS FULL”.

I could have cried! At that moment I remembered that I had left my photo card IN MYCOMPUTER. ARRGGHHHH!!!! I THINK Dan secretly did a dance of joy. He is very good and patient when it comes towaiting for me to take a photo, so he figured what would be a 3 hour “journey”now would probably be cut down to 2 hours. NO PHOTOS TO SHOW FOR IT AT ALL. But it was very interesting and we do plan on going back next month fortheir Christmas celebration. THAT iswhen you get to tour the main house.

Today, I think we plan on visiting the town of Gray and thenmeandering to Macon. It is also groceryday so thought we might check out one or two of the other grocery stores. Doesn’t that sound like an excitingtime?? J

I thought I better post a photo or two just to prove to youthat we really DID go hunting.

A FEW PHOTOS

2011-11-12T12:18:00.001-05:00

TRAILS

2011-11-11T07:42:00.001-05:00

The last two days of our work week, we walked two of the trails. One was 1.5 miles long and the cockaded woodpecker trail was a bit over 2 miles long.

Just so ya know, that type of woodpecker is pronounced CAW-KAY-DEAD.

This was in addition to the other work we were doing on those two days. Dan and I should have lost some weight by now! Especially since it was so hot and we were both sweating profusely.

One of the other things we did was to pressure wash the stripes and blue painted sign off the pavement at the handicap parking area at a lake that is currently drained and "under construction". This meant that Dan got to drive one of the smaller fire trucks to this area while I drove our govt. truck and carried the pressure washer to that area. We used the water from the fire truck to put water in the pressure washer. We both were pretty well soaked from the job. But it was 73 degrees so we didn't care!

Our movie debut was actually a "documentary" of this refuge. We were filmed bird watching on one of the piers at one of the lakes, then we were filmed walking down to a blue bird house, opening it and extracting the old nest (which will show that the refuge cleans out bird houses). Then we were filmed (from the knees down) walking down one of the nature paths....and we kept walking and walking. I was beginning to think this was supposed to be someone's idea of a joke! PLEASE CALL US BACK SOON!!! We've walked enough for two days! Finally the guy said "Got it!"

Our first day of hunting, yesterday, wasn't anything to brag about. We only saw a squirrel and a bird. Down here you are able to dress pretty much in camouflage as long as you have a hunters orange vest on. It sure doesn't seem like much orange...especially when some of the hunters are HUGE guys dressed in camo and their vest fits them like a hanky.

We aren't going out today till about noon. Not sure why Dan didn't want to go out earlier this a.m. other than we both are still sore from hiking the "mountain sides"!

The new photo at the top was taken while we were taking the boat trip down the Tennessee River.

So, guess that is all for now! Hopefully to have more later!!

the top photos is of what is called upside down jelly fish. the bottom is some kind of jelly fish. taken at the Tennessee aquarium.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS!

2011-11-09T06:41:00.005-05:00

I hear that our friends "to the north" are expecting 8" of heavy wet snow. Let me know if it actually happens.

Yesterday, we finished up mowing and whacking, then cleaned out the govt. truck we'll be using and washed it. Since we still had more than an hour before our time was up, we asked Carolyn if there was anything else we could do.

She asked us to check the two nature trails for down trees and brush. One trail is .8 and the other .6. No big deal. HA! UP and down, over and around...and it had to have been over 75 degrees. My hair was stuck to my head from sweating and about 1/2 way through Mother Nature decided to call. Kind of hard to tend to things on a slant, if you know what I mean.

By the time the end was in site I was miserable with heat and the other....and to get to the office was mostly UP hill. I truly thought I would not make it.

After I had Dan drop me off at "home", I took a quick, more or less cold (because I was over heated) shower. NOTHING EVER FELT SO GOOD!

Today, we may become movie stars. There is a film crew coming to the refuge to film parts of the refuge and we may be used as "extras".

We've got a cold front coming in with temps only in the upper 50's and nights in the upper 30s.

I hope to post a few more photos this a.m. before we take off....

THIS IS STILL MAIN STREET IN JULIETTE

DAN INSIDE THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE

MOWING THE WHEELS OFF THESE THINGS!

2011-11-08T06:27:00.001-05:00

Even with all the mowing we do in our park and our yard, with two of us on mowers, this seems like it is taking forever!

First thing we did yesterday was go to the campground and hose off the inside of the building and the showers...and then clean some more. I wish OUR bathhouse was so we could go in with a fire hose and hose it down sometimes! Then picked up garbage at the campground and put out fires that were still smoking from the day before.

We left here about 7:30 and didn't get back to mow till about 10. By the time Dan got the mowers serviced I think it was pushing 11 a.m. There are so many LARGE pinecones that it sounded like a war zone out here mowing over those things. We made sure that we both were in entirely different areas so we didn't launch something at the other.

Any-hoo, we've decided that we'd prefer to start work at 7:30 and get off at 3:30.

I've got a decent connection this a.m. so I will try to share another photo or two....the top is outside the Whistle Stop Cafe and the bottom is Opry House which they still have pickin' and grinnin' going on...if we can ever find out when we will go!

SITTING IN A PARKING LOT FOR THE LAST TIME, I HOPE!

2011-11-06T12:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was our last day to work the deer checkstation. This Thursday through Saturdayis when we hunt…Dan with his gun and me with my camera.

We’ve sure learned a lot about plants and things that youcan eat. At least they want us tobelieve you can eat these things.

You know what I mean by stick-tights?? Those darn little “seeds” that cling to yourpant legs or sleeves?? One of theofficers came in to the check station last night (the rest of us was inside thebuilding trying to keep warm!) and he had green stick-tights all over his pantlegs. I don’t remember the comment Imade but something about those pesky stick-tights. He didn’t know what I was talking about.

I told him that he had a lot of green stick-tights on hispant legs. Well, down here they arecalled something totally different AND THEY EAT THEM! He took one off his pant leg, peeled it (orpopped it??) and ate what was inside. Itwas about the size of the head of a pin, so I’m sure it would take a lot ofthese to “make a mess”. Anyway, he saidthey taste just like green beans. NowI’m wondering if THEIR green beans are different than OUR green beans. I just can’t imagine them tasting the same. They sure don’t look the same!!

Then there is the pork belly tortellini. YUCK, right??

We were in the grocery store and there was a man selling aproduct and giving out samples. As weapproached the area he was in he asked us if we’d like to try some pork bellytortellini. We both politelydeclined. I kept thinking about it and thought“Why not? We’re here to enjoy theculture!” So when we came back that way,I told him we’d take him up on his offer of a free sample.

He dished us out each a little serving and actually it waspretty good! I told him I was verysurprised that pork belly would taste this good and not be fatty. He looked at me as if to say “WHAT THE HELLYOU TALKING ABOUT??”. But instead hesaid “Pardon?”. I replied with somethinglike, “Didn’t you say this was pork belly tortellini?” He laughed and said “NO! It is portabella tortellini (as in themushrooms; portabella). He gave us acoupon for a buck off so we purchased a bag; by the way Stouffers makes it.

Yesterday, one of the local churches (and we can tell we AREin the Bible Belt) had a BBQ dinner. Thoseof us that worked yesterday put our order in the day before so we had that forlunch yesterday. YOU GOT A LOT OF BBQand a nice helping of coleslaw (the non-creamy kind), good helping of bakedbeans, two slices of bread and a small bag of chips for $6.00 each. Next weekend another church in the oppositedirection is having a BBQ too, but we will either be hunting or at the JarrellPlantation “touring”.

The Jarrell Plantation is only about 6 miles from us. It has quite a history and many of the work buildingsare still standing as well as most of the main house. I’m HOPING I can get Dan out of the woodspart of that day so we can attend their festivities on Saturday. They will be making syrup from sugarcane. I guess it is a bit of a differentprocess than making maple syrup. Andwe’ve been told that this will be one of the few times that they allow peopleinto the main house.

Monday and Tuesday, we will be turned loose on the ridingmowers. They have 3 zero turning mowers;two are a John Deere. We had ourequipment training a couple of days ago. There is a lot of mowing to catch up on but I would think this would bethe last mow required this season. Wealso have weed whacking to do as well as going to the campground and thoroughlycleaning the bathhouse.

It is a very nice pre-fab bathhouse and is only open duringthe hunts, which are 3 days per week for 5 weeks. The campground actually is a “field” wheresome trees have been allowed to stay. There are no designated campsites and people pack in there likesardines. There are not fire pits, butthey are allowed to dig a pit. I thinkmost of them at least try to get a spot where there has already been a fire pitdug out.

So, tomorrow, we will go in with basically a fire hose andhose everything down and clean it up for the next hunt. The campground will remain closed untilWednesday. Then it is open fromWednesday to next Sunday morning.

Today, Dan and I are ONCE AGAIN headed for Macon with my newAT&T gizmo. Either I’m an idiot orthis thing doesn’t function properly. Orpossibly I’m the one that doesn’t function properly.

Well, that’s about it for this time. I most likely will be posting this from someplace in Macon or in Forsythe (have to go get propane today). We still don’t have any return phone calls oranswers on our problem with the electric part of our water heater. I haven’t had the chance to try to call themanufacturer yet but if that fails, I don’t know what the heck we will be doing. We sure don’t want to “break camp” and headto some RV dealer to get it fixed. Whata pain….

Any-hoo- so goes it till next time!

TOP PHOTO IS ONE OF THE STORES ON MAIN ST IN JULIETTE. BOTTOM PHOTO IS INSIDE THE FAMOUS WHISTLE STOP CAFE. WE HAVEN'T EATEN THERE YET!

AARGHHH!!!

2011-11-05T08:09:00.001-04:00

GOOD LORD!!!

I've been 15 minutes just trying to get THIS far! I've read comments but haven't responded so don't think I'm not paying attention.

So far, the Verizon antenna hasn't helped. So we went back to Macon to the AT&T store and bought one of THEIR devices. I have a strong signal and it says I'm connected but it still keeps searching for the network so I think I've got a defective device...so back again tomorrow ( we have tomorrow off).

No luck with our RV water heater yet; haven't had any more time to follow up on that. I liked the one comment about this should be a piece of cake for Dan to change the element. HOPEFULLY it will be because we're not getting any responses from anyone we've called.

Dan and I worked the deer check station yesterday. There were about 3 nice bucks that came through with a decent weight for a Georgia deer (one dressed was 135, another 150. BUT there were 3 that were brought in that made me want to cry and to choke the hunter for even shooting them. One was 27 pounds, another 24 and the winner of the Bambi award was 17 pounds! AND IT IS LEGAL. Broke my heart.

Dan's cooking breakfast outside, so I better try to get this posted, give or take another 10 minutes to do that and get out of the way. We go to work at the check station today from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m.

later, I HOPE!

THE ODDEST PLACES

2011-11-03T11:44:00.000-04:00

This time I'm sitting in the truck in a car wash in Forsythe. My antenna hasn't showed up yet. Hopefully today or tomorrow.

I've had so much to share now none of it seems important!

Yesterday a..m. our electric water heater stopped heating, so we remembered how to switch it over to gas (after some phone calls to General RV in Wixom, Mi...kept loosing signal, so it was a difficult conversation). Dan and I figure that for some reason the heating element is done for on the electric side of using the water heater. Can't find anyone to help to get it changed, etc. So, I guess we are going to try to do it ourselves...provided we can order the right part.

I'm going to share a few photos that we've taken so far. I don't think Dan will be washing the truck much longer so I'll have to leave this shady spot in a few....

THE FLOWERS AND WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL LILY PADS WERE VERY THICK IN THIS LAKE. NOT SURE WHAT THEY REALLY ARE.

THE LAST PHOTO IS OF THE MILL AT THE DAM AT THE TOWN OF JULIETTE (FRIED GREEN TOMATOES TOWN). MORE PHOTOS TO POST AT ANOTHER TIME.

WAITING AND WAITING

2011-11-01T13:14:00.002-04:00

Sitting outside of a few restaurants in Macon. Went to Verizon and ordered my antenna. Should be here by end of week. Hope it solves the problem.

In the meantime, here is our home for the next 6 months:

PS We went to Chilis for lunch! I can't believe all the places to eat in ONE small area!

2011-10-30T08:44:00.001-04:00

FORGIVE ME FOR NOT RESPONDING TO COMMENTS. THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HAD A CONNECTION IN ABOUT 24 HOURS!

MONDAY A.M. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MEET THE MANAGER OF VERIZON/RADIO SHACK AND GET A BOOSTER FOR MY AIR CARD AND FOR THE CELL PHONE. SO IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM ME, PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP!!!

NOT YOUR FAMILY DENTIST

2011-10-28T20:14:00.002-04:00

We learned a lot just this morning and we don’t officiallystart working till Wednesday next week!

After breakfast, we decided to take a walk over to the deercheck station. While we were there, ahunter brought in his kill.

Since I’ve never been through a deer check station whenhunting, I didn’t know what really goes on. I had no idea actually of a lot of the things that they do when theycheck the deer. They check for fat,weight, male or female, age, rank and serial number.

I never knew how they checked to see how healthy the deerwas. That is where checking for fatcomes in. When they do this, they pinchthe body at the base of the tail, just like you would do if you were trying toemphasis you or someone had a roll of fat around the middle…only this is at thebase of the tail. Depending on how muchvertebrae they can feel, will tell them how healthy that deer is.

One person is doing the measuring and another is writing itall down. Since they don’t want toinsult the hunter, they don’t yell out “POOR!” if there isn’t much fat…theyjust call it good.

Then Carolyn took a couple of pairs of something thatreminded me of what Grandma use to put socks on to stretch them out and drythem. If this particular deer had been adoe instead of an 8 point buck, the next step would not have been necessary,they could have easily have gotten the jaw bone without going through all ofthis. But to preserve the head for amount, this next step is used to extract the jaw so they can then age the buck.

There isn’t an easy way to explain what Carolyn did withthese “tools”, other than to tell you she ran one down the mouth on the jawline of this buck while another officer was holding his rack to keep his headturned away from where she was pushing this tool in his mouth. (I DO mean the buck!) She finally got down to the point where sheneeded to be, which was at the base of the jaw or a little beyond.

It seems to me, if I can remember correctly, that then sheused this “tool” to twist and turn to loosen the facia and muscle in the areaso she could then get in with the loppers to cut the jaw out.

When she managed to work the loppers down inside the jaw(after removing the other tool), she had to use a LOT of force to cut that jawbone and extract it…and she’s not a very big gal.

Once the jaw was out, then she could age the deer. This part IS too complicated to go into, butit was interesting. It has to do withmolars, how many molars there are in front, and then the back ones, how muchenamel is on the teeth vs. how much dentin is on the teeth.

Then they weigh the deer. This one dressed out at 125. Theycheck the hooves for sluff for some kind of a fungus disease that deer can get.

Some of the people that do the job that she just did end upwith poison ivy if the deer happened to have been eating poison ivyrecently. This deer apparently had beenfinding plenty of acorns as there was no greenery in his teeth.

As of this a.m. they had a total of 91 deer brought in sofar on this particular 3 day refuge hunt. We know the deer are a LOT smaller here than at home, and a couple morethat we saw were about the size of large diaper bags! And it is legal to shoot them here duringthis by draw hunt.

Our hunt is around November 11-13 as I recall. Dan is looking forward to it. I’m just glad he isn’t one of those crack ofdawn hunters. I USE to be the one goingout in the woods in the dark and trying to get where I was going before thedeer started moving. Now, I enjoy sleeptoo much! Sometimes, I’d be heading backto camp as Dan was finally coming out!

We also found out that the coyote frequent this area a lotat night and that they really don’t seem to be afraid of people. And there are deer out here at night too…butthey are safe in this area because there isn’t any hunting in this section andof course, come sun down, ya better not be hunting.

AND THEN THERE ARE THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS AS WELL AS BROWNRECLUSE. GREAT….

BUT, we do have excellent well water!!!!

I don’t know when I’ll actually get this posted since myVerizon is so limited. I think I’mgoing to try to find a booster. I justneed that little bit extra oomph that I don’t have at this location. I’ve got a few photos I’d like to put up too,but I know it would be a waste of time to try with this thing being so iffy.

Until next time!!!

HERE WE ARE!!!

2011-10-27T17:31:00.001-04:00

We made it to Piedmont about 3:30 p.m. Everything is going fine except that my Verizon aircard signal is very iffy. Currently I'm running on battery with my computer on my lap and trying not to move from this particular spot...not even daring to sneeze!

So, we will see how it goes! THIS IS the way to spend my $% birthday!!!

I'll be in touch when I can!!!

NATURALLY

2011-10-25T07:48:00.003-04:00

It figures that we head south and YOU had one of the best displays of Northern Lights that there has been in a long time! I'm glad a lot of people posted videos and photos!! Naturally, we missed seeing them in person! They may have been visible here, but we were in bed around 8:30 p.m.

It is supposed to be in the 70's today but is chilly this a.m. I'll be glad when we get where we're going to be for the next 6 months. I can get everything set up and my computer in my little office area. Me trying to type here at the table makes me look like Quasimodo. And it isn't comfy either.

We have been very surprised by the lack of traffic. We are GLAD the highways haven't been busy and we're still planning on going thru Atlanta instead of around it...hoping to hit it after morning rush and before afternoon rush. We've got two days to mentally prepare ourselves for that stretch!

Does anyone know the magic secret to getting your TV to stay on English when programming it? I didn't have any issues last year, but this year, I can't get the language to be English. I've managed to figure out how to program stations in Spanish (not French thought), but it would be easier if the darn thing would stay put!

SO FAR SO GOOD!

2011-10-24T18:06:00.002-04:00

Not much to report other than to tell ya we are pooped. We are at a campground in Walton, Ky. We were able to level up without having to unhook.

Dieselruns from $3.75 to $3.89. Not much better down this way than at home! Did see gas in Sturgis for $2.93

THE REST OF THE ALPHABET

2011-10-22T07:57:00.006-04:00

S IS FOR

SNAKES, what else??? I’m not so afraid of them if I KNOW they are there but I will do my bestto avoid them at every possibility.

SPIDERS, we know that already

SASSY kids

SASHIMI, the only raw fish I like are herring in a creamsauce.

STEEPLE CHASE, I don’t enjoy watching these races atall. I worry about the horses too much.

STREP THROAT, still have my tonsils and still OCCASIONALLYget this!

SUCCOTASH, I like corn, but I don’t like it mixed with limabeans or whatever else is in this concoction of vegetables. YUCK

T IS FOR

TERRORISTS

TOBACCO

TRAITORS

TWEEZERS, that usually means one of two things…time to pluckmy eyebrows or I’ve gotten a sliver someplace.

U IS FOR

UPC , the labels on a box that you want to reuse to mailsomething to someone. First you have toblacken the original UPC out in order to send it.

USER FRIENDLY, a term that is highly over rated!

V IS FOR

VICKS VAPO RUB, as akid, I remember my mother making me swallow this stuff.

VANDALISM

W IS FOR

WANNABEES…Just be yourself

WISHY WASHY PEOPLE

X IS FOR

ROMAN NUMERALS BECAUSE I NEVER DID GET ALL THOSE X’S!!!

Y IS FOR

YOO-HOO…I just think it sounds weird for someone trying toget your attention by calling “yoo-hoo”.

Z IS FOR

ZERO…SEE THE REASON I DON’T LIKE “NONE” IN THE “Ns”

ZOMBIES…Let’s face it, do YOU like the walking dead? Now the drink Zombie, I might like that!

AND THERE WE HAVE IT! MAYBE I’LL GO THROUGH THE ALPHABET AND TRY TO FIND THINGS THAT I LIKE FORMY NEXT TIME AROUND!

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU??!!

CHARMED, I'M SURE

2011-10-21T07:38:00.001-04:00

Good morning!!

It is still raining and cold but it is a glorious day to be alive! And I mean that sincerely!!

We are living a charmed life lately.

Last night, my sister in law, Dan and myself were visiting in our "home on wheels". I had forgotten to take my pills earlier in the evening so thought I better do that.

I took one little pill and I always save the vitamin C for last because I usually have difficulty swallowing it. Fortunately, when this happens, I don't panic...I just drink more water till it goes down.

The vitamin C did not cooperate last night and got slightly stuck. Dan and Connie are still talking and I wasn't in a panic. I drank more water and it didn't help.

I thought "That is strange, it always dislodges. But this feels different." Then I tried to breath and realized I could not. So then I thought "That is different. Maybe it is time to panic??"

No one was paying any attention to me until I leaped up from the table and started pulling my coat off (it was chilly in here). I started towards Dan waving my hand trying to get his attention. He asked me what was wrong. Connie said she's choking! I'm trying to point to my throat so he gets the idea, while still taking my coat off. He still didn't get it so I finally tried to gasp air. Then he got busy!

I was trying to back myself up to him so he could do the Heimlich on me but instead of doing that he punched me in the stomach! So I grabbed his arms to try to get them around me. He finally got the idea and proceeded to do the Heimlich on me. By this time my life is finally flashing before my eyes because it feels like an hour has passed and I can only hold my breath for about 20 seconds...so I figured that was about as long as I could go without breathing.

FINALLY, I was able to exhale a huge amount of air and the pill fell to the floor. Tell ya what, I WAS scared!!! I will panic if this ever happens again. But I am going to try to find chewable vitamin C! Now, if they could make calcium with vit D pills smaller.....

Here's something I bet you didn't know;

Manure... An interesting fact

Manure: In the 16th and 17thcenturies, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before theinvention of commercial fertilizers, so large shipments of manure were quitecommon.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane gas. As the cargo was stored below decks in bundles, you can see what could (and did) happen.

Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!

Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the instruction “Stow high in transit” on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the vessel would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Thus evolved the term ' S.H.I.T ', (Stow High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.

You probably did not know the true history of this word.

Neither did I. I always thought it was a golf term.

WE'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR!!

2011-10-20T08:12:00.000-04:00

WE MADE IT TO MY HOME TOWN ABOUT 3:30 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON!

From the time we crossed the bridge till right now and for the next several days, we have been and will be in rain.

We had to park in the rain in Rodger and Connie's side yard, in the hometown of Colon, Michigan. We had to set up in the rain. Because there had been so much rain, the yard is/was very squishy so we had a hard time getting level.

By the time we got "er dun" we were soaked.

But we are here, got a decent nights sleep and are ready to go visit with Rodger and Connie. Did I mention Connie is an awesome cook??? She can make a plain sandwich into a gourmet meal..which is what she did for us last night, plus some awesome potato soup with rivels in it.

So yep, no truck trouble so far, and I will prove to you, weather permitting, that Colon IS the magic capital of the world!!

And I will eventually finish the alphabet of things I don't like or that annoy me.

GOING, GOING GONE!!!

2011-10-18T18:02:00.002-04:00

GOT THE TRUCK BACK AND CHRYSLER PAID FOR IT ALL EXCEPT LABOR.

IT IS TIME FOR ME TO UNPLUG MY BATTERY BACK UPS AND TAKE THEM TO THE NEIGHBORS FOR STORAGE. THEY DON'T DO WELL IN COLD TEMPS AND IT WILL BE COLD IN HERE!! BTW, I MEANT THE BATTERY BACK UPS DON'T DO WELL IN COLD TEMPS!!!

SO I MIGHT NOT BE BACK ONLINE TILL??????

THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON

2011-10-17T15:56:00.000-04:00

I've always believed that everything happens for a reason.

Even though Dan and I are upset that we have had to postpone leaving for a couple of days, I knew there was a reason for it...besides just the fact that we were lucky that we weren't hauling our 5th wheel and find out that we needed a new turbo. I know our friends all have said "boy weren't you lucky this didn't happen while traveling". Yes, we were, but I just felt there was more to it.

Last night, I wasn't quite asleep and I wasn't quite awake...do you ever have that "state"? I had what I am going to call a vision. Dan and I were in the truck, traveling down the road and he said "I can't steer the truck!". It was so real it made my heart pound.

I put it out of my mind until the same vision happened again within probably 15 minutes of the first one.

So, being the worry wart that I am, I emailed Kevin at Newberry Motors and told him he could think I was nuts if he wanted to but I wanted everything and anything that had to do with the steering to be checked.

They just called and said the steering linkage has to be replaced. Thank goodness the turbo is covered by warranty but this part is not.

Ever since we found out that my visions probably saved our lives, I feel almost sick to my stomach. I'm also feeling terribly on edge.

I've given my thanks to God for these visions and for me following thru on them and not worrying about what someone might think.

TRUCK LUCK

2011-10-15T07:50:00.000-04:00

We are going to be here a couple more days.

Our Dodge diesel needs a new turbo and they can't get the part till Monday so it will probably be Thursday before we can head out. That has put a change in our plans as far as visiting family and friends before we head to Georgia. We'll still be visiting but not as long. And I had to give up seeing my best friend Anne this trip.

The truck has been running fine and we have been getting great mileage considering the size of the truck. We've gotten 22.5 on trips to the Soo. So we were very surprised the other day when it started acting up. Fortunately the truck was HERE when it happened.

Dan and I fussed with it till we finally got it running "right" and he headed off to Newberry Motors for them to check it out. So this is a hats off to Kevin Vanetta the owner for coming to our rescue when they have a lot of other things going on to. And due to various appointments we are still trying to keep, we have a loaner vehicle to get us through.

So, last night I had two "visions". Both times I wasn't asleep and they happened within probably an hour of each other. I was at that state where you are almost asleep. My first "vision" was Dan having trouble steering the truck and me asking "what's going on??". And then it happened again later. As dumb as this may sound, I'm going to ask them to check everything that has to do with steering the vehicle...from the wheel to the axles and anything in between. I truly believe everything happens for a reason....

I will have to remember to call our ISP and tell them to NOT shut us off on Tuesday at noon and to do it on Thursday. Other wise I'll be sitting here with no internet connection.

We've got a wonderful day for closing up the park. It is 39 degrees and the wind is really howling. And it was raining sideways a while ago. We're supposed to have rain till we leave on Thursday! Great packing weather!

Since we can't move the 5th wheel out to the shop (no truck), we'll have to run a couple of hoses from the hydrant out there so we can get the 5th wheel "de-winterized" and sanitize the system. We'll probably end up using the loaded bucket to bring things out of the shop that Dan needs to put in the basement of the 5th wheel. Too bad we hadn't already gotten the 5th wheel out to the shop before the truck decided to get a belly ache.

That's how it is going here! How about you?

THE CONTINUATION OF THE ALPHABET

2011-10-14T18:33:00.000-04:00

I IS FOR

ICE STORMS, I think that is self explanatory

IRRESPON SIBLE PEOPLE

IVORY, it’s not that I don’t like ivory, but I don’t likethe way it is/was obtained.

J IS FOR

JAZZ, I like all kinds of music, but this is not one of thekinds that I like.

JODHPURS, I wouldn’t look good wearing them and I wouldn’teven be seen in them!

K IS FOR

KALE, yep, there’s another food!

KIDNAPPERS AND KILLERS

L IS FOR

LLAMA SPIT

LICKETYSPLIT, I haven’t been able to move lickety-split in along time, so why like it??

LIMBURGER CHEESE, WHO can eat that stinking stuff?? It smells like a polecat!

LYME DISEASE, I have seen what this has done to people.

M IS FOR

MACARANA, Kind of like the music, but thought the dance wasdumb.

MAGIC, Even though I am from the Magic Capitol of the World,I don’t like magic tricks. I don’t mindthe simple ones, but when it gets to making an elephant that is on fire disappear,I don’t like it because I can’t figure it out and I am dumb enough to set thereand watch!

METRICS, I don’t get it; probably because it is math to me.

MOSQUITOS!!!

N IS FOR

NONE, I don’t like itwhen (hold on to your ears for this double negative) “I ain’t got none’”

NUMERATOR, see F for fractions.

O IS FOR

OINK, THAT sound means that there are pigs around and ifthose pigs are older than 6-8 months I really don’t want to be aroundthem. Bad pig experience once….

OPERA, I guess thereIS another form of “music” I don’t like…the only opera I care for is “Ava Maria”.

OX TAIL SOUP, It wasbad enough eating tongue!

P IS FOR

PASSWORDS!!!! Howmany of those things do YOU have??!!

PROCRASTINATION

PROTRACTOR, they remind me of Miss Grimes 8^thgrade math class and I shudder….

Q IS FOR

QUITTER, one who quits, gives up

QUESTIONAIRRES…I’VE GIVEN UP FILLING OUT THOSE DAMN THINGS.

R IS FOR

RABIES, I wasfortunate that the chipmunk didn’t have rabies, but I still had to endure 3shots before we found out!

REPTILES in any form

RUST, I just can’t think of any good use for rust.

That brings us to the S's...for another day....