You were right!

I was wrong.  Thank goodness enough of you left comments so I didn’t set my clocks back an hour last night.  Daylight Savings Time doesn’t end, and we don’t fall back on hour until next weekend.  In my defense, I looked on my calendar, and end DST was printed on yesterday’s square.  I have my brother, Carl, to thank for that.  He made the calendar that I have hanging on my fridge.  Maybe he was just trying to add a little excitement to my dull life??  If so, he succeeded. 

Emma and I were up early this morning to view the sunrise on her first outs.  Yesterday I had thought to head over to the Skillern Tract to view the morning exodus of egrets and cormorants from the roosting area, but I really had to take care of some laundry chores in the morning.  I was scheduled to work in the VIS (Visitor’s Information Station) this afternoon, so I couldn’t do both.  The laundry won out.

As usual for this time of the year, it was a slow day.  Only had 21 people stop in, and very few sales. 

I did find another butterfly species stopping in the garden before I headed back inside because the mosquitoes had found some fresh meat on my exposed arms.  It was a wonderful day weather wise, but there wasn’t much bird activity in the afternoon.

I leave you tonight with another shot of today’s sunrise.  I have tomorrow off, and will make a trip to Beaumont to stock up on supplies and try to get a haircut.  Haircuts are always a challenge on the road.  That will add a little excitement to my day! 

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

Back to work

As I’m sure many of you know, it’s been pretty hot and dry in Texas this year. 

Even though it’s located on the gulf coast, the refuge hasn’t been immune to these conditions.  The pond behind the VIS is dry as a bone.  It hasn’t seemed to inhibit the mosquito population, however.    If there’s one of those little nasty things around, they always seem to find any piece of my exposed skin.  I’m itching away this evening.

As I left for the VIS this morning, the cold front that moved through resulted in a 38* temperature.   Brrr!  Since it has been so hot up until this morning, the little heaters hadn’t been moved back to the VIS yet.  I was wearing multiple layers and gloves as I opened shop this morning.

The clouds had been blown away overnight, and eventually the sun warmed things up.  The butterfly gardens were alive with gulf fritillaries.  I even found several of their caterpillars.  As I walked the paths, they flitted about in little clouds.

There were also monarchs and several other varieties of butterflies taking advantage of the asters and Turk's  caps.  Finding them helped pass the time as there weren’t very many visitors today. 

There were a few warblers about, and the little rabbit that seems to live under the VIS shack.  It was a long nine hours for my first day back to work.  I’ll be back there tomorrow afternoon, but then I’ll have a day off to take care of chores.  It will take a few days to get back in the groove for both Emma and me.  Since she’s had me around the rig for the last six months, I’m sure she was a little surprised to be cooped up alone all day today.  If she were calmer, I’d be able to take her with me.  Maybe in another five or six years… 

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back tonight.  If I wake up at the usual time tomorrow, maybe Emma and I will take an early morning hike on the Skillern Tract.  The moist soil units there have been kept hydrated, so there should be lots of birds.  I’ll see if I can drag myself out of bed around six.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

Finally made it to Anahuac NWR

At last, I pulled into the volunteer pads this afternoon about 2:30.  What a relief to finally get here. 

I’m rather proud to say that I backed into my assigned site on the first try without any mishaps!  I took my time about it, and I think it helped that I didn’t have an audience.  The pad is cement, but the approach to it is iffy.  It didn’t take me too long to get everything set up for an extended stay.  Of the eight RV spots, this one is my favorite.  I’ve come home for the next two months. 

As you can see, the skies were overcast all day, and the winds only increased as I made my way into Texas.  By the time I got here the northerly winds were blowing about 30 mph and cold!  Welcome to Texas. 

Here’s what I found on the seat of the picnic table after I set up.  It’s an owl pellet, and it seems this owl dined on a digging rodent.  The owls can’t digest the bones and fur, so they spit them up in pellets. Everything that is digestible is gone.  I’m happy that there is an owl close by that is taking care of the rodents.  Better that they provide food for the owl than visit my rig!

Stephanie, the volunteer coordinator, stopped by this afternoon to say welcome.  After dark, my friend Colin and the two other volunteers showed up after a day spent in Lake Charles planting and transporting native plants for the refuge.  All of this is to help the refuge recover from the devastation of hurricane Ike several years ago.  It was great seeing Colin again.  He is from England, and has come to Anahuac to volunteer in the fall for the last nine years.  Because of my delays in getting here, we’ll only be working together for under two weeks.    Shucks!

Well, I’ve got to set my alarm tonight for the first time in about six months.  Ugh!  I need to leave here at 7:20 to drive the 10 miles to open up the VIS tomorrow.  It’s back to work (?) for me tomorrow, and I’m actually looking forward to it.  We’ll see how long that lasts…

Can you tell that Emma was thrilled that we finally arrived also?  She spent quite some time frolicking around playing with her little fox.  Sure beats the pavement of a repair shop parking lot!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

Chillin’ this evening

Yahooie Louie (siana)!  I don’t have to buy any more ice!  The switch out of the sort of old, broken refrigerator, and the installation of the new working refrigerator was accomplished this morning.  I didn’t transfer the few items I had left soaking in ice until about 3:00 this afternoon.  I wanted to be sure this new one worked first, and I have to tell you that I decided to keep the brushed silver doors.  They fit perfectly, and everything on the outside looks the same.  I may actually make it to Anahuac NWR tomorrow… finally.

I did notice a distinct odor coming from the fridge this morning, and when I cleared everything out so it could be removed, I found a hidden boneless chicken breast under the cold water.  P-U!!  It’s been defrosted in there for over two weeks.  I don’t know how I missed throwing it out, but I did. 

So you know what I did late this afternoon… grocery shopping!  Now I’ll actually be able to eat something other than canned goods for the next week or so.  It’s those little things like working brakes and a refrigerator that makes life a little easier.  I’m as happy as a pig in mud, or, as happy as a ______ in _____.  I’ll let you fill in the blanks. 

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

One step forward, two steps back

When I last left you, I had just set up at Premiere RV in Scott, LA.  Yesterday, Emma and I had to get lost for a few hours while the techs here took care of all the other things on my list that didn’t involve the refrigerator.  You know, stuff like having the generator serviced after all the use this past summer, oil change for the rig, and having the front end panel adjusted so it wouldn’t pop open as I drive down the road.  One of the techs also looked at and fixed one of my sliding closet doors.  I’ve battled with that thing since day one, and it was just getting worse.  It’s all fixed now.

                                (All pictures tonight are from last year’s stay at Anahuac NWR.)
There was no better time for a drive to Suire’s Grocery and Restaurant to have my first shrimp Po’boy of the season.  I did a post on this place last January, and it’s still just as interesting and delicious as before.  By the time we returned, the rig was back in it’s place.  Plans were then made for Cory to pick up my new refrigerator on his way to work this morning.
When Cory arrived this morning, there was no fridge in the back of his truck.  It seems the guy working the fork lift dropped the fridge on the ground from a height of at least four feet as he tried to load it into the truck!  Cory said the thing bounced more than a foot in the air, and he refused to take delivery of it.  Good grief!  What next?

So, this afternoon Billy Thibodeaux (the owner of Premiere RV) will go to pick up a second refrigerator, and Cory will install it tomorrow morning.  That’s the plan, anyhow.  It will be black instead of silver, but I can still use my magnets on it.  I’ll decide tomorrow if I like the black or want my present brushed silver doors installed instead.  They have to take the doors off in order to get it in the window anyway.  I’m thinking that the black is more likely to show fingerprints and such.  Any input?

Then this afternoon I got a call from Stephanie, the volunteer coordinator at Anahuac, checking to see how things were going with my troubles.  I told her I was hoping to pull into the volunteer pads on Friday.  That’s when she asked me if I’d be able to work the Visitor’s Information Station (VIS) on Saturday.  That Stephanie sure doesn’t give anyone time for grass to grow under their feet!    Of course, I said yes since I’ll be arriving almost a month late as it is.  I’m anxious to get there finally…

and enjoy some more of these great sunsets from my parking spot.  (Do you see the goose cloud flying in at the top?)
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

I retained my dignity…

…and made it to Thibodaux's Premiere RV in Scott, LA, without any mishaps.  I even found a way to exit Swinging Bridge RV to avoid most of the huge speed bumps and all of the curbs.  The only problem along the 226 mile drive was that the rest area that I planned to stop at for relief for both Emma and me was closed.  I guess it’s a good thing I don’t drink coffee.

Last night, after I had set up for the night, Jerry and Wanda from EggRollings stopped by to say hello.  They are fellow bloggers whose blog I follow, and they were camping at a state park in Jackson, MS.  They camp in a Casita and also do hot air balloon flying.  Many of you know it’s always a hoot to meet fellow bloggers on  the road, and we had a short, but enjoyable meeting.  Wanda even volunteered to hold the ‘wild child’ while I took their picture. 

I’ve got full hookups here at Premiere, and even set up the DISH this afternoon.  I need to beef up my DVR recordings after not having satellite TV for the last two weeks.  Not much else is new from here.  I’m happy to finally be here, and I’ll find out tomorrow what the repair schedule will be.  It seems to me, being in Louisiana, I may just see a shrimp Po'boy in the not too distant future…

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

An uneventful drive…NOT!

After buying three more bags of ice this morning, Emma and I pulled out of the Memphis South RV Park shortly after nine.  There was a 30% chance of showers for the journey, and we found ourselves in that 30% for a couple of hours.  Around noon, a rest area appeared so we pulled in.  As I took Emma out for a walk, I made the customary trip around the rig and toad checking to see that everything looked in order.  It did.  Back inside, as I had a piece of that pumpkin pie I bought yesterday, a bus load of tourists pulled in next to me.  It appeared to be a senior citizens group.  They began to mill around in the parking area, and several were pointing at my rig and chattering away.  Several even took pictures.  Curiosity got the better of me, so I leashed Emma, and we stepped outside.  I was hoping there wasn’t something terribly wrong that I hadn’t noticed. 

We barely got down the steps when one of the group came over to talk to me.  Turns out he was their tour leader, and they were all from Sweden.  None of them had seen a rig like this before, and they were all very curious.  First question was about what it costs to buy one of these rigs.  Next, the leader asked if some of them could take a peek inside.  I said okay, and that’s when the queue formed.  One at a time they came in to the top of the steps and oohed and aahed.   I tried to explain about the slide out, but wasn’t sure they understood.  They wanted to know if I slept on the couch, and if I drove this thing myself.  I suppose now, I’ll be known as the crazy woman in the United States that lives in a big bus.    As for Emma, she was thrilled with all of the attention.

As I exited I-55 for the Swinging Bridge RV Park in Byram, MS, I got a slightly queasy feeling in my stomach.  Things seemed too familiar.  Sure enough, I’ve stayed here before, and the entrance road is a doozy.  You have to drive through a strip mall with several big speed bumps, and someone decided to park their car making the left hand turn into the campground almost impossible.  I really had no choice but to have the rig’s rear driver’s side tire go up and over a curb so I wouldn’t hit the car.  Well, for the first time ever, two cabinet doors flew open and all my dishes came flying out.  I don’t have a lot of glass things, but much of what I do have ended up crashing into a million pieces.  What a racket that made!  Ugh!  Before I could let Emma out of her crate after setting up, I spent a half hour sweeping up glass shards.

Then there was the mystery of the missing shoes.  After putting the slides out, I could only find one of the four shoes I had on a shelf back by the bedroom.  I looked everywhere.  I even checked to see if they had been sucked outside when I put the slide out.  I figured they got knocked off of the shelf when I did the curb thing, but where could they have gone?  It wasn’t until some time later that I figured it out.  With the up and down of the curb, apparently a drawer flew open, and the flying shoes landed inside just before the drawer slammed shut again.  I had to chuckle over that one.  Who finds three shoes mixed in with their undies??

With any luck, I’ll finally make it to Premiere RV in Scott, LA, tomorrow in a dignified and uneventful way…

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

Another one of life’s little adventures

In weak moments, I sometimes long for a less exciting (or trauma filled) existence, but it usually doesn’t last long.  Yesterday was a pretty calm day, so I planned for today to be the same.  You know what they say about plans.  After sending two more faxes to Samsung this morning, I decided Emma and I should take the scenic 304 route around Arkabutla Lake.  We started out down US 51 which is four lanes with a 45 mph speed limit.  A couple of miles down the road, the car decided to stop in the middle of the road.  It was like someone was stepping on the brakes!  Didn’t have too much control over the steering, and we were very definitely coming to a quick stop!  I almost made it all the way off of the road, but not quite.  I immediately put on my emergency blinkers and tried to stop shaking long enough to figure out what the heck was going on.  Could Emma have somehow pulled up the emergency brake?…no, that was not possible.  The engine was still running, but I couldn’t go forward.  Then I noticed a loud drone that my mind finally categorized as familiar.  I checked for traffic, and then quickly jumped out of the car to run to check the front grill.

Sure enough, that little thingamajig on the left had fallen out.  It’s the plug for the break-away brakes when you’re towing a car behind your motorhome.  It normally attaches to your rig, so if the car breaks away, it will automatically stop.  I’ve never had it fall out before, but at least I now know that back-up braking system works.  I did find it in the middle of the road about 20-30’ back, and plugged it back in.  Phew!!

I took this pic along the way to the lake.  The young lady in the office said route 304 really wasn’t very scenic, but I beg to differ.  Maybe it’s because she has lived her entire life in the area, or maybe it’s because I’ve spent too much time recently in parking lots, but I thought it was just like a jigsaw puzzle picture.

The weather was perfect, and the views enjoyable around the big lake.  Emma and I were able to get out and do a little walking as well.

As the road wound around through the courthouse square of Hernando, MS, I noticed a farmer’s market taking place.

If you’ve been reading this blog for very long, you know that I had to stop!  Of course, I got some tomatoes, but I had difficulty choosing which little six inch homemade pie I wanted.  Caramel Apple or Pumpkin Streusel?  I finally picked the pumpkin one.  (It’s delicious!)   This is a big sweet potato growing area, but I surely didn’t need a bushel of sweet potatoes. I asked one elderly potato farmer if I could just buy two potatoes, and he decided to just give them to me. How nice was that?

On the way back to the rig, I also stopped at the DeSoto County Historical Museum, but I think I’ll leave that for another post.  All’s well that ends well…

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

Graceland? Don’t think so.

When I asked the woman at the front desk of Memphis South RV in Coldwater, MS, what to see in the area tomorrow, her first suggestion was Graceland.  She was shocked when I told her I never cared for Elvis.  I guess maybe it’s un-American, but it’s true.  Now, my brother, Kurt, owned a pair of blue suede shoes back in the day, but Elvis just never did anything for me.  I’m more of a white buck type of person. 

Since I want to arrive in Scott, LA, on Monday, I decided to spend two nights here.  My drive today took me through four states, and Memphis was a bit of a pucker drive, but by 1:30 I was set up across from a minuscule pond about 150 yards from I-55.  I’m thinking that tomorrow Emma and I will take the scenic drive around Arkabutla Lake.  I may even stop in at the DeSoto County Museum along the way. 

Remember when I had HLS (hairy leg syndrome) a few weeks back?  Well, now I’m developing a new malady with these colder temperatures: CFS (cracked finger syndrome).  I got out the bag balm and band aids last night, and was lathered up before I hit the hay.  I hate those painful cracks that develop on the tips of my fingers.  It’s none too soon for me to get further south to warmer climes.  On the bright side, nothing new broke down today.  Yahoo!  Just a little problem with the front end of the rig popping open as I move down the road.  That’s where the generator is located.  I just never know when the whole front of the rig below the windshield will decide to lean out.  Goofy.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy 

Made it to Missouri

By this morning, the rain had blown away, but there was still quite a breeze outside.  I decided to chance it, and left about 11:00.  I normally leave a lot earlier on a travel day, but since I only planned to drive about 80 miles, it was early enough.  It only took about an hour and a half to get to Sikeston, MO, but I’d had enough by then anyway as the winds increased as I reached my destination.

I took a few pictures before I left the Marion Campground & RV Park.   After my experience here, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.  On the minus side, the sites are close together and there is definitely road noise from I-57.  On the plus side, all sites are full hookup with cable and wifi.  There is a large area to walk your dog with poop bags provided.  The laundry is $1.00/load to wash or dry, and the showers were very clean with individually locking doors.  But that is just the ordinary outside appearance.

Julie Ross, the manager, makes this an outstanding place to stop in my opinion.  I believe she went above and beyond normal expectations to make my stay as pleasant as possible under the circumstances.  To begin with, after finding out about my refrigerator problems she sent the fax of my receipt to Samsung three different times.  Then when it came time to check out this morning, she shocked me with my bill.  Upon arrival, I had paid for one night’s stay at a little over $27 with the Escapees discount.  I then ended up staying an additional 7 nights as I worked through the issues with Samsung.  The weekly rate here is $170.  This morning’s bill was $110, and she refused to charge me for the 12 bags of ice I have consumed in my time here!   Talk about a campground manager with an Escapees heart.  Wow!  Thank you Julie Ross.  I hope anyone traveling through this neck of the woods will give this campground their support.

After setting up here at Hinton RV Park in Sikeston, I played around on the computer for a while, and then I had the office call the shuttle to take me to Lambert’s.  Every commenter that suggested you get way too much food is correct.  I really wish I could have ordered off of the kid’s menu.  I was able to even catch a hot roll thrown to me across the room.    And it was definitely hot.  Tomorrow, my plan is to push on into Mississippi just south of Memphis.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

The weather interfered with my plans

The last two days have been windy and raining, so my plans to head for Louisiana have been stymied.  I’m still sitting in Marion, IL.  I don’t like to drive in high winds, and the continuous rain added to my reluctance to leave.  Other rigs have pulled into and out of the campground, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.  Both Emma and I are going a little stir crazy, but I hope we’ll get a little ways down the road tomorrow.

In plotting my course, I’ve decided to just do a short jaunt tomorrow to Sikeston, MO.  Since the rig can’t be worked on until next week anyway, I won’t kill myself getting there.  Lambert’s Restaurant is located in Sikeston, and is home to the ‘Throwed Rolls’.   There’s a shuttle from the campground to the restaurant, so I thought I’d give that a try. 

As I’ve been perusing campgrounds along my route to Scott, LA, I now have a new requirement for where I’ll be staying this trip.  The campground must sell ice.  Although supplies are dwindling in my freezer turned cooler, I still need to keep it cool with bags of ice.  I’ve had to ditch quite a few things in the dumpster since it’s been a week since the fridge last worked. I can only eat so much each day, and most of the meat I had in the freezer has either been eaten or gotten rid of.  So far I’ve been able to keep it at about 39* with two bags of ice/day.

Unlike many people, grocery shopping has always been something I have enjoyed.  So, once the new fridge is installed I’m going to have a good old time restocking it.    It’s a PITA right now, but I’m trying to keep a positive attitude.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy 

Heading for Louisiana

I’m not going to go into all the details from today about dealing with Samsung, but let’s just say I will be receiving a full refund for the fridge that I purchased last January.  I’ve decided, depending on the weather, to head out of here tomorrow morning, and set my destination for Thibodeaux’s Premiere RV in Scott, LA.

I’ll load up on ice before I leave.  I’m using the bottom freezer compartment of the non-working fridge as a cooler until a new unit can be installed.  It seems there isn’t anyone in southern Illinois willing to remove this fridge for service.    Having only a cooler reminds me of my tenting days.

I enjoyed visiting Crab Orchard NWR, but I wish it would have been under different circumstances.  I’ve hooked up the toad, and by the time I go to bed tonight all I’ll have left to do is unhook the water and electric.  My latest plan is to make it just south of Memphis tomorrow afternoon.  Wish me luck in leaving Murphy behind in Illinois!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

Crab Orchard NWR Discovery Tour

Each Sunday afternoon in October, the Crab Orchard NWR opens some of its back roads to the public for a self-guided Discovery Tour.  Since I have found myself here on an October Sunday, you can bet I took that tour today.  As you can probably guess, the middle of the afternoon on a hot day doesn’t bode well for seeing much wildlife, but there is a lot of history to this refuge.  It was established the same year I was born and consists of 44,000 acres.  It’s main purpose is protect the lands that provide the needed habitat for migrating and nesting waterfowl.

Crab Orchard Lake and many of the refuge ponds were created by the CCC in the 1930’s.  These ruddy ducks are some of the early fall arrivals.  My guess is this great egret may head further south as the season progresses. 

Several Civil War veterans are buried in the Hampton Cemetery.  The oldest tombstone dates back to 1855.  There is only access to this cemetery  on the Sundays in October.

Neighboring farms lease pastures for grazing their cattle during the summer.  By the end of the month, all of the cattle will be gone and the pastures will be used as feeding and resting areas all winter for the visiting geese.

Local farmers plant crops on about 5000 acres of the refuge, and in lieu of rent, they share the harvest with the wildlife.  By my figuring, it looked like about 25% of the crop was left behind. 

Also located on one of the back roads was this Illinois “Big Tree” Champion.  In 1984, this Swamp White Oak was classified as the largest known swamp white oak in the state.  It was huge.

Down another of the roads were large mounds of earth covered “igloos”.  They were used during World War II for the storage of bombs, mines, shells and other high explosives.  Like I said, lots of history to the lands of this refuge.  I’m so glad I got to take this back road trip that most folks don’t get to see.

I found the tour interesting, but I can’t say the same for my passenger in the back seat.  Emma did well, but was ready for something more invigorating, so we took a different hike today.  We did the Woodland Trail that begins right off of the Visitor’s Center parking lot.  Another nice walk through the woods, and because it was late in the afternoon, we had the whole trail to ourselves.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

A refuge trail and a revelation

After a scrambled egg breakfast (need to be using things up from the fridge before they go bad), Emma and I headed out for Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.  I stopped at the visitor’s center to get my NWR passport book stamped, and to find out about any hiking trails and the auto tour route.  For quite some time now I’ve been interested in purchasing another hooded sweatshirt with a zipper front.  The couple I have are getting rather worn and dingy.  It has been a fruitless quest up until today.  I found exactly what I was looking for at the visitor’s center, and it even has the refuge logo emblazoned on it.  The day was starting out well!

The ranger gave me maps, and after seeing me hobble into the center suggested the Harmony Trail for a hike.  Turns out I’ve got a little ‘hitch in my get-a-long’ today.  Growing older isn’t easy some days.  Besides, I could use a little harmony in my life right now.

Harmony Trail is a one mile loop through mixed forest with a few ponds along the way.  It was a fine day for a hike in the woods.

Emma was as happy as I to be out and about.  My hip suggested I take advantage of this bench about half way along to enjoy the pond view, and I listened.

I also heard blue jays, squirrels, woodpeckers, and the crunching of leaves as Emma investigated all the new smells in the area.  When we got back to the car, I was ready to continue the auto tour route.  It’s really not as scenic as many refuge routes I’ve been on, but it’s a little early in the season for the migrating waterfowl to be here.

As we crossed the Wolf Creek Causeway over Crab Orchard Lake, there was an avian blockade straddling the road.

I wondered if these three were union officials sent to oversee the ring-billed gull picket line.    In a daring move, Emma and I crossed the picket line and continued our journey.

The road soon ended, and we turned around to retrace our path.  Tomorrow some of the back roads will be open for self-guided tours, so we’ll probably be back.  It was an enjoyable morning well spent.

A while back when I was having a conversation with my son, Daniel, he was surprised that I could not access my DVR’d programs through DISH even though I didn’t have the satellite hooked up.  I didn’t think much about that until this afternoon.  The last few nights I’ve been watching a few DVD’s since the local stations don’t have much that I’m interested in.  Well, this afternoon I decided to see if I could access the DVR’d stuff without the dish set up, and it turned out I could.  What a revelation that was to me.  And to think, it only took five years for me to find that out.  Duh!

Oh yeah, the highlight of my day today was seeing a bobcat cross the road in front of me with a big ol’ rabbit in it’s jaws!  Cool beans!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy