Thursday, June 20, 2013

June 19, 2013

Wow, once again I have not been good about blogging.  Lots has been going on, but I have not gotten a chance to write it all down. 

The week of 2 through 6 I spent the week at Interim Ministry Network Conference at the Sheridan Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.   I spent the week helping as the Hospitality Chair person for the conference.  I did lots of running.  Every night I was pooped when I got back to the camper.  Harris and the camper were parked in the southern part of Indianapolis.  The campground was a fish camp, but nice. 

June 6-15 - DRV Annual Rally

Thursday Harris picked me up at the hotel around 10:30 a.m.  We went back to the camper and hooked up and left for Goshen, IN. and our Annual DRV Rally.  (our brand of camper).  This is our 3rd Rally. 

Friday, June 7 - Washing!!!  We found a laundry mat and got our clothes clean.  We also began connecting with friends we met at the Rally last year.  Margie, and Paul, Marge and Bill, Bill and Jody, and Terry and Mary.  Terry and Mary had their 4 yr old granddaughter with them. 

We also met a new couple who were camping near us, Tom and Cindy. 

Our Camper next to AG and Mary Ann's
Saturday, - June 8.  Dinner at an Amish home.  There were 100 of us who enjoyed a Amish dinner, served by the Amish family who lived there. 

Sunday - June 9  - Church at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church.  Harris and I both worked at Sunnside about 15 yrs ago.  What fun to see people we have not seen in many years.  It was good being back there. 

After church we met my good friend Kathy for lunch at Panera.  It was really fun catching up with her and hearing about her family. 

Back at the campground it was time to go up to the BIG pot luck, with all our friends.  Jody and Bill's daughter and her husband brought their granddaughter to the campground so she could spend the week with Jody and Bill. 

All the DRV's
Monday - June 10 the actual Rally began.  That was the beginning of our really fun week. There were 137, Select Suites, Mobile Suites, and Elite Suites.  It was a really BIG Rally.  Since the factor is in Howe, IN (not that far from Goshen), the factor treated to many surprises.  There were many meals, served, and lots of extras.  On Friday we took a tour of the factory and they fed us lunch.  As you might guess, we ate way to much.  We also  enjoyed a lot of time with our friends, and got to know Tom and Cindy better.

Saturday - June 15 - Time to leave the Rally.  Our last goodbye was at a breakfast of wonderful donuts and coffee. 

We headed as far as Cedar Springs, MI, where we spent the night.  I had laundry to do, so I spent the afternoon doing laundry.  Shortly after we arrived at the campground, another DRV pulled in.  When we talked to them, we found out they too had been at the Rally.  We both recognized each other. 

Sunday- June 16,  We were up and ready to go shortly after breakfast.  Our destination was Otsego State Park near Gaylord, MI, were we were meeting Dave and Elaine to camp for the rest of the week.  Dave and Elaine arrived shortly before we did. 

Elaine fixed Chicken Chili and salad for dinner.  What a treat. 

Monday - June 17 We headed into Gaylord, MI to check out the town.  One of the really neat things we found was the Elk sanctuary.  The first stop by to see them, we found them resting in the tall grass.  So onto the grocery store.  Before we headed back to the camper we stopped by the Elk Sanctuary again, this time we found them feeding nearer the fence.  We got lots of really good pictures.  Since we had lunch out we decided to eat cheese and crackers fir dinner. 

Tuesday - June 18 - We headed back to Gaylord to run some errands and then head to Houghton Lake to Camping World.  Then back to the campground where we spent the afternoon chilling.  We fixed Brats, coleslaw, corn on the cob, and asparagus.  Elaine had made brownies for dessert. 

Wednesday, June 19  We had decided we wanted to spend the day at the campground just reading and enjoying the day here.  Since it was a quiet day, we got the bikes outs and took a ride, over to the store across the street to have an ice cream cone.  Elaine and Dave made dinner (Salmon, baked sweet potato's, and salad). 

Thursday - June 20  Elaine was one sick puppy.  She spent the day in bed.  Harris and I got our ironing done.  I got the barbecue roast beef ready to go into the crockpot for dinner.  After I cleaned up the mess, I made salsa.  Once again I cleaned up the mess.  This afternoon, I made a Rhubarb pie.  Our day was spent reading, and relaxing outside.  Tonight for dinner, we had barbeque beef, sweet potato fries, and broccoli.  Elaine had soup.  Harris, Dave and I had rhubarb pie. 


Until tomorrow!
Otsego State Park beach





Harris

Elaine and Dave  watching the Elk



Beach  at Otsego State Park

Elk feeding




 

Sunday, June 2, 2013



June 2, 2013

Our camper in the dirveway at Don and Linda's
We left Des Moines on Friday morning heading for Beecher, IL to visit with Don and Linda who we met at Paradise RV Resort in Sun City.  We arrived at Don and Linda's house around 4:30.  We put our camper in their driveway and stayed with them. 

We had a great visit with them.  Saturday we attended their grandson and granddaughters soccer game.  The weather was cool, but sunny when we left.  The clouds rolled in shortly after we got to the field for the game.  We had more rain later that day.  We are really getting tied of rain.  It rained almost every day while we were in Des Monies and now again in Illinois.  I am thinking we may need to look for material to build that Ark again. 


Linda's garden
Saturday afternoon, we spent the afternoon looking at Don and Linda's farm.  Linda was getting ready for an art show on Sunday, so she finished up some things she wanted to take to the show.  Harris and I spent the time reading while Don and Linda did the things they needed to do. 

Linda's garden
Saturday evening, they took us to dinner at the USA American Cafe in Grant Park, IL.  It is a small town near their town.  It was fun watching them as they know everyone around.  Don grew up in the area.  They have also had a hair salon for many years. 

They have a great place.  It was fun being at their house and just relaxing. 



Linda in her workshop


Linda's craft 
Don and Linda's house
 
Pond in the back yard or Don and Linda's

 
 
 

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Wow, I can't believe I have not written on the blog for such a long time.  I will try to catch up with the highlights. 

We arrived in Des Moines, IA on May 7 and checked into Prairie Flower Corp of Engineers Camp ground.  On Thursday, May 9, Vicki, Gayle and I headed to Peoria, IL for our annual Cousin weekend.  Harris stayed at the campground with the camper. 

On Thursday afternoon, my cousin Mike and his wife Barb arrived at the campground to camp across the street from us. 

Saturday, Vicki, Gayle and myself arrived back here in time to meet Mike, Barb, and Harris at our favorite pizza place in Polk City, IA. 

Mothers Day!


We spent the day at Vicki and Gary's house with the rest of the family. It was sort of a family reunion. Gayle, and her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, plus Mike and Barb at their son, and daughter, and two of her kids. It is always fun catching up with the family.

Monday, May 13 Harris and I got on an airplane going to Wilmington, NC for our annual Consultants meeting.  Our hotel was right on the water.  I took several pictures from our hotel room on the 8th floor. 

Across the bay from our Hotel

We returned from Wilingtom on Thursday late evening.  We spent Friday catching up with things around the camper. 

May 21st.  This would have been my mothers 92 birthday.  It seems like every year on her birthday, I think about her.  Sometimes, I think about her even before I look at the date. 

Tuesday, was moving day for us we had to leave Prairie Flower as our 2 weeks were.  So we made the move to Cherry Glen Corp of Engineers.



Campsite at Bob Shetler
The move to Cherry Glen was quick and easy.  We found a great campsite that we enjoyed for the 4 days we were there.  It seemed like every day we had rain.  Since we couldn't get a reservation for Memorial day weekend, we needed to move again.  It was off to Bob Shetler Corp of Engineers park, It rained all weekend.  The weather was cool and raining.  We spent a good deal of time at Vicki and Gary's house.  Because of the rain, they didn't go down to where they have their camper parked. 

On the 27th it was back to Cherry Glen site #48, which is the same site we left on Saturday. 


Iowa Capital Building in Des Moines

Harris in Des Moines


Spillway at Saylorville Dam

Bob Shetler Campsite from above on the dam