Clearmont Fl

Thur. Linda had two sleepless nights about my health insurance.  We were able to redo it and now we are both happy for the next year.   When we looked out our window we saw one of the many turtles(top left picture). 

Fri. We went to the Orlando Mall to a one to one Apple computer class.  We got a lot of questions answered and he was able to show us part of the number program.  We then went out to dinner then home.

Sat.  We finally made time to clean the windows on the car.  They had gotten very dirty as we traveled in the rain with it towed behind the rig(top right picture).  We also made time to go swimming.  I was able to play water volleyball for two hours.  While Linda exercised in the pool.  After a wonderful chicken dinner we went to the clubhouse and learned a new game (fast trac)  The girls won the first game and the guys won the second.  We then listened to a couple sing country music(bottom right picture).  

Sun.    After church we went shopping and Starbucks for a drink special.  When we got back to the rig we went up to the pool and I played pool volleyball again(bottom left picture).  I then did a lesson and Linda made dinner and we watched three christmas movies.

Mon.  After our bible study  I dumped the tanks and put on a new fresh water hose.  I ate lunch then went and did one more lesson.  We went to Starbuck's for there half price sale.  After dinner we watched TV.

Tues.  After our bible study this morning I took the bikes and waxed and oiled them(picture bottom left).  This afternoon we drove to town to pick up some Christmas gifts, have dinner, and pick up fuses for the car.

Wed.  I went to put the fuse extender into the Honda and got one side with no problems.  When I went to do the other side I pressed down and bent the tip which broke when I straighten it out.  So on our way to church we went to get a new part. Four stories later I found something that will work.  I was able to finish my last lesson today yea.

THANKSGIVING-Florida

Thur.  Happy Thanksgiving   The family all met at Betty and Fred's.  She had made a very tender juicy turkey and the rest brought sides.    The weather was perfect so after dinner we stayed outside enjoyed sitting and games.  We came inside and watched football and played board games. It seemed that all over ate for lunch, no one wanted dinner except the three kids.

Fri.  We met Mike and Pam at Betty and Fred's for breakfast.  The top left picture is some turkeys that made it past Thanksgiving in their back yard.  We had coffee, coffee cake and fellowship.  Linda and I left there and went to Barbara Mandrell's home (Fontanel Mansion).   The rest of the pictures below are of the home.  Some highlights 2nd row left a post that had many of the folks that came to visit them.  Such as Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, Billy Graham, Glades Knight and Brenda Lee.  3rd row left is a dress of Minnie Pearl who was a regular visitor. Botton left three pictures is of their bedroom.  The second bottom picture is me with crackers eating them in her bed(Which is from her song"Crackers"). The third is Linda in their big hot tub. Bottom right picture is a statue "I exalt thee". We enjoyed the grounds and the history of the area.

We went to Jen's where Mike and Chris were putting their new tv up(top left 2nd picture they read the directions 3rd picture everyone enjoying the TV).   Katie and I made a turkey cracker and cheese plater.  Bottom 3rd picture Mike being a good sport as Addy and Katie  dressed him and colored his hair and beard.  Before we left Katie and Addy put on a skit for us(bottom right).  We had a wonderful visit with Pam and Mike and the rest of the family.

Sat. We went to Jen's for leftovers at lunch.  Linda and Katie made a turkey pot pie for dinner.  After dinner Katie and Jen worked on playing a game (survivor).  Jen was the host, Mackenzie was sick and didn't play till later.  The first thing we did was hula hoop where Katie won amenity.  We then did a cheer like game where Linda and I were disqualified and had to go to tribal council.  Linda got voted off.  The next thing was to balance a ball on a paddle.(2nd picture bottom and Linda was sitting in a chair and fell bottom left picture)   Chris won amenity and Katie had the hidden amenity so I was voted off.  The next thing was a tasting contest(top three right pictures).  Katie ended up winning.  It was a very fun night.

Sun.  We went to Jen's to pick them  up(Mackenzie was sick and did not come) and went to see our old youth minister that now is the minister in Murfreesboro. Afterward we went to Blue Coast a restaurant like Moe's.  We had a great time catching up (bottom right picture).  When we got back to their house we had desert and Linda and I played cards with Katie and Mackenzie.  When we got back to the rig we did some things to get ready to leave tomorrow.  We watched some Christmas shows and went to bed.

Mon.  We got up this morning, ate and did our bible study.  Then we were blessed by having the arms on the tow dolly both extend.  We drove to Cordell Ga. and spent the night in the Walmart parking lot.  We had lots of rain and fog it was the strongest when we climbed Mt. Eagle.  When we got to I-75 the rain stopped and after Atlanta the sun came out.  Picture below was taken of us at the Walmart we stayed at.(we forgot to take a picture in the daylight)

Tues.  On the road again.  The night was not bad we got up and drove to Thousand Trails near Orlando.  After we got set up I went and shaved my No Shave November Beard.(see below)

Wed.  We got up did a load of laundry, went on a long bike ride and redid the insurances because Vanderbilt will no longer take our insurance.  We got an appointment to see our new family doctor in January.  After dinner we went to church then to Aldi's for groceries.  We got home watched a little TV then bed.  It gets so dark early we are both ready for bed by six.  

Nashville-Mike and Pam

Thur.  We got up at five to do devotion and start our trip to Nashville.  Of course it was raining and very foggy(top left two pictures).We arrived around one got set up then went to Jen's to pick-up Katie.  We showed her the rig then headed to Grand Olde Opry for the lighting of the Christmas lights.  They have changed the  theme this year to a country theme.  We walked around before the dedication(most of the pictures below).  Jenny joined us at the the lighting ceremony.  The country group "Gaitlin Brothers" played two songs before the lightings.   After the lighting we met Chris and Mackenzie for pizza(bottom 3rd picture).  We were blessed that Chris got six tickets to go to the final dress rehearsal of the musical "How the Grinch stole Christmas".(bottom 2nd picture)   It was a very well done and everyone enjoyed it. Bottom right picture is before we went on to the show.

Fri.  Betty and Fred came over to see the rig.  We then left and had lunch at Center Point Grill a BBQ place. It was a restaurant that Guy from the food network "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives had been to and promoted.  As you can se 1/2 of sandwich was hugh (top three pictures).  We then left for Jen's and picked up Mackenzie, she spent the night.  On the way home we picked up a movie "Tomorrowland".  We made coffee cake for the morning then played some cards, had popcorn and root beer,  before the movie.  Mackenzie and Linda fell asleep before 1/2 the movie was over(bottom three pictures).

 Sat.  When we got up we had our coffee cake and rewatched the second half of the movie.  Played some more cards then off to Katie basket ball game.  She played two game and has improved a lot(left three pictures).  After the game we went to Jen's and we put in the new microwave(top right two pictures).  We had Katie over and we made coffee cake and watched the movie Tomorrowland.

Sun.  Cold COLD we were watching the basement of the RV as the temperature dropped.  It maintained a temperature above freezing.  Katie went to church with us.  After church we met Jen, Chris, and Mackenzie at Sam's. After lunch we had their samples and did some shopping.  Jen and Linda went for coffee and Chris, Katie and I went to their home.  We watched a little of the football games then played cards.  We went to their church came back to their home and got some chili to go.  The temperature  was already below freezing.  Even with the gas heat on we had a hard time keeping the basement from freezing.  I finally went out and put a heater down there.  The reason it is so critical is if the plastic pipes or waste tank freezes they may split and that would be a mess.

Mon.  After a sleepless night for Linda because it was below freezing for eight hours.  This was the second morning in a row that the car had frost on it(below top left picture).We went to Nashville for our appointments at the tax guy, financial guy and heart Doctor.  We were also able to make some other calls between them.  When we got done we went back to the rig and called Winnebago to ask about the rig. They said that the tech had gone home and he would follow up tomorrow.

Tues.  After our bible study we picked up Jen.  Miley was relaxing on the floor with her paws on her pet(top right picture).  Jen took us to Brentwood " Amerigo's" an Italian restaurant for our birthdays(bottom left picture).  We all enjoyed a delicious lunch and shared an appetizer.  Then a mile away is the office of Dave Ramsey(bottom 2 right pictures).  We went there and they were doing a taping of his program.  They had a coffee bar and lots of cookies for us to enjoy. We got gas and went shopping.  To Jens house and home.  Jen, Chris, Mackenzie and Katie came to see the rig.  We showered then to bed.

Wed.  Up early and to my Dr. appointment.  They found a spot on my back they are looking at and will get a report beginning of next week.  They also found 6 spots they froze which is better then the 25 they have been finding.  We went to Jen's where Katie and Linda did some cooking and Mackenzie worked on a christmas present(top 3 pictures below).  I worked on some crown molding over the sink(bottom left two).  When we got done Mike and Pam arrived.  They came over to the rig to see it then Mike and I helped bring in a TV table at Betty's and Fred's.  We came to Jen's and had Chris's famous meatball/spaghetti dinner and some cards(going around the table me, Linda, Betty, Jennifer, Fred, Kari, Mike, Pam, and Chris).  Fred and I were the last two playing and we tied which was his last point and my second point(Bottom right Picture).

Leak Fixed--Heater Fixed

Thur.  What great news the parts to the rig are in Columbia so we got things ready to leave in the morning.  What we thought would take a few minutes(hooking up) took an hour.  We just are not sure if we are doing everything 100% right.  After calling some friends we fell a lot more confidante.  

Fri.  We got up at five to head to Camping World in Columbia.  They did have the part but we still do not have the heat going to the whole rig.   After feeling defeated we left and went to Sesquicentennial State Park, not to far from Shannon's. We then drove to Shannon's and had a nice time with Shannon and the kids.  We left and they watched scary movies on Friday the 13.  We tried the heater and after 15 min. we smelt something like melting crayons and then the heater stopped working(bummer)

Sat. Shannon and the boys came over and I played with the boys while Shannon and Linda had a girls day.  On their way home they got Lilimarie then Al got off work and was able to come also(what a nice surprise).  We were gathering wood and we saw a dead branch in the tree and ZZ challenged Diego to jump and break the branch.  We also played baseball and went on a bike ride around the park. It got cold but we built a fire and had s'mores anyway.  We had chilli cooking all day and Linda made hot chocolate for the kids and we had coffee.  We had a wonderful night and Lilimarie stayed the night.

Sun.  After church we got back to the rig then Shannon and the boys came over.  Lilimarie climbed the tree near the rig.  We had lunch then went to the ball diamond for baseball for the boys and softball for the girls.  We cooked sausages over the fire and cooked the veggies on it also.  It was a lot warmer and we all had a nice night.

Mon.  After getting a horrible start. (hooking up)  We drove to Camping World in Spartanburg.  After we got there they had a wonderful mechanic come and look at the propane heater.  After he could not find the problem he called Winnebago and we found that the return air duct had the pattern board still in it.  When we took the board out the air came in all the heater ducts!!!!Praise God!! We then got the rig set up for the night.

Tues.  Yea the washer is fixed it no longer leaks.  We put two large glasses of water down the soap dispense where it leaked to find we forgot to put the filter at the bottom of the washer (what a mess). After the repair man left Linda did three loads to make sure it was fixed.  We went shopping then to see a movie(Martian). 

Wed. It was time for linda to get all the laundry done.  She fixed a apple crisp and ice cream for the workers here for working so hard to fix our problems.

Ashville NC--Spartenburg SC

Thur.  We did our bible study then out to look at the beautiful fall colors.  We stopped by the visitors center and got some ideas to where to go. Below Jim and Lana playing cards on Wed. Linda and I at French Broad Chocolates.  We went to Grove Inn built 1913.  The rest of the pictures below are some of the trees.

We also went to two museums, Colburn Earth Science Museum and Western N.C. Nature Center (pictures below).  We had a great day visiting Asheville.

Fri.  We picked-up Jim and Lana and drove to Waynesville NC.   We had a great time walking around town going to the quaint shops.  We drove back to the house where they are house sitting .  We had eggplant parmesan a meal that we have when we get together.   We played cards and finally the guys won.

Sat.  What a fun day.  On the way to pick up Jim and Lana we saw the clouds in the mountains(top left two pictures below).  We drove to Bred Bakery in Weaverville. They had the biggest eclairs and we enjoyed it (yum yum)(top right and bottom left).  After lunch went to Fresh Market and they we re having there holiday taste day(Linda and Lana in line for the food taste).  We went back to the house and played cards(middle bottom picture).  Jim did not have any samples and he made home made pizza which was delicious(bottom right picture).

Sun.  After church  we went to the Perkins for cards and the best steaks ever .  Linda and Lana worked in the kitchen making homemade rolls, steak and potatoes. then had choc cake we had got from the bakery yesterday. Yum Yum! And I have had the best time winning at cards for three days straight.  I have never been that lucky getting so many good cards.

Mon. An other rainy day.  We drove to Camping World in Spartenburg SC to get our rig fixed.   He looked at the washer and found the problem and is ordering the part.  It was a small leak in a hose.  It may take 3 to 5 days if the part is in at the factory.  He said that in 18 years he has never seen this part go bad. Just our luck.


Tues.  We took a ride into town and watched "Woodlawn"  It was a wonderful movie about life in the 70's and a football team that broke the segregation barriers down.  The rest of the afternoon we relaxed around the rig.

Wed.  We drove to Croft State Park.  It was a community in the 1800 and 1900's.  During WW2 they used the land to train troops.  After the war it became a State Park.  While at the park we went to the campground, then went on a bike ride(pictures below).