Saturday Mumblings.

Up at about 05:30AM and had coffee with my bride, she is off today until her restaurant shift at 04:00PM. I waited until about 09:00AM and went to Wally World. The new bike we got Adam has had a leak in the front tire since day one, so I took it with me, I asked the guy in sporting goods, since it hasn’t been right Walmart would give me a tube, I was even willing to put it in, but he said go do some shopping and I’ll have it fixed in a half hour. Free.

The gas station next door had a deal with a local church where they were selling gas for 30 cents off a gallon for two hours. There must have been 100 cars lined up a half hour before it started, what a mad house, of course the store had to call the police because cars were blocking there driveways.

Speaking of Police did I tell you about being pulled over by the Sandwich Il. PD when we went to visit Donna&Dennis, heres a picture.

Got a nice Skype call from Paul Tempesta from down in Fla. where we will be going in three weeks, we chatted for awhile and I got to say hi to his three Labs Jodie,Coco, & Sandy. Rigg’s just kept watching the screen and turning his head from side to side. None of them made a sound or a bark.

Adam called yesterday right before school got out and so I went out and picked him out so I will have a buddy for the weekend. Hopefully he will celebrate my birthday with me.

It’s another gorgeous day here in Dardenne Prairie, should be in the mid 70’s, tomorrow they are predicting 86 and Monday 90, wow summer is here already.

Not much going on at the ranch, I fixed  one of the windows in the fiver that was not opening and closing properly it had a broken off rivet pin, so I drilled it out and put a nut and bolt in it’s place and now the window opens and closes like new.

Everyone have a fine weekend, I know I am enjoying mine, Be safe out there, or as Sgt Phil Esterhaus of the Hill Pct. used to say.

Sam & Donna…….

T.G.I.F.

I was up at 04:30AM with my bride and we had out coffee, she was then off to the truck company and then the restaurant.

It is another gorgeous day, the Temp right now at 02:00PM is 81 degrees, Sunday it is supposed to get up to 87 degrees for a couple days, almost like summer, I may have to fire up the house air unit on Sunday, I better go down and change the filters before I do that.

Haven’t heard from Adam so far this week, and I don’t know if Nicole is due for a Dad weekend so I may just have Donna & I to celebrate my 64th birthday, Which is okay, I am east to please, Now I am one year from Medicare.

Rigg’s has something to say, so I will give him the laptop for a few minutes.

HI, I have been a very good boy, other than bolting out the door so Andy could chase me all over.

But then he played dirty he got my leash and I thought it was going to take me for a ride like he does Sadie.

Oh no, just hooked it up and dragged me inside.

Anyway todays story isn't  about me for a change Sadie and Ralphie haven’t been good doggies

Mom was watching TV the other night and Sadie jumped up on her lap curled up and went to sleep. Well

I was laying next to the chair...Mom wanted to get up, I sat up next to her and when she moved little Missy

she turned on ME! Grabbed my ear and started growling......Boy Mom really yelled at her. She should have gotten a spanking like I do, but guess she's too little for that. Then that night she fell asleep on Mom and Dad's bed, when Mom went to move her over she tried to bite Mom. She did get a whack on the nose for that one.

Guess she's one of those gals you don't disturb when she's sleeping.  I could tell she was sorry the next day

she kept really close to Mom asking for forgiveness. See how sad she looks...but better her than me.

Now my nephew Ralphie, well he's just a pup so stealing his Dad's shoes and socks is something that you can expect.  But his Dad's mom came up to visit him from New Jersey and he fixed her a real nice dinners, one of her favorites, something called eggplant parmagiana.  She took her plate into the living room to set on  the couch to watch TV while she ate...She sat down and that greased lightning little nephew of mine ran across the room and grabbed the food right off her plate !

Only problem for him was it just came out of the oven and was so hot it burned his mouth and he dropped it right on the carpet.  Boy he was in trouble big time for that one.

His real break was that there was still more food in the oven so she did get dinner.  That's a trick even I the great stealer has never tried...Way to go Ralphie. Can't tell if he's hiding his head or saying his prayers.

Think the prayers might be better Ralphie.  And hope you cuddled up and were extremely nice to your Grandma Michelle so she would forgive you. Remember sad eyes go a long way with grandma's

Well see you all later.  Of course I'll be sooo good you may not hear from me for a while..

I notice Rigg’s didn’t mention the two nights this week that HE stole Nicoles Food right off her plate. But he is at least trying to be good from the looks of it. Right now he is sleeping and dreaming next to my feet as I type the blog.

Glad to see that Cave Dwellers and Rick & Paulette have all made it home safely from their winter locations and travels. Jim & Dee from Tumbleweed have left their winter park and are heading north to Scott Air Force Base just across the river from us in Belleville Il. Dee has a sister who live is Troy MO. about 15 miles north on 61 highway from us here in Dardenne prairie. So I am sure we will see them either before or after our Florida trip.

I ‘ll tell you, it is hard keeping track of who is where or where they are heading with all the blogger we know and contact. I just want to remind you out there that if you are going to be traveling across the country on I-70 or I-44, or I-55, I-64 we are just off I-70 at the I-64-40-61 exit #220. We always have room for an Rv or MH and always look forward to meeting up with our blogger friends, We usually get 3 or 4 visits a year from bloggers, last year we had 3, so just send us an e-mail if you are going to be in the area.

That’s about it for today, hope everyone is having a fine week and looking forward to a great weekend. be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Thursday Happenings.

Up at 02:30AM with leg cramps this morning, I just stayed up with my leg in a dull pain until Donna was up and then went in had a coffee with her while she was getting ready for work.I tried laying down and the leg was sore but not cramping and Rigg’s laid next to me to keep me company, but about 06:45AM the cramp returned so I was up for the day.
With the excitement of the paint can exploding yesterday I thought that would be it for our little town of Dardenne Prairie, but last night about 09:00 we had someone break into a house about a mile away and the homeowner who was home shot and killed him. Here is the link,
Dardenne Prairie homeowner shoots, kills man who broke into house
www.stltoday.com
When are people gonna learn that this was just a country little town and the people out here all have big guns. Donna said.With you being a retired cop and Andy being an avid hunter no one in their right mind would break into our place when someone is home. I know this is wishful thinking, but most of these incidents are pure chance and the perpetrator had no idea who actually lives there.
Anyway I feel sorry for the guy that got shot but he asked for what he got. By the way he was assaulting the homeowners wife when he was shot.
So far today I cleaned and oiled one of my Glock pistols, I know, shutting the barn door after the horse is already out. Donna says the sight of Rigg’s size and his warning bark when a stranger approach's would scare off an intruder, again if it makes her feel safer I think a dog is a good deterrent except for a determined armed intruder.
After 37 years in law enforcement, I am sure of one thing and only one thing. You can get more accomplished with a kind word and a big gun, than with just a kind word.
Heh, I read a pretty lengthy article today on the dangers of drinking alcohol, as most of you might know I enjoy a cold Miller High Life Light at least once a day, sometimes two. Well after a lot of thinking and soul searching, I have made a firm decision that I am going to change my life style, I m going to quit reading…..
Rigg’s is laying by the back door next to my chair, he is dreaming as his feet are moving and his tail is wagging, I hope he catches whatever he is dreaming about. My luck he’s probably watching me fry hamburgers in his dream.
Hope everyone is having a great week, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna………

Wednesday Musings.

Was up at 04:30AM and had coffee with my bride. Then she was off to the truck company and then to the restaurant.
I then went out about 10:00AM and picked up all the wood that Rigg’s had stolen of the wood rack over the winter and left all over the yard so I wouldn’t hit them with the blades on the tractor.  I then started to cut the back yard, As I was about 3/4ths of the way done, down by where the dumpster had been parked the grass was pretty thick since it is a low lying area and is usually one of my wet spots. Anyway as I made a pass there was a loud “Kablam” under the deck and I felt something hit me elbow and it was all of a sudden wet. I stopped and saw that I had hit a can of spray paint(black) and it had exploded when the blades ripped into it. I checked my elbow but it was just paint and no cuts from the pieces of can, John had paint in his back wheel, the seat, and fender. but the sturdy deck kept all the metal from flying up or hitting me. I cannot believe the force of the explosion from something that we all take for granted, now I see why they have warnings printed all over them.
Maybe some day when we are all telling war stories around a campfire, I can tell how I survived an IED on my John Deere.
Now besides a little black spot, the back is looking good and I am done for the day. besides the fact it took forever to get the black paint off me. I decided the best way to fix John is to get a can of John Deere Green and Yellow and touch up where the black paint is. I had planned on a new seat this summer since his old one is wearing out and his tears in the vinyl . Farmer Charlie’s carries the yellow tractor seats in stock. Nobody was here to take any pictures so I just scrubbed and scrubbed getting the paint off.
For once something worth blogging about here at the ranch.
Another just gorgeous day in the 80’s and not a cloud in the sky. I wish I had a nice pool to just sit in and soak now.
By now The Cave Dwellers must be home in Sandwich Il., I think them flying by the St Louis area is what pulled all the clouds east of us into Illinois. Sure wish they could have stopped for a few days, I know Rigg’s would have loved seeing the both of them again. We may try to meet up again this summer at a campground near them.
Now that the back is cut Rigg’s is out surveying his domain and making sure his Dad did a good job on His yard.
That’s about it for now, be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Tuesday Thoughts.

Up at 04:30AM with my bride and had coffee with her, I think I will go back to one or two cups a day. It was another sunny warm day with temps in the upper 70’s, maybe it will hit 80 today, About 01:00PM I went down and went to start John Deere, I added fresh gas but his battery had run down in the couple months since he had been started, so I had to put the good charger on it.

Once I got John started we went out and cut the front and side acre and by that time it was 0415PM and I knew Donna would be getting home from work so I headed for the barn, she pulled in just as I was walking in the garage.

The whole place including me smelled of wild onion grass, even Rigg’s gave my jeans a quick sniff.

Tomorrow I finish in the back and then it will be on a weekly  regimen until it gets in the 90”s and the grass doesn’t grow as fast then I can go to every two weeks. I have a feeling with as much rain as we have been getting it will grow fast now after the first cut. It was starting to get wild looking as it was all different heights. at least now it has a fresh cut look.

I made a deal with John that before I cut again he would be getting two new plugs, an air cleaner , oil & fuel filters and fresh oil so he feels like a young buck again.

Rigg’s can’t seem to stay out of trouble, while no one was looking he stole a hamburger complete with bun from Nicole's supper plate. Mom scolded him and put him out for stealing. Guess he thought he wasn’t going to get caught.

That’s about all the excitement from around the Weeb Ranch.Hope everyone is having a great week. be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Monday Meanderings.

Up at 0600AM and my bride was already gone for work, Wish she would make sure I am awake so I could at least see her off in the morning. Don’t know what happened I was up and down most of the night and the last time I remember seeing 0300 on the alarm clock then I opened my eyes in what seemed a few minutes and it was 05:55AM.

Got up and blogged for awhile on the laptop, Then I made a run first to Lowes,I needed a length of chain and some padlocks for the truck and generator, I got 6 feet of heavy 5/16th inch chain and two Master Magnum Locks keyed the same so one lock can go on the chain and I’ll have the other one for the surge protector when we are in RV Parks. The guy at The RV place said they are hot theft items since all they do is plug into the box so make sure and lock the box. I can put one key on my RV key ring and one on Donna’s RV key ring.

When I got home I replaced the American Flag that flies on the garage end of the house, It was beat up from all the winds we’ve had over the winter. The main flag that flies on the pole in the front of the house is still in good shape.

After Lowes there was a stop at the store for a couple grocery items. and then it was home.The kid’s are back to school today, so Rigg’s and I have the house to ourselves, Andy is working and Samantha went with her girlfriend Lisa some place. Rigg’s has a crush on Lisa and whenever she comes over he bugs her to play with him and Ducky.

Not much else doing around the ranch today. It is a nice sunny day in the 70’s almost to good to be true.Were supposed to have three more days of partly Cloudy weather with the same temps. hope that comes true, and The Cave Dwellers will have good weather going home to Illinois.

That’s about it for today, Everyone be safe out there, Sam & Donna…….

Saturday/Sunday Notes.

Saturday we were up at 06:00AM and then Donna tried to get another nap in so she would be rested for her shift at the restaurant that night.

My Son Andy went and got his girlfriend Samantha’s washer & dryer out of the storage shed and he put our washer away in our barn shed, couldn’t find what was bad on the old dryer, but Samantha said that when it quit there had been a lightening strike close by the house and the power went off for a little while, then when it came back on she went down and couldn’t get the dryer to start, so I think a surge got. it. I went out and checked the fiver and all was well there. Boy am I glad I had put the surge protector on when I got it.

Boy did Rigg’s get in trouble, Andy had gone to Ruby Tuesdays to get some supper for him & Samantha, it came in a big bag and he put it in his room .He then went down to finish the dryer and washer hookup with Samantha.Next thing I know I see Rigg’s in the hall way with one of those to go plates, and the door to Andy’s room is standing open. Yep Rigg’s stole their dinner. Best I can guess is the door wasn’t latched all the way, and he could smell the food and pushed it open.Boy were they mad at him. He laid low for the rest of the evening after some time in Doggie Jail.

Sunday we got up at at06:00AM Donna had her coffee, Donna had to go in to the restaurant for the day receptionist job, she has been getting called quite a bit for this as people coming in after church always ask her boss for her.

We finally figured out for Donna to retire and us have enough time on her health insurance(cobra) to run until we would both on Medicare, she would have to be 63 1/2 . She will be 63 in August, So it looks like we will have to go to Jan 1st 2013 before she can retire from the truck company,That means maybe one more winter here in MO. She said then we would take some short trips at first until we decide what to do with the house. Then finally go full time. That is at least a plan we didn’t have, and the medical coverage is the major stumbling block. I was hoping to spend a couple months out at Palm Springs this coming winter. But that may have to wait till all this is ironed out.

Adam is sleeping in today , was up late with a buddy on xbox, and so he is paying the price this morning, If I see his buddies out I will wake him. It is another great day here at the Ranch sunny, and in the 70’s.

Have to go get gas for the generator, and John Deere today and maybe I’ll get some of the areas that are dry cut.

Another week and it will be my Birthday and April, and another week closer to vacation,( Holidays for my Canadian friends).

That’s about it for now. Everyone Have a great weekend, and be safe out there especially all our friends on the road this weekend. Sam & Donna…….

T.G.I.F.

Up at 04:30AM with my bride, she had her coffee and I had a glass of milk. Then she was off to the truck company and then the restaurant.

It was cloudy most of the morning but no rain around 11:00AM the sun broke through and Adam headed over to his friends house to play.It stayed sunny until about 02:00PM and then you could see a very dark storm front moving in. The kid’s even decided it was time to quit playing outside and Adam came in and got on the xbox and started playing a game with one of the guys he had just been playing with outside, you wear a headset and can talk back and forth.

So far the storm hasn’t started but the thunder is in the distance and it is really dark for midafternoon. We are surely going to get a good storm soon.

Got the dough thawing out, so about 04:30PM I will start to roll it out and start the makings of a homemade pizza. Tonight is Pizza night at the ranch. I know the kids always look forward to it, Grandpa also enjoys several slices and a couple of High Life Lights to wash it down. Is this a great country or what. I remember while I was on an aircraft carrier, we had flown until about midnight and when we finally got aboard, the weather had  gone to hell and it was a raining pitching deck night with half the air group bingoed to the beach. We were tired hungry and wet and went to the messdecks and they had been closed for about an hour. This First Class PO cook I had taken for a helo ride saw me and said you hungry, and we said yeah, he said come back in about an hour I’ll have something for you. When we got back he had this huge Sausage pizza made on a big cake sheet. Wow was all we could say. Probably the best pizza of our lives.

Not much going on here. Looking at my route for the trip and trying to decide where to stop for the night on the way down I –75, Anybody got any suggestions in Georgia on I-75, preferably a Passport America, let us know.

Hope everyone is having a great week. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna……

Thursday Happenings.

I had a restless night, and was up about four times during the night, I finally dropped off to sleep after seeing 03:45AM on the alarm and the next thing I knew it was 05:55AM and I had missed Donna  getting up and leaving for work. How I can miss that big lop Rigg’s jumping up and laying on the bed in the morning to but he just looked up at me as a I got up like, It’s too early for me.
It was raining when I went into the Kitchen and I went out on the front screen porch and found that the Fed Ex guy must have dropped off my surge protector and left it on the porch, I looked for it at 05:00PM last night and nothing was there so it must have come later than that.
Yep that’s what it is, so that is the last thing I was waiting on for the fiver, when it stops raining I will plug it in and check it out.
The kid’s have been playing games and watching kid shows and making the best of a rainy day. I hope it gets better, It stopped raining about 02:00PM but the ground is wet, we got a lot of rain last night and this morning.
Nick decided to do her nails, she did a good job even Rigg’s liked them.



As you can see Rigg’s is in his usual place next to Grandpa’s Kitchen chair.
Maybe if the ground dries out and sun comes out we will head to the park, oh yeah Nick’s nails have to dry too.
Hope everyone is having a great week, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna….

Wednesday Musings.

Was up at 04:30hrs with my bride while she had her coffee, then Rigg’s and I laid on the bed for another snooze.can’t believe Rigg’s didn’t get up until 07:00hrs.
He loves sleeping on Mom & Dad’s bed. That will end when we are in the fiver. he can have the couch to himself but no bed.
It is another sunny and gorgeous day, started out cloudy and the forecast was for cloudy all day, but the sun had been out and it is in the upper 70’s this afternoon. Had to go to the store when Adam got here as we only had a little milk left and the two kid’s will go through that like yesterday’s news. I got a gallon of white, and a gallon of chocolate so that will last until Sunday I hope, as long as they don’t use a quart each with cereal. I keep forgetting when I was kid growing up in PA. the dairy farms were close and milk was cheap, plus they delivered it to your door.I can remember the most popular milk in the Scranton area, was from the Burschel dairy, after that was a Brand named Foremost. The two most popular beers were, Gibbons and Stegmaier’s.
Adam is enjoying his day he has already road his bike down to the park twice to meet his old school friends from when he lived here.His buddy Brandon who lives behind us is at his Grandparents, this week for Spring Break. I guess both of his parents work fulltime.
Donna has the restaurant tonight, so Adam Nick and Samantha will be the only ones home to cook for. My son is working a side job after work so he won’t be home until about 10PM.
Donna and I have already decided that we will be eating out on the way to Fla. and then probably go out with the Tempesta’s or share the cooking. I know she is going to make up a big thick Christmas Lasagna and freeze it and take it with us for one meal since Paul missed his Christmas Lasagna while they were in Mexico.Paul is of Italian heritage as Sam is so they will both be happy campers. Part of the fun of meeting up with other Bloggers is enjoying the meals together and Sam likes to cook his famous Italian foods and pizza when we are at someone’s house.
Rigg’s is already a tuned to the fact that we must be leaving soon as he watches me like a hawk whenever I go out to the fiver and barks for me to take him.
That’s about it for today. Hope everyone is having a great week. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

Tuesday Thoughts.

Up early with my bride while she had her coffee, and then she was off to work at the truck company.

Not much going on here, it was another sunny gorgeous day with a temp of 81 degrees this afternoon.

The trailer is now finished and tested and ready for service. Since we have about 3 weeks left before we leave for Florida, I don’t know if I will take it out to a nearby campground or not. All systems have been checked. Everything is working so I may just wait until we head out.

Rigg’s and I had a good day along with his little sister Sadie. We played in the back a little while and they both wanted to lay under the ceiling fan in the kitchen with the warm weather. I have been running the attic fan to create a breeze from the kitchen to the bedrooms.If it gets much warmer the A/c may have to fired up.I wait until Mom says she is hot before I do that.

Had a couple of Millers with supper today so I am cool with that.

Adam will be back tomorrow I guess he found out that the grass wasn’t any greener in Warrenton. He wants to go to the park tomorrow with Nick.

That’s about it for today, Hope all is well with everyone out there in blogland. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Monday Meanderings.

Up at 04:30AM with my bride, she had coffee and I abstained. My son left a note that the clothes dryer is not working. he said he checked the breaker in main panel.

I went down and got my meter and checked for power at the 220 socket and there is power to the dryer lead. I took the cover off the top box and there are a zillion wires, but I couldn’t see a fuse or circuit breaker  that would cut off power to everything.

I guess I will have to find out how old it is when Donna gets home and then call and see what a repair normally costs, or if it is time for a new one.

Adam came in and said he wanted to go back home to Warrenton since he found out his friend Brandon will not be home all week so he won’t have him to run with and play. I said that is up to you, your Dad will be disappointed. so he called his other Grandpa who just moved in with them and Russ came and picked him up.

I pretty much bummed around the house and looking at the dryer was about it for my day. I may see if there is a website on troubleshooting Whirlpool dryers and see what they say might cause it to quit. There are no clicks or anything to show you are getting any power to anything inside it. I saw a couple of relays inside but couldn’t here them clicking when I threw the switches.

It was another gorgeous day, sunny with a temp of 83 by mid afternoon.

Not much going on, everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Saturday/Sunday Notes.

Up at 06:00AM with my bride, she had coffee and I had chocolate milk and a cinnamon bun for breakfast. I was a pretty nice day until about 05:00PM after Donna had left for the restaurant, then it darkened up and we had a pretty good storm with thunder and lightening. Rigg’s and Sadie are pretty good with storms as long as they can lay at their Dad’s feet.
Sunday we were up again at 06:00AM and Donna had her coffee, I had milk again, I have given up coffee for awhile to see if my stomach distress is being caused by it. I ordered a new surge protector for the fiver today, the one I ordered has a the additional feature of having a sensor that tells you if the campground power pedestal is improperly wired and prevents that from damaging you rig.I had been wanting to order one for the last couple of months but with the trailer in the shop it kept being put off, so now it will be here in a couple days. All things electrical should be covered then.
This morning I got a call from Adam, He said “ Grandpa I am on my break this week can you come and get me my Mom says it’s okay to stay with you.” I said sure, Hopped in the truck and headed for Warrenton to pick him up. He was thrilled as he considers it a weeks vacation from school and he knows we will do some stuff together.
The big winner early this morning was Rigg’s, Mom brought him a new Ducky toy home from work last night and gave it to him after coffee this morning.

                     Rigg’s and his new Ducky.
Donna had to go in to the restaurant and be hostess today on the day shift, So Adam & I will be in charge of having a hot supper ready for Grandma when she gets home from work…
I filled the fresh water tank on the fiver and will do all my checks for water leaks this afternoon.
Have you ever wondered what you would do if your Granddaughter went over to the dark side?

                    Use The Force Rigg’s..
Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Pizza night was last night since Friday I forgot to thaw the frozen dough. I made a large pepperoni and have half of it for later this week. The kid’s will enjoy it. Nick is at her Dad’s this weekend but will be home in the morning and then Adam will have a sister to play with during spring break week, He is tickled that Nick enjoys going to the park now.

What else can you say, WOW.
That’s about it for today. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

T.G.I.F.

Was up early with my bride. Then she was off to the truck company and the restaurant.

We had a storm sweep in about 05:00PM last night, high winds then heavy rain mixed with pretty good sized hale, no damage here, but a friend of mine that has a summer home at Lake Sherwood said the hale tore his screens and damaged his car. He had been out there taking advantage of our warm spell and fishing. I wish they would have opened the campground early with the nice weather, but we have to wait until April 1st like always.

This morning it was cloudy and we had a little bit of rain , but now the sun  has come out about 02:00PM and it is warming up , said it would be 83 today.

Haven’t heard from Adam’s Mom this week at all so I don’t know if he will be here this weekend, I doubt it if she hasn’t called by now.He did have a long weekend last week.

Nicole started her spring break today and will be off school all next week. She is out shopping with her Mom now.

Not much going on around the house today.Donna has the restaurant tonight, so Rigg’s and I are taking advantage of the quiet with just us home for now. He will be glad to see Nick when she gets home.

That’s about it for today, I hope everyone is having a good week. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna……

Thursday Happenings.

Up early with my bride this morning and then she was off to the truck company& then the restaurant.

Yesterday after I finished the blog post, Nick and I went to the park again, boy those kids have some energy climbing all over those gym sets and slides , up and down ladders and steps, I was tired just watching them. Here s a couple more shots.

         Nick inside the Monkey Cage.

This morning was another warm and sunny morning so I told Rigg’s I would take him for a ride in the truck, Rigg’s is always game for a ride and knows exactly what the word truck means. We went to Petco and he got to go in and visit with the girls that work there, and some other dogs, I bought him a new pull toy that floats, soon as he saw it I think he knew where we were going next because as soon as I paid for it he put it in his mouth and started pulling for the door.

From there we headed to the doggie park, It was opened early this year due to the warm weather. As soon as we got there he was in the water and fetching his new toy, and playing tug with his friends. I spent about and hour and a half throwing the toy and finally said heh Rigg’s lets go in Daddy’s truck.

                       Rigg’s with his new toy.

                                   Playing tug.

     Here’s he’s pulling against two other tuggers.

After we got home he drank a big dish of cold water and then laid down next to my chair and was snoring within a few minutes. Looks like his first day back to the park played him out, He is still the biggest and fastest swimmer again this year.

Now when Nick gets home from school I may have a trip to the kid park again today. I don’t mind Nick really enjoys playing outside and meets kid’s she goes to school with an seems to always have a good time.I remember many many years ago , my Grandfather taking us to the park a couple times a week and I know he was as old as I am now, but he was always ready for the next trip.

That’s about it for now, everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna……..

Wednesday Musings.

Was up early with my bride.Then she was off to the truck company and then the restaurant.

Pretty much stayed on the computer for a couple hours, and then I went out and took both the propane tanks off the fiver and started out to find a place to refill them.The place I always used, a Shell station in Wentzville closed since last summer, so I drove over to the RV Dealer where I bought my trailer to see if they could tell me where. I also wanted them to double check the readings I got on my new generator to make sure I was getting 120 volts to the 30amp plug even though the switch on the generator has to be in the 240 volt position. Verified it and said the 30 amp cord is wired to only allow 120volts to the RV from the twist in socket on the generator. That made me feel better even though I had measured it myself with a digital voltmeter, a second opinion is always good before you damage your RV. He also said they could fill the tanks for me there, and since I purchased my trailer there, anything I buy has a 10% discount. That I didn’t know so I was glad I stopped. Went home and manhandled the full tanks into the fiver so now we will be leaving with two full tanks. I also carry a smaller 30lb tank for the BBQ grill but it is full from last trip.

Another sunny an gorgeous day, it’s 83 degrees at 02:00PM, I think that’s a record for today, there saying now the warm spell should last another week, so I am going to go ahead and put water in the fresh water tank and pressure check all the lines and be set for the trip, Don’t really expect anymore hard freezes and a cold night won’t hut a tank that isn’t full.

I’ll also start the fridge and make sure there are no surprises there.

This is the switch on my generator if it is 120volt position and the 30 amp RV cord is plugged in to the 120/240 4 pin twist lock socket, there is no reading across the  30am plug. If you put the switch to the 240volt position the voltmeter on the generator reads 240, but you will read 120volts across the 30amp RV plug. Evidently the RV plug adapter is wired with just 2 wires and a ground and will only put 120volts to the RV Plug. To get 240 volts you would need three wires and a ground.This socket had a 30amp breaker, The two 120volt outlets on the right have 15 amp breakers , so if you want Air conditioning you have to use the bigger socket and the RV adapter. Everyone confused now.That’s about it for today. Waiting to see if Nick wants to go to the park when she gets home today. The furbags have spent most of the day outside, they are now taking a nap waiting for Nick.

Everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Tuesday Thoughts.

Missed  reveille this morning, don’t know why but I opened my eyes and it was 05:40AM and Donna had already left for the truck company. I usually roll out at 04:30AM but this morning I looked at the red letters of the clock and it said 04:15AM so I decided to lay a couple more minutes in bed, next thing I know it 05:40AM.

Anyway I got up and looked at some blogs and then Picasa’d my pictures from yesterday.

After Nick was done with her home work, we jumped in the truck and made a beeline to the new Dardenne Prairie Park behind City Hall, this is really a great place, you don’t mind tax dollars being spent for something worthwhile and this is a neat place, It was crawling with kid’s and there was only 2 parking spaces left from the huge City Hall Lot.I did take some pictures of Nick on all the play equipment. She met a friend from school and they played together. We spent over an hour until I had to tell Nick we had to go home and make supper for Grandma..

 

It was all to much for these three guys they just crashed for a nap under one of the gyms.

Nothing like watching Nick and the other kid’s play and enjoy themselves on a just gorgeous day.

We got home and made some Spaghetti, I had started the sauce earlier in the day and put some Sazisa ( Italian Sausage) in it so we had sausage sauce with it.

It was a beautiful Day sunny all day and the temps got up to about 80 degrees, The same is in  store for us for the next couple of days with record highs in the 80’s.

I opened the fiver out to air all the bedding and get it smelling fresh for the trip.

The last thing Nick said when she was leaving for school was, “ Grandpa if I get my homework done can we go to the park again” I said sure, Then she said she was going to ask a few more girlfriends at school to meet her there and play.Looks like Grandpa has a park trip in his day again.

Well that’s about it for now.Hope everyone’s week is as good as ours, life is good, the kid’s are healthy, the weather is great, and next month we head to Florida. Everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna……

Monday Meanderings.

Up at 04:30AM with my bride and then she was off to work at the truck company today, She said she was stopping on the way home for a haircut, so I will have to make a note to remember to notice it.

What a warm, sunny and spring like day it was so far, already 76 degrees at noon here at the ranch, I went out to the fiver and put the slide out and then puttered around setting things up inside for the trip, all the drawers  had to be rearranged since they had been taken out with the sinks when we had the floor done. After I got all that back in order and the way we are used to what is where, I tested the entertainment center and made sure everything worked. It is supposed to be mild with possible record highs for the rest of the week so I will probably flush the fresh water tank a couple times and then fill it about half way for the trip that way I can pressure check all the lines that were disconnected and make sure the pump is working properly.I don’t think we will have another freeze before we leave but I can put a small electric heater inside with a fan and the cupboard doors open if they predict anything. I have to buy a cartridge for my whole house filter before we leave and change it and some AAA batteries for the in/out temperature gauge.

I will also have to fire up the fridge and then make a shopping trip for what we will need the week before we leave.

I also looked at the suspension and tires and didn’t see anything loose or cut so I will check the tire pressure the night before we leave. One other thing I must buy will be a chain and stout lock for the Generator. I know that would just deter the amateur thief, but when the truck is hooked to the trailer there isn’t enough room to get it off the back of the truck so the only time I would worry about it is when unhitched and with the cover open. 90% of the time if I am unhitched I have the bed cover folded closed and locked. So it would be out of sight and mind.

Now I will relax and Rigg’s and I will wait for Nick to get home from school, I am going to have her finish her homework quick and then see if she wants to go to the new park behind City Hall, It was packed over the weekend and most of the kid’s are from Nick’s school.

That’s about it for now. Hope everyone is having a fine week. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

Sunday Notes.

We were up at 07:00AM DST. Had our coffee, then Donna started our taxes for the year. Glad she is the accountant in the family.

Around Noon I had to take Adam back home to Warrenton Mo. He is already hoping for a good weekend next week. He enjoys his friends here and running with his Grandpa.

Nick s watching Nicolodeum on TV, Nick for Nick.It is mild today but cloudy and it looks like rain will be here sometime this afternoon, the next two day say sunny and in the upper 70’s so it will be short sleeve weather for sure.

Adam has the XBOX set up to play his games with friends he wears a headset and they play from their houses together. Imagine that technology for kids. We were lucky to communicate after dark with a flashlight to a neighbor friend.

Well that’s about it  for today, a slow Sunday here at the ranch. Hope everyone’s week is great. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Saturday Mumblings.

We were up about 06:00AM had our coffee, Donna decided to try to get another nap. She has the restaurant tonight so she likes an extra nap on Saturdays. It turned out to be a gorgeous day, the temps got up to 65 and the kid’s decided they wanted to play with their friends behind us and walk to the park as a group, we all agreed ( parents) so off they went.They will be tired puppies after being out in the fresh, Brandon the boy behind us and his sister Taylor have a trampoline and some play equipment in the back yard and all afternoon it has been getting hard use.

Donna left for the restaurant at a little before 04:00PM and I expect the kid’s to come rolling in about 05:00PM, then I will have to decide what to have for supper, Thank God they are easy to feed. Nicole is like her Grandpa you just put a plate of food of most any kind in front of her and she makes some noises and it’s gone, she is generally in the clean plate club with me every night. Adam sometimes is a little harder to get to decide what he will eat. But with playing all day they will both come in the door saying they are starved.

Went out today and hitched up the generator to the trailer and it is working fine. Then I turned on the propane tanks and checked the stove and furnace for operation and leaks. since both had been removed and installed during the repair work, they both passed with flying colors, have to wait for a warmer day to try the A/C but since it wasn’t touched it should still be fine. I will wait about a week and then test the water lines and pump and that should be it except for turning on the refrigerator about three days before we leave, that to stayed in so it should be fine.

Tomorrow I will roll under it on a creeper and check the springs, suspension and the tire pressure.

Each day that goes by I get a little more excited, we have the route setup already in Streets and Trips and most of it I have been on already in the bus, so the only part I haven’t traveled is the Atlanta to Inverness Fla stretch which is all one interstate until you get close.

That’s about it for today, Everyone have a great weekend and be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

T.G.I.F.

Was up early with my bride for coffee, and then she was off to the truck company and then the restaurant. Since we had the whole day to bum together, Adam & I started at the Wal Mart where he needed to buy minutes for his cell phone.
Then we headed down to Kirkwood MO. to see if we would have any luck watching for some trains. We stopped at the Kirkwood Depot. which originally was the Mo.Pacific Depot. Now Amtrak stops 4 times a day on it’s trips from St Louis to Kansas City and back. It is wonderfully maintained and staffed by volunteers mostly retired railroaders and their wives.

Adam trying out one of the wooden waiting room benches.

                    One of several display cases.

                              Wall Painting.



                      Adam waiting on train.
We watched several trains before we headed back to Dardenne Prairie.




                                The End.
Now were waiting for Nick to get home from school, since she missed the trip to Kirkwood, I told her the three of us would go some place fun on Saturday, It’s tough being the greatest Grandpa in the world, but I’m trying.
Hope everyone has a fine weekend. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

Thursday Happenings.

Up early and had coffee with my bride,then she was again off to the truck company and then the restaurant. Tried to watch for the new trash truck this morning but it snuck in while I was looking. so I don’t know if he squished in front or not.

Got a call from Adam’s Mom this morning and she asked if I could get Adam at the bus stop today and keep him until Sunday, Sure, was my answer , he’s off school tomorrow, and since Nicole has school me and him will bum. He always likes playing with his cousin Nicole too.

On the way back I was asked if I could pick up supper at McDonalds, so I said yes again,

 

Amazing what a Happy Meal does to kid’s, look how Happy they look.

Remember I posted this about Colton & Eli.

Well the good news is the Marine Corps has given Eli to Colton’s younger brother, Brady who is 12 years old. and sent him home to live with them. God Bless them all.

That’s about it for today. Hope everyone is having a good week, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

Wednesday Musings.

We were up at 0430AM and had our morning coffee, then Donna headed out to the truck company and then tonight she has the restaurant. It was sunny this morning and got up to about 73 degrees around 01:00PM but there was about a 15 MPH steady wind, but it was pleasant enough, I decided to start on the preparation of our fiver for the trip I opened the battery compartment and found out the  two batteries I bought last summer don’t have caps on the top to check the fluid. They are two deep cell group 27 12 volts that replaced two deep cell group 24 ‘s that were shot, I guess they are maintenance free, so while I had them out I hitched a permanent line with a connector for the maintenance charger that I keep on it in the winter rather than the spring clamps I used this winter .I will wait until I am ready to check all the systems inside before I plug the 110volt lead in and then the converter will carry the batteries and I can unplug the charger, I will leave it unplugged on both ends but where my batteries are located there is a shelf so I will keep it in the trailer incase I need a charger for the truck while we are traveling. My generator has a 12 volt plug in case we are not at a park with 110power, but that rarely happens and  if it did it would only maybe a one night at a Wally World or something.

Just as I was tightening everything up a storm front came in it got dark and you could feel the temperature drop. I buttoned it up before the rain started, so far no rain, but it’s a good ten degrees cooler, looks like 63 now.

Rigg’s is a happy guy, Samantha’s girlfriend Lisa just came in and Rigg’s has a crush on her and he is bringing his toys and wanting to play with her.

Not much else going on at the ranch, waiting for Nicole to get home from school boy the weeks are flying by, I can’t believe a week of March is already gone. that means April and vacation will be here soon, At that time a lot of people are heading home from there winter havens, we will just be leaving.

Everyone have a fine week, and be safe out there. Sam & Donna…

Tuesday Thoughts.

Was up at 04:30AM with my bride and we had out coffee and then she was off to the truck company.

Nicole was off to school and I had to go to the License office to get a form to submit to the State to get a refund of part of the sales tax from the purchase of two cars last years, seems as I can deduct the difference of what I sold the first one for from what I Paid on the second one.

That done then Samantha took Sadie to the groomer,she came back all prettied up and smelling like a fine lady should, even Rigg’s had to give her a good smelling when she came in. Won’t take but a couple trips outside to get rid of the foo-foo smell.

Nor much else going on except the weather, it is now 73 degrees here in Dardenne Prairie, supposed to be 70 tomorrow and then drop back in to the 40-50’s like it should be this time of the year. the kid’s will all be sick from the drastic weather changes.

I am not taking any chances don’t want nothing to ruin our holiday coming up in 4 weeks.

Well that’s about it around here at the Ranch, I just relieved Rigg’s on guard duty so he could catch a nap next to my chair. Hope everyone is having a great week. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

Monday Meanderings.

Up at 04:30 with my bride, and we had our coffee, she was then off to the truck company.  08:00AM Nicole was off to catch the school bus. Then Grandpa finished up the laundry that we didn’t finish yesterday.

It was a really nice sunny day all day, for the first time in about 4 days, there was no wind to speak of and the temps got to around 50 degrees this afternoon.

Nicole just got home from school and is doing her homework before she decides about playing.

I have decided on cube steaks, a vegetable, and I am peeling potatoes for home made french fries, they are so much better than the frozen kind as far as I am concerned, hey even though they are deep fried, we use canola oil and you might as well clog up some arteries once in awhile.

Been a slow day when Nicole got off the bus she brought the mail in and I had a train magazine in the mail, that makes for a couple hours of good reading.My son will be happy it looks like his tax rebate came. Donna & I since I retired and we have no deductions for kid’s and cars and stuff, have been stuck paying the last few years.It’s hard to get used to the fact that the government used your social security money all those years, and now they want taxes on it. you were taxed once already when it came out of your paycheck.

Well that’s about it for now, everyone have a good week, and be safe out there. Sam & Donna…….

Saturday/Sunday Notes.

Saturday we were up about 0600AM and had our coffee, Donna rested up a little. It was sunny but cool and Adam waited until about 1030AM before he saw his friends behind us on the trampoline so he was out, except for a quick stop back for a peanut butter sandwich lunch, he was out playing all day.Grandpa checked the flat tire on his bike and couldn’t find a leak, I replaced the valve stem innards, and tightened a few loose bolts that they didn’t tighten when it was assembled.When he came back at supper time from his friends he took it for a test ride and said it was fine.
Adams’  Dad took him out to supper for some Dad alone time. He was really happy with this as he got to choose where to eat. He made it Taco Bell.
I stayed home and had Tovars since Donna was at the restaurant. but the forecast said
Sunday we were up at 06:00AM again and had our coffee, It was sunny and about 37 but the forecast said there was a possibility of snow showers, so far it is still sunny and blue skies.
Adam said he will wait until 1130AM before he calls his friends to see if they can play outside, that way he is sure they will be home from church. I am glad he enjoys outside play and doesn’t plant himself in front of the TV for xbox games all day. He will play when he  is waiting to go out or after he gets home, but given the choice he will go outside to play first.
Donna is doing some laundry and just trying to rest up again. she is starting to look better and like her old self again.
We should be getting past the heavy freezes here in a couple of weeks, even though the tech said he checked all the systems, I want to do it myself before we leave in April. He had the water pump, sinks, and furnace, plus the converter removed while he was replacing the floor, so all the electrical and water has to be checked and the furnace has to be turned on to make sure everything is working. If I’m lucky I’ll have two weeks where I can have some water in it to test everything. Not worried about the tanks as they each have a gallon of pink stuff in them , but I can put a small electric heater in front of the sink with the cabinet doors open and that should prevent any other freezing, if they predict over night freezing temps. March generally starts the slow warm up around here.
Not much else going on around here, hope everyone is  having a good weekend. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

T.G.I.F.

Wow what a morning, when we got up it was to the sounds of another pretty wild storm, Thunder, lightening, high winds, hail, heavy rain. We had our coffee and then Donna headed out in the rain to the truck company and then the restaurant.

Haven’t walked around to see how many more limbs will have to be picked up, but I am sure with the winds There will be more.

Maybe we’ll get a few days without bad weather now. no tornadoes were reported but the sirens went off right after Donna left, but I haven’t heard why.

I went down to the garage this morning and reassembled the mirror I JB welded yesterday, That stuff is amazing,the mirror is solid as a rock and all the power features work.

This afternoon, I picked up Adam at his bus stop and then we loaded his bike in the truck and headed back to the Ranch. It has a flat front tire and needs some nuts tightened, but other than that it is in fine shape.

Today is Friday so it was pizza night,

          Not homemade but a good bar pizza.

          Adam playing Call to Duty, with his pizza.

Well that’s about it for today, Hoping for a sunny weekend but it’s only supposed to be in the 40’s.

Everyone have a great weekend, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…….

Thursday Happenings.

Up at 04:30AM with my bride and we had coffee, then she was off to the truck company and then the restaurant.

Adam’s Mom called and asked if I could pick him up at the bus stop tomorrow , he is wanting to spend the weekend, and his new bike that his Mom got him for Christmas for out at his house is broke, so I will put it in the truck and bring it home for the weekend and see about repairs.

Speaking of my truck it was sunny and warm and no wind so I took my passenger side mirror apart and saw where the mount was cracked , from when my son hit it against the garage door backing the truck out, I got the glass off without breaking it, and then I mixed up a batch of JB Weld and cemented where the mount had broken, It is supposed to cure for 14 hours, so back in the garage it went, Tomorrow I will put the glass back in and that should keep it from bouncing around. I should still have the Auto motor adjustments too. They want $400 for a replacement Trailer tow mirror with heat & LED’s.

Looks like the winds have died down from yesterday.boy a lot of tree limbs are down and will have to be cutup and either burned or tossed on the wood pile.

Rigg’s was in and out all day, likes the sunny days and warm sun it was about 65 today and without the wind it felt good while I was working on the truck.

Dad, believe me that cat that lives in the woodpile is out there I just saw him.

Waiting for Nicole to get in from school, yesterday we spent the afternoon together going to get the glass fixed for the back door. Her and Grandpa, what a team together.

That’s about it for today, I left strict orders with Donna if she got feeling bad or to tired at the restaurant to come home early. I have as much chance of that happening as winning the Lottery.

Everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna..