T.G.I.F.

Was up at 04:30AM with my bride for coffee, then she was off to the truck company and then the restaurant.

About 01:00PM I picked up Adam at his house. I was going to stop at the lake and swim for a few hours but Adam said he wanted to put an upgrade in his XBOX at our house do he said could we swim tomorrow, since it is still going to be over 100 tomorrow I said sure.

Before I left I bought a ball of dough out to thaw for the pizza crust for tonight. It is Friday and so a homemade pizza is in order.

Adam is bumming now because the upgrade is taking so long on his XBOX so you can’t play until it is finished.

It was 104 this afternoon not like the 110 of the other day, I haven’t found out if that set a record or not, but I can tell you that’s pretty darn hot. I looked to see what the temperatures were in Fort Madison Ia. in case I decided to take the trailer up there, it is ten degrees cooler 93-94 with a low in the middle 60’s. Our low last night was 78 and it started climbing as soon as the sun got up. Were supposed to stay in the mid 100’s until Tuesday when the high will be 97.

Not much else to report from the Ranch, we will try to keep cool or get a swim while we can.

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

Thursday Happenings.

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

We started our heat wave here at the Weeb Ranch today, the internet weather page said 106 degrees for the St Louis area. but here is what the kitchen thermometer said at 03:30PM.

110 degrees in the shade of the back of the house.

Supposed to be like this until Monday when the high is supposed to drop to 98 degree’s.

Naturally none of us except Donna have left the house. The dogs run out and then run right back in, even they know its hotter than normal.

Got an e-mail from my old Navy Buddy Barry and his wife Bonnie that they are still staying with their daughter after being evacuated from their home near Colorado Sprigs, by the fires there. Barry tried to go see if the house was okay. and he said luckily the road in front of their subdivision has acted as a firebreak and kept any of the houses in his subdivision from burning, he said his neighbors across the road weren’t so lucky and a lot of homes burned in that subdivision. He said when he got back to where he was staying his van had to be aired out and left out in the open because it smelled so bad of smoke.Our prayers go out to them that their home and belongings will be safe, and we ask all of our blog friends to think of them in their prayers and all those that are suffering and homeless out in Colorado and Florida..

I hope he doesn’t mind I will reprint the e-mail here.

 

Thank you all for your concern and prayers for us. First of all, we are safe and feeling very blessed that we have a safe haven here at Barb’s house. We have air conditioning, privacy, showers, and food. More than some of the 32,000 others that have been evacuated. Our neighbors are here too with their cat and we say we love it here at “The Ritz”.

Hundreds of homes were lost, but our immediate neighborhood has been spared so far. The firefighters have stopped the fire from crossing the street that separates us from the homes that were destroyed.

Barry parked the van in Barb’s garage and now the garage smells like smoke. He had to open it to air it out so now the garage smells worse. I don’t want to know what our house smells like – but at least it is still standing.

The fire continues to burn, 18,000 acres and still only 5% contained. The Air Force Academy and the neighborhood just south of them is now at risk, as well as the town of Woodland Park which is a beautiful little town up in the mountains. The news keeps saying this is a fire of ‘epic proportions’,

Love you all,

Bonnie

It just gives us all a little idea of of what they and their neighbors are dealing with and how lucky the rest of us are to just be a little to hot.

Not much doing here at the ranch, both dogs are laying at my feet under the kitchen fan. Rigg’s has been a big water drinker all the time we have had him but today even Sadie is making repeated trips to the water dish. I have filled it twice already.

I was going to see if Adam wanted to go swimming out at the Lake but I couldn’t get a hold of him. He will probably call tomorrow as he said when he left the campground he wanted to this weekend here with us.

That’s about it for now. I hope everyone is fine and doing well out in Blogland, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…….

Wednesday Musings.

Up at 04:30AM for coffee with my bride. Then Rigg’s and I napped another hour.
I see where some of our friends JIM & DEE will be in North Platte NE and are going to visit Bailey Yard and the Observation tower there at the Union Pacific Railroad Yard. This is the largest yard in the world and also has the biggest Diesel repair shop in the USA. It is a must see even if your not a train nut.
This got me to thinking trains, as some of you might know I came from a railroad family with my Grandfather and Uncles working for the DL&W and the Erie Railroad when I was a kid. The pride of the Lackawanna Railroad was their streamlined passenger train The Pheobe Snow, my Grandfather was like all employees and was immensely proud of this beautiful train. The Norfolk Southern Railroad witch inherited what was left of the Erie-Lackawanna RR from Conrail has painted some new locomotives in what they are calling Heritage Paint to commemorate their predecessor railroads. Here is one that would make my late Grandfather proud.

The Phoebe Snow ca. 1950’s.

NS 1074 06-26-12 Isn’t she a beauty…
Today starts the beginning of a 4 day heat wave with temps of 105-106 predicted for the next 4 days, I’ll have to get Adam to the pool during a couple of them days. There is a heat alert in effect, and all people are being urged to cut outside work hours and stay in air conditioned areas.
We have been fortunate, I had a new A/C system installed a couple years ago here at the Ranch and it really keeps the inside of the place cool. plus with the ceiling fans going the dog’s have their rug and Sadies small bed under the fan in the kitchen and are living the life of Rylie.
Hope all is well for all of those  out there in Blogland, I know there is danger in Florida, and Colorado so I hope we don’t have anyone in harm’s way. I m still waiting to here from my service buddy Barry and his wife Bonnie who had to evacuate from their Colorado Springs home, I sure hope it bypasses their place.
Not much else going on be safe out there. Sam & Donna……

Tuesday Thoughts.

Was up at 04:30AM with my bride and we had our coffee, she then left for the truck company, and Rigg’s and I jumped into the bed for another hour nap.

It was another hot and sunny day with about the only thing I did was go to the Petco and get another cable to attach to the dog run at the back of the house. The old one was split and rusted through and had an area where the strands were breaking.

Of course  Rigg’s had to supervise a job as important as replacing his cable with a new one.

Sadie could care less and just so she has a way out is happy.

I sent in and registered for the Escapees Rally in Sept in Sedalia MO. if any one else is going please let us know so we can all meet up while were there. That should be the last vacation trip for us for a little while, Maybe we can head south in the winter for a little while.

Donna’s company is moving there offices from near downtown St Louis MO. to Earth City MO. which is just across the Missouri River from St Charles County in St Louis County. It will cut her drive in half, and she won’t have the pay the St Louis City right to work tax. after so many years. They don’t have that tax in St Louis or St Charles County. The move should be completed within the next month.

Hope all our friends down Florida, can keep ahead of all the rain they are getting. We also have friends, who had to evacuate their home due to the wildfires near Colorado Springs CO. I’ll bet they are wishing for some of that rain Fla is getting.

Be safe out there, Sam & Donna……..

Monday Meanderings.

Up at 04:30AM with my bride for coffee and then she was off to the truck company. Rigg’s and I enjoyed another hours nap in my bed.
While I was at the Lake I noticed the box with the trash bags under the sink in the fiver was wet. I then observed a drip from one of the plastic threaded fittings under the drains of the sink. when you ran the water and it went down the drain the fitting would drip. I tried putting teflon tape on it and it still leaked. I put a pan under it. and this morning before it got hot again I took the sawzall and cut the threaded fitting off and went to Lowes for a replacement, of course I needed the small can of primer, and cement for the the joint to glue the new fitting on. but I got all the stuff and new rubber gaskets instead of plastic. Put it all together and presto no leaks. I am paranoid about water leaks since we had to replace the floor last winter so luckily I caught this before it hit the new floor.
After that it was back into the 90’s today so that was it for any outside activity. Rigg’s and Sadie go just long enough to take care of business and run back to the door.
That’s about it for today.Hope everyone is having a good week. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna……

Saturday/Sunday Notes.

Saturday was another get up and have a late brunch, and then head for the Pool/Lake. this was to be the last day of a weeklong Lake vacation. About 40:00PM Adams Mom & Grandma arrived at the pool and then when he was finished they came up to the Campground Adam decided he would go ahead and go home with them instead of waiting until Sunday, which saved me a 50 mile round trip after I got the fiver home and hitched. The last thing he said with my goodbye hug was, Grandpa this has been my best vacation week, cab we do another one soon. Of course the answer was yes.Even after 30 plus hours immersed in water in 6 days.

This morning I just started stowing stuff and getting the trailer ready for travel mode. It doesn’t take no time anymore since I have a system where everything has a place where it is secure and won’t bounce around in travel mode.

About 10:00AM I pulled over to the dump station and did a good empty and flush of both the tanks, When I get back I will empty and refill the fresh water tank with good Weeb Ranch well water and then Chappie will be ready for the next adventure.

Got back to the ranch about 11:00AM and after unhitching and putting the truck in the garage. I was ready to greet my boy Rigg’s, I could hear his excited cries as I climbed the steps to the kitchen. Soon as the door opened he was up and trying to get big sloppy kisses on his Daddy, I asked if he had been a good boy while I was gone and he ran to the treat cupboard.

Since I had no wi-fi for the last 6 days, I tried to catch up on the blogs a little, sorry I wasn’t able to acknowledge the comments I received while I was gone. but I would just jump on a pirated wi-fi signal and receive mail and post a short blog and get off so I wasn’t taking advantage of someone else’s signal & bandwidth.

It will take several days to catch up I am afraid.

My bride was hostessing at the Restaurant when I got home but about 12:30PM she came home instead of 04:00PM. She said they were overstaffed so the owner told her to go home early since he knew I was coming home.

Donna said she is baking some dead chicken for supper so I am anxiously awaiting the smells and results of her labors.

Not much else going on, some of the wrinkles from the pool are finally coming out, I did try filling them up with a couple of High Life Lights each night, don’t know how successful that was but it was worth a try.

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

T.G.I.F.

Was up at 05:30AM, had my coffee and managed to to get a cell call to my bride before she left for work. Usually there is no signal at the campground, but I saw one bar and gave it a try and managed to get through. She said Rigg’s is lonesome for his Dad , but everything is going fine at the Weeb Ranch and her two work places, also she is feeling good. I told her the two of us are starting to darken up and enjoying the pool each day. Adam is in heaven with all his friends and they play all afternoon in the water. Grandpa just floats on a tube and talks to the other old geezers watching their Grandkid’s.

Today will be a noon date at the pool &Lake, and then because it’s Friday and the Clubhouse is open we will probably pick up a pizza and take it back to the trailer. Even when your roughing it at the Campground you won’t miss pizza night. Their are also several Miller High Life Lights in the fridge with my name on them for tonight.

Hope the week has been as much fun for the rest of you as it has for me. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…….

Thursday Happenings.

Was up at 06:00AM for coffee, then I waited for Adam to wake up and we headed into Washington MO. to restock on some groceries, Adam had finished the gallon of milk we brought and I picked up some more hamburgers.

We got back to the campground and had lunch, and then at Noon we headed down to the Lake &pool,

 

                 Beach area in front of clubhouse.

            Docks & Picnic area in front of pool.

                       Swim tag game with Adam.

We stayed at the pool until 04:30PM and then headed for the campground.

Another hot day with just a couple of clouds but all in all a good day at the pool.

Grandpa is about waterlogged after four, four hour days in the water. Good thing I like the water. and being with all the kid’s keep you hopping.

Two more full days before we head home on Sunday, Hope everyone is having a fun week. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna… Hey Rigg’s Dad will be home in a couple days.

Wednesday Musings.

Was up and had   and had my coffee at 05:00AM, Adam slept in until about 08:30AM. He then went for a bike ride while I went to my place where I found the wi-fi hotspot to post Tuesdays blog.

At Noon we headed to the pool and beach. About 02:00PM Adams other Grandpa ( Russ) and Grandma ( Tina) arrived with his cousins Matt & Eli. They joined the gang playing in the pool. It was another sunny and hot day 95 degrees ,so the pool was the place to be.

About 05:00PM we headed to the campground for some supper and relaxation. another great day in paradise.

Hope the week is going fine with the rest of my logging friends, with the limited internet I have not been able to sit and read other blogs, just enough time to check my mail and post a blog. will have to catch up after we head home on Sunday…

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

Tuesday Thoughts.

I was up at 05:99AM and had my coffee. I then went back to my bed and put on a train movie.

Adam was up at 08:30AM. amazing how well kids sleep after swimming and playing all day.

Tuesday at Noon we headed for the beach and the pool,

Here are a couple of pictures.

 

He never tires of the water and we didn’t head back to the campground until about 04:45PM since it was so hot we both have a little sunburn even though we used sun screen.

That was about it for the day for us by 09:00PM Adam was out like a light.

So  far the weather is supposed to stay sunny and in the middle 90’s so I see a lot of water time in a plans.

In the morning we will run into town and post this and get some sunburn cream at Walgreens.

Having a great  time at the Lake. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna….

Monday Meanderings,

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

I made sure the fiver was ready and put Adam’s bike on the rack and secured it.

Adam slept in until about 08:30A but then he was all set to leave for the Lake. We decided that with the time we would be spending at the beach and pool it would be better to let Rigg’s sit this one out at home.

We arrived at the Campground at about 10:00AM and my favorite spot was open, Adam helped setup camp, and then we had lunch.

At noon we headed for the beach since the pool is closed on Mondays.It was  already 90 degrees but a stiff wind was blowing, this brought a little cooler water in off the Lake but it was still comfortable to swim in.

About 02:00PM Adam got a leg cramp and so he decided he had enough swimming after two hours. so we went back to the campground for some bike riding.

No pictures today, we may have some for tomorrow, now we will have to find a wi-fi hotspot to post this.

Be safe out there. Sam & Donna……..

Sunday Notes.

 

Was up at 06:00AM with my bride for coffee on this great Father’s Day. A happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s out there in Blog Land, and the Grand Dad’s too.

I went out to pick up Adam at 08:30AM and about 11:00AM his Dad took him for the Day out to Samantha’s Dad’s Farm they loaded the Jeep up with several 22 cal. rifles, and a couple of pistols, the men and Adam are going to target shoot for Fathers Day.

I got the fiver and truck hitched up and pointed north out for our departure in the morning nothing left to pack but my clothes bag and Adam’s stuff that is already in the truck. Oh yeah and hang his bike on the back. Since it will be Monday the pool is closed but the Lake will be waiting and we will spend the day at the beach. One of my buddies should still be out there on the last couple of his vacation day’s so we might get some boating and tubing in.

Donna is going to grill some steaks for our Father’s Day supper, a large filet for me and a porterhouse for her I also saw two big baked potatoes that are headed for the oven. What a great way to enjoy the Day. The expectation is killing me.

Donna is off all day so she is going to relax this afternoon, good for her.

That’s about it for today, Hope everyone in Blogland has a great Fathers Day. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Saturday Mumblings.

We were able to sleep in to almost 06:00AM and then Donna & I had our coffee, for some reason when I came back from the grocery run for the fiver. The garage door on Donna’s side wouldn’t go up or down. The light in the button was off like there was no power at the out let so I got my tester out and sure enough there was power there and all the way to the motor, after some hair pulling I found that one of the limit switch for the bottom limit had worked it way out of adjustment, after fiddling with several adjustments it finally started to work normally. I could just see if Donna came home after midnight and the door wouldn’t go up. But she could still open my side and go in that way and leave the car out.

It was another hot hot one today the internet said 95, but the thermometer on the kitchen window was touching 99, Sunny all day. It is supposed to be hot like this all week so the Lake keep sounding better and better. Adam comes over tomorrow, and then Monday morning we will be heading out to the Lake.

Did some wash today so I would have plenty of shorts and tee shirts along with skivvies for the week.

The blog will be like always when I’m out there, I have to find a wi-fi spot and then send it and check mail. Luckily you can save a draft in Live Writer and then post it when you get a wi-fi signal.

Not much else going on today, just waiting to hear what the plan is for Adam for tomorrow.

Hope everyone is having a safe weekend. Sam & Donna….

T.G.I.F.

Was  up at 04:30AM and had coffee with my bride, then she was off to the truck company and the restaurant. I read some blogs, and right at 08:00AM the Electrician drove up and about 10 minutes behind him came a large Cuivre River Electric Co-op truck. We all went around back and the one co-op guy went out to the front to shut the power off at the transformer.

These guys weren’t the same guys that had come out last week when it started sparking.They took the cover off the old box and said wow no wonder,  it’s shorted and the insulation blocks are burnt out, we’ll have to replace and rewire the panel. My electrician said I was lucky if that would have been left like it was it would have caused a fire. I also was lucky, the Co-Op replaces their meter and box at their cost. If I was at my old house where they have Ameren Electric. The whole cost would have been on me, the electrician said it probably saved me about $600, as my total bill for his labor was $280 and only because it turned into a three hour job instead of a one hour job.

The Old box is on the right with the radio gear that sends your reading in.

                    The Crew hard at work.

The new box and all new wiring into the ground. All that is needed to be done is plug the meter in and put the new cover on.

Since I had no power and it was nice and cool at 08:30AM, I went and got John Deere and told him we would run over the grass again this morning so it really looks good for while we’re at the Lake next week. I know he would have rather slept in in a nice garage, but out we went and just after I finished the two acres, the electric crew said they we’re done and I had power again.

After that I was ready to relax and Rigg’s and I got about an hours nap.

Tonight I am going to skip pizza since I am sure we will have it at least once or twice next week. But I am going to heat up some of the sauce I made earlier this week and have some Ravioli’s. Yep a nice touch of Italy.

Tomorrow I will finish stocking Chappie and get my clothes packed.

Then Sunday is Father’s Day so Adam, MY Son Andy and I will celebrate don’t know how yet but we’ll do something.

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

Thursday Happenings.

Was up at the normal, for us 04:30AM and had coffee with my bride. Then it was on the laptop, while Donna left for the truck company and then the restaurant.

Today June 14th is celebrated in most US communities as Flag Day.

                 Chappie in a campground.

         Flag at the Ranch during a winter storm.

Although I might be prejudiced by my service to our country, I truly believe that we have the most recognizable symbol of freedom. No matter where you go in this world you will be assured that our Stars and Stripes will be known and respected by most everyone. The Weeb Ranch has flown the flag since the day we moved in here and will continue to until we decommission it, and move down the road, Wherever we go you will see Chappi, our fiver flying the flag proudly. It does surprise me that more people don’t display the flag on their RV’s.

It’s another gorgeous sunny day today supposed to hit 0 degrees, a typical summer day around here.

Another slow news day here in Dardenne Prairie. just waiting for the weekend to get here with Adam and the our camping trip next week. Have to make a store run this weekend to replenish the beer,soda,Gatorade,and milk in the fiver along with the bread and meat for sandwiches. I usually have enough frozen stuff that Adam like’s, such as Totino’s small pizza’s and mozzarella sticks in the freezer. So we can last a week.

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

Wednesday Musings.

Up at 04:30AM for coffee with my bride, then she was off to the truck company and then the restaurant with a stop at the Doctors office.

I wanted Donna to explain it but she won’t be home until late so I will do my best.

The results of the CT scan showed fluid in the nodes of her lungs, it did not show anything else, Thank God, since she is a smoker.The next test we were waiting for was a TB test where they inject something into you and then wait for a reaction. That is why we waited on giving out the results, well yesterday they said the TB test came back negative, another Thank God, so now they will be checking to see if there is a viral infection of some kind causing the fluid buildup. It looks like they are on the right track though, and Donna seems to be improving a little each week with less coughing and better breathing.

Thank you all for your concern out there. I just wish I could get that lady retired and we could find a way to start our dream.

Another sunny and great day in the 80’s today. The electrician will be out Friday, so the plan is now for Adam to come over and spend Fathers Day here with his Dad. and then Monday we will head out for the Lake for a week or so. no set time, I hope the good weather holds up but June is usually a hot month and not a lot of rain.

Just sitting here and thinking how lucky we are that Donna’s test are going fine, so many things out there than can get you so I want to cling to the dream and get us going.

Hope everyone is having a great day, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Tuesday Thoughts.

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

The big news for today, is as of today Donna & I are officially Escapee’s. If you ask Donna she will always tell you I could easily be confused easily with an escapee from a lunatic asylum. NO that’s not the right one. The Escapees or  SKP’s as in the RV group. We are now wondering who of our blog friends will be going to the Escapee Rally in Sept in Sedalia MO. we are contemplating going and are curious to see if we will be meeting any fellow bloggers there. If you are let me know either by e-mail or a comment. Thanks

As I have said in the past we have only attended one other rally and that was the 2010 Good Sam MO State Rally in Columbia MO. We did not really enjoy it as no one seemed willing to socialize, it seemed if you weren’t in the clique, you were ignored, no groups sitting out in chairs, Our only coup was Rigg’s coming in first place in the dog contest, to the consternation of one Lady, I guess because we were outsiders or first timers. Anyway we have been told the Escapees are a more positive and friendly group so we look forward to a a better time, Of course Rigg’s wants to extend his winning streak.

Donna got to leave early today because she had to work through her lunch, The receptionist called in, so she had to fill in at that post , hence no lunch so she was out of there at 03:00PM. A nice surprise.

Today is dumper day so I have to get the dumper down to the end of the driveway.

Just so you know the Spaghetti & Meatballs last night was great and we have at least one more meal of left overs. I love it when it’s left over anyway.

Not much else going on on another warm and sunny day here at the Ranch. I am hoping that the electrician can fix the meter this week, Adam is coming over on Father’s Day and then Monday I will see about heading for the Lake for a week. Trying to get Nicole to go but she is spending until the end of June with her Dad and I don’t know if he is on vacation or not.

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

Monday Meanderings.

Up at 04:30PM with my bride for coffee, then she was off to the truck company for the day.

Rigg’s and I got another hours nap. Then I started reading blogs.

About 09:00AM I got out all the ingredients need for my Grandmother’s secret recipe Meatballs. Mixed everything up and from 3 lbs of beef I got 27 meatballs. Of course I have to put eight of them aside for my son Andy as he prefers his without sauce.I then put them in the refrigerator to be cold for when I mixed the sauce up.

About 01:00PM I got the meat out and mixed up a big pot of sauce almost didn’t have room in it for all the meat, I also put a couple of Italian Sausages in the sauce to simmer. set it on low and the kitchen will smell good all day.

                            Fresh from the skillet.

                         Simmering in the sauce.

You should have seen Rigg’s when the frying and simmering is going on,he staked out a place right under my feet by the cook station in the hopes that something would hit the floor.No luck Rigg’s, but I am sure he was in smell overload all day.

Hey KAREN & STEVEO remember the batch I made up at your place in your kitchen. Probably could have smelled it as you drove up the driveway.

Today we had a pretty bad storm roll through this morning, no hail, but high winds and rain that bounced a couple feet when it hit the concrete patio. It rained hard for about 15 minutes and then slowed down and about noon it quit and now it is cloudy and muggy.

Donna has a Doctor’s appointment on her way home today so maybe we will have some news on the CT test.

I am hoping the electrician will be out to remount our electric meter this week and then if it’s sunny next week I will call Adam and head for the Lake for a week or so. aside from charging you $3.00 to use the pool, The Lake is free for swimming. But it is just as cheap to eat out of the fiver as it is for groceries at home so why not enjoy the outdoors and if you’re a water nut like Adam & I your in heaven. Donna says the two of us should have gills or webbed toes like Rigg’s.

I know I might have told this before, but for you new guys. my Grandfather & Grandmother Genett were both born in Calbria Italy and came to the US after WW1. My mother Angelica Genett was born shortly after they arrived and settled in Dunmore Pa. My Mother and Grand Mother are the ones that taught all the kid’s the basics of cooking and I managed to get the recipes for all the stuff I like of Italian nature. That explains why you read about my Ravioli’s, Cannelloni's, Pizza, Rigatoni Carbonara, and Meatballs that can’t be beat. A side note both my Grandparents learned to read and write English within 10 years of being here. My Grandfather would not allow the women to speak in Italian when they were working in the canning room or cooking, although they did. My Mother could speak Italian. When I was in my 30’s my Mom called and said guess what, I gave you the wrong name. Both My twin brother and I were named for our Grandfathers, I said what do you mean Mom. She said one of her Aunts had died and they found a copy of Grandpa’s baptismal certificate from Italy and his name on it was Savino Gianetta, it was then that she found out that when they came through Ellis Island he was given a new American name, Sam Genett. He was so proud of being an American he obliterated all history of his old name.

I told my Mom I liked the name I had since it only had three letters no matter how drunk you got you could usually remember it. Maybe that’s the reason I am like my Grandfather and proud to be an American. PS he was the air raid warden for his neighborhood during WW2.

Well that’s about it for now. I hope everyone is having a good week. be safe out there. Sam & Donna……

Saturday Mumblings/Sunday Notes.

I know had a couple of people wondering what happened to my Saturday blog, I promise if I get the chop I’ll make sure Donna puts a post in telling all of my fellow bloggers I’m no longer with the living. Actually it was such a nice day and just relaxing with my bride and knowing she was getting rest before going to the restaurant the day went by so fast that as I was going to bed , I thought Oh no I forgot to post today. I should have went back in the kitchen and posted a short one just to let everyone know everything was okay out here at the Ranch.

I Want to welcome our 153rd follower, Deb C. I don’t see a blog listed on her page, so if you have one Deb let us know, I sure hope you enjoy reading about the daily happenings here at the Weeb Ranch and on our travels as we go down the road to becoming full time Rv’ers. Never a dull moment between the Grands and Rigg’s & Sadie. Donna says I keep them all stirred up too.

So anyway we were both up at 06:00AM today ( Sunday) and had our morning coffee, I did some blog reading and then Donna watched some TV and about 09:30AM she had to leave for her duties as hostess from 10:00AM until 04:30PM,When she gets home I am planning a supper of Sausage (schnitzels) fried potatoes, an a vegetable, a nice country supper.

Tomorrow while she is at the truck company I am going to throw a batch of my Grandmother’s secret recipe meatballs together in a pot of homemade sauce. We will have spaghetti & meatballs, I may go whole hog and throw a couple of Italian sausages (sauziza’s) in the sauce with the meatballs. After all you only live once.

Saw where my buddy MIKE out in S. Dakota got his shelter up for his MH just in time for a bad storm and hail yesterday. Boy talk about good luck.

WE have a cloudy but hot and muggy day here with clouds a temp in the lower 90’s and the wind is supposed to pick up. Hope I don’t have to set condition Zebra, Now stay clear of all flight decks, catwalks and weather decks due to high winds and heavy seas.

Rigg’s and I  are really wanting to get the camper out again, maybe next week or the week after we will go to the Lake for 4 or 5 days I know Adam will be up for it.

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

T.G.I.F.

Up at 04:30AM with my bride, and we had coffee, then she was off to the truck company and the restaurant.
Last night we had to call the Electric company out as our electric meter started sparking. They came out and said some vines that grow up the side of the corner of the brick siding loosened the meter. They said the meter was okay after repairing it. But it was on us to remount it. Donna called an electrician that Andy knows, and he is coming out to take a look at it after work today.
Want to welcome our 152nd follower, Sue Castle, I couldn’t find a blog for her, so if you have one let us know Sue so we can list it for our other readers to visit you. Hope you enjoy the going’s on here at the Weeb Ranch as we go down the road to full timing and raising our little guy Rigg’s and the Grand’s. Never a dull moment around here.
Speaking of Rigg’s I had to give him his monthly treatment for fleas. You get a applicator and put drops along his spine from head to tail and then rub it in real good. He is usually not a happy camper afterwards and rolls around the floor for a day or so trying to rid himself of it. He knows the box the stuff comes in so I have to get it out and put the applicator in my pocket to get him near me to put it on.
It’s another gorgeous day here in Dardenne Prairie, ,sunny and temps in the 80’s, at night it goes down into the low 60’s. I could take this year round, maybe one of these days with a little moving around we will have it year round.
That’s about it for today. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

Thursday Happenings.

Waited until later than usual for a blog with the hope that we would here from the Doctor. Donna has another appointment for Monday after work so we should know something then.

Other than that , nothing else is new. I thought I might hear from Adam and Maybe hit the Lake this weekend but nothing from him either.

Hope everyone is having a fun 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 the restaurant.

Got an e-mail from my son Sam Jr with a picture of the space shuttle Enterprise being barged up the Hudson River that he took from his office this morning, he sent me one of it being flown around Manhattan last week on top of it’s transporter plane. It will be placed on display on board the USS Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum which is on the Hudson River at a pier just a few blocks from his Condo. The fly by photo is a news file photo. The barge photo is taken by my Son.

                           Fly By last week.

          Today from Sam Jr’s Office window.

Looks like a ton of river traffic giving it an escort. What an exciting day at work.Another thing I noticed it how the New Jersey side has grown up, when I was young and made New York City trips, the New Jersey side with nothing but railroad yards and ship piers. Looks like a lot of office space and a Hyatt Hotel on the riverfront.

We are still waiting for news on Donna’s test. I hope no news is good news.

Not much going on here today, went to the O’Fallon post office to mail a dvd with some of my Navy pictures to another fellow flyer who I located in New Hampshire. He was on the USS Independence with me. He says he travels so maybe we will meet up one of these days before we both get the chop.

Another sunny day with a temp right around 80, Life is good here in Dardenne Prairie, but those pesky thunder storms have a way of popping up when you least expect it, Just like in Florida.

Hope everyone is having a fine time, summer is upon us, be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Tuesday Thoughts.

Up at 04:30AM for coffee with my bride, then Rigg’s and I crashed for another nap when she left for the truck company.
About 08:30AM I headed over to the Barber shop for a haircut and beard trim. He only charges me $2.00 to trim my beard and he does a lot better job than I do with my trimmer at home.
We are still waiting to hear from the Doctors on the results of Donna’s CAT Scan. The hospital has to send it to him and then the office will call us. This could take several days. Our friends Paul & Helen have arrived in MA. and they don’t have wi-fi at the park they are in, so they have to drive 5 miles to a post office to check e-mail or post a blog, See if there is a McDonalds or fast food restaurant or Tim Hortons close. They all have wi-fi now, I use them when I am at the Lake. As soon as we hear anything we will let your guys know. My biggest worry is her lungs with her smoking all her life.
Another nice sunny day today with a high in the low 80’s, I can live with this kind of weather, it gets down into the 60’s at night.
Paul & Helen I will leave the computer on and maybe the skype will catch my attention, I rarely hear the phones especially if I am in another room.
Everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna…

Monday Meanderings.

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

Today will be a short blog, Today is the day Donna is going for the CAT scan she was told to get at her Cardiologist appointment last Wednesday, she will be stopping at the hospital in St Peters on the the way home so I will be here anxiously awaiting the results. The Doctor just wanted to check up after her last bout with pneumonia to make sure she doesn’t have anything else causing the chronic cough she has been having since our vacation in Florida.

I will let you guys know tomorrow how it went, That’s about it for today. be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Sunday Notes.

Was up at 06;00AM with my bride for coffee, then she was off at 09:30AM to the restaurant, she had the hostess duties until 03:30PM.
They had another car show at the restaurant to benefit the Backstoppers. This is an organization that helps the families of Police Officers that are killed in the line of Duty, a very worthy cause indeed. The Metropolitan St Louis/St Charles area usually averages about 6 officers a year that lose their lives while on duty.
It is another sunny and nice day with the temps a little warmer in the middle 80’s.
That means the A/c is back to pumping out cold air to keep the house comfortable.
Ever have something disappear in your RV.When I got ready to leave the lake I made all preparations for getting underway. This included putting those two white plastic covers on the sinks. When I got home I backed it into a spot in front of my garage which precludes extending the slideout because of a retaining wall on that side.
When I went in the fiver I noticed a coupe of small items that fell on the floor, there is always something like a fly swatter or broom that falls and then I noticed the small sink cover was gone. I looked under the reclining chair and couch and have not been able to locate it. Hopefully the next time I extend the slide it will be under the carpet.
Looking forward to cube steaks, Mac & Cheese, and a vegetable for supper, a nice country supper which I always enjoy, last night I had the left over pizza, and a couple for lunch today. Told you it was good.
I am going to miss the big oven when we go full time but I will just make two smaller ones. The ones I make now I can cut into about 15 square pieces. about 4in by 4in. A lot of people like the round pies cut into wedges, but the PA. style is square cut into squares and called a tray of pizza. New York and Jersey call it a pie. Here in St Louis they like a real thin crust that is almost hard the most popular is Imo’s Pizza. Not really my style of pizza.
I like the pizza in Chicago and Wisconsin and the pizza we had in Florida was pretty good reminded me of a Chicago style pizza.
Well that’s about it for now tomorrow it’s back to the salt mine for Donna, I am going to get a haircut and beard trim.
Be safe out there. Sam & Donna……

Saturday Mumblings.

Up about 06:00AM and had coffee with my bride, we the napped a little longer and then I started reading the blogs.

This morning Samantha took Sadie to the beauty shop for mutts.

            Donna & Sadie after her haircut.

Had a nice relaxing day until 03:30PM when Donna got ready to go to the restaurant for the night.

I am going to spend the evening with my buddy Rigg’s, he will supervise me in having a couple of cold ones with some leftover pizza. I told you it was good and like most Italian foods, it is always good as a left over.

I especially like spaghetti sauce that has cooled down and then has been reheated for left overs.

Trying to get a plan together to get Adam & Nicole out for a camping outing. I’ll let it warm back up first and then we will be abled to swim most of the day and play with the bikes and Rigg’s after supper and then a campfire.

Usually the kid’s are played out after a day like that. I know the Grandpa’s are played out. With Donna working Grandpa gets to do it on his own.

I’ve got my fiver parked in front of my one garage stall as I am going to pull the wheels and repack bearings and inspect brakes before my next trip, it’s made the trip to Wisconsin and back and the trip to Florida and back and so I think I will do it before our next major trip, it’s been about 5000 miles since the last repack. but I have the laser to check the bearing temperatures and they haven’t run hot at all so maybe the system I have is working. Parking it there gets me close to the jack stands, compressor and tools needed for these jobs.

Another sunny and mild day with a high of about 78 degrees, just perfect for me. If I want to work outside or in.

Not much going on here in Dardenne Prairie, went to the store and the Ladies I know there all were asking about our trip to Florida. I think they were jealous. That’s about it for now. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna….

T.G.I.F.

Was up at 04:30am for coffee with my bride and then she was off to the truck company and then the restaurant.

It was a gorgeous sunny day with a high od just 70 degrees. perfect for airing the house out and no A/C running.

Tonight was pizza night, although the kids were away I enjoyed making a nice PA. style pizza and it turned out great, four pieces and two Miller High Life lights hit the spot.

                            Before Baking.

After, I found that baking it on parchment paper browns the crust better. It tasted as good as it looks.

Rigg’s even had a couple pieces of crust for himself.

Not much else going on. I am going to finish the grass tomorrow.

Everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna..