tree-choose-pot

[tree-choose-pot]

Our Easter chickens!!  My neighbor and I now have a coop co-op.  We talked about 6-8 chickens and somehow we have a Baker’s Dozen of chicks and no coop.  But we have some cute kids and some sweet baby chicks, a symbol of new life on this 2023 Easter Sunday.

[tree-choose-pot]

Our chickens!  2 part photo bomb of us enjoying our new chicken-rearing hobby.  A few of them spent the first week in the house with us.  Now they get some outside time when it’s sunny to stretch their wings and dirty their beaks.  Happy Easter everyone!

[tree-choose-pot]

Boone Sucks

We saw a bumper sticker “Boone Sucks, Tell Your Friends.”  While we were traveling, I read way too many articles titled some variation of “The best places to live for outdoorsy people” or “10 college towns that are good for families.”  I know everybody’s seen these types of articles.  Boone was never mentioned in any of them.  The only reason I knew of it was because a tennis pro in Tucson had lived here and liked it so much he named his son Boone.  He’ll probably show up one day, as there seem to be many people who come back... they call it the “Boone-erang effect.”

I don’t think we’ll change Benji’s name to Boone, but what I love about Boone so far is:

The weather--since Aug 3rd when we moved in, there have been so many 75 degrees/sunny/not windy days.  There was not one day that was too hot.  That doesn’t happen here. But we also had shorts on last week in mid-October. The 70 degree (and prob 60 degree) days are leaving us, of course.  Hopefully we learn to love icy wind.  One of the reasons we were exploring the southeast was for its mild winters.  Well, we ended up ignoring that and going with the 4-season mountain life.  

I love the view out of every single window of our house.  I love that our house is unique, with lots of angles and special touches made by the previous owner.  The main level is sort of elevated, giving it a treehouse feel.  We have some natural foresty area in which we are clearing a trail and play space.  We have grass and a large swath of pavement where we play sports.  We have blueberry and raspberry bushes that have torn my hands apart for 2 months, but filled the freezer and made me a couple of friends.  Our neighbor’s property has lots of areas to explore, and other neighbors have horses and cows out to pasture.  This whole “high country” region is a perfect combination of forest and open meadows/farmland, mountains and valleys, rivers and streams. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We’re sort of suckers for living near a tourist destination... Monterey, Napa, gulf coast sugar sand beach towns.  I’m really not trying to be fancy, and in all honesty, I much prefer the off-the-beaten-path hidden treasures over tourist traps.  But why NOT live near something that people put on their vacation itineraries?  Anina’s elementary school is literally right off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We can take the Parkway as an alternative route to some nearby towns.  It really is a beautiful road, and fun to drive in the Tesla.  I read somewhere they close sections of the Parkway for cross country skiing.  I have no idea if this actually ever happens.. it will be one of those hidden treasures if it does.

Speaking of our elementary school, Anina is happy (and when Anina is happy  everyone’s happy!), and I’m more than satisfied with what I’ve been able to see and hear.  Her days seem action-packed, her class has 16 kids with a part-time assistant, she has structured PE everyday instead of morning recess.  They have already dissected owl pellets, had a stuffed animal party, a visit from the fire department, and Woolly Worm caterpillar races.  Anina is going to be in the school play.  I’m new to judging schools, so I really know nothing about what I’m writing, but any school that lets kids race caterpillars and sends home minimal homework is a winner in my book.  

Benji’s preschool has also been a delightful experience.  From the scenery, to the sweet caring teachers, to the amazingly cute crafts he brings home, I feel blessed we were able to enroll so late in the summer... we apparently got the last spot!  Per his normal timid social behavior, he’s been cautious to leave the teacher’s side for too long, but now, all of sudden, he’s holding girls’ hands and being called ‘best friend’ by many.  

I love all the antique markets and general stores.  There are so many!  I’ve become a little too obsessed with thrift shopping, as we liked to dump and pick up fresh toys and such during our road trip.  And antique markets are just more-fun, overpriced thrift shops.  And general stores have that nostalgic, local, and quirky feel to them.

There is accessible outdoor fun...  calm rivers to float, hikes, lakes, sledding hills, family friendly ski resorts.  There’s a great pump track (you might recall our discovery of these early on in our travels), good mountain and road biking for Bill, and hilly, peaceful routes for my jogs.  My primary care Nurse Practitioner (who I also really like) said off-handedly, ‘the mountains will heal you.’   A college professor with accomplished teenagers said, ‘here in the mountains, my daughter had time to develop at her own pace.’  I love that I’ve talked to people here with many different stories, and who seem genuinely happy here, and open and friendly.  I’m beginning to understand these little pearls of wisdom I received... as I drive and jog.... and get to know the nature of this place and its people.  

[tree-choose-pot]

“Baby, what do you say we just get lost... heads, Carolina”

Oh, there are so many RV trip blogs that never got written!  Alas, we are now home owners in Boone, North Carolina.  And I am loving it here!  I feel in some ways like we are still camping, finding little surprises around every turn and looking out our windows at trees and stars and beauty.  I wanted a kitchen window with a view of the sunrise streaking through trees... well, the sun rises over mountains instead... as I watch Anina hike down our own little trail to the school bus... it sounds terrible, right?

So far our life here is filled with many many things that fill me with joy.  Things I thought I wanted, and things I hadn’t ever anticipated.  I keep wondering how, after hundreds of hours researching other places, we ended up in a town we spent zero time getting to know, and yet it aligns so splendidly with us.  I keep wondering if the winter temps or the 1/4 mile driveway will irritate me to the point that I feel silly for writing this acclaiming blog.  But the truth is, everything is not perfect, and it won’t ever be.  But we’ve made challenging decisions as a family, and right now it feels great to live in this moment.

We’ve had to buy two new phones and a new computer, so my photos are so mixed up.  This the best collection I could muster for a quick photo bombing of our mountainside magic....

We’ve already celebrated 2 birthdays.  Bill’s cake had blueberries on it.

Wonder why blueberries?  Look at that poor bush, falling over with so many blueberries.  I couldn’t pick them fast enough!  There are still berries on it.

Most of our house, and the front yard.  I’ll have to get a pic of the backyard one of these days.

This is our cliff.  A geologist from the university brings students to study and sample the rocks!

My morning view to the east, out our front windows.  I really need to learn how to set the camera for sunrises.

Their ‘green’ car.  Luckily I grew up on a hill, so I know the effect of gravity on skateboards, bikes, basketballs...

Kitten and snake(skin)!  We have also seen a fox, a groundhog, a possum, chipmunks.

Whatever is in this soil, things grow.

The garden goodies we have inherited from the former property owner and our neighbor.

The driveway we walk up and down for the school bus!

A nearby lake has this old dam formation.

Photo shoot with Kal-El.  This is looking out to the west.

Our neighbor’s great paved area with a pickleball court.

Happy birthday ya East Booner, Carolina Hillbilly.

This is actually Anina’s school.  Benji’s already excited about riding the bus here next year for Kindergarten.  

This is the gigantic power pole in our front yard.  Kinda ugly, kinda cool.  Kept the house from being top dollar for unobstructed view...?

Afterschool hugs.  I’m sooooooo glad they have spent so much time together in the past several years.  But I think everybody is enjoying some independence.  And we have loved our afterschool hikes up to the house, and the absolutely perfect August and September weather we have had.  The property is full of rocks to climb on, trails, flowers to pick, even a huge goldfish in a drainage pond.  There is also a stream running along our street.  Bill’s going to clear a path next summer so we can enjoy that as well!  

[tree-choose-pot]

Farm Reflections, day 20

I am adding to the list of animals on the farm: a million flies, and an imperial moth that just emerged from a pupa (ground cocoon) we found and kept.  Oh, and also her hundred yellow caterpillar eggs, and the donkeys, goats, and cows (and calves) right beyond the fence of this property.  

Roosters like to mate a lot, and I’m getting a little tired of watching it.  I did google chicken anatomy, because I really just wanted to know what exactly was happening in that 5-second circus act.  It turns out, male chickens are one of the only animals without a protruding sex organ.  Now I have you wondering, right?  Anina has named the two roosters Mater and Big Shot, ha!

Mowing about an acre of grass with a push mower took us a combined 3-4 hours, stretched out over the whole day.  Bill and I actually remember how to mow lawn, and kind of had fun.

The kids’ excitement of feeding and holding animals hasn’t really worn off at all.  They have a lot of creativity when it comes to torturing the indoor cat, Anina has figured out how to catch these fast chickens (and turned a few into dear friends), and Benji is even grabbing gerbils totally on his own.  I’ve also found Anina a couple of times locked inside the duck pen with a cat or a chicken (on purpose, of course).  The kids even fight (like, real tears) over who gets to retrieve the one duck egg laid reliably in the corner of their pen each morning.  For some reason that’s more fun than the dozens of chicken eggs.  

We have a broody hen who steals other hens’ eggs, so I have to push her around and steal them back so my breakfast isn’t old incubated eggs.  And I had no idea what a broody hen was 3 weeks ago.

We also have a pushy sheep that has decided she can boss me around.  She pushed her way into the barn while I was trying to latch it, and then it was ME versus a 300-pound sheep who lives and breathes to mischievously eat chicken feed and alfalfa pellets.  She was harder to get out than the whole group of sheep that came in last week.  I stayed calm and used rearranging and trickery (and yelling, which didn’t work at all) to get that girl out.  Phew, I was sweatin’!

Chickens will eat their own eggs, and cooked chicken legs.  I did my research and it is OK to give them chicken legs (raw eggs not so much, that was a mistake, as it can cause them to develop a desire to eat their eggs when they lay them).  When you accidentally Google “chicken scraps for kitchens” it knows what you mean.  I really enjoy bringing the chickens ‘kitchen scraps’ and watching them peck and choose.  These chickens haven’t liked a few things that a random chicken blogger said they love… applesauce, celery, lettuce.  I’m not sure any of this is recommended.  We met someone on the beach who said she crushes and bakes her egg shells before feeding them back to the chickens as a source of calcium.  I guess her chickens are royal cannibals.

Chickens are fascinating at night.  I did not know that, at sunset, they all climb into the top of the coop where there are 3 long perches at varying heights.  After being little bundles of running and eating and pooping all day, they nicely (I’ve heard a little pushing and shoving) squeeze themselves in, apparently in an organized “pecking order,” and just… go to sleep.  What?  It’s so weird.  Why don’t human children do this?  Life would be so different.

I’ve heard “sheep have such small poop” and “ew, there’s poop in the water dish” and lots of other poop talk.  The worst poop is a toss-up between duck and dog.  The chicken poop is no party either, especially because there are 30 chickens.  We’ve actually been counting 27.  Did we lose a few?  And the fly-poop combo is bad too.

The gross factor of the farm has been multiplied by the fact that we have had no washing machine.  Pretty much the two main reasons we agreed to farm-sit (exaggeration) were to have a month of good internet and our own washer and dryer.  Well… it turns out there’s no internet service 1 mile outside of Milton, FL, and the washing machine broke (on the real farm family the very day we arrived)!  Twenty days later, Lowes has made two failed delivery attempts.  So while my farm kids have gotten baths every day, our farm clothes have piled up.  And did I just read that the CDC issued a new public health recommendation to NOT HOLD AND KISS BACKYARD CHICKENS?!   Oh boy, we’ve been doing it all wrong... walking barefoot in the coop probably isn’t a good idea either.  That said, the kids have gone through an entire bottle of antibacterial soap (which I don’t normally buy) in 3 weeks, and I know they’re washing their hands WAY less than they should be washing their hands.  The CDC should request all the retired pandemic hand sanitizer stations be donated to chicken owners!  I’m really just praying we get through one more week without salmonella.

I’m really fascinated to know how sheep (and other herbivores), who eat nothing but grass, maintain their bodies of protein, fat, and specialized body systems requiring vitamins and minerals, etc.  Just as I write this, I’m remembering they do have a bowl of salt and some other mineral thingy they lick.  I majored in biology, but I cannot think how they turn grass into the muscle protein that we eat.  When I have time to google that one, I will.  

Today, Bill and I realized we like the ducks better than the chickens.  Maybe one day you’ll enjoy a farm fresh duck egg at our house, and we can all thank this Florida farm experience. 

[tree-choose-pot]

Farm life, day 10

What have we learned so far at the farm?

The kids have learned how to work together to pass a bucket of chicken eggs over a fence.

30 chickens make more eggs than we can eat. Anyone wanting to drive to Pensacola can have a few dozen free range chicken eggs.

Ducks have very wet, gross poop and poop sounds.

Frogs lay eggs in pools.

“Farmers don’t have good internet” (Benji)

Old dogs that live outside smell bad, but we’re glad she lives outside because, as Anina said, she needs to wear diapers.

Ducks prefer to eat dog food and dogs prefer to eat duck food.

Chickens like leftover banana pancakes.

Benji has some new words in his vocabulary, such as FRISKY, like “the sheep are frisky today, mama.”

“The rooster has a lot of wives” (Anina)

The sheep can open the barn door when its not secured, and when Farmer Liz was in charge one morning, they did just that, got in the feed area of the barn, and went to town.  Just picture me swinging around an empty plastic bin, trying to get 6 sheep out of the barn!  Then an hour later, I took a breather, and the kids mischievously tried to bathe the cat!   Ahhhh!

OK, so it doesn’t sound like it’s going great.  But, we are having a good time--an experience at the least.  The kids are loving all the free-time to roam around the yard and playroom.  Bill and I are raking leaves and sitting in patio chairs instead of planning out next week.  Bill has done quite a few projects around the house that would make anyone want us to come house-sit.  We’re the kind of people who can’t ignore certain things once our eyes have seen.   We are remembering what it takes to keep up a house, from the daily kitchen maintenance to the yardwork to the dealing with heavy rains.  I think we’re both ready to get back in the low maintenance 200 sq ft travel trailer.  

[tree-choose-pot]

Life on a farm

We find ourselves taking a break from traveling and instead farm-sitting!  We are living rent-free in a house with legos, a trampoline, and an amazing children’s book collection, in exchange for taking care of the farm animals and doing whatever house and yard work we are inclined to do.  Look at that beautiful grass the sheep get to graze!  The family was with us for 1.5 days, then we got to practice our new farm skills on our own.  We’ve enjoyed watching, problem solving, listening to the kids giggle (and fight over who gets to feed the cat), and saying yuck quite a few times, usually in regards to poop and the old incontinent dog (that luckily lives outside).  

We’ve been camping on small farms throughout our travels, and have really enjoyed the peacefulness and learning firsthand about different farming/ranching methods and what free-range and grass-fed really means.  Also, seeing the different family lifestyles is eye-opening for all of us.  The farm kids talk about water tables and chicken well-being, and can drive sheep and climb fences.  I have no doubt trading in the Roly Poly for a month on a farm will be an experience to remember.

Benji helping the big boys move the sheep’s water.

Catching Clover the lamb when she got loose.

Clover’s mom wouldn’t take care of her, so she has been bottle fed.  Anina gave Clover her last bottle and she is now weaned from milk.  She whined for a few days when we didn’t come to the fence with a bottle, but is still very interactive with us.

Our picturesque Florida barn, duck, and barn cat.

So far, collecting and storing eggs is their favorite farm chore.  There are 30 chickens, 2 ducks, 6 sheep, 3 gerbils, 4 cats, a dog, and a few fish (plus our beta fish gets to join the crew).

How cute is Anina working in her farm boots?

[tree-choose-pot]

April snow

The Roly Poly experienced its first snow!  In April!  In Missouri!  Two days ago we were wading in the stream at Echo Bluff State Park, and yesterday we were watching and playing in snow for 4 hours... in the exact same spot!  

On a sad note, we met a man from Kansas who said the late freeze was killing the buds on his fruit trees and he’d have no fruit this year.  When we were on the Texas coast, we learned from park rangers about the approx 14,000 sea turtles that died in the unusual February storms.  We even saw a few that were still washing up in April.  These are the kinds of things that you may see a quick clip of on the news, but to be here talking to the real people who are affected is much more impactful.  On a happy note, the park ranger said citizens brought in over 4,000 sea turtles that were “stunned from the cold” and many of them were warmed and rehabilitated.   Is anyone else picturing a turtle in their passenger seat?  And it’s usually illegal to even touch a sea turtle.

Big snow flakes falling!

Watching from the window.  A little sad that it isn’t a thick layer of snow like in all the fairy tales.

Licking snowflakes off Dad.

The RolyPoly’s first snow.

Blooming dogwoods and redbuds... and snow!

[tree-choose-pot]

[tree-choose-pot]

Arkansas

Arkansas, the “Natural State” is a beautiful state.  Despite Bill spending many younger years dreaming of life outside Arkansas, he spent this trip pointing out all the things he liked.  Hot Springs has a unique history and still today feels very different than any other city we’ve been to.  It’s hot spring water was believed to cure ailments, which drove its history of tourism, elaborate hotels, bathhouses, and a huge army navy hospital.   The bath houses are pretty much all closed, but the 145 degree water still bubbles up from deep inside the earth (it’s supposedly 4,000 yo rainwater) and the buildings retain their art deco, 100-200-year old looks.  Many of the old buildings now house restaurants, breweries and other modern tourist attractions, but without the cheezie tourist feel; some stand empty in some state of disrepair. The town is part of Hot Springs National Park, and hilly trails run from historic downtown to campgrounds and streams, and to who-knows-where-else.  My brother-in-law took me on a 5 mile trail run, and I know he runs dozens of miles in these beautiful forested mountains.  Much of Bill’s family planned a get-together and we had warm spring weather and were able to enjoy the sunshine and blooms.

We did a quick drive through of Univ of Arkansas, which seems to be a lovely campus and college town.  We were impressed with Bentonville, an old but seemingly up-and-coming town with neat modern architecture.  It’s home of Walmart offices (and Sam Walton’s original Five&Dime).  We toured the small Walmart museum, got $0.50 ice cream, and did some biking on one of the MANY pumptracks.  Do you remember me bragging about pumptracks... they are HARD to find and this town has like six!  And there are miles and miles of mountain bike and paved bike trails too.  There is also a highly regarded art museum/gardens, so this would be a neat future vacation spot.

Derby Day at Oaklawn Racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  A million dollars is on the line and the kids are being monkeys!  Next time we are buying tickets to the stands and wearing a big hat instead of the silly outfits we threw together from our RV wardrobe.  Little did we know that Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn is one of the Grade 1 races (the highest level of thoroughbred horse race).  

Thanks to Bill’s risky betting, we broke even at the end of the day.

I got to see my cousin, a New York gal living in Fayetteville, AR. She’ll be saying “y’all” soon.

If I were a mean cousin, I’d post the one of her looking quite frightened going down the kiddie slide, instead of this one of me looking like I’m riding a bull.

This is at the top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower, a lookout in the national park.  

Arkansas treated us well with lovely campsites.  This one backed up to the babbling Gulpha Creek in Hot Springs National Park, where we had a few family gatherings with uncles, aunts, nephews/nieces/cousins, and Grandpa Campbell.

My bright idea to paint with creek water.

We strolled Garvan Gardens and enjoyed the dogwoods, redbuds, tulips and more.

This was our big grassy campsite in Fayetteville.  Zero counter space in the RV -- no problem!!  We make cookies outside.  This small campground had the best name, see below!

This is Superior Bathhouse Brewery, a great establishment that’s been going strong for many years in one of the old bathhouse buildings.  Awesome food and beer.

Cold rainy day walking on Bathhouse Row. Somebody forgot his jacket.

This was the view of downtown from the trail I was running.  Trails so near to civilization is a treat.

I’m pointing to the Walmart badge Anina printed me in the museum. Where did that Walmart “SPARK” behind my shoulder come from?  Sam’s magic!

[tree-choose-pot]

The road less traveled

Yesterday, we dropped the trailer for a one-night stay at Lackland AFB, Bill’s Air Force basic training stomping grounds, and had one afternoon/evening to explore San Antonio.  We headed for the famous “riverwalk” and it was different and better than I expected, but despite the neat cultural feel, it was just packed with people and tourist traps.  After winding our way through a few turns with the double wide stroller, we exited back up to street level.  We wandered the Alamo for a few minutes, and I still don’t know the history of what happened there because there were too many people blocking the signs, and the kids were bored. (although I will note that Bill recently complimented me on my interest and effort to learn history on this trip).  We considered dinner on the riverwalk like everyone else, but then I spotted a park on my travel companion—the iPhone map.  We’re pretty tough park critics these days, but the yelp reviews peaked my interest and it was an easy 1/2 mile walk away.  We ordered a pizza on UberEats and Bill got us to-go margaritas from a nearby Marriott while the kids and I headed to the play structures.  It really was a unique play space, had beautiful mosaic structures, old gondola cars, cityscape and Tower of the Americas in the background, comfy chairs for the adults, and even a preserved part of the historic irrigation channel (Oh, I did have a history lesson after all!).  This was definitely a ‘glad we took the road/river less traveled’ kind of evening!

Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair in downtown San Antonio... way better than the riverwalk!

Old gondola cars to play in.

Modeled after some park in Spain.

Today, we headed to Fredricksburg, a Bavarian get-away town in Texas’ wine/hill country.  We opted for a Harvest Host camp spot in Bankersmith, TX (population 0) instead of a crowded RV Park closer to town.  What remains of Bankersmith (if it ever was really a town) is a rustic-elegant event venue/daily bar & bbq with fun outdoor area.  From live acoustic music at the bar, to a resident dog that licks your face, to a goat bus, this place was a memorable stop.  Our campsite “down the road” was truly what pictures are made of—boondocking under the stars in a cow pasture with a stone fire pit, no bugs, just a light breeze, encircled by wild and domestic animals.  Our neighbor campers that night were a young Maryland (but from Germany and India) couple working their IT jobs from their sprinter van.  

We were sad to leave this cow pasture off the beaten path.

You read that right!  Goats in a bus!!  (they could get out)

We rode our bikes to the “town” from our cow pasture campsite.  Behind the fence we found a kid-sized old western town, goats, music, bbq, and more.

And back at the campsite...

[tree-choose-pot]

The Southeast

We recently bought the ubiquitous RV travel sticker map, and have been slapping on several more state stickers as we move westward through the southeast.  We’ve had some unique experiences as we’ve passed through these small states, staying at Harvest Host farms and a stopping to visit friends.  We’ve seen a lot of animals, both wild and domestic, to include a pet pig Priscilla, chickens and funny-looking roosters, a dog that protects the chickens, a pod of dolphins making waves near the shoreline, a miles-long line of birds skimming Mobile Bay, a huge coyote feet from the RolyPoly, an opossum in a tree, a cottonmouth snake inches from the kids (yikes!), ospreys, a few bald eagles, blue claw crabs that we trapped and cooked, and of course the horses at the horse farm, including Tequila, the mare we got to ride!   Also, yesterday at Audubon Park in New Orleans, we saw hundreds of black-bellied whistling ducks, and I finally saw the swan I’ve been looking for since Yellowstone! 

At the lavender farm in northwest Florida, we met the hardworking owner, who unbeknownst to him, planted the first lavender crop in Florida.  The 1/4 acre is now an official agriculture experiment for the lavender supply company.   The plants already looked half dead, but I do like the soap I bought, and the kids only cared about the animals anyways.  I kind of want a pet pig now… she was way more chill than the dog and the chickens.

The horse farm was another interesting stop.  We met Mary, who has lived in and out of Mississippi, taking traveling jobs but then returning to the family horses, where she resumes running barrel races and caring for the property and horses (and now her new campground).  We helped feed the 3 boy race horses and the palomino mare.  The horses get a beer with their dinner because, according to Mary, in the south it helps them perspire better.  She let the kids roll around in the hay, then pointed out some of the horses’ personality differences, and then taught us all some riding skills.  Tequila is a trained horse, but this was no kiddie festival horse ride.  Anina caught on faster than I did, as I have not been on a horse since I was a kid and my hand-foot-posture-brain connections have some stiff connections.  the way I sit apparently made the horse want to trot.  Mary taught me how to walk her along the fence and direct her into some sharp turns.  I really enjoyed having this new experience, but I’m not ready quite yet to trade in my longboard for a horse.

We also were spoiled with 5 nights on our friends’ property, the Stumpe Seaside Shambhala, which even has an RV sewer hookup.  We had a laundry room, a bathtub, a whole yard of sand and dirt with permission for the kids to dig, a stunning water view, a dock with crab traps, 3 great evenings eating and visiting with our friends, sunrises at 6:10am (the kids were up!), and did I mention the laundry room?  We can only aspire to be such amazing and generous hostesses as our property-owning friends, but we did learn that we love a property this size, and having a guest cottage might be fun for all of our futures.

6:10am sunrise at Mobile Bay from the Shambhala’s back patio.

We’ve had so many private petting zoo experiences. At the lavender farm, the kids ran out before breakfast!

No contest in cuteness here, between the porky pig and that wirey white rooster.

Our horse-riding lesson in bike helmets and jogging clothes (at least I threw on the flannel!)

Our campground right on the Mississippi River.  We enjoyed the bike path and the long barges floating past (green thing in picture below)

One day when the kids learn about the Civil War in school, they can pull up this picture of when they hugged the leg of Jefferson Davis, the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.

And, finally, learning on the farm...  beer in the horse feed.

[tree-choose-pot]

Where to pot our tree

We’re 9 months into this trip and we talk about when it will end.  But then we quickly change the subject, because we don’t want to talk about it ending.  A few months ago we started having a series of mechanical problems, and we entertained the idea of limping along until the truck and trailer could no longer roll, and then living wherever we happened to be at the time.  

Benji, the fixit man.

Years ago, this is kind of what people did.  When we were walking along a river path in Columbia, SC, we read a sign talking about the ‘Atlantic Seaboard fall line.’  This is a geologic boundary, a granite ridge 130 feet above tide water. It was as far upstream in many Atlantic rivers as people could travel by boat, before hitting rocks and rapids.  Thus, many cities formed along the fall line, Columbia included.  That sure made it easy to decide where to land!

So, when the awning blew off (and then was mis-repaired), and we got a couple flat tires, and then the truck transmission started to fail, and then the horn and lights stopped working, we questioned whether to repair or just see how long we could go.  We chose to repair or workaround, and kept going.  We recently met a family who totaled their travel trailer just a month into their excursion.  Instead of throwing in the towel, they figured out a place for them and all their stuff to live while they shopped for a new home on wheels in an unfamiliar city.  

Early settlers were way tougher and more adaptable than us, but we do have the luxury of working around nature and other obstacles to get what we want out of life.  Now we just have to figure out what that is.

The broken awning being held up by our kayak paddle.  Duct tape, rope, and pool noodles were also cleverly used by my husband to assist with the repair.

We’ve only had 2 flat tires, and I noticed a third had an imbedded nail.  We did buy all new tires for the truck several months ago, and one of the damaged trailer tires was beyond repair and replaced.

When life gives you rainy days, play in the puddles.

[tree-choose-pot]

My true loves

We’ve been to 22 states now on this trip, have lost track of the number of overnight locations, but have reached the one stop I knew we’d make--Mexico Beach, Florida.  All the other stops were merely to stay in nice weather or to visit loved ones (I exaggerate!).

We lived here 2012-2014, visited in 2017, and Cat 5 Hurricane Michael destroyed it in 2018.  We’ve been here over a week now, in a RV park on Highway 98, steps from the Gulf of Mexico and less than a mile from our old house.  We’ve had 7 days of sunshine with moderate to hot temperatures (i.e. perfect February weather), explored most of our old spots, eaten the local fare, made new friends, rolled in the sand, played in the waves, bought MB shirts, and awed at the amount of broken trees, home debris, and new and ongoing construction.  I’ve never known a town so well (it’s very small) that then was destroyed and rebuilt.  It is hard to comprehend how much has happened in the past 2.5 years and also how it’s very much the same, at least from my distant perspective.

After dinner tonight, Anina and I walked on the beach.  It was cloudy and chilly but the stormy day had actually left very calm seas.  We walked hand in hand and I told her how I used to walk on this beach by myself and wish for a little girl to carry or walk besides.  She said “and then I came, and I was one of your first babies.”  I said “you WERE my first baby... I bought your carseat here in Florida and we brought it with us when we moved to Arizona.”  Like all kids, she loves every little detail about herself as a baby and how she became part of our family.  My daughter is one of my true loves and our walk on this beach, another of my true loves, with nothing on our minds except each other and keeping our shoes dry, was pretty much the best thing ever. 

She was then going on about how beautiful the ocean is and I told her I love it when it is calm, but when it’s rough and wavy I don’t like it as much.  Then I felt bad that I was faulting the shoreline that I love, and I didn’t want to send the wrong message to my 6 year old, so I told her, “but I love YOU when you’re calm AND when you’re wavy.”  We both chuckled.  

I am grateful for this small piece of earth that still is a comfort to my soul, even when so much has changed... in my life and in this community.

Cheers to MB!  These awesome cups are courtesy of my brother.  Also, my ‘I’m on Mexico Beach time’ koozie travels with us.

The blue claw crab they caught.

We played with our new family of friends every day.  They’re living/traveling like us for the time being.

Moonrise over construction.

From southwest-facing Mexico Beach, you can see a darn nice winter sunset. 

Just perfect.

[tree-choose-pot]

The grand RolyPoly tour, part 1

I’ve been wanting to post pics of our travel trailer home, RolyPoly, and I’ll start with this one.  This is the center of our 20 foot interior living space, our dinette.  We often eat outside, but otherwise this is our dining area.  The kids draw and often play puzzles or legos here.  We play family games, and usually do school here.  You see our bin and leaning stack of books.. that’s drawing and activity books, picture books, spelling/writing books, and our binder of DVDs (remember those).  We often don’t have good cell signal or wi-fi, so we carry a sizable DVD collection and are always looking for more at thrift shops.  We can’t load up with too many books, so we utilize the Free Little Library Boxes, pick up and drop off handfuls at thrift shops, read chapter books at bedtime, and occasionally buy some good readers for Anina when we find a local book store.  One of the bins under the table has baking supplies, and the other has small games and puzzles.  The navy blue bin in the right corner has educational materials, games, whatever Bill and the kids want to throw in there (haha), and our throw quilt for chilly mornings.  The spice rack over the window holds only 1/3 of my spices… and a pencil sharpener.  We have turned the dinette into a bed a handful of times, when Anina was sick and we didn’t want her way up in the bunk, when the kids insisted they sleep together in our bed (Bill and I got the dinette), and when Uncle Steve slept over.  

The worse part of this area is the constant mess under the table, of crumbs, paper, crayons, and books.  I’ve just surrendered to the mess.  When the kids are in need of a chore, it’s a good area to make them vacuum.

The best part of this area is the varied, spectacular views we have enjoyed out those windows.  Better than any kitchen view I’ll ever have.  I LOVE how the kids look out in the morning and report the weather.

[tree-choose-pot]

Florida gators

Ok, I’ve since seen a few paths named ‘Alligator Alley’ in our Florida travels, but a few days ago we were having so much fun spotting alligator after alligator on Alligator Alley in the Circe B Bar Reserve.  I felt like we were in a Wild Kratts episode in the swamps of Florida!!  Trees coated with Spanish moss surrounded us, birds weren’t skittish, and alligators and turtles were perched on logs like statues.  We also saw and learned of swamp rabbits (rabbits that swim!).  

We really enjoyed this day, which was spontaneous and unexpected... the best kind!  The kids and I were disappointed when we couldn’t find any strawberry farms open for u-pick (we’re near Plant City, FL, the winter strawberry capital).  We were in the car ready to head to a farm stand just to pick up some fresh strawberries, when Bill said, “why don’t I come with you and we can go to the park that my friend recommended.”  I reluctantly agreed, got out of the car to pack a quick lunch, and off we went on a 40 minute drive.  I did not know that this place had 5 Yelp stars (what gets 5 Yelp stars!!!??).  I’m also giving my husband 5 stars for pushing us to go!

We did no research, randomly picked a trail to follow, luckily took the stroller (our off-road bike/running double-wide), and enjoyed every step of the 3 mile trail.  Two miles of the trail was a thin piece of land with a sizable lake on one side and swamp-like water on the other.   You could just sense that wildlife was everywhere.   We were overjoyed with the many alhingas, a new bird to us, blue heron, vultures, black and red duck like birds, armadillos, and the many turtles and gators, big and small.  We forgot our zoom lens, but got a few decent photos.  There were others out enjoying this park, but the lack of crowds in this simply amazing place was also a treat (one we have gotten used to (except for crowded Disney’s Epcot).  

A male anhinga drying his wings, something they have to do because they swim deep and their bodies get cold.

A female anhinga on the left and great blue heron on right.

Can you spot the TWO gators behind her?

Spanish moss and my kids LOVE these big oak trees!

Look at these gators!

We followed this great walk with a stop at Fancy Farms, where we indulged in strawberry shortcake and strawberry milkshakes and a basketful of fresh produce.  

A real Florida vacation!

[tree-choose-pot]

little discoveries

The kids and Bill have been picking me wildflowers during this trip.  A little spice jar of flowers is a far cry from the armfuls of flowers I’d bring home from the Bogota flower market 10 years ago.  But then again, in Bogota we lived in a 2,500 sq ft all brick and wood apartment, and today we live in a 160 sq ft box on wheels.

The handful they found me a few days ago had a sweet smelling rose-like flower with a few buds on the stem.  We used Anina’s Nature Anatomy book (Julia Rothman, great book!) and identified it as Rosa Woodsii, or Wild Woods Rose.  All 4 buds bloomed, one by one.  

I love our little discoveries, and I love that I have had the chance to decorate my home with one small wild rose, as well as 4 vases overflowing with tropical flowers.  I love that I know what it’s like to live in an excessively large apartment, and also a cluttered, cozy travel trailer.