a Day in the Life.....

Been working on the spec house, feverishly, before we leave for the bus rally.....got to see the Supermoon, briefly, then the clouds took over.

Not much excitement going on here, but love to sit on the balcony and watch the hummingbirds......
I'm sure I'll be posting lots of new photos of our trip to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho....so stay tuned....

Summertime.......

Well. the hottest part of the summer is over, now we get into a monsoon flow....... clear blue sky in the morning and huge thunderclouds in the afternoon, with rain!!!! Jeez, we need it!
Jimmy has healed very well...he almost doesn't have a limp anymore.
We're leaving by the end of the month because he has a follow-up dr.appt on Aug 1st. we will probably leave the mini-bus in Arlington and bring the big coach home to pack and get ready to go to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for a rally with the "Jewels". We will be leaving here about the 18th to go 1500 some odd miles...then to the boat races, while in Idaho.
In the meantime, some work is actually getting done on the spec house, between doing work for other people.....SIGH........ maybe it'll be close by winter......

Jimmy's hip replacement.....

After the Grand Canyon rally, we had to rush back to Ruidoso, where the animals and I stayed while Jimmy drove to Fort Worth for his pre-op tests. Then he had to be back  in Ruidoso for the contractor's monthly meeting, because we were sponsoring it and having our Demilec Spray Foam Salesman showing a presentation on June 3rd.
Leaving that night, after the meeting, we got to Fort Worth on the 4th, his surgery was at 5:30 am the morning of the 5th.
They did not use anesthesia, they used a spinal block, (like a C section).....at any rate, I walked into the hospital room and he was reading the room service menu for lunch!
They discharged him on Saturday and we left straight from the hospital and drove back to N.M..
He is doing very well and will be using a walker for a month.
We will all be loading up for a quick 600 mile drive, for his follow-up on the 20th in Fort Worth.

Sedona- Marathon Rally

On Friday, we loaded up in the tour bus and went to Sedona. A Huge fire, called the SLIDER fire, (named for Slide rock) in Oak Creek Canyon was only 5% contained and we had to go about 30 miles out of the way to get there, but once there, it was beautiful. No Smoke!

We ate lunch at at a wonderful restaurant called Rene's.....probably the best food of the rally........!  Then took the Pink Jeep tour....up a trail, and I got great pictures!

Marathon Coach Grand Canyon Rally.....May 19-25th, 2014

In all the places that we have been, we have never actually been to the Grand Canyon!
Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam, Moab, Utah......all around it, but not actually TO it.

We arrived on Monday night the 18th, and they had a bar-b-que get together for early arrivals......
Tuesday, the actual Rally started and we went to register and pick up our packets.
Wednesday morning, we boarded the train and took the 90minute ride to the southern rim.
Upon arrival, we ate lunch at the El Tovar Lodge....wonderful, elegant, dark wood....old lodge, hotel.
Then we took the shuttle several stops to the end of the trail and walked back up the hill to the lodge, all along the edge.

we watched a very colorful Indian dance, bought some souvenirs, then boarded the train home.

On the way, the train slowed and we got "robbed" by the same Cataract Canyon Cowboys that held the shootout, earlier! haha!

 

Many of the people stayed overnight at the Lodge, but we came home that afternoon, because of all the critters!

Goldie and the kitty (Sheena), playing....

new house coming along!!!

The new spec house that we are building, is coming right along! Jimmy is putting up the roof beams, and soon we start enclosing the place by putting on the roof...hopefully it will sell before we're done, so we can finish it out in the new owner's taste.

HOPPY EASTER~!!!!!

I FINALLY got my cast off and they put me in a walking boot......not that I could walk on it yet....for another  several weeks!
Eventually, I started putting weight on it, and after a total of  6 weeks, I got to be rid of it!!!

Now, it's just a matter of time, I am still hobbling around a lot....a fact that I hate......but hopefully, before fall, I hope to be walking normally again.
I now have a plate, several screws a piece of cadaver bone ( to extend my heel) and marrow from my pelvis (as the glue)  in my right foot.

Our 29th anniversary was on March 30th, and I was treated to tea and crumpets ( from the house of pecan sandies)  for breakfast.....

Goldie!

In all our traveling back and forth for Doctor appointments and taking back over one of the trucking companies, we are in Fort Worth A lot......We have been talking about missing my sweet Nikki, my Akita, who died in November (she was 13 1/2) and Jimmy decided to get another dog. I wanted to wait until my foot was better, but knowing Jimmy, I had better put my 2 cents in or he would bring me home something I probably wouldn't want!!!!
So........after spending several hours we brought home GOLDIE! A mini- golden doodle! The toy poodle in her, means she doesn't shed (yay!) and the golden retriever in her means she's super friendly. She is supposed to be about 35 pounds, fully grown.....BUT..... I have NEVER had a dog with such energy! ( I'm being kind)......She has gotten on my LAST nerve...daily!
But, she is so very sweet and it's just the "puppy" thing.
My poor Shadow (the 12 year old poodle) is really not too thrilled with her, but my cat Sheena, is really having fun messing with her. ( I can just see when she is thinking "stupid dog", haha!)

                    Starting to build 2nd house!

 Spray foam insulation underneath the slab........

Holidays

Thanksgiving and Christmas were pretty quiet, since I couldn't do much....so friends MaryAnne and Paul came up for the holidays!

YUK! foot surgery on Nov 6th

Foot Surgery----ouch!

Ten years ago,  at a bus rally in Key West, Florida, I injured my right foot. It stretched tendons and ligaments, and they just never repaired themselves......as a result, it got worse, over the years, resulting in a bad limp and painful walking, the last 2 years. On November 6th, I had rather extensive foot surgery, a cast for 2weeks, cut it off and x-rayed, another 2 weeks, cut it off and x-rayed......for 3 casts and then a walking boot/brace. I couldn't put weight on it for a month, and just got it off last Friday! (Feb. 14th!) Still hobbling around, can't drive yet....but it feels so much better....still hurts, but hopefully that will stop.

NASCAR RACE NOV.2013

We went to the Nascar race, of course, at Texas Motor Speedway.....right before I was scheduled to have foot surgery......\

Nashville Jewel Rally Oct 4-10

We were invited to join the Jewels, (a motorcoach club) and go to a rally in Nashville.
It was the 88th anniversary of the Grand 'Ol Opry, and various other things.
The first stop was the old RCA studio where Elvis, Charlie Pride, Floyd Cramer, Dolly Parton,  etc. recorded .
Each night was some nice place for dinner, (i.e. Sambuca) etc.
One day a Riverboat rideand lunch with a show with Shotgun Red from RFD TV.
Next day, a luncheon in the Country Music Hall of Fame with a songwriter, (James Dean Hicks) giving a show and answering songs about songwriting, etc.
One evening, we spent at the Grand 'Ol Opry birthday celebration and saw many of the old country western singers, like Little Jimmy Dickens, Jeannie Seely, etc.
Even one of the American Idol singers...Casey James.
The epitome was the tour of the Fontanel.......Barbara Mandrell's former home.
a 27,000 square foot log house! Indoor pool. 2500 square foot great room, all the pictures of her with incredible people, trophies, awards, a fabulous dining room, etc. really tremendous.
Enjoyed visiting with all the new friends and several old friends that we have known over the years from our Marathon Club membership and previous rallies. we plan on 3 or 4 more within the next year.......

 

Top 'O the World....

 

Beetle Trees.......

Still taking down......about 70, so far. Then had the pest control guy come out and spray some of the trees that we definitely don't want infected!

"I Hate Myself....Cos I Want You!"