Something Old Something New

Starting Over with a new blog site. Just learning how to put this thing together. I decided to do away with myspace and try something new. Bear with me as I get the hang of  blogger. The plan is to journal daily as our life is somewhat unconventional. Our home is on wheels and we've been traveling to and fro for nearly two years now. The first several months after going full time living in our motorhome we stayed local, mostly in Gettysburg PA. Then in April of this year we traveled out to California and back, visiting National Parks, friends and family along the way. At the moment we're enjoying Fall in Virginia and North Carolina before heading home for Christmas and the arrival of a new grandchild. January 2011 will be the beginning of the rest of our life. Shenandoah National Park, Great Smokey Mountain National Park, from Front Royal to Cherokee the Blue Ridge is our home. We look forward to the coming years, being retired and enjoying our life on wheels as I attempt to share whith you here, the view from a mountaintop.

I Love You Big Much

I wondered if this even had anything to do with this life we've chosen to live...I've concluded that it does. Doesn't every experience, good, bad, happy, sad have it's place in life? God takes it all, shakes it up and works it all out one way or another to benefit us and bring us into a closer relationship with Him. We now live on the road in our rolling home. Our children are no longer children and our grandchildren are the lights of our life. Daily we pray all is well with all those we love and ask God to bless their lives in ways that they can't deny God's hand in all that comes their way. Jobs change, relationships struggle,  marriages fail,  finances wane, but deep down in who we are we know that there is a reason and we find peace that carries us through to a brighter day.
The hardest thing about living any unconventional lifestyle is the separation from the norm. Our normal is no longer the normal of the past. We're forced to view the struggles, losses and failures from a distance because our job is finished and letting go means trusting God to take control. Not easy, but necessary...how else can the prayer above be answered if we keep sticking our nose into God's plan for growing and carrying through to the blessing of that brighter tomorrow?  It won't, God simply waits.
I watched a video recently of our youngest grandaughters. "I love you big much mamaw"  "I love you too papaw" They are still able to hug away a hurt and a simple kiss has the power to turn a frown upside down. Odd how the tables turn as the years pass. Our children used to reach for us for the warmth and comfort of a hug and now it's us that find solace in the arms of a child. 　
the trees will soon be bare,
the holidays will come and go.
there's a definite chill in the air,
it won't be the same I know...
out with the old and in with the new,
this year with all its struggles and such.
soon will fade as new life comes into view,
...  "I love you big much"

A Day In The Life

Today began as every day. Up early...actually up all night, then looking out the window early. I think it was around 4 AM; I didn't notice the exact time. The fireplace was on and the room was dark. I curled up on the couch and pulled the afghan down over me, buried my nose in my collar and went to sleep. I always loved falling asleep in front of the fire. An hour passes maybe two, I'm awakened by the jets flying overhead. We're located not far from the air force base in Norfolk Virginia. I've noticed that they fly over several times in the day but this is the first time I've heard them so early in the morning.

Time for Joyce...

Raised the shades, so the sun can warm the room. My phone indicated several times through the night that I had received messages. Opened the computer to read my email and check my face book. Looking forward to my coffee this morning. Fresh ground whole bean from Harbour Coffee Roaster in Williamsburg Virginia. The smell of fresh ground beans permeate our living space. Brewed to perfection with just the right amount of half and half, warms the soul on a chilly Autumn morning as well as the hands and the afore mentioned nose. Barry's up...Hagee... FOX..

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I'll take a bike ride to explore the campground. It's huge...Barry continues to wax the motor home before winter. We'll leave her in Jackson Springs for the early part of the winter as we'll be home for Christmas then waiting for the arrival of our next grand baby. It's afternoon now and the rain clouds begin to roll in. It's going to be a good day to go thrift shopping or should we search out a new coffee roaster? Decisions...
House cleaning complete, only the outside remains. I feel like I have the easier job when it comes to cleaning. I'm finished in a few hours, my better halves half involves a few days until his jobs end is in sight. Jets continue to fly overhead throughout the day. It will be nice to return to our quiet Williamsburg home. Listening to Alison Krauss...

Thrift finds of the day, Hilfiger hoodie, brand new Keds and ear muffs :) I love the Salvation Army Family Store on Wednesday's. Dinner of my choice tonight cottage cheese and pineapple my favorite. Barry stopped at Subway and got a tuna sub, his favorite. Watched the Walton's Reunion on ISPN. Can't believe all the 'Walton' kids grew up to look exactly the same as they did when they were young...except for Jim Bob, he looks different lol. Beck, O'Reilly, Hannity, VanSustern...

So the day has come to an end topped off with Bryer's Vanilla ice cream drenched in Creme Sherry from the Williamsburg Winery. Barry's gone to bed and I'm about to listen to Part 3 in the latest GT series. Hope I'm not disappointed as lately, I've been, sigh...

Up 'n Atom

On our way to Virginia Beach. Thought we were leaving yesterday but after checking the little black book realized I was wrong again. The third time since returning home from our big trip out west. Must be that they were correct in that when you retire, you begin to lose brain cells. I hope they're wrong...who are 'they' anyway? Got up early, sun is shining, had our coffee now packing up. Bikes hung, chairs in car, slides in. Off to a place not too far down the road, 72 miles to be exact. We were in Virginia Beach several years ago in the winter. Cold and snow as I recall. It should be different this time. We'll be staying in a Thousand Trails campground. Thousand Trails is all new to us but the goal this coming year is to visit each one on the east coast. I'll post here our experience with our next stop when I actually have some experience to post. I expect it to be a good time...and we're off.

A Few Of Our Favorite Things

Well, we just spent the past 14 days in Williamsburg Virginia. Our home away from home. We've been coming here for 31 years, the first time when our oldest son was 3 months old. We arrived here in Norge at our Outdoor World campground and the memories began to flow. We used to camp with the kids at Fair Oaks at the Pottery, then at Powatan on Rte.5 otherwise known as Plantation Row. When those campgrounds were no longer an option for us we would return year after year and stay in a hotel with a Room Saver coupon. This year is the first year in many that we actually have a campground affiliation that we can utilize here near Williamsburg. Most people visit here once, maybe twice on a long awaited vacation. For some reason we never cease to be amused by the lost tourists who feverishly fumble with their town map to see where they can catch the nearest bus to the next event. We're often tempted to continue watching and listening as visitors make multiple attempts at locating the bus stop, a bathroom or one of the four taverns open for business in the old town. After a chuckle we remember a time when we were the lost tourists with a baby, in the rain, looking for the bus to take us back to a familiar place. Eyes darting to and fro, late for an obviously important date,  compassion flows and we break down and direct them to their destination. Peanut soup and warm rice pudding, the aroma of a cup of steaming hot mulled apple cider and the warmth of a street fire welcomes cold feet and hands...these are just a few of our favorite things while here in our home away from home, Colonial Williamsburg.

Fire, Friends and Fred

 

One of my favorite things to do while camping is to sit around a campfire with good friends, talking about nothing most of the time. It was a cool evening tonite. Dinner was shared with good friends, Doug and Sue from Hagerstown, we met back in the day before the campground here in Gettysburg was a fun place to stay.  The day began with our Sunday morning posse, goodbyes to Julie, Gary and Malia, then a ride in to the Adams County Winery to do a wine tasting. We took a quick trip around the battlefield before heading back to the campground to enjoy dinner and a campfire before the rain arrives.
One of my favorite friends at GBR is Fred. He’s a ladie’s man, a chick magnet. Blond hair, brown eyes and a sweet face. Fred also has four legs, a long tail and loves attention. He’s a 120 lb. yellow lab who belongs to another close friend, Mr. Hill. We enjoy both the Hills company and they have a standing invitation to sit by our fire.
Tomorrow is another day here in GBR. Our last week before heading to Virginia. Tomorrow it rains. It’s going to be a quiet day.

A New Day

I always seem to begin a journal and then for one reason or another never get back to it, but not this time. This is the official beginning of a new day, the first day of the rest of my life. My life on wheels that is. I live with my sweet husband full time in our motorhome experiencing life from a mountaintop.  Any mountaintop. I am no respector of mountaintops, just like them better than hmmmm say the valley. Today we’re in Gettysburg Pennsylvania, not exactly a mountaintop physically but rather a mountaintop of life. We love it here, almost as much as Williamsburg Virginia. Today we’re visiting the Adams County Winery with friends that are visiting for the weekend, then off to the Boyd’s Bear Barn, no not to buy a bear but to stay cool. It’s another 90* day choc full of humidity and the Barn is air conditioned. Tonite the plan is to have a campfire surrounded by friends who love our lifestyle, enjoy sipping warm mulled wine, toasting marshmallows and sharing uplifting conversation.