How Did you Start RVing?? Part 2

Thank you to everyone who read and commented on my blog last evening (constructed with live writer). Tonight I am back on the MacBook Pro using MarsEdit-giving it a try. I will confess I just downloaded the freebie copy so I'm winging it~didn't have a chance to even read up on it but I do see a "help' button up there so if that works I'm covered.


After the hardtop we sort of got out of the camping mode for a few years. The older kids no longer felt it was cool to camp with the family, and there was no way we were leaving them home alone to party on the weekends. So we sold the camper and figured if we were going to be stuck home all summer we may as well enjoy it and we installed a pool. And camping was a thing of the past for us :( 


Fast forward to that May morning in 2002. At the table, with the coffee, by myself, reading the classifieds. Knowing Rick enjoyed camping as much as I did, I also knew him well enough to think he may find it too much bother to get back into camping, now that the kids were all mostly grown. So I thought it was possibly time to use some reverse psychology ~ I bounded up over the stairs out of a clean blue sky and announced in my most excited voice..."get up - today we're going boat shopping".


Over coffee he patiently explained to me why we shouldn't buy a boat. I never wanted a boat-I swim like a rock and am petrified of water. But he also knows when I get something in my head I don't let it go. After a pot of coffee and much explanation about owning a boat-I then suggested we go RV shopping - and explained that I had seen one in the classifieds (private sale) spoke with the owners who said it was a beauty of a class C and in excellent shape-and it was only 2 hours from home lets go see it..and to probably shut me up-we showered dressed and away we went. I am practically bouncing in the seat like a five year old all the way to Rogersville NB to see this rig. 


I tend to see potential in everything, but Rick looks past the excitement. It was old old old (I forgot to ask the year)..motor  home-on a dodge chassis, and it truly was a junker. The guy should have paid us to take it away. Meantime I was still seeing 'potential'-Rick was seeing everything else. To be polite I insisted we at least test drive it. She shook rattled and rolled down the road. But to me she was a pretty tin box with the old plaid polyester upholstery. The motor and transmission was shot, it had no breaks and Rick said it steered like a truck wagon. He wasn't long pulling a u-turn and returning to the sellers house. We left telling them we would think it over and let them know. I was so disappointed. Someone had painted the bathroom sink silver, I thought it was pretty even if they did use a paintbrush. 


Upon our return to town we started hitting the dealer lots- there were quite a few Class C motor homes -and we toured all of them, that afternoon. But none were capturing me totally-or calling my name. I'm not sure when we settled on the Class C choice we didn't even look at A's.
We drove another 2 hours to the Saint John NB area to a dealer down there to see what they had on the lot. And there sat the love of my life. I knew the minute I saw it - it was meant to be ours. But I wasn't saying a word until Rick checked it all over and gave me permission to get excited. I stood trying to look totally unconcerned with bated breath.


We purchased it the same day!!!! We returned on May 18, 2002 to pick up our new rig. (ok that  mars edit ‘thingy’ didn’t last long I cut and pasted my blog and emailed it to Ricks laptop and I’m back on live writer as I type)

1987 Empress by Triple E-460 Ford motor and chassis

It was the cutest little Class C ever and we had so much fun in this little motor home. It was 24’ long and you could sleep 6 if necessary. We were so very proud and we went everywhere in it. This picture is of “The Empress” sitting on a beach in Prince Edward Island.


Our first trip out after purchase was to Rexton NB-for the weekend. Yes we forgot the blocking at home (to level and drive up on) so we were a bit off kilter that weekend but I can still remember the feeling of being owners of this dear little motorhome. Laying in the top bunk over the cab watching the sun come up early Saturday morning, and dreaming together of all the places we would visit. There was no need to tow a toad as we could unhook and go anywhere with it. It will remain in my heart as one of my most favorite rigs. Sadly we only kept it for a year- so stay tuned for part 3 tomorrow-to see what happened next!!!


Remember home is where you park it
be safe!!
Elaine
Rick Tucker and Lilly too

How did you Start RVing-Part 1????

Today I spent a great deal of time researching blogging programs and reading all the reviews for each result. I really wanted to try Live Writer so I gave myself a good talking to and here I am on Rick’s “PC” doing up a blog. Sadly, there is no live writer for my macbook pro.

So what would I blog about so I could try this out…and I came to the conclusion that I would give you all a small glimpse into our lives of RVing.

How did it all start? From having no RV and no time..to retired and almost fulltime!!! I was up early one morning in May of 2002~enjoying the peace and quiet of the still house..enjoying my coffee and reading the newspaper classifieds…why the classifieds I have no idea. I wasn’t in the market to purchase anything~guess I just wanted to see what folks sell in there. There were quite a few RVs…which brought back memories to me.

I need to take you back to 1982 ~we purchased a used new to us 1974 or 75 ‘starcraft’ hardtop camper. And I don’t mean ‘gently’ used. There was no sink, no electrical, no water setup -no fridge (it did have an icebox) and it had a two burner propane cook top, with bright yellow countertops. The curtains were gone but the sleeping area bunks were in good shape. Just what we needed!! …we had five kids and 2 Newfoundland dogs,and a mixed terrier of some sort, not two clues between us but  we had a 1976 dodge van with 2 front seats, and mega miles on it which would pull this camper for us. We were good to go…we had the basics right?

1974 Starcraft popup camper

We jetted off to the junkyard and picked up 2 more seats for the van (now we had four)..and Rick built a couch across the back doors of the van, and we found a zipped together mattress thingy at the KMart which worked great for this sofa/couch which I have to add was hinged and also flipped down into a double size bed. Made with chipboard with the 2” mattress thingy we were styling..we now had four seats (none matched) and a couch: to carry the 7 of us!!! (seatbelts were optional in those days) and just to set the scene for you, we had 3 boys and 2 girls the oldest was 12 and the youngest 4. The Newfoundland dogs were full grown.

Our first trip out was to be the long weekend in May …we were so excited…I had gotten busy and sewed blue and white gingham curtains for the van windows (it was blue) and bright orange curtains for the hardtop bed areas.

Rick had gotten busy too~he installed electrical for us..(it was a long durable extension cord through the side of the camper) we had a light! Chippy the little rescued terrier had also gotten busy and presented us with 6 puppies on Wednesday night. We didn’t even know she was pregnant. We may have realized it on Wednesday when she started acting strange.

On Thursday evening we loaded up the camper and van. We were saving the icebox and coolers till just before we left on Friday. We were booked into a CG about an hour away. We hardly slept Thursday night we were all so excited to be going camping in a real camper. We even had a 6” tv radio combo. I had lists and lists of things to check off..dishpan, dishes, linens, etc and we had 3 or 4 electric car heaters to take along. If you’ve never camped in May on the east coast of Canada after a long hard winter..trust me you don’t want to!

Friday finally came..and right after work we hitched up and we were on our way. The Clampets had nothing on us going down the road. We sang on our way to the campground and just couldn’t wait to arrive. Yes we had chippy and the puppies with us. Nothing was going to make us miss this planned weekend! We had arrived!!! We cranked up the camper, I made up the beds, the kids were running all over the campground..and the momma dog and babies were safe, sound and content in a toy box with wheels on it, I could wheel her and her family around the camper (all 3ft of floor space)

Somehow I managed to get everyone fed (yes I cooked a meal we didn’t have a bbq and I just had to try out that two burner cook top)..we enjoyed a glowing campfire and marshmallow roast then got everyone tucked in for the night. I had lots of sleeping bags, pillows and extra blankets with us. The boys slept in the van two on the homemade couch/bed and one on the floor, with the momma dog and babies and all the electric car heaters to keep the van warm for the babies.

Saturday morning dawned bright and early and it was a frosty one. I was starting to question our decisions..what were we thinking…it was freezing cold~I was trying to cook for my family of 7~while at the same time literally scraping the frost off of the tv screen so the little kids could watch cartoons from the bunk and stay out of my way. The older kids were arguing for a share of the extension cord to play vic20 at the booth area.

Just as I was thinking we were possibly ‘nuts’ the sun reached its peak and it warmed up a bit. We had survived our first night camping!! with five kids, three dogs, and 6 puppies. I’m not 100% sure we were ‘hooked’ after that first night…I likened it to ‘childbirth’- you know you did it - said you’d never do it again ~ but it didn’t seem so bad afterwards, so you kept doing it. Saturday was a great day, the night wasn’t as cold as Friday night...and Sunday we returned home, tired but happy to have experienced the big event.

We kept this camper and van for 3 or 4 years, and went almost every weekend during the summer months. We even took a big vacation to Detroit Mi with the camper and kids for 2 whole weeks. The guys at Rick’s work had a betting pool that we couldn’t make it to Mi…but we did with only one flat tire, and pulled into my Aunt’s in Novi after 2 days on the road (now thats a whole other story)..She kept insisting we put the camper in her garage – while I kept insisting no no we were going to sleep in it or at least some of the kids were. It wasn’t until years later I came to the realization maybe she was a wee bit snooty and didn’t want her neighbours to see it…sitting on her beautifully landscaped lawn, beside her big kidney shaped in ground swimming pool.

Stay tuned for Part 2 ~

remember ~~ home is where you park it…

Elaine

Rick Tucker and Lilly too

Will I Ever Be a Decent Blogger?

I was pleasantly surprised today to open the blog area and see an update from Stephanie~Margie and Bruce's daughter~sad that they lost Annie, but nice to see an update from them. I have often wondered how they were doing.

Thursday:

This is the third time I've attempted this blog..:(....being so 'computer' challenged I truly need to find an easier way of doing this blogging. So I ask all you expert bloggers out there..what do you use? We are using 'blogger'...there seems to be so many glitches in this program...or in my thought process..maybe its the 'blogger' being me?? Anyway I'm  hoping I can get it done this time, they say the third time is the charm...so hoping I don't strike out...because I have 4 busy days to tell you all about...I truly need to find a program that allows me to put pictures side by side etc...maybe I need a course...all I know is its frustrating to have your blog  done pictures uploaded and then it all goes screwy.

Thursday I left bright and early to go help a senior friend pack to move. After the packing I had quite a bit of running around to do while in town...I left Rick home to greet and meet the telco technician who arrived as I was leaving to install and change our internet television and telephone system provider. One would think Rick of all people (who worked in the teleco industry for over 32 years) would know all the questions to ask~and ensure everything was glitch free before letting the techie leave. I arrived home later in the day, crashed for a few minutes, made supper and then we settled in to watch some TV...not gonna happen... After over 2 hours on the phone (that would be me) with tech support we realized we were not programmed correctly..once you live with time shifting its hard to go without it...anyway after much back and forth I also found out that we were not receiving the programming that was "pitched" to us when we decided to change providers, I was told "yes you have it for the first 30 days"...needless to say there was a lot of back and forth discussion...as I had previously spoken with three representatives on three separate occasions to ensure the pitch was the pitch. To make a long story short...we got what we were promised and not for only 30 days ~ it is until we decide to cancel !! We owned a customer service centre for the last 13 years...so you have to do some talking to get around me. I refuse to be scammed.

So Rick tells me the internet is faster (I truly don't see much difference but what do I know I'm challenged remember) I can't figure out the TV guide (thats what husbands are for and bless his heart he built a favourites for my channels for me now just has to teach me how to find the favourites area), and my caller display on the telephone is still working...so maybe we're good to go here?

Friday:
Friday was a busy day of babysitting for our daughter for the afternoon, then we were all meeting downtown at the MotoMoncton Motorcycle Festival where our son Don's band was the opening band for the music. The grands, Hannah and Caitlin were very excited... this was their first 'concert' and thought their Uncle Donnie was pretty famous. They made signs and Cait even made a shirt! They were quite the little groupies to say the least.

Hannah and Caitlin

Front of stage with their signs..they were definitely in awe

Song dedication to them :)

Todd, Tracey, Hannah and Caitlin

Don, Rick and myself

Darren, Don, Alan and Justin -

grands watching the tune up

Don and Darren on drums

Proud sister with brother

Father and son

Some nice rides and lots of people

All in all it was an exciting evening and a proud evening for our family...after the performance we walked the main street and checked out the nice rides...I think everyone was out in Moncton on Friday evening. Then it was home for us and to bed as the grands were arriving in the morning to go camping with us.

Saturday: (our wedding anniversary-good thing daughter brought us a card to remind us of the day-thats how busy we have been-I immediately jumped on facebook and posted a loving anniversary wish to Rick-whew got that covered)

The 'grands' were delivered to us at 10 am sharp~and they were dancing in the driveway while we finished loading up a few last minute things into the MH...and after our ritual hand holding travel prayer~we were on our way. This was their first 'ride' in ossumer~we were booked into a kid full, fun filled campground in sussex NB. Thankfully it was only an hour away! The chatterboxes were quite cute~kids never cease to amaze me! There was crafts, playgrounds, the pool~and kids everywhere~ never a dull moment. Saturday evening the cg hosted a pool party for the kids with coloured lights and (loud) music. Everywhere you looked there was also a dog. Talk about a noisy place but if your taking kids along thats where you need to be. Here are a few pics of their camping trip:

They swam for hours

Bonfire and marshmallow time

Caitlin and Lilly

Hannah and Tucker

Snuggle time with Nan

 

 

 

Sparkler Time

 

Bedtime was seamless~bless their hearts because Nannie and Poppa were pretty 'tuckered' out.  Poor poppa spent so much time pool side, seemed we no sooner got them dried off and they were back in the suits and back to the pool. They had so many 'firsts' this weekend...first 'concert'-first ride in ossumer-and first pool party!!

We were smiling today as we passed two pretty worn out 'grands' back to their parents~now after blogging 3x I'm praying this one takes then its off to bed for this tired old nannie!! Hoping this new week that is upon us progresses at a slower pace than the last one. Where did we ever find the time to work and run a business??

Take care all and remember
Home is where you park it!!

 

Please feel free to 'blog' educate me~I'm seeking something fairly simple~type click insert and publish..is there such a thing out there that will work on my mac? ****see these paragraphs in the gold color text? Both Rick and I have tried everything to get them to match the text in this blog...it has to be some sort of carry over from the captions~ but it is a prime example of my frustration..oh well tomorrow will be a better day right???
Elaine
Rick Tucker and Lilly too

 

 

 

 

Is this Not Tuesday???? Where do We live???

Is this not Tuesday??? Didn't we just get home yesterday??? Good gracious..no its Wednesday..or so I've been informed..We arrived home early Monday afternoon and we have been going straight out since then-non stop..and here it is 40 mins from Thursday.

We have been staining the deck, limbing trees, pulling weeds from flower beds, laundry, dusting, cleaning, cooking..getting haircuts, new debit cards, revolution for the fur kids, answering emails etc etc that and everything else that piles up while your gone for a couple of weeks. Poor Ossumer looks pretty lonesome...although I do make numerous daily trips out there to get something out of the closet in the bedroom, or something out of the fridge to cook for supper-or something out of the pantry...normally I have both places well stocked...I must be slipping this season. Could it be the retirement? I do the laundry and have sorting baskets...this goes into the closet this goes back into Ossumer...this goes into the stix and brick kitchen yadda yadda...

I am so anxious to get the winter south trip booked..but right now we don't dare..we finally got a call yesterday for Rick to see the surgeon..October 5th...sadly we cannot make any definite decisions until then :(....although we are considering booking anyway and cancelling if necessary...what to do what to do...there is so much to think about and so much to do...so I have decided...

I'm going to take a big deep breath and just get us through the next few days...tomorrow we are changing providers for home telephone, internet and tv...could be anywhere from 8am-5pm when they show up...so far up to today I've received 3 reminder calls pertaining to this installation...drives me nuts...Rick will handle that as I have to go at 8:30am and help a senior friend pack and get ready to move...Friday morning involves some appointments, loading Ossumer and Friday evening is the MotoMoncton Motorcycle show!! The main downtown street will be blocked off -lots of bikes, music etc. Our oldest son and his band are the opening act..so we must attend that..the two grands are pretty excited (7 yrs old) to be attending with their parents and us...to hear them tell it they are attending their first ever 'concert' and their uncle is famous...so cute...little do they know he is going to dedicate a song to them both...brown eyed girls...no doubt that will send them over the moon.

Saturday morning we are loading the two grands into Ossumer, yes with the other two fur kids and heading about an hour away to a kid filled fun campground until Sunday or Monday...they are so excited as this is their first trip out in the new motorhome. It should prove interesting to say the least. I will try remember to take the time to use the camera. Praying this past couple of days of nice weather holds up for us.

So I've only listed a few of our activities that we've accomplished so far this week...maybe this will help you understand why I'm not sure what day it is...take care all -stay safe...you are all remembered in our prayers...

home is where you park it
Elaine
Rick Tucker and Lilly too

I'm so so very excited I just had to edit this post..I have been daily watching Sicard Rv's...watching our sunvoyager by gulfstream sitting on that site so forelorne...wondering when she will get new owners...just now we saw a big SOLD sign on her listing...she was a wonderful classy motorhome and we loved her dearly...I hope the new owners love her as much as we did...and they certainly bought themselves a real Classy A motorhome...good luck in your new home Miss Daisy may you provide the love and enjoyment to your new owners that you've provided to us!!!

A beautiful hot sunny Sunday!! We're off to the market

Yesterday, with heavy hearts, we left Sydney heading toward NB...planning a stop in Truro for the night and onto NB today..We ended up staying overnight in Debert the decided humm fairly nice park lets stay another night especially where the weather is so nice. So we are striving to push onto NB on Monday.

It was sad leaving the family...but we will be back again...all was well the drive was beautiful...

Windshield shot-

 

 A beautiful driving day!

A 

How pretty is this...

 The Canso Causeway connects Cape Breton Island to mainland Nova Scotia..There is a bridge in the middle of the causeway. Entering the bridge from the causeway toward NB-:( leaving Cape Breton Island

 See this hut? thats at the top of the bridge (suspended) of the canso causeway. A worker sits in here ~and when the ships need to pass thru the worker swings the bridge around sideways so the ships can pass....

Shot of the causeway in the distance

Saint Annes look off

 Then things go somewhat 'hairy'....we encounter a 'detour' of approximately 45 minutes off the highway down a winding, twisty, broken pave, no shoulder~ back road. Traffic was heavy (altho I didn't capture the traffic I was too busy praying) This road does not look narrow but trust us it certainly is.

No shoulders

traffic was bumper to bumper at times

We met trailers, fivers, moto homes, tractor trailers...on this narrow country road

This could be tricky

We arrived Elm River Park in Debert NS around supper time..so the trip which should have taken 2.5-3 hours took us around 5. Nice park...but being a Saturday night it was full and busy..kids and dogs everywhere. Before even setting up we hauled out the dogs, the chairs and the happy hour liquids and kerplunked ourselves into the chairs to enjoy a cold one, enjoy the sunshine and ease the tensions of the detour drive.

I made big fat homemade hamburgers for supper-we took a few walks with the fur kids~grabbed a coffee and relaxed for the evening.

Have a great day all! 

Home is where you park it

Elaine, Rick Tucker and Lilly

A fun filled Friday...on the Island of Cape Breton..

We were preparing to load up and head toward NB yesterday..but those plans got changed...we did move on but not toward home..we left the cg and came into sydney ....spent the night in my cousins driveway..she was a tight squeeze but we managed it...and wow you would think anyone and everyone in this town has never see a coach motorhome....there has been more cars stopping and staring...talk about tying up traffic....

We were definitely a traffic stopper

parked and setup

We headed down to Cheryl's (my cousin's mom and my first cousin) as it was stated she was cooking supper for us all AGAIN!! this time it was cabbage rolls, garlic chicken, rice, breads and all the trimmings...We would not dare to weigh this motorhome today, especially if we are in it... because of all the good food thats been served to us this week..I'm sure we're over weight...now Rick knows where I learned my cooking traits, and why I'm also a 'large portion' server. At home hes forever saying we do not need a 'dutch oven' pot full of potatoes Elaine just for the two of us....I dont' know how to cook for just two people...so now I think he has an understanding as to why I don't.

Hot turkey dinner-with all the trimmings - just one of the many wonderful meals Cheryl cooked-

My cousin Janice and I

Cousin Cheryl-the great cook!!

Andy Lisa's hubby-Breanne and Jamie Lynn hiding her face thats a 15 yr old thing :)

Lisa-she is so much fun!! and so funny

While sitting out on her veranda after supper enjoying our drinks...we watched the sights of the neighbourhood...at the corner was a party of 20+ something year olds...they were all fairly inebriated and of course arguing amongst themselves.
One young lady was in pretty bad shape falling on the cement sidewalk and some guy took her down the neighbours dark driveway across the street. We immediately alerted the authorities...like come on she is someone's daughter...of course when the police arrived (two cars) he took off..and they were forever finding her in the dark backyard and getting her to her feet and into the car. At least we know she was safe for the night.

The police were pretty chatty with us all..and of course Cheryl delivered him some water, and pop to help him thru his long shift~I'm surprised she didn't land out there with a plate of cabbage rolls for him. As a joke I said to him...you should let me sit in the back of your car and get my picture taken.."I'm a tourist" home to visit..lol he said sure...talk about funny...yes we have pictures..but the wifi is too slow to load them up, so I will load up and catch up on all the missing pictures when the wifi is better...he even turned the lights on...now isn't that a story for my grandkids...I always said where theres no fools theres no fun...just seems I'm always the fool..haha...and just so you know it was my first ever experience in the back of a police car....oh well it gave everyone  a great laugh...

I guess theres one in every bunch!

cousin Breanne gorgeous girl

Life wasn't so funny earlier ...Lisa and I had gone to the bank and I wanted to use the instant teller...they are not like the ones at home and I don't know why...at home you don't get the withdrawn $$ until your transaction is complete..here you get it first...due to gabbing with Lisa, when it spit out the cash I took it and left...and you know what happened next...about 6pm I realized I didn't have my bank card..yup it was still in the machine...we did go back and some good honest soul must have removed it and took it inside to the teller because I hopped on line and checked the bank and the only withdrawal was the one I made. The transaction would have been at the stage of 'would you like to make another transaction' when I walked away from it...so they might drink and fight on Friday nite but they're still honest good down home folk. I called the bank and canceled my debit card and will pick up a new one the first of the week..meantime Rick has his we can use.

Its a hot sunny day here in CB ..of course because its a travel day for us..but better to travel in the sun versus the rain...not sure where we will end up tonight, but will update if possible...

Have a super Saturday everyone, and remember

Home is where you park it
Elaine (Rick Tucker and lilly too)

And another Great Day!!!

Yesterday the cousins came to visit us at the rig in the early afternoon...and brought their own containers (as requested by me)..because I whipped them up another 3 dozen chocolate chip cookies...the ones I made from the other day were quite a hit...

After they left we tidied up around the rig...we walked the dogs..and Rick and I headed into town, picked up some supper (delicious chicken) and had supper with my Aunt Betty. She is 80 some years old, and is a walking historian...I could sit forever asking her 'family' questions..there isn't anyone she doesn't know, and not much she doesn't know about them. How I love this..having lost my parents in my late 20's I now have questions...so thank heavens for these elder relatives who have answers. Who thinks in their 20's to ask family historic questions of their parents..I sure didn't ...we were busy raising five kids... trying to work and get through the present and look to the future..there just wasn't time or inclination to think of the past. We had a great visit with her...I do have some pictures..but our wifi here at the park is too slow for uploading pictures....will do so when I have faster speed.

Today, was another super day, we hung around the MH most of the day, I should rephrase that ~most of the 1/2 day..I didn't haul out of the bedroom till after 10am..its been like that all week...who knew I could get past 5am...my usual waking hour...we headed into town to my cousin Cheryl's for a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings...you name it it was on that dining room table...plus 3-4 desert choices...needless to say I came home with a 'here take this lemon meringue pie home with you'!!! Am hoping my clothes still fit next week after this week on the Island. And once again even the fur kids were treated to some tidbits. And my cousin presented me with another gorgeous Cape Breton Island blanket throw.

After arriving back at the Mh we hunkered down (is that a word? we do use that alot in Cape Breton)..and did some blog reading...its now almost 1am so I'm heading up the hall into dreamland..

travel safe yall and remember
Home is where you park it...

Elaine, Rick Tucker and Lilly~living our dream in Ossumer...

A Lazy day!! We are still experiencing rainy weather

Today was a sort of lazy day, I cleaned, went for groceries, got all the laundry done, then baked some. Rick puttered around~and braved the elements to take some pictures for me.

view from the CG this is a gorgeous church

At supper time we enjoyed the delicious cabbage rolls that my aunt sent us home with yesterday. Then it was off for a drive into town~and I delivered the chocolate chip cookies to my cousin. We visited a bit, then came back and took the furkids for their walk.

Tucker talking to the ducks outside the rig~told you it was great weather if your a duck

It didn't rain today, but it sure looked like it wanted to...

If you decide to ever visit Newfoundland~your Limo awaits  you 

a shot of the campground~lovely place

Also our 'congratulations' to Larry and Marilyn Vanstone (the amazing Vanstones)..Larry retired today!! Way to go Larry and Mar...

Time for a hot shower, and early nite...take care all safe travels and remember

Home is where you Park it...!!

Rick, Elaine Tucker and Lilly

A Wonderful Day on the Isle of Cape Breton

Sunday, we had a busy day, Rick worked around the rig, puttering and cleaning the windows and bug grime off the rig. I cleaned inside, and cooked most of the day. We had some of my cousins for supper last evening~I made homemade spaghetti ~tea biscuts~salads and garlic bread for our supper. For desert I baked chocolate macaroons. We ate, drank some wine, traded stories and had quite a few laughs, and thoroughly enjoyed each others company.

Today I arose fairly late (9:45 who knew I could retire and sleep in that late)...Rick had the fur kids out for their walk, fed them their breakfast and had my coffee all ready when I sashayed up the hall. He cooked us a wonderful big breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. (Hes a pretty handy guy to have around).

We then showered dressed and headed into Sydney to visit my Aunt Betty whom I haven't see in a couple of years, and she is 84 years old. We spent the afternoon with her..she had just put a big roaster full of homemade cabbage rolls into the oven and boy did they smell good. She is as sharp as a tack, and I so enjoy her family stories. By the end of the visit those cabbage rolls were cooked, and being the caper that she is she of course offered us some to take home. I very politely declined (even tho my mouth was watering)...As most of you know they are a pain in the butt to make so I only make there once a year if Rick is lucky~Rick not being as polite as myself piped up and said "sure we'd love to take some home".."but don't put any in there for Elaine because she said she didn't want any"...I almost kicked him under the table.

We came back to the campground (check it out for if you are ever in the area its a great place and very close to the Ferry Terminal to Newfoundland~you can store your rig here while visiting the rock if you don't want to take it with you..www.armofgoldcamp.com)~ we had left the dogs in the rig so we came back to store Rick's cabbage rolls (yes theres some in there for me to but he says there isn't) in the fridge and grab the dogs and head back into town to be at my cousin Cheryl's to have supper with her and her family. What a massive supper we had served to us there. Roast Pork~baked ham and all the trimmings and strawberry shortcake for desert. I could hardly move. It was delicious.

The weather today has been nothing but rain...all day since last evening..and more is expected for tomorrow..but that sure didn't dampen our spirits or hinder our visitation. I so love being home to visit, even tho I do not have any immediate family here, the Aunts and cousins always make us feel special....I always feel like I'm wrapped up in a big cosy quilt when I'm with them.

Tomorrow will be a laundry/cleaning day. I do have to jet to a grocery store because all the cousins love homemade chocolate chip cookies..and everyone knows I make the best. We must be good guests because we are invited back again on Thursday for a turkey dinner..yum yum...

I better get off this island before I sink it, I've eaten so much just since Saturday. Mind you I don't hear Rick groaning or complaining, he eats everything they put in front of him, I gain weight just watching him eat it all.

Have a wonderful Tuesday folks~and if the rain ever clears up I will take some wonderful pictures.

Stay safe and remember "home is where you park it"

Elaine (Rick Tucker and Lilly too)
ps...I even caught one of the cousins giving tucker and lilly tastes of strawberry shortcake after supper...so needless to say Capers feed everyone and the dogs probably don't want to come home with us to NB..