Thank you

I just wanted to thank all of you for your kind words about our loss of Arthur.  I know several of you have known that kind of loss.

The house sure seems quiet and empty without him.  Even with our goofy Golden, Jackie, it still seems empty.  You know something is missing.

As of now we don’t intend to get another cat.  Arthur would be a very, very hard act to follow.  And I would miss those characteristics that he had that I’m sure another one wouldn’t have.  As I said before, he truly was one of a kind.

Goodbye Arthur

To say that Arthur was an awesome cat would be an understatement.  Many cats have come and gone from our home, but Arthur was one of a kind.
 

We rescued Arthur 3 years ago last May.  He was 6 years old when we got him.  His previous owners didn’t want him anymore.  His coat was absolutely terrible, he had a blocked tear duct and consequently his eye ran water and that whole area had dried crusty stuff around it.  His teeth were filthy.  I wondered at the time what I was getting myself into.  But we took him, he just looked so pitiful.
 

From the moment we got him home, it was plain that he felt he was now safe and in his forever home.  He just made himself at home and made us his Mom and Dad.  I took him into the vet and had his teeth cleaned and that blocked tear duct looked into.  It couldn’t be cleared but that was no big deal, it didn’t seem to bother him and we just wiped away any tears that collected.  We brushed his coat many, many times a day and it took a few months to retain it’s natural health.
 

Nothing bothered him, absolutely nothing, well maybe the vacuum cleaner if it got too close.  He had to come and check out every visitor that arrived.  He talked to us, oh man did he talk.  He never shut up!!  He came when called.  When it came time to go south for the winter we thought we had better get him used to the RV so we took him out into it while it was parked in the driveway.  He just walked in, sniffed around and hopped up on the couch.  Again he was right at home.  He went on several of our travels, in his crate while driving, never complaining.  He knew his favourite places and once parked he headed for them. 

He would sit beside me here on my computer desk, I hardly had room left for me.  He would sleep between us most of the night.  He always came in and said goodnight.  He’d hop up, get his loving, and then disappear for awhile.  But sometime during the night he arrived back and parked himself.

He was fine all day yesterday but around 6 PM I noticed that something was wrong, very wrong.  We got him into the vet and he was diagnosed with kidney cancer.  She said he wouldn’t survive the night.  We did what we had to do to put him out of his suffering.

The house seems somewhat empty without him in it.  He was a presence, he was a character, he was a very good friend and we miss him.

Safe travels Arthur, we love you.

Just Checking In

It’s been along time since I blogged.  I typically don’t blog much once we return from our snow birding.  Although I do enjoy reading my fellow bloggers day to day activities, and don’t find them boring at all,  I do think that mine are just plain boring so I don’t blog.  I think I mentioned before and several other bloggers have said the same thing, that I started this blog so that my kids could know where I was, what we were doing etc. while away.  But as it turns out, none of them read it or even appear to really want to.  Shows what I know!!!!!!

As those of you with ‘sticks’ homes you know they keep you busy.  For us, it was opening the pool, planting flowers, and just general tidying up the back and front yards.  We just finished having a new roof put on the house.  And we also had to have a new pool heater installed.  What a difference that makes!!  The other one took forever to get up to the temperature, no so this one.

Ken and I are in the middle of updating our guest bathroom.  We had our own ensuite done professionally last year, but we decided we could tackle the guest one as we didn’t need the whole thing to be gutted like our ensuite.  And we weren’t changing the layout as in the ensuite.  So Ken remove the old vanity, toilet etc.  We just left the tub/shower in tact as it’s just fine.  I have ordered new vanities and toilet.  See Rick you’re not the only one covered in drywall dust.  It’s amazing how many holes you make in your walls over the years.

As much as we love our home, once home for awhile we really miss the RVing life.  We don’t use the RV much in the summer mainly because the house requires someone to around due to the pool and flowers to be tended to.  Ken keeps saying the ‘downsizing’ word.  If I could find something and somewhere I really liked then I’m game.  But I do keep checking the real estate listings.

We are taking the 5er up to Cookstown for our yearly birthday visit with my sister.  My other sister is also coming.  Ken said ‘you ladies have a good time’..and opted out!!  So he’ll be staying home with the critters.  That won’t be for another month anyhow.

 

Jackson, as usual, has one of his ‘babies’ in his mouth.  I really don’t know what he would do if he didn’t have one.  And this is one of Arthur’s favourite spots…

Well that’s all for now..until later then, take care and drive safe..

Colour me Very, Very Bad!!!

Yes that’s right .. my bad.  I should have blogged a long time ago.  No excuses, just plain lazy.  And plumb wore out.

We had an uneventful, good trip home.  We spent 4 nights on the road.  There was good weather, no rain, snow or otherwise.  That was a blessing.  The nights were chilly but with the furnace, fireplace, and electric space heater, there was absolutely no problems.  The crossing at the border was uneventful.  As usual, Jackson broke the ice.  It just seems that everyone who meets him falls in love.  The fellow was a little stiff until he asked us to unroll the back window and Jackson of course stuck his big head out.  That was it, the guy was patting him and rubbing his neck.  His whole attitude changed after that.  Amazing!!!  We really didn’t have anything to declare anyhow, usually never do.

We got the fridge contents and necessary items emptied out of the rig the first day, and left the rest for gradual emptying after that.  We took everything out of the basement and I went through it all.  Anything that had not been used in a couple years, went into another bin and will be stored in the garage.  I think we got rid of at least 3 bins under there.  Should give us more room.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be somewhat warmer so we will get out there to vacuum, wash floors, clean the fridge and the bathroom.  Then Monday or Tuesday we’ll take it back to the storage lot.

It was very cold the first day home, well below freezing (that had not been predicted earlier!!!) so I left the furnace on in there because I really didn’t want to have to winterize again.  I have just left it running in there at about 55 to keep the chill out and hopefully keep the pipes from freezing.  We have had disgusting weather since we’ve been home.  Rain, freezing rain, ice pellets and that dreaded 4 letter word SNOW.  Did someone not tell the weatherman that this is April for Pete’s Sake?????

It sure is wonderful to be home.  As much as I love being away in the rig, there really is no place like home.  I think Jackson and Arthur would say the same thing too.

Next trip out isn’t until July.  Till then we will be kept busy, opening Jack’s favourite thing THE POOL.  Planting flowers, cleaning up the yard.  But first, please warm up.  I’m spoiled, I don’t like this cold. 

Anyhow, until a later time…take care, drive safe.

Almost Time To Go Home

We head for home Monday morning.  We have been slowly getting things organized for the trip.  It’s amazing how settled in you get in 3 months.  I tidied up the basement and found alot more room under there. 

We have had a couple really cold nights.  One night it was almost the same temperature here as it was back home.  I actually put the blanket back on the bed. 

We are planning on spending 4 nights on the road going home.  I have checked the weather on the way and so far (*touch wood*) it is just fine.  We are all ready to be on our way and back home.  The saying ‘there’s no place like home’ applies to all of us.  Including Jackson and Arthur.

We have made a few really good friends this year.  We have addresses and personal info for several.  All but one live in Ontario.  The other friends we made are Koby’s Mom & Dad who we will be wintering with next year.  I hope to see several, if not all, of them this summer.   We have invited Koby and Mom & Dad to spend some time with us in our home.  Koby can swim in Jackson’s pool too. 

Our first stop will be Cecil, Georgia.  So until then….take care and for all of you who are heading home..drive safe out there.

This n’ That

Is exactly what we’ve been doing and not really much of ‘this n’ that’. 

Those of us who have wintered at this campground have all been disappointed in the lack of activities and ‘community’ feeling.  There has not been one pot luck where they have included the non-owners.  That would be people like us, the transients.  We ‘transients’ have found that the owners gather together for happy hours, pot lucks, and other social activities, but not once have they included any of us.  Those that we have talked with say, like us, that they are not coming back next year.  People don’t snub you, they say hello as they walk, ride, drive by, but they sure don’t include us in their social functions.  The sites are available to purchase and there are many of them that have been purchased.  So that is why we have booked next years winter in Texas.  Several of our transient friends told us that it’s a great FRIENDLY place to go.  They have lots and lots of social activities and such.

It’s a shame because this place has lots of potential.  It has recently changed hands so perhaps in time the attitude will change.

We met some lovely people here from Indiana who have a golden.  I think I mentioned before that Jackson and Koby also became fast friends.  Unfortunately, they left for home last Saturday, so all 3 of us have been a little lonely.  We leave for home 3 weeks today. 

I took several pictures of Jackson & Koby visiting just before they left.  I’ll add a few here.

So until later then…take care.

Happy 6th Birthday Jackson!!

Yes our baby boy will be 6 years old on the 3rd.  Can’t believe that in May it will be 6 years since he became a member of our family.  Can’t imagine our lives without that big lug!!!!

Speaking of special occasions, yesterday, the 1st, was one of my sister’s 50th wedding anniversary.  That is quite an accomplishment these days.  My other sister who is also wintering in the States and myself, got together and had flowers sent to her.  I contacted a local florist in her area and made arrangements for an ‘arrangement’ to be delivered to her.  They did a beautiful job.  She sent me a picture of the bouquet. 

I thought they were quite beautiful and my sister was thrilled to receive them.

We had a very windy day today and had to take down our awning and sunscreen.  We’re also having a bit of a cold spell.  The furnace has been cycling on and off all night.  We have a electric fireplace too and we are very surprised how much heat that thing generates.  It’s really great and kind of cozy looking too.

We will be heading home at the end of this month.  We have booked next winters stay in Texas.  We have met some great friends here (and they just happen to have a golden retriever also)  and they have stayed there (in Texas) before and gave it rave reviews.  Their golden, Koby, and Jackson just love each other.  It’s really cute to see the 2 of them together.  They get along so well.  Jackie gets so excited when he sees them walking down the road. 

Well I need to go and get some warm jammies on as it’s really getting nippy so until later…..take care.