Friday, July 27, 2012

Blessings

Tuesday we left Adelanto for Puddingstone again. We got one of the prettiest spots up high overlooking everything.  Wednesday we left after Mr. SS got home for work for Oxnard. His job is in Agoura Hills

Wednesday night, my son calls and says his ususal. "What's going on?"
I tell him where we have been for 2 days and that we are in Oxnard.
He says "You wanna see your grandkids tomorrow?"
They were going to Ventura Beach and didn't even know we were in Oxnard about 15 minutes away.
After almost 2 weeks without getting to love on my grands, I was feeling so lonely.
What do you think I said?
Of course, we'll be there as soon as your dad gets off work.
Well, just so happens...he gets off 2 hours early, and by shortly after noon, we headed for the beach.
YAY!!!
Not only do I get to see my kids, but I get to go to the beach, just about my favorite place in the world. Any beach will do as long as it smells like salt, has sand and waves.

I took over 50 pictures...yes I did!
I'll pick out a few.

When we got there, we were lucky enough to see Cami catch a couple of waves on her Boogie Board.  She's pretty darn good.


We got to see Lexie and Cami body surfing (or more getting knocked down by the waves)  Lexi has a surf board, but we missed getting to see her because the tide had come in and there were some dangerous rocks.  She is a big fan of the movie "Soul Surfer" and got her board for Christmas.

Jack spent most of his time trying to stay away from the waves.

Brooke says "Mamaw do you have your mints?" and then "How come you didn't bring any food"
Gotta love that face.

Drew spent her time reading or texting...no getting wet for her.

Then there is Emmy.  When I got there she put her head down and would't look at me. Made me so sad because she usually comes running for a hug. I asked her if she was being basefull and she said "Yep". Ha...not a bashful bone in that girls body.

Then, here I am...doing what I love to do...wiggling my toes in the sand and watching my kids play.


A Blessed Day!!
The Lord knew just what I needed .


God is Good!!
Life is Good!!


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

A Day of Remembering


Sunday, since we knew we were only going to be in this area a couple more days, we decided to take a little drive to a place not far from here.
We have not visited this place for 44 years and wanted to see if it was still there.
 Recently I shared with you that we were celebrating our 44 anniversary.  On June 21st., 1968 we were married in Long Beach, Ca.
Just 3 days before our big day, Mr. SS, after his junior year at Long Beach State College, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.  He was to go right away to Modesto, to join the Cardinals A league farm team.
After explaining to the agent who signed him that he was getting married in 3 days, they generously gave him until June 25 to get to Modesto. I say generously, because in those days, once you signed a contract, they owned you and as we were to find out later, showed little regard for family or family events.
Anyway...we had to make a quick decision to shorten our honeymoon plans and find a place nearby, so our precious time wasn't spent traveling.
I had read in a Bride's magazine about all the wonderful places to honeymoon and a small ad caught my attention.
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans had recently bought the Apple Valley Inn and refurbished it. It offered a lot of fun things to do along with a restaurant, pool, stables etc.
So after our wedding on a Friday night and a reception at my Mom's we took off for Roy Roger's Apple Valley Inn.
Last Sunday, after going on the internet and googling Apple Valley Inn,(something we sure couldn't have done in 1968 lol) I came up with a little info:

In 1965, movie stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and their family became residents of Apple Valley. Roy Rogers leased the Inn and restaurant, which was then renamed Roy Rogers' Apple Valley Inn. The Outdoor Steak Fry and the Roy Rogers' Riding Stables, with its haywagon rides and horseback riding, were two popular enterprises attached to the Inn. Mel Marion and then Billy Bascom managed the stables. Cowboy artist Earl Bascom and his artist son John worked there from time to time. Roy Roger's personal horse, Trigger Junior, was frequently boarded at the riding stables.[2]
After many successful years, the Inn closed to the public in 1987. It was purchased by the Lakritz Partnership in November 2003 and restored.

After putting the address in our GPS, (something else we certainly couldn't do in 1968)
we once again headed for the AppleValley Inn. No longer the Roy Roger's Apple Valley Inn. and as far as we could see, it wasn't  even open.

The entrance hasn't changed much, except for the name change.
 We took pictures of each other standing here on our honeymoon.
Wonder if I could find them.

On the way back, as we were driving down the highway, I looked to the left I saw this sign over a street leading to Old Town Victorville. Mr. SS (who knows me so well) did a quick turn around and stopped so I could get a picture. My mind was racing...antique stores, cute gift shops, little outdoor cafe for lunch. Photo opps galore!!

NOPE!! All vacant, boarded up or covered in grafitti. I was so disappointed. At least there was a great sign.
Since in 1968, there wasn't much to Victorville, I'm sure this is where we came on Saturday for lunch and a little shopping.

As we drove back to Adelanto, we started reminicing about that 3 day honeymoon so long ago.

Like:
How the minister said during the wedding ceremony "Do you Chuck, take...." instead of Dennis.
When we were having our counseling with him,  he laughed and said Dennis reminded him of Chuck Conners (a lot of people thought that when he was younger).
Yes...he actually called him Chuck during the ceremony.

Like:
How my cousin showed up in the same dress as my mother in law and had to rush out and buy a new dress.

Like:
How the flower girl (Mr. SS's little neice) picked at her "bottom" during the whole ceremony.

Like:
 How while driving our VW bug to Apple Valley, Mr. SS got a speeding ticket.
The officer looked in the back seat (where we had put the cans that our wedding party had tied to the back of the car.  Remember when, back then, we did that?)
and asked if we had been drinking. LOL

Like:
When we checked in, we asked where the restaurant was and were told it had just closed.  We had left the wedding reception without eating and Mr. SS had to have something to eat, (he hasn't changed a bit) even on the eve of his honeymoon.

Like:
How we canceled reservations for horseback riding and the Steak Fry on Saturday night to just be together.

Like:
 Coming home late Monday night to our little apartment and sitting in the bed cross legged and eating apricot jam on toast.
(My Mom had brought us some of her homemade jam and bread and leftovers from the reception so we would have food when we got home.

Like:
Going over to my Mom's on Tuesday and opening presents and having more sets of glasses than we have ever seen...

Like:
Saying goodbye Wednesday morning when Mr. SS left to go to Modesto.
I had a job at the Post Office and had to be at work the next day.

Like:
How can we remember in detail things that happened 44 years ago and we can't remember where we left our eye glasses ten minutes ago.

Well, if you made it to the end of this, I'll just say thanks for stopping by.
It was fun to write and brought back a lot of memories that I had forgotten.

While writing this, we got "orders" to leave Adelanto for one day at Puddingstone Lake and tonight  we will be heading for Agoura Hills, but will stay in Oxnard.
Next post won't be so long and boring. I'll show some things I have been sewing on.




God is Good!!
Life is Good!!




Saturday, July 21, 2012

Let's Clear the Air

Several of you might be a little confused about the different RV's we seem to live in at different times. That's okay, I get confused too. LOL
I'll start with the Blue and White travel trailer because it was the first.
In 1999, my Mr. SS and all three of our boys were doing a lot of out of town commercial jobs.  We decided it might be better to have a trailer than spend money on motels. It ended up being a good decision.
We found a really good deal on a two year old travel trailer...our Blue and White trailer.  They used it for several years and we also took it camping alot.
Then in 2004 when we bought the last house we owned, we lived in it while we remodeled the home.  It took a beating and was pretty worn out by the time we moved into our home.
Then in 2009, after trying to outlast the big decline in the economy, we finally decided to sell our home and shut down our contstuction business. We were forunate to have paid off the trailer and realized we were blessed to have a home(the trailer) when so many others didn't. While I was off in KY visiting relatives, Mr. SS started to remodel the trailer by gutting the kitchen and living area. 
Here is a picture of our Blue and White trailer taken last week before we left Puddingstone lake. We haven't done anything to the outside yet, but I plan on adding some red.

Then right before we sold the house, Mr. SS was doing some work for a friend and he had a motorhome sitting in  the driveway. Same age as the trailer, only 40,000 miles and in good shape.  Our friend made us a deal we couldn't refuse.
Mr. SS and our oldest son were already traveling to find work and since we were going to park the Blue and White trailer on our youngest son's  property,  we could use the motorhome to travel.
So that  is what we have done for the last two summers. It is the one I recently showed you curtains and a head board I did for the bedroom. 

Then the week we were to move out of our home in 2010, my youngest son offered to park his fifth wheel in his back yard for us to live in.  When they had their 5th baby (now there is 6) they could no longer all fit in the truck to pull the 5th wheel, so it was just sitting in his driveway not being used.  It is reeeealy a lot bigger and has a "toy box " in the back where I have my washer and dryer and my sewing studio.

 So there you go...clear as mud, huh? 
So, we have no house, but 3 homes. After all, home is where the heart is, and my heart is Mr. SS and wherever he is, I can call home.

So, little by little we have continued working on the Blue and White. This summer when we got orders to leave again, we decided to hurry up the process and finish (well at least what was started) the Blue and White. Mainly because I love it so much, but also because then any of our kids can use the motorhome for summer trips.

When we are in Bakersfield, we are still in the 5th wheel above.

Whew, I'm exhausted and I'm sure I have thoroughly confused you.

Tomorrow we have a fun little excursion planned. I  will post about it next.
We are still in the desert town of Adelanto, but nearby is a place that has some sentimental meaning to us.
Until then...


God is Good!!
Life is Good!!





Friday, July 13, 2012

My Cottage Kitchen

We just got back to Bakersfield and since I couldn't get these to load on the laptop, I wanted to get them up before I head off to bed. I'm doing laundry, so need to be right here anyway.

The Blue and White trailer cottage kitchen remodel. Started 3 yrs ago and finally finished before we left  on July 1st for San Dimas.
It's difficult to get good pictures in a small area, but here goes.
The kitchen just to the left of  the door as you walk in.
There are 4 cabinets where there use to be three.
The shelves where you see the blue pitcher is a little "kitty corner" cabinet that because I haven't decorated it, has become a drop off place for Mr. SS's keys, wallet, cell and other stuff.  He has put that little cabinet in all our remodeled homes as a space filler. They are a fun place to decorate, so I'll be putting something there soon.
If you can see there is a knob over the micro wave and fridge. Those pull doors pull up and I have cookie sheets, muffin tins etc. there. Below the fridge is a large drawer for my tupperware (which I still have from the sixties)Those were just empty spaces be hind a wall. 
In a small trailer cottage, you have to take advantage of every little space.
This one taken from the kitchen table.
The little area to the left of the stove used to be about 4 inches wide. I had Mr. SS put the new sink over to give me room to set things next to the stove. I put dishes to dry here too.
How do you like my little curtain.  There is a close up later.
My new stainless sink replaced a small double one that I couln't even wash a large pan or crockpot in. After having a farmhouse sink with one bowl in my home, this was a good alternate.
Mr. SS widened and lenthened the bar area. I have plenty of room to cook. (Also a good area to put my cutting board for sewing)
We have two barstools for here that haven't been painted yet.
Lots of cupboard space below too.
By widening this area I  have room for a toaster oven and a coffe pot. This is a small one, but I will put my Bunn there eventually.
Mr. SS did the tile work on the backsplash. and after he finished it and the floor, I had a new vision of a diner look.
We kept the original appliances so the black in the tile tied them in to the new look.
On this trip, we have decided we may have to replace the fridge.
A closer look at the area to the left of the stove.
 The countertop is laminate, but it looks just like the granite I had in my home.
I looked a long time to find it.
This bank of drawers used to be just 3, but now is four and a pull out cutting board was
                                                                 added.
A drawer where there used to be nothing
My new curtain.
These are two Pam Kitty Morning fabrics.
I just barely had enough of the blue with the wreath for this one. I am going into
Strawberry Patches will we are home today to get enough to make some for the rest of the windows in the fron of the trailer  cottage.
The new tile floor. Used to be laminate and carpet, but is now this retro tile with gray grout which really made the design stand out. (Also the gray doesn't show the dirt like white would.0

Because Mr.SS gutted the trailer while I was in KY 3 years ago, I don't have a lot of before pictures.  Couldn't find the ones I had because it was before blogging days.
But this is what the cabinets looked like over the sink before the remodel.
These are over the bed. We haven't done anything to the bathroom or bedroom yet.

We stopped in Tehachapi and picked up our 2 oldest grands to take home for a couple of days.  It will be fun having all 10 grands together this weekend.
More blog material. LOL



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

On the Move Again

Yesterday, Mr. SS said we've got "orders" to move to another job. He very sheepishly said he hated to tell me we have to move on to Adelanto.  Adelanto is in the middle of the desert and hot, hot, hot.  Not nearly the green oasis we were currently calling home.
I reminded him...
In fact I reminded him that three days before we were married when he signed his pro baseball contract, that I would follow him anywhere as long as I had a pool and a Kmart (now that would be a Walmart) and I not longer spend my days sunbathing in a pool.

So, here we are and I have already finished a couple of projects to show you.
The good thing is that it is too hot to go outside, so...I sew.
My sweet friend, Annelies sent me a pattern for this towel that she picked up in her travels.  Of course I used my favorite (still) Pam Kitty Morning fabrics.

I mentiond to Mr. SS that I got the trailer a little crooked. He said that's okay, he has trouble getting the trailer level sometimes too. (and he does)


I also got a pillowcase done for my Cade's 8th birthday. All my grandkids have Minkee pillowcases, but he reeeeally loves his and has worn it out. He made the All Star team, so instead of his name I embroidered All Star. The tournament is this weekend. We will be going home to see it and celebrate his birthday.

I have a post ready to show you my trailer cottage kitchen remodel and my new curtain, but we are having so much internet trouble. I can only download a couple of pictures at a time.  I took a lot of pictures, so I'm working on it.
Have to turn the computer off and start over after 2 or three pictures.
I may have to wait until the weekend to load from my PC at home.
Until then...



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!
 

Monday, July 9, 2012

Temporary Home


We've been here a week, but I have been busy settling in to our Blue and White Trailer.  It had to be stocked from scratch. When we sold our home, I divided the housekeeping necessities between the Fifth Wheel in my son's back yard and the Motor home we were using for travel at the time. The trailer was still being remodeled.
We have made numerous trips to Walmart and Lowe's, but think we've finally got it...until the next leak, break or whatever.
Today, I wanted to share with you the place we are staying for now. It is East Shore RV Park at Puddingstone Lake in Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, Ca. (I think that covers it).  Anyway, it is a grassy park full of trees. We are not right on the lake, but can see it from the front window of the trailer.
We drove around a little today and I took some pictures. Some are a little dark, don't know why because it was a beautiful day.
We started out doing laundry across from the store and office.

Then we drove around the campground side of the lake.
It isn't accessible from this side except a fishing beach  I'll show you in the last picture.

There are beaches all around and even a Raging waters somewhere close.
A beautiful home tucked among the trees.

We didn't see any skiers, but lots of boats and Mr. SS said you can rent Jet Skies.
Reminded me a little of our favorite camping and skiing lake where we went when our boys were younger and even took some of the grands to...Pine Flat Lake.

This is the little fishing beach I can see from my front window.
There's no swimming from here, but I do walk down and put my feet in the water.
(Don't tell anyone.)

Mr. SS doesn't know how long we will be here...possibly only a couple more days...then off to another adventure.  May not be as pleasant as this one, but I'll keep you in the loop when I know where that loop leads.  I cannot help but secretly hope it leads home, but for now we need to take the work wherever it leads us.

And, after all I am in my Blue and White trailer which I will show you more of in the next post.
I'm going to make a curtain...just to see if I love it before I do all of them, so I'll post to get your opinion.

Hope you are having as good a summer week, as I am.




God is Good!!
Life is Good!!











Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy 4th of July


Hope you are enjoying a fun day with family and festivities or like the two of us are just enjoying a restful day doing just about nothing. I miss the kids, but we are making the most of it here at Puddingstone Lake.

Since I finished my tablerunner while we were in Las Vegas, I was excited to get it on the table in our trailer cottage.  These are the table and chairs I painted last year. They sit to  the left of the two chairs I showed you in the last post. (I call those blue chairs our Gandma/Grandpa chairs)

In order to finish my tablerunner for this 4th of July, I did a little hand work on the squares down the middle and on the inside border.
Then I stepped out of my comfort zone and machine quilted the rest.
I raided my storage room for all the fabrics. The biggest tub I have is filled with red, white and blue fabrics.
I could have decorated the whole RV Park where we are with my fabrics.
 Me being me had a few little things to set on the table, I stole from another area.
Mr. SS said he didn't think anyone in the whole park had their RV decorated like I do...and I have only begun.  There's over 300 units here today...I'm sure there are a few crazy ladies that could keep up with me.

Even though it is just the two of us, we have already had a traditional 4th BBQ with hot dogs, beans, potato salad and lots of yummy watermelon ( I ate so much watermelon while I was making dinner, I could hardly eat anything else)
Somehow it always seems the first watermelon of the season is the best.

We found a good spot on the road up to our spot to view the whole city below. We were told we could see fireworks from several places, so I'm looking forward to that. May have to take some popcorn and home made Chocolate chip cookies along...just in case we can stuff anything else down.

Internet has been a struggle here, but I will be back visiting you all soon.

Happy 4th of July to all my family and blogland friends/




God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Ready to Roll



OMG!! We got home late last Tuesday night from Vegas and Wednesday morning we got a call for work in So.Ca.  We had planned to work on our Blue and White trailer when we got home, but didn't expect a marathon finish.

Working day and night we got her finished and we leave in an hour for Puddingstone Lake.
Isn't that just the cutest name. The job is in Rowland Heights.

The cute stuff isn't finished and I will give a little tour soon, but wanted to show you what you see when you step in the front door

Drum Roll Please!!!

TA DA
(as my granddaughters would say)

Blinds are finally up, but no curtains yet, but you get the idea.

More later!
Gotta Roll!



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!