My last entry for 2023

 

Well its that time again! The year is about to end and the new year is about to start. 

We have had many changes in 2023. Started out in Colorado and ended up in Texas. I made 3 trips to Texas pulling all the family RVs to our new home site. We had to pull our cargo trailer first and then our RV followed by my daughter. I can't even count all the pit stops for gas and snacks. About $3,000 later we had everyone here. 

We ended up just outside of Canton Texas at I-20 RV Park. I believe we have one of the better sites here at the park. Our view from our living room window is not quite as nice as our view we had in Colorado. In Colorado our back window looked out at the Rio Grande River. Here our view is Interstate 20 with miles of cars rushing up and down back and forth going God knows where. 

The mountains are gone and all the snow...sure miss my landscape views that I loved to paint. Now I just paint from memory. I had my own little studio there and now I have to use the dining room table. I guess it could be worse.

The 100 degree days just about did us all in this last summer. After living in cool summer weather for 2 years it was really hard dealing with a hotter climate. We had to have one of our AC units replaced and that bumped up our relocation cost once more. I laughed thinking back to last winter when I had to have my heater core replaced! Had I known that I would be here in Texas a few months later I think I would have reconsidered that decision. Oh well I guess I will need to be warm here too.

I want to take this time to wish all my friends out there a very Happy New Year. To my family I want you all to know I love having you all back here with me. It was nice living in Colorado but having all my family around is well worth the move.

I thank the good Lord that he has allowed me to live this long and been able to experience all that I have. I hope that my days will be long and prosperous..

Somewhere in Time 

Updating our home on wheels

Lowered dishwasher added drawer

Sherri got a new sofa

Built in the back of the TV for storage

Re furbished the kitchen sink base

After pricing new RVs we decided to just fix up ours the way we wanted it. Much cheaper and being that we have the knowhow it was much better. 

To start with we had our utensils across the room in a drawer.  When we needed a fork we had  to go to the other side of the room to get one. Now they are within easy reach. Also easier to put them away when we empty the dishwasher.

Next we got rid of our scaling movie seating. All the hid was coming off the chairs. I have noticed many RVers having this problem. Sherri found some furniture that could be assembled inside the living room without trying to get it through the doorway.

Next we put a door on the cabinet face where the TV was and hinged it so that we could store pots and pans behind it. We installed shelves and mounted the TV to the door. Now when Sherri needs pots and pans just swing the TV out and viola easy reach.

Last but not lease we redid our sink base cabinet which has been knocked around over the years and repainted it a nice gray color. 

We have had a busy few months here. Now my daughter that lives next door to me is wanting her Mom to design her a new look. Looks like I'll be busy...

Somewhere in Time 

  

 

What a difference 17 years make

From this 

To this

Kris got his new truck. He came a long way from his little blue car that he road around the park in. Now he is on the big folks road. 

He got him a 2024 Ram 1500. It has all the bells and whistles that you can get. I am really jealous...I want one! Maybe...

Somewhere in Time 

 

Kris goes on a field trip

Future Quarter Back

Have to change the name

Got to meet some of the team

And then maybe acting might be in the future

The high school had a career day and Kris was one of the students that were chosen to go. They went to Dallas's ATT stadium  where he met some of the Dallas Cheerleaders and football players. One of the booths he visited was the Movie industry that is coming to Texas. Dennis Quade was the speaker and Kris got to meet him and speak with him about the upcoming move.

No matter what he might choose for his future career he is getting some good advise from some pretty smart folks...

Somewhere in Time

 

 Have you seen this guy on YouTube? Never blinks…

Somewhere in Time

Boy did I ever get my bill!!!

 Wow after I had waited for 2 hours they came out and said I was ready to pay for the work done. I quickly thumbed through the bill to see what it had come to. GEEEE $688.00. Please remind me never to have all the filters changed at one time. It is better if you ease into it one filter at a time. I have never done it this way so I had no idea that they would bang me that hard!

What happen was before I left to come to Texas I had the oil changed and not too long before that I had the fuel filters changed so they fell together this time. That along with the air filter just about did me in.

Well I have to say this...our truck is in good shape for now. I have to keep it up...Lord knows I can't replace it..

Somewhere in Time 

Waiting on an oil change

 

I guess you know that we have moved back to Texas. What is wrong with me? We moved back because the RV parks have gone crazy up there. I know not much difference here but it was enough to venture on back to be a little closer to family and friends. 

Sherri has been missing all her close lady friends. All her shopping buddies missed her too. I missed the lake and crappie fishing. Missed all my catfish and the good eating. I guess it was a mutual agreement between us all that pulled us back here.

I did not miss the weather here at all. Now that I am back and melting I do long for the cool weather I left in Colorado! I guess you have to give up one thing to get the other.

I know it will all work out…

Somewhere in Time

Been a while

Our new home site

 Yes we have given in to the economy. We could not keep up with the rising rents in Colorado! Our rent in the last two years doubled! That along with the Biden economy forced us to move back to Texas. 

Yes…I miss my mountains! I miss the mountain streams I fished in. But hundreds of dollars in cheaper rent and lower diesel prices leave me feeling better. 

We are in search of land now. Would like to fix me up a place to live much like the one I had at the lake. Time will tell…

Somewhere in Time

River is rising

Yes due to the excessive snow fall this year we are experiencing high water. Our little pavilions down by the river are getting close to being washed away. 

I know it is hard to see how high it is from the pictures but if you can imagine a bank of at least 3 ft drop then you can see it is up. We have been in Colorado every summer for the last 11 years. I have never seen the water this high. 

Yesterday was my doctors check up. VA takes care of their disabled vets. We get check ups about every six months. Yesterday was my day. I will not know if I am living until next week…

Somewhere in Time
 

Exploring the Rio Grand

We got really bored today and after we got our groceries we decided to take a trip around to look at the river further west. We have had a record snowfall this last winter and now that the temps are rising we have a river almost out of its banks. 

We drove west to see how the river looked  while crisscrossing the river in several place I found some interesting sites that were worthy a picture or two  who knows they may show up on a canvas in my studio…

Somewhere in Time

 

At Colorado Springs Children’s Hospital

Trip to Colorado Springs

View from our suit

P

Holiday Inn

The gang is all here

Children’s Hospital

Our little guy getting ready for surgery 

Today is Monday and our little man is waiting for his turn in the operating room. Tonsils must go…so long tonsils hello no more sore throats…YEA!

Tomorrow will be the hard day for both Mom and Son…but all will be better…

Somewhere in Time
 

Oil change day

Sad…this what you have to look at going to Alamosa

 Today we had to go to Alamosa for an oil change. While at the dealership we took a look at the Jeeps. We are planning on buying one next year when Kris graduates high school. He wants to buy our truck so we will need something to drive. 

After checking out the Jeeps we headed to the car wash to knock off all the grime on the truck. Then we headed…where else…WALLY WORLD! Had to buy some STUFF you know how that goes  

Then it was time to head to Safeway to buy more STUFF followed by the trip home to put up the STUFF. I did have time to walk down to the river…by the way is almost out of its banks   Tossed a line in to see if I could get a bite  the river is running so fast I could not keep my bate under water! I know it will go down…

Somewhere in Time

Prom Night

Just seems like the other day my little guy was a baby. Now…he  is 6’4” and I have to look up to him.

Have a great time little buddy Mom and Dad love you so much. This will be a great memory forever…

Somewhere in Time 
 

Snow again last night

 Once again we had a little snow last night.  The River behind us is almost out of its banks. We still have below freezing nights and that has saved us from an even more rapid melt. 

No doubt the excessive snow fall has helped the Valley meet its water requirements. We should have a great growing season…

Somewhere in Time

My little boy passed his driving test

 

Yes he made it

Friday was the day Kris went for his driving test. I think I was more nervous than he was. All went well and now he is a Colorado driver! 

Now I don’t have to ride along everywhere he wants to go. He will be paying for his insurance so that means a J O B. We will see how that works out…

Somewhere in Time

A baby sitting day

 

And he’s out

Mom had to work so Maw and Poppa have Dakota today  

Before you know it they are grown…

Somewhere in Time

Today we are in Creede Colorado

The museum 

Sports store

The classic downtown view

I dodged jury duty and thought I might sneak in a nap but everyone gained up on me and talked me into going shopping in Creede!

Not my favorite pastime but I was out numbered. So I agreed to go but I stayed close to the truck because it started to snow! They do have some great sporting good stores but I have just about all they sell. 

I did take some pictures for future artwork. I long to return to my studio and paint but that will come 

Somewhere in Time

 

Today is jury duty

 

 

Me going to jury duty

Me being released from jury duty

Don’t get me wrong I know it is my duty as a citizen to sit on a jury. But come on the fish are biting and the sun is out…what more could a guy want. There should only be jury trials in the winter when there is nothing else to do!

Well I am going to do something good today to make up for me being happy about not doing the jury thing. I will take a good nap and take Sherri out to eat. That should do it…

Somewhere in Time

Time to get ready for the summer

 

Well it is time to get everything ready for the warmer temps. We have to take our underpinning off by the 20 of this month. We spent yesterday changing out the anodes on the water heaters. I see that we will have to do this more often. Ours were really in need of changing. 

The wind is really blowing today so we will have to wait for a calmer day to pull the underpinning down. Just a note…posting on my phone changed underpinning to underpants! Now that would have really confused my readers! 

We are heading to Monte today to get our storage building ready for some of our winter things. We change out season to season so we are not overloaded with STUFF. 

I really look forward to the warm months ahead. I will get my fishing license renewed while in town. I am turning over a new leaf this year…I will be doing me some fishing every chance I get…

Somewhere in Time

Newest grandson came to visit

M needed a shower so she let us keep the baby. I think great Maw liked it. I know she will be sharing Van with us…

Somewhere in Time

Resorting to my iphone

 

I have started to post using my iPhone. Seems like my computer is not doing right. 

These are a couple of my latest artworks. I am working on local landscape in my area. The smaller art has done well with RVers because they have less wall space than sticks and brick folks. 

We have been having good weather of late which gives me the opportunity to go on site to sketch and paint. The Aspens are on the road to Summitville. I will be returning to that location soon to do more pictures. I have many requests for aspens from this area. 

We have some of our family up from Texas. My granddaughter Emmy and my newest grandson Van are here for a couple of weeks. I know we will have many great adventures to share with you…

Somewhere in Time

Dryer went out and we had a puzzle day

Sorry could not get this to load right?

I am having a hard time blogging now days? I don't know if it is my internet or if I need to up-date my computer. Well nothing is working right anymore so whatever the case please excuse the delay in post. 

We had our dryer go out the other day and I had to take it out and put the exhaust pully back on. So far it is working but I ordered a new belt for a backup incase the one we have has stretched out.

I took the mount for the dryer off so I can access the unit without having to man handle it. This way when the belt wears out I can get the dryer out of the closet easier.

Not much happening...just puzzle making and word find. Yes it is snowing and we can't get out. I don't even feel like going out to my studio. I know things will get better...

Somewhere in Time 

We enjoyed our Texas visitors

 

A day at Wolf Creek

Hot dogging on the boards

Plenty to eat

Everyone enjoyed the time together

Sherri enjoyed the girls fixing the food

Wish we could do this all the time but we know that is not possible. When we do get together we have soo much fun visiting and eating together.

The kids had wished for snow but that was not going to happen. Well they did get plenty in South Fork and at Wolf Creek Ski Resort. They had to head back to Texas Saturday and what do you think happened. Yes it snowed! 

Maybe they will have snow...

Somewhere in Time